“For unto you is born this day …”

The first Christmas gift is still the most blessed — the gift of our Savior, who washed away our sins and showed us the path of peace and love, and gave us the strength to transform the world.

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OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 7:52 AM

We are having a white-out blizzard, but it’s all good. I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.
He is risen, indeed!

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 8:01 AM

“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice”
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
With exultation springing,
And, with united heart and voice
And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God hath done,
How His right arm the victory won;
Right dearly it hath cost Him.

2. Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay,
Death brooded darkly o’er me,
Sin was my torment night and day,
In sin my mother bore me;
Yea, deep and deeper still I fell,
Life had become a living hell,
So firmly sin possessed me.

3. My own good works availed me naught,
No merit they attaining;
Free will against God’s judgment fought,
Dead to all good remaining.
My fears increased till sheer despair
Left naught but death to be my share;
The pangs of hell I suffered.

4. But God beheld my wretched state
Before the world’s foundation,
And, mindful of His mercies great,
He planned my soul’s salvation.
A father’s heart He turned to me,
Sought my redemption fervently:
He gave His dearest Treasure.

5. He spoke to His beloved Son:
‘Tis time to have compassion.
Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,
And bring to man salvation;
From sin and sorrow set him free,
Slay bitter death for him that he
May live with Thee forever.

6. This Son obeyed His Father’s will,
Was born of virgin mother,
And God’s good pleasure to fulfill,
He came to be my Brother.
No garb of pomp or power He wore,
A servant’s form, like mine, He bore,
To lead the devil captive.

7.To me He spake: Hold fast to Me,
I am thy Rock and Castle;
Thy Ransom I Myself will be,
For thee I strive and wrestle;
For I am with thee, I am thine,
And evermore thou shalt be Mine;
The Foe shall not divide us.

8. The Foe shall shed My precious blood,
Me of My life bereaving.
All this I suffer for thy good;
Be steadfast and believing.
Life shall from death the victory win,
My innocence shall bear thy sin;
So art thou blest forever.

9. Now to My Father I depart,
The Holy Spirit sending
And, heavenly wisdom to impart,
My help to thee extending.
He shall in trouble comfort thee,
Teach thee to know and follow Me,
And in all truth shall guide thee.

10. What I have done and taught, teach thou,
My ways forsake thou never;
So shall My kingdom flourish now
And God be praised forever.
Take heed lest men with base alloy
The heavenly treasure should destroy;
This counsel I bequeath thee.

Hymn 387
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Rom. 3: 28
Author: Martin Luther, 1523
Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt.
Titled: “Nun freut euch, liebe Christen g’mein”
Tune: “Nun freut euch”
1st Published in: Etlich’ christliche Lieder
Town: Wittenberg, 1524

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 8:11 AM

“How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”
by Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608

1. How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David’s Son of Jacob’s race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For Thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, Holy,
Great and glorious, Thou victorious
Prince of graces,
Filling all the heavenly places.

2. O highest joy by mortals won,
True Son of God and Mary’s Son,
Thou high-born King of ages!
Thou art my heart’s most beauteous Flower,
And Thy blest Gospel’s saving power
My raptured soul engages.
Thou mine, I Thine;
Sing hosanna! Heavenly manna
Tasting, eating,
Whilst Thy love in songs repeating.

3. Now richly to my waiting heart,
O Thou, my God, deign to impart
The grace of love undying.
In Thy blest body let me be,
E’en as the branch is in the tree,
Thy life my life supplying.
Sighing, Crying.
For the savor Of Thy favor;
Resting never,
Till I rest in Thee forever.

4. A pledge of peace from God I see
When Thy pure eyes are turned to me
To show me Thy good pleasure.
Jesus, Thy Spirit and Thy Word,
Thy body and Thy blood, afford
My soul its dearest treasure.
Keep me Kindly
In Thy favor, O my Savior!
Thou wilt cheer me;
Thy Word calls me to draw near Thee.

5. Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son
Didst love me ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world’s foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit Him I see,
I joy in tribulation.
What bliss Is this!
He that liveth To me giveth
Life forever;
Nothing me from Him can sever.

6. Lift up the voice and strike the string.
Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God’s high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
Today, tomorrow, every day,
Till traveling days be ended.
Sing out, Ring out
Triumph glorious, O victorious,
Chosen nation;
Praise the God of your salvation.

7. Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend,
Art Lord, Beginning without end,
The First and Last, Eternal!
And Thou at length–O glorious grace!–
Wilt take me to that holy place,
The home of joys supernal.
Amen, Amen!

Hymn #343
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Rev. 22:16
Author: Philipp Nicolai, 1597
Translated by: composite
Titled: “Wie schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern”
Composer: Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Tune: “Wie schoen leuchtet”

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 8:25 AM

Hot Buttered Rum
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 lb butter
1 lb brown sugar
nutmeg
cinnamon
boiling water
good quality rum
Mash first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl with a cover. Fill a mug one-thirds full with batter, one thirds full with hard boiling water, and lavishly top with good rum. Stir with a cinnamon stick and enjoy.
Drink responsibly and stay home. Caution: Do not even think of driving after indulging.
Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings!

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 8:43 AM

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 8:53 AM

g2825m on December 25, 2009 at 9:18 AM

Thank you and God Bless you for your service to our country.
Stay safe and have a very Blessed Christmas.

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 9:21 AM

Verse four is my favorite seasonal prayer.

“Ye Sons of Men, Oh, Hearken”
by Valentin Thilo, Jr., 1607-1662
Translated by Arthur T. Russell, 1806-1874

1. Ye sons of men, oh, hearken:
Your heart and mind prepare,
To hail the almighty Savior,
O sinners, be your care.
He who of grace alone
Our Life and Light was given,
The promised Lord from heaven,
Unto our world is shown.

2. Prepare the way before Him;
Prepare for Him the best,
Cast out whate’er offendeth
This great, this heavenly Guest
Make straight, make plain, the way:
The lowly valleys raising
The heights of pride abasing.
His path all even lay.

3. The humble heart and lowly
God lifteth up on high:
Beneath His feet in anguish
The haughty soul shall lie.
The heart, sincere and right,
That heeds God’s invitation
And makes true preparation,
It is the Lord’s delight.

4. Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus,
Turn not from me aside,
And grand that I receive Thee
This blessed Advent Christmas-tide.
From stall and manger low
Come Thou to dwell within me;
Loud praises will I sing Thee
And forth glory show.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #75
Text: Luke 3:4, 5
Author: Valentin Thilo, Jr., 1659, alt.
Translated by: Arthur T. Russell, 1851
Titled: “Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder”
Published in: _Neu Catechismus-Gesangbuechlein”
Town: Hamburg, 1598

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 10:48 AM

The Te Deum Laudamus
We praise Thee O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father Everlasting.
To Thee all the angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein;
To Thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry;
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee;
The noble army of martyrs praise Thee;
The holy Church though all the world doth acknowledge Thee;
The Father of an infinite majesty; Thine adorable true and only Son,
Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou are the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest upon Thee to deleiver man;
Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a virgin.
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God
In the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come
To be our judge.
We therefore pray Thee to help Thy servants,
Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy saints
In glory everlasting.
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine heritage.
Govern them and lift them up forever.
Day by day we magnify Thee,
And we worship Thy name ever, world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin,
O Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us,
O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 10:58 AM

We are having a blizzard here. Most, if not all Lutheran churches have cxl’d their services, so I will be attending 11:30 Mass at St. Cecelias.

OmahaConservative on December 25, 2009 at 11:16 AM