2025 December

Let’s Prepare the Way of the Lord

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/2/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Let's prepare the way of the Lord,

Through whom we are justified.

By all may the Lord be adored.

May God be glorified.

 

To the Lord let's prepare the way,

That others may come too.

For their salvation let us pray,

That they may be born anew.

 

The way of the Lord, let us prepare.

Let us roll up our sleeves.

Through our good works, Good News we share.

That everyone believes.

 

With Wonder We Anticipate

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/3/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

With wonder we anticipate,

Signs Christ is drawing near.

Upon the Lord we watch and wait,

That soon the day is here.

 

But there is much work to be done,

Mountains are to be razed.

The prophet called for everyone,

That the valleys may be raised.

 

Take time today and with God pray,

What does God ask of you?

Make plans now to do it today,

Before Christ comes for you.

 

Christ Promised to Return to Us

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/4/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Christ promised to return to us,

And so, we watch and wait.

The return of the Lord Jesus,

Daily we anticipate.

 

For there are things that we can do,

As we wait on the Lord.

Watch for signs God reveals to you,

That soon all will be restored.

 

Now as we watch what might we see,

In these in between times?

Of what has passed, and what will be,

Keep watching for divine signs.

 

Christ Embodies God in the Flesh (1 Cor. 15-20)

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/4/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Christ embodies God in the flesh,

And is first born of all.

In Christ all things were made afresh,

Seen and invisible.

 

Christ is first before everything,

All things through Christ were made.

And Christ holds together all things,

That God's glory be displayed.

 

Christ is the head of the body,

The church. Each one of us,

Is reconciled. We've been set free,

Through the crucified Jesus.

 

Today Weary Travelers Came

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/4/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Today weary travelers came,

desperately in need.

These travelers all look the same,

As for help they humbly plead.

 

They're looking for a promised land,

with opportunity.

They simply need a helping hand,

of hospitality.

 

In a world filled with hardened hearts,

closed tight and not open.

As hosts what if we did our parts,

to welcome everyone?

 

Stories are told, for what it's worth,

when strangers came this way.

Sarah and then Mary gave birth,

miracles happen each day.

 

There was a place behind the inn,

Not much, it looked quite stark.

From there a new life would begin,

as God's light shone in the dark.

Isaac Was an Innkeeper

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/8/2025

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

 

Isaac was an innkeeper,

Who helped people who wandered.

When travelers came to his inn,

He'd warmly welcomed them in.

Isaac was an innkeeper,

Who helped people who wandered.

 

Isaac's wife was Naomi,

She made the inn so homey.

A warm welcome she would share,

By her tender, loving care.

People came from far away,

Yet felt at home anyway.

 

Joseph and Mary one day,

Came to the inn for a stay.

There was no room where they looked,

Every inn was fully booked.

Help was needed right away,

The baby was on the way.

 

So, Isaac and Naomi,

Helped in this emergency.

There was a place that just might,

With some work, turn out alright.

These innkeepers never riled,

Made room for the Christ child.

 

A Revelation John Received

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/10/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

A revelation John received,

While he was imprisoned.

For telling the end, he believed,

Through all that he envisioned.

 

Several letters were thus transcribed,

For the early churches.

What in them today is prescribed,

As we move beyond “what is.”

 

Heed their warnings and change somehow,

Here in these final days.

Be ready! The times here and now.

Just be ready always.

 

As upon the Heavens We Gaze

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/11/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

As upon the heavens we gaze,

Why do stars shine so bright?

They are up there during the days,

Yet then we don't see their light.

 

It's in the night that the stars do shine,

Wandering souls the stars can guide.

Likewise, our witness - yours and mine,

Holy guidance can provide.

 

Let your light shine when it's needed,

To help others, less they stray.

In the end we'll have succeeded,

To help others on the way.

 

We Hear Words from Prophets of Old

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/12/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

We hear words from prophets of old,

As they tell their story.

