A Childhood Memory

I saw those old Brach’s peppermints
This Christmas at the store –
The tears began and took me back
Through recollection’s door.

I seemed to see dear farmer Hann
In boots and coveralls
Come walking up beside me there
As in the old church halls.

Where every week he’d search me out
And say these words I hear:
Just, “Jesus loves you, I do too.”
So simple yet so clear.

He’d search that big, deep pocket through
To find a mint for me –
His words were etched in red and white
Upon my heart, you see.

You never know how God can use
A simple act of love
To touch a heart, to shape a life,
To point a soul above.

Christina Joy Hommes
Based on a true story I heard

What Is Christmas?

The wonder of a baby
So tiny, sweet, and new,
Of angels gladly singing –
The Savior’s here for you!

The joy of startled shepherds
To hear the Lord was near,
Of Mary, now a mother,
Who held a Son so dear.

The love of God to send us
His only Son that day,
Of Jesus to be willing
To come to us that way.

The peace that Christ was bringing
To those once lost in sin,
Of knowing God can welcome
Repentant sinners in.

The spirit of that Christmas
Can still be ours today
If we will stop to wonder
To worship, sing, and pray.

Christina Joy Hommes

Is He Welcome?

The inn was full and busy,
But somewhere in a stall
They made a space to welcome
The Savior for us all.

The world seems far too busy
To welcome Him today,
The noted, rich, and famous
Have turned the Lord away.

But if we’ll make Him welcome,
He’ll take us as His own
To dwell with us forever
And make our hearts His throne.

Christina Joy Hommes

Emmanuel Is with Us

Emmanuel is with us –
He came on Christmas day
To be our Friend and Savior
And wash our sins away.

Emmanuel is with us –
He comes to us each day
To bring us grace and favor
And hear us when we pray.

Emmanuel is with us –
He’ll come again someday
To bring His own dear children
To heaven’s home to stay.

Emmanuel is with us –
Are we with Him today
To worship and adore Him
And walk with Him each day?

Christina Joy Hommes

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call His name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew 1:23

The Christmas Star

When Christ was born in Bethlehem
A shining star appeared
That led the wise men from the east
Who wondered, hoped, and feared.

It led them to the very place
Through desert heat and cold
Right to the house in Bethlehem
As Micah had foretold.

It led them on until they saw
The child Himself, the King,
With joyful hearts they worshiped Him
And gave Him everything.

They gave Him gold – a royal gift,
They gave Him myrrh – death’s sign,
They also gave Him frankincense –
To show that He’s divine.

Now we’ve received the Morning Star,
As Christ is called today;
We’ll see Him too if, like those men,
We follow all the way.

Christina Joy Hommes

“I Jesus am … the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16

Thank You for Christmas

Thank you, Lord, for Christmas –
For coming down to earth
And telling us the story
About Your lowly birth.

Thank you, Lord, for living
As one of us – our own –
And facing all the troubles
To which we’re all so prone.

Thank you, Lord, for dying
To pay our debt from sin,
To give us peace and mercy
And make us clean within.

Thank you, Lord for rising
To give us life above
And joy and hope in knowing
Your never-ending love.

Thank you, Lord, for Christmas –
For coming down to me
To make me Yours in kindness
For all eternity.

Christina Joy Hommes

Contrasts

He came a tiny baby
Born in a cattle stall
Though He was earth’s Creator
And ruled from heaven’s hall.

He came to live among us
And share our pain and tears
Though He was Lord of nations
The God of endless years.

He came to be rejected
By those He loved to death
Though He was King of glory
And gave each person breath.

He came to die like sinners
To take our guilt and sin
Though He was true and sinless
Completely pure within.

He came to rise immortal
The firstfruits from the grave;
Though He was life’s Composer
He died and rose to save.

He came to be our Savior,
Our Brother, Lord, and Friend
So we would love and trust Him
Whose mercy has no end.

Christina Joy Hommes

Come to the Stable

Come hurry to the stable
Where lies a baby boy,
The Hope of all the ages
Who brings such peace and joy.

Come look within the manger
To see the Child so small;
The Lord of all the ages
Lies swaddled in a stall.

Come bow before His presence
Who made eternity,
The Light of all the ages
Who came to save and free.

Christina Joy Hommes

Christ’s Triumph

Christ triumphed first in Bethlehem
There in the manger hay –
The Son of God made man like us
Revealed upon that day.

Christ triumphed, too, in Nazareth
While living day by day –
He faced temptation without sin
And paved salvation’s way.

Christ triumphed all through Galilee
By word and mighty deed –
Each showed He is the promised One,
The Christ of God indeed.

Christ triumphed in Gethsemane,
“Lord, not My will, but Thine” –
Submitting to God’s perfect plan
He gave His life for mine.

Christ triumphed once at Calvary
Upon that cross of shame –
He died to offer life and hope
For calling on His Name.

Christ triumphed at the garden tomb –
The stone rolled from the door
Revealed that He had risen up
To live forevermore.

Christ triumphed from Mt. Olivet –
Ascending to His throne
He sat to save and intercede
And claim me for His own.

Christ triumphed when He set His throne
Within my inmost heart –
A sinner saved by grace and love
For Him I’m set apart.

Christ’s triumph when He comes again
In glory and in might
Will show that He is Lord and God
In every creature’s sight.

Christ triumphs now and evermore
Exalted over all –
From Bethlehem to Heaven’s throne
Hear love and mercy’s call.

Christina Joy Hommes

Prophesies Fulfilled – in Verse

Prophesies Fulfilled
(in verse)

Foretold by Law and Prophets,
To Adam and his wife –
A Savior would be coming
To bring God’s saving life.

