Merry Christmas!

He gave me love at Christmas!
Pure undeserved love:
God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten son; to save a sinful world.
Love is the reason for Christmas.
He gave me love at Christmas!


He gave me joy at Christmas!
The joy that comes from surrendering to Him;
from laying everything at His feet and saying:
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Like Mary did.
He gave me joy at Christmas!


He gave me peace at Christmas!
The peace that surpasses all understanding.
Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth
And goodwill to all men.
The message to the shepherds.
He gave me peace at Christmas!


He gave me hope at Christmas!
Hope  that leads you on a journey
Even though you may not know the end.
They presented their gifts to Him.
The magi who travelled.
He gave me hope at Christmas!


He sent angels at Christmas!
Angels in dreams and visions.
Angels singing and praising God.
Angels protecting the Christ Child.
Because His promise is sure,
He sent angels at Christmas!


He gave me himself at Christmas!
And that was the best gift of all.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us
To make us right with God.
And He still does so in his word and as
bread and wine.
He gave me Himself at Christmas!


I give myself at Christmas.
I give my fiat; I say yes to Jesus.
My dreams and hopes; joys and sorrows
My plans and wishes; I give them all.
My family and friends; all my loved ones I give.
I give myself at Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Angela Azumah Alu

For Esther

When life has me wearied and I wonder what I’m doing

When all seems lost and I can only cry

When I have lost the song in my heart and wish I were dead

When nothing seems worthwhile and I am down

When I am not happy and wonder if I’ll ever be

When I feel like the worst person in the world and

When I wonder why I am alive

I choose to rejoice in my Saviour who is my joy and my strength

I choose to rejoice in Him who gives me joy in the morning though sorrow may endure for a night

I choose to rejoice in my LORD who overcame death by dying

I choose to rejoice in my Saviour who came to restore me to fellowship with God

I choose to rejoice in my resurrected Christ who used the persecution of the early Christians to lead them out of their comfort zones and to spread the good news

I choose to rejoice in my Lord of Hosts who is my banner in the fight not against flesh and blood

I choose to rejoice in the Lord my shepherd; because of Him I never want

I see, with the eyes of faith, His mercies that are new every morning

I see and I know, He is the bread of Life and with Him I am never hungry or thirsty

I see, I know and I understand, with Him all things are possible; He is my strength

I trust; I hope; I am renewed; and I step out to love just as He did

Because His grace in me empowers me for good and excellent works!

I am His work of art and very precious to Him!

Angela Azumah Alu

07/05/14