A future glimpse is thus foretold,

A vision of God's glory.

 

In desert places there's a bloom,

New life from God above.

There is joy in the midst of gloom,

To reveal to all God's love.

 

The prophets speak to those who’ll hear,

The wisdom of God's word.

Don't be afraid the Lord is here.

Let the Good News now be heard.

 

 

In Order to Sing a New Song

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/14/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

In order to sing a new song,

Someone has to write it.

That to God we might sing along,

And worship in the Spirit.

 

Thanks be to God for we're so blessed,

Among God's chosen ones.

We’re blessed that we might bless the rest,

As God's daughters and sons.

 

As we have learned and we have grown,

Within and out of school.

By Christ’s example, we’ve been shown,

To live by the Golden Rule.

 

Christ was, and is, and yet will be,

When he comes back again,

To give us life eternally,

Let us live that way till then.

 

While Everyone Else Celebrates

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/18/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

While everyone else celebrates,

Christ's birth and what it meant,

It's so difficult to relate,

While we grieve and lament.

 

The nights are long and darker still,

The darkness fills our hearts.

It's hard to feel the joy and thrill,

When death’s torn us apart.

 

On this Christmas while we grieve,

May God's love come upon us.

Our heartfelt pain May God relieve,

Through the birth of Jesus.

 

For Some There's No Joy this Season

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/19/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

For some there's no joy this season,

There's only pain and grief.

Loved ones lost to death’s the reason.

What might bring them some relief?

 

In darkness a long time ago,

On those whose hearts did pine,

When the grief they could not let go,

God's love and light did shine.

 

Into a world so gripped with fear,

God sent to us Jesus.

Miraculously God appeared,

Because God so loved us.

 

The prophet Isaiah foretold,

A virgin would conceive.

New life would come, lo and behold,

For all who do believe.

This Christmas, Lord, Help Us to Wait

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/22/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

This Christmas, Lord, help us to wait,

And watch for you to come,

To share you before it's too late,

With a less fortunate one.

 

For all around us people live,

With some desperate need.

Help us reach out, your love to give,

Through some compassionate deed.

 

As we've been touched, help us to touch,

Before the times long gone.

Lord, we have been given so much,

Help us now to pass it on.

 

Carols in the Air

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/22/2025

(Tune: Bringing in the Sheaves)

 

Refrain:

Carols in the air, carols in the air,

We will come forth singing carols in the air.

Carols in the air, carols in the air,

We will come forth singing carols in the air.

 

Carols in the morning, carols in the night,

Carols with elation, carols with delight,

Carols from the angels, carols from above,

Carols proclaim Good News, carols share God's love.

Refrain:

 

Carols help us proclaim, carols do declare,

Carols the good news share, carols everywhere,

Carols in the darkness, carols in the light,

Carols sung with God's love, carols sung just right.

Refrain:

 

Carols send us singing carols on the street,

Carols sing of Jesus, carols gloom defeat,

Carols lift our spirits, carols make us sing,

We're blessed when we hear carolers caroling.

Refrain:

 

As Long-ago People Declared

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/22/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

As long-ago people declared,

And sang their songs of praise.

Let us now pass on what's been shared,

Both now and all our days.

 

The songs of faith have been proclaimed,

Down throughout all these years.

May the faith always be maintained,

And overcome our worst fears.

 

So, take your faith and pass it on,

In the name of Jesus.

For if we don't, it will be gone!

It now is up to us.

 

Christmas Is All About Giving

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/23/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Christmas is all about giving,

Not Santa or the elves.

Christmas is all about living,

Giving the gift of ourselves.

 

Christmas is all about caring,

And loving from the heart.

Christmas is all about sharing,

And doing our own part.

 

Caring is about receiving,

What God gives each of us.

Christmas is about believing,

In God’s gift to us Jesus.

