My kids have been learning about poems in their language arts class. They’ve even written a few of their own. I bet you’ve never read a poem about falling in a toilet. Well, now you can. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

“FALLING IN A TOYLET”
By Heidi, February 2015

Falling in a toylet
Is like scratches all over you.
Its like your stuck in a suwer pipe.
That is how much I like it.

——

“MY DAD”
By Dylan, January 2019

Daddy is as loving as Grammy Molly
As fair as perfect divition [division]
He is strong like rain,
And smart like a computer.
He is understanding like good parents,
And caring like a cat cleaning her kittens.

—–

“THE SEA STORM”
By Heidi, September 2020

The tossing sea is cruel and restless
The sky pounds down with ferocious violence
The crashing waves are huge and heartless
The lightning strikes with frightful menace
The sea is covered with a misty veil
Though it’s easy to hear the waters roar
The wind lets out a piercing wail
And the churning ocean is seen once more

—–

“PUPPY KISSES”
By Heidi, January 2021

The door unlocks, and our family is here,
Our little puppy jumps up with cheer.
Her silky ears flap against her head,
Her fluffy tail wags with unstoppable shed.

We cuddle her fluffy head with great affection,
As she rubs against us with complete subjection.
She bounces around and frolicks and leaps,
And all the while her tail swishes with big long sweeps.

Our little puppy kisses our hands with jubilee,
She bounds and romps with evident glee.
Suddenly she lets out a yawn that is so deep,
And lays down in her bed to fall fast asleep.

—–

“BIG BLACK BIRD”
By Heidi, January 2021

Big, black bird, how do you live?
Do you know how you live?
Who gives you food, when you neither sow nor reap?
You have no fruit or grain or a barn to keep.
You have no care about what you may eat before bed.
For you fly in the air with no roof o’er your head.
Big, black bird, how do you live?
Do you know how you live?

Big, black bird, how do you live?
I can tell you how you live.
God gives you food, though you neither sow nor reap.
God gives you fruit and grain, though you have no barn to keep.
You have no care or dread, for God is providing.
He is with you wherever you’re abiding.
Big, black bird, God keeps you always.
God loves us all, and with us God stays.

—–

“FAMILY”
By Abby, January 2021

Family is those related through birth.
Such as your parents and siblings on earth.
Family are closely related people.
God created people to serve and love him.
But Satan likes to get in the way.
You should be able to trust your family
Each and every day.

The gift was big and heavy. It rattled and clanked, but I had no clue what was inside the box. I waited my turn, then made quick work of the wrapping paper to uncover a brand new REI camping tent. It was the deluxe kind with two sleeping rooms, aluminum poles, a tall frame even I could stand in, and a “garage” attachment for extra storage.

Our first tent was nearly a decade old. It had been fine during those early years of marriage, but as our family grew, so did our need for a bigger tent. My wife had picked out the perfect gift to spend family time together and enjoy the great outdoors.

After testing out the tent in the backyard and making sure we had all the pieces, we were ready for our first real adventure. We drove to the beach and found the site we would call “home” for several days. We made many memories exploring, swimming, building sand castles, cooking s’mores, and crossing paths with a skunk family. (Thankfully no one got sprayed!) Our time was special, but by the end of the week, we were all ready to sleep in a warm bed again, surrounded by four sturdy walls. Tents are a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

That tent reminds me of a much greater Christmas gift. Two thousand years ago, God did the unthinkable. He pitched a tent and lived among us. John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

When Jesus was born, the creator came to earth and set up camp. He preached the gospel, healed the sick, raised the dead, lived a perfect life, and invited twelve disciples to watch him up close and personal. He was tempted and suffered in every way like us, yet never sinned. Then he went to the cross, taking the punishment for our guilt, and rising again on the third day.

But where is Jesus now? He is no longer the lowly infant of Bethlehem. He is the sovereign king of heaven, building a permanent home for all who trust in him. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3).

The king accepted a tent on earth so we can enjoy a mansion in heaven. That is the story of Christmas.

A Merry Christmas to you and your family. Many local churches will be holding a candlelight service tonight for Christmas Eve. Why not attend one? It’s a great way to gather with friends and celebrate the best gift of all – God’s own Son.

Question: What Christmas tradition helps your family celebrate the true meaning of Christmas? Share your thoughts by clicking here.

This article first appeared in our local newspaper, The Hi Desert Star.

Have you heard about the new movie Grace Unplugged? It opened last weekend in theaters nationwide and has garnered quite a bit of attention.

Grace Unplugged is an entertaining film with high production values and a strong Christian message. On opening weekend, it was the top-rated fan movie on Fandango.

The story goes like this (from the movie website). Having just turned 18, Grace Trey aspires to more than just singing at her church, where the worship leader is her father—a former pop star. So, with the help of Mossy, her dad’s former manager, Grace records a cover version of her dad’s old Top-10 hit, runs off to Los Angeles, and begins to taste the kind of stardom she’s always dreamed about. Yet with each rung of the ladder she climbs, Grace feels more and more pressure to compromise her values, further straining her relationship with her parents. Will everything she experiences lead her to reject her faith … or rediscover it?

The movie is a drama and the rating is PG, so its themes are for older children up through adults. I watched a prescreening at the SBC Convention last June, and really liked the parts I saw. This would be a great movie for a youth group or family night out.

You can watch the official trailer here:

Have you seen the movie? What did you think?

For a limited time, the Christian band Page CXVI (pronounced ‘116’) is generously giving away every song they’ve produced in the last seven years. This includes seven hymns albums and four pop albums (through their alternate indie band name Autumn Film). Just click here to visit their site.

We had this band at our church a few years ago for an outreach concert, and were blessed by their musical talents and their