Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Now that every Christmas Skype session with family across the country has been concluded, I thought a little mobile-blog post could go up. We've had a great few days celebrating here even though this is our first Christmas away from Oklahoma. We have been in several living rooms across the US via technology and we are thankful for that (OK, CO, possibly WA later). Bram has greatly enjoyed opening presents this year (perhaps even the thrill of the opening more than playing with the gift), and we pray he one day soon realizes the greatest gift we have been given is a Savior in Jesus Christ, and those who repent and believe in Him find they have been given the greatest of riches - forgiveness, righteousness, peace, and an eternity knowing and loving God in His presence. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Hymn for Christmas - Thou Who Wast Rich

We sang this hymn at church yesterday and I was struck by the beautiful poetry concerning Christ's love for man in the incarnation (and also struck by thinking of the incarnation of Christ itself), and also struck that it was a Christmas hymn I had never heard of. My pastor elaborated on the hymn at the evening Carols service, and if you are interested in how this hymn was written in connection with Christian missions to China, click this link and read the story below the hymn. You can access the melody in this Youtube video. Beautiful melody, too.


Thou Who Wast Rich
Words: Frank Houghton (1894-1972)
Music: Trad. French Carol Melody, FRAGRANCE

Thou Who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou Who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor.

Thou Who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest Man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
heav'nwards by Thine eternal plan.
Thou Who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest Man.

Thou Who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Immanuel, within us dwelling,
make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou Who art love, beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.

Bram reading under the tree yesterday

Andy & Holly's Weekend Visit

We were excited to welcome the newlyweds on the Malone side to Maryland at the beginning of November. Andy and Holly drove from their home near Columbus, OH just to hang out with us for the weekend. We had a great time chatting every night and seeing some sights as the trees here were just beginning to show their fall colors. We drove to Annapolis, MD one morning and enjoyed some good food and ice cream. We were able to visit the National Air and Space Museum another morning and also walk around the National Mall afterward. They were able to stay for church Sunday and we got to sneak in a visit to Jon and I's favorite restaurant in Bethesda, MD, Uncle Julio's (Andy introduced us to Uncle Julio's by giving us a gift card last year). Thanks for visiting us, Andy and Holly!