December 15 Advent thoughts 

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17 

A prayer: let us now see Him, not far but near. Let Him be seen not in the manger, but in our deeds, our actions, our responses. Let our hearts become the manger of the Christ child, and let Him stay there and turn it into the throne room of our King. 

T’was a humble birthplace, bit o how much 

God gave to us that day. 

From the manger bed what a path has led, 

What a perfect, holy day. 

Alleluia! how the angels sang 

Alleluia! How it rang! 

And the sky was bright, on that holy night, 

T’was the birthday of the King. 

-The Birthday of the King, written by William Neidlinger, 1896