Christmas in Heaven

 Christmas in Heaven

I’ve had my first Christmas in Heaven:

A glorious, wonderful day!

I stood with saints of the ages,

Who found Christ the Truth, and the Way.

I sang with the heavenly choir:

Just think: I, who longed so to sing!

And, Oh, what celestial music

We brought to our Saviour and King!

We sang the glad songs of redemption,

How Jesus to Bethlehem came,

And how they had called His Name Jesus,

That all might be saved through His Name.

We sang once again with the angels,

The song that they sang that blest morn

When shepherds first heard the glad story

That Jesus, the Saviour, was born.

Oh, how I wish you had been here:

No Christmas on earth could compare

With all the rapture and glory

We witnessed in Heaven so fair.

This poem was written by Dr. Reitz after the passing of his wife. Dr. Reitz was pastor of Inglewood’s Fairview Heights Baptist Church and was past 80 years of age when this was written many years ago. He also wrote the hymn, “Teach Me to Pray.” 

This was distributed by The Chapel as a pamphlet decades ago. It has been an encouragement to many as saved friends and family have gone to join the Lord Jesus Christ who purchased their salvation.

Mercy Drops

The Valley of Trouble

Becomes the Doorway of Hope

Mercy drops are falling

Rain soaks parched ground

A heart aches for answers

When none can be found

This side of Heaven

Sin and rebels abound

But Mercy Drops keep falling

Through loss, pain and grief

Turn your face heavenward

Feel them fall one by one

When hope wears thin

They are cleansing, crisp, cool

Catch a glimpse, grasp the wind

Mercy Drops are falling one by one

A Street Called Mercy

There is a street marked Mercy down around the bend,

You find it where the road is narrow and the travelers few.

Keep on walking a little farther along

Mercy Street is just around the bend.

A time or two I almost found it, but I turned back.

Oh how I wish I continued on and followed along.

That bend in the road and the narrow way,

It all seemed so hard and I lost my way.

But then one day it was different, thank God it was.

Something kept me walking, as if no longer alone;

That bend wasn’t as scary and the narrow lane bid me come.

Soon I saw Mercy Street and ran right along.

You can only carry something so long.

When it gets too heavy,

You have to lay it down;

Yes, it’s time to lay it down.

Mercy Street is where heavy burdens roll away,

The ones too heavy that only the cross can save;

Carried for seasons long overdue,

Mercy Street beckons, come be made brand new.

I saw the sweet faces shining so bright,

With burdens laid down, went from darkness to light

It’s like stars in the heaven that shine at night,

The faces of joy showing forth His light.

You can only carry something so long.

When it gets too heavy,

You have to lay it down;

Yes, it’s time to lay it down. 

Sailing Forth

Our prayers are sailing forth,

Not on a sea of forgetfulness

But on a great ship of mercy and grace,

Heavenward they sail to the throne above.

The Lord hears the mother’s plea

He bends to the cries of the brokenhearted.

Tears are gathered into His treasured bottles

The answers are on the way.

The centurion cried, “My son is ill,

Please come before he dies!”

Our pleas and cries are urgent too,

Lord help, we need you now!

Soon that ship delivers those pleas,

Landing at the throne of grace.

Angels bow down, wings cover The Glory   

Holy, Holy, Holy is their cry.

Behold, the answer arrives, amazed we stand

It came the hour Jesus heard.

It left our lips, sailed to His Heart,

He spoke and it was done!

John 4:43-54

A Seat At The Table

 

Sometimes in life there is no seat,

No room for a wounded heart.

The door is shut, the light is off,

Today you’re not welcome here.

An outcast feels the sting,

As others are welcomed in.

The message is loud and clear,

There’s no seat for you here.

There was a day you had a table,

All was set and readied for them.

The food, the fun, the preparation,

Gladly you welcomed them in.

There is One who sees and knows, 

The Man of Sorrows rejected by men.

He knows the pain of an outcast,

Many spoke, “Not welcome here”.

One day a banquet is coming,

He’s gone ahead to prepare for us.

Take comfort dear wounded outcast,

There's a seat at His table for you.

Until that great day we see beyond,

The family of God welcomes in.

Far and wide, loving and kind,

There’s  a seat at the table for you.                                                                  Rev. 19:9

                                                                                                                Mt. 26:26-29

                                                                                                                Mk. 14:22-25,

                                                                                                                Lk. 22:18-20