 

In the Midst of the Wintertime

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/24/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

In the midst of the wintertime,

We celebrate Christ’s birth,

And to the tune of Old Lang Syne,

We recall what all that's worth.

 

It's more than presents by the tree.

It's more than Santa Claus.

It's Christ’s presence with you and me,

May that truly give us pause.

 

We're so beloved by God above,

Who looks on us with grace.

We are imprinted with God's love.

May we see God in each face.

 

Though we've sinned God so loves us so,

God sent us the very best.

Christ came to us that we might know,

That by God we’re truly blessed.

 

In the Quiet of Christmas Night

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/25/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

In the quiet of Christmas night,

Can you feel your heart sing?

Take time to wonder with delight,

The Lord’s got everything.

 

Let the hustle and the bustle cease.

Relax and know your blessed.

Can you allow yourself some peace?

Just take some time to rest.

 

Year-end reports will soon be due,

For now, just let them go.

For yourself, take a day or two,

Just rest and take it slow.

 

This Is the Time to Reminisce

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/26/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

This is the time to reminisce,

As another year has gone.

Treasure the memories that you made,

For its time to now move on.

 

We journey through the good and bad.

Memories we have made some.

Reflect on what a year we've had,

Just see how far we have come.

 

Then look ahead, what do you see,

That next year lies in store?

As we continue life's journey,

May God bless us evermore.

 

Once Again Joseph Had a Dream

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/27/2025

(Tune: Azmon UMH 57)

 

Once again Joseph had a dream,

Revealing what God sees.

To save his family, it would seem,

They'd become refugees.

 

So, off to Egypt they did flee,

Far out of Herod’s way.

Asylum seekers they would be,

And in Egypt they would stay.

 

When Herod died they then returned,

Still seeking for safety.

Back home was not safe, Joseph learned,

They'd go to Galilee.

 

What might we learn from this story?

How might we Live Today?

Follow and give God the glory.

Seek guidance when you pray.

 

God's Been with Us Another Year

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/29/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

God's been with us another year.

Look back at the year now past.

Hold on to mem’ries that are dear,

In your heart hold them fast.

 

God's been with us through thick and thin,

There were times of pain and grief.

Yet, God was there, time and again,

Offering love and relief.

 

As We Look T'wards Another Year

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/30/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

As we look t’wards another year,

May we make plans large and small.

Let us make time to gather near,

All our loved ones, one and all.

 

May we give thanks to God each day,

As each new day is begun.

Then at day's end to God let's pray,

And give thanks for all God's done.

 

Each day may we do all we can,

To help others in Christ’s name.

For God we can do no less than,

Love like God and Christ proclaim.

 

What Are Our Goals for This New Year

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/30/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

What are our goals for this new year?

This is now the year it seems,

To visualize and make them clear,

And fulfill some of our dreams.

 

Are there places where we might go,

Or things we want to do?

Next year what will we have to show,

By the time this year is through?

 

And though there's much that can be planned,

There are surprises too.

Let's be open and understand,

That the Lord will see us through.

 

As Another Year Rolls Around

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/30/2025

(Tune: Old Lang Syne)

 

As another year rolls around,

And one moves into the past,

Let us celebrate what we've found,

Good friends and good memories last.

 

Treasure those friends and memories,

Be sure to hold each dear.

Give thanks for each of the stories,

That made this one, quite a year!

 

Let's pledge to once again this year,

To live our lives fully.

And spread Good News to all who’ll hear,

And to do it faithfully.

 

Another Year Now Comes Along

                                  Jeffrey B. Childs 12/31/2025

(Tune: Auld Lang Syne)

 

Another year now comes along,

It’s twenty, twenty, six!

We’ll gladly sing out this new song,

And take some year-end pics.

 

In olden days we may have said,

It is score, score, and six!

But singing that just hurts my head,

Maybe this verse I should nix.

 

If you are really old, you know,

It’s MMXXVI!

Just go to bed by X or so,

Let the ball-drop pass you by.