(Gen 3:15; Is 35:4; 49:6)
(Mt 1:21; Acts 4:12; Lk 24:27)

The seed of Eve and Abram,
Of Judah, David, too.
From Bethlehem, through Egypt
In Galilee He grew.

(Gen 3:15; 22:15-18; 49:9-10; Mic 5:2; Hos 11:1)
(Gal 4:4-5; 3:16; Hb 7:14; Mt 1:1; 2:13-15)

His mother was a virgin,
And John preached that He’d come.
He was despised, rejected
By strangers and at home.

(Is 7:14; 40:3-5; Ps 69:8; Is 53:3)
(Mt 1:18-23; 3:1-3; Jn 1:10-11; 7:5; 19:15)

He healed the blind and palsied,
He cast the demons out,
He raised the dead like sleepers,
He made the speechless shout.

(Is 35:5-6; 53:4)
(Mt 8:16-17; 11:2-6; 14:14; Mk 7:37)

He spoke God’s Word with power
And yet with graciousness;
Through parables He taught them,
Preached truth and righteousness.

(Dt 18:18; Ps 45:2; 78:2; 40:9)
(Jn 3:34; Lk 4:22; Mt 13:34-35; Mk 10:1)

His friend at last betrayed Him
For thirty silver coins,
His captors all fell backward
Yet still their band rejoins.

(Ps 41:9; 40:14)
(Mt 26:21-23, 50; Jn 18:4-6)

His own disciples left Him,
All fled in fright and fear;
One followed at a distance,
Denied where Christ could hear.

(Zec 13:7; Ps 38:11; 69:20)
(Mt 26:31; Mk 14:50; Mt 26:58; Lk 22:59-62)

To words of false accusers
He gave not one reply.
He took our stripes though sinless –
For us God’s Son must die.

(Ps 35:11; 38:13-14; Is 53:7, 4-6, 11)
(Mt 26:59; Mk 15:3-5; Mt 27:26; 1 Pt 2:21-24; 1 Jn 3:5)

Upon a cross He’s lifted,
Between two sinners nailed,
In shame before all people,
With mocking scorn assailed.

(Num 21:9; Is 53:12; Ps 22:16; Dt 21:23; Ps 22:7-8)
(Jn 3:14-15; 12:32; Mk 15:27-28; Gal 3:13-14; Lk 23:35)

Our sins were laid upon Him,
The Father turned His face;
Sun hid in black of mourning
To hide His deep disgrace.

(Is 53:5, 6, 11-12; Ps 22:1; Is 50:3)
(Rm 5:6-8; 2 Cor 5:21; Mt 27:46; Lk 23:44-46)

At last He cried “It’s Finished!”
He bowed His head and died.
Bruised by sin’s fearful wages
Our Maker crucified.

(Ps 22:31; Gen 3:15; Is 53:5)
(Jn 19:30; Hb 2:14-15; 1 Cor 15:3-4)

His body then was buried
Within a borrowed tomb,
Wrapped well in costly spices
To face death’s final gloom.

(Is 53:9; Ps 45:8)
(Mt 27:57-60; Jn 19:39-40)

But death could never hold Him,
God will not let Him stay –
He rose, defeated Satan,
And sealed death’s might away.

(Ps 16:10; 89:27; Is 25:7-8)
(Acts 2:31-32; Col 1:18; 1 Jn 3:17; 2 Tim 1:10; 1 Cor 15:54-57)

Beginning back at Moses
Through all the Prophets, too,
He showed to His disciples
All they foretold He’d do.

(Lk 24:27; 44-47)

From Olive’s Mount ascending
He sat at God’s right hand
Until He comes to gather
His people to that land.

(Zech 14:4; Ps 110:1
(Acts 1:9-12; Mk 16:19; Hb 10:12-13)

Right now, He’s interceding
For those He calls His own;
He’s giving gifts to Christians
From heaven’s royal throne.

(Is 53:12; Is 40:11; Ps 68:18; Is 44:3)
(Hb 7:25; Jn 10:14; Eph 4:7-8; Jn 7:37-39; 16:7)

Someday He’ll come in power
To reign as King of kings;
Defeating those who hate Him,
Their just reward He brings.

(Ps 2:6; Zech 14:9; Is 24:21; 62:11)
(Lk 1:32-33; Rev 11:15; 17:14; 19:11, 19-21; 22:12)

Soon every knee will worship
And every tongue confess
That He is Lord of glory,
Of faithful righteousness.

(Is 45:23; Ps 24:7-10; Is 11:5)
(Phil 2:9-11; 1 Cor 3:8; Rev 19:11)

And all the Law and Prophets
Foretold will be fulfilled,
For Christ will have accomplished
All that His Father willed.

(Is 40:7-8)
(Heb 10:7; Mt 5:17-18; Jn 6:38-39)

Christina Joy Hommes

See more prophesies that Jesus fulfilled in this book that weaves together Bible verses of prophesies about Jesus with verses that show how He fulfilled them:

Prophesies Fulfilled – 25 Advent Readings

See the amazing ways Jesus fulfilled so many prophesies throughout His life.

These readings pair Old Testament prophesies about Christ with New Testament verses showing ways He fulfilled them.

This book will encourage and build your faith as you worship and praise the Lord Jesus this Christmas season.

Perfect for keeping Jesus Christ at the center of the busy Christmas season, these Advent Readings are designed so you can read one on each day of December leading up to Christmas (or any time!). You can use these Bible readings yourself or share them as a family for Christ-centered devotions.

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Christmas Poems

Prophesies Fulfilled – 25 Advent Readings