Dear Pastor Jackson,
These
twin lambs were born just before a severe thunderstorm hit, dumping two
inches of rain with 20 mph winds out of the North. I was soaked making
sure the lambs were kept as dry as possible.
The
name of their mother is Star of Wonder. She was born early February of
last year in extremely cold, windy weather. So her twins are named
Bethlehem and Christmas.
Ringo, my Great
Pyrenees guardian dog was so worried about these little lambs. He kept
whimpering especially, when he heard them crying out to their mother for
help.
It's a wonderful miracle Star of Wonder
kept her little twins alive through such stormy weather. It reminds me
of God's wonderful miracle and gift to us in the little town of
Bethlehem. Not far away there were lowly shepherds watching their flocks
of sheep by night when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to them
saying:
"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory
to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke
2:10-14
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"Surely he
hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. "
Isaiah 53:4-6
"And
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son
of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God" John 3:14-18
"And this is
the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me
I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise
him up at the last day. John 6:39,40
"Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and
cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your
graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall
put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your
own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and
performed it, saith the LORD. Ezekiel 37:12-14
Here is a wonderful hymn. Kyrie means Lord. Eleison means mercy. Hymn 6 from The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH
Kyrie, God Father in heaven above,
Great art Thou in grace and love,
Of all things the Maker and Preserver.
Eleison, Eleison!
Kyrie, O Christ, our King
Salvation for us sinners Thou didst bring.
O Lord Jesus, God's own Son,
Our Mediator at the heavenly throne,
Hear our cry and grant our supplication.
Eleison, Eleison!
Kyrie, O God the Holy Ghost,
Guard our faith, the gift we need the most;
Do Thou our last hour bless;
Let us leave this sinful world with gladness.
Eleison, eleison!
In Christ
Tom Fisher
