Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A HOLY DIFFERENT KIND OF JOURNEY...



And now for something completely different:  Susanna Hill's Holiday Contest!

The goal is to write and enter your own holiday version of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"
before December 22nd.  The prizes are second to the challenge of composing your own verse to mirror the holiday season.  What a variety of entries awaits you on her website...take a peek.  Each one is an 
original, and so fun to read!
Camels resting between journeys

My passion is to make Scripture come alive for folks, so, as you can see, I have chosen the traditional route.  Hopefully, it will make the Christmas story more real to you this year.  Jesus is the ULTIMATE GIFT!


The hills below Bethlehem where the shepherds heard the announcement!


'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN

T'was the night of His birth, and all through the town,
Not a inn had a room, no space to be found.
Crowds came to pay taxes, the rooms were all full,
Rome needed money its deep pockets to fill.

The sun had just set, the stars had come out,
Bethlehem was quiet, without even a shout.
The town-folks were nestled in bed fast asleep,
The babies were dreaming, they made not a peep.

When down the dark path, there came Joseph and Mary,
They were newly engaged, and promised to marry
So tired from the journey, Mary held a surprise
God's Son, in her womb, a baby disguised

But, who is this baby about to be born?
Isaiah the Prophet told all the forlorn,
"A maiden will give birth to a miraculous son,
Immanuel, "God with Us", to bless everyone!

The couple rode in to Bethlehem town
The donkey paced slowly with a clip-clop sound
Could they possibly hope for a room in the inn
In this town which was home of Joseph's poor kin?

They knocked at each inn, on door after door
Not knowing what treasures the night had in store
For those who would raise this prophesied lad
The one of whom truly the world would be glad.

One inn had a stable...the couple praised God!
They were tired of the precarious road they had trod
Joseph freshened the hay while dear Mary laid down
As the lambs made a quiet and low bleating sound.

With pain and then joy, Mary birthed in the night
The Pure Son of God!  The sky was so bright
With a dazzling star of enormous proportion,
Which wise men did follow to show their devotion.

Then out in the fields the shepherds did watch
their flocks on the hillside, so no danger could touch.
The sky went ablaze and with angels abounded
The shepherds did tremble and fell to the ground.

"Fear not!" the bright angels did shout with one voice
"For you, on this day, there is cause to rejoice:
Behold the Babe in Bethlehem's stall;
A Savior, God's Son, who brings peace to all!"




23 comments:

  1. Lovely, the old old story told anew.

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  2. I love your title! And this was a beautiful rendition of the Christmas story. Thank you.

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  3. Nice entry in the contest! Thanks for sharing an original adaptation of one of the most beautiful stories ever!

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  4. A perfect telling of the story. Every line. Thanks for sharing this.

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  5. Thanks, Ladies, for your encouraging words...it was both a challenge and a joy to create!

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  6. Lovely, and with Joanna, I particularly delight in your title.

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  7. The title came to me all of a sudden...it was a welcome surprise!

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  8. Beautiful Jarm! A lovely post to keep us centered on the true meaning of Christmas. As others have said, wonderful title!

    Thank you for sharing and best of luck in the contest! I have enjoyed reading every entry!

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  9. What a wonderful idea, beautifully executed! I love how you've taken the story of what Christmas is all about and woven it so well into the rhyme scheme. Very well done, and completely different from anyone else's entry. Thanks for a lovely entry!

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  10. Gorgeous version of the Christmas story. I'm so glad you shared it with us for the contest!

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  11. You are welcome, Cathy! I, too, have enjoyed the variety. Each entry is unique in its own way...

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  12. Thank you, Penny...the Christmas Story IS beautiful!

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  13. I appreciate your kind words, Susanna...thanks for inspiring us all to reach out beyond our comfort zones! And for the freedom to choose whichever holiday/topic meant the most to us at this time of year.

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  14. Thanks, Julie...I'm so pleased to be a part of it all!

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  15. Wonderful version. I love how you were able to fit the nativity story into the the meter of the poem so well. And you told the story so beautifully, too.

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  16. Yes, the meter was certainly a challenge! I reworked it many times. I'm glad you liked it...thanks for your comment!

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  17. Thanks, Catherine! I did question whether it would fit in, but, as they say, "variety is the spice of life."

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  18. Jarm, this is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. I feel blessed to have stumbled across your blog and plan to follow.

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  19. Great, Kelly...I'll look forward to having you follow us. We head off to a new location in January, so hopefully, in February, the new posts will be up. Sometimes it takes me awhile.
    Blessings on your Christmas celebration, and thanks for the encouraging words!

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  20. I love your telling! Masterfully done.

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  21. Thanks for the encouraging words, Hannah...blessings on your New Year!

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I would love to have you comment...thanks!

Journey into the Promised Land

Journey into the Promised Land
From Egypt to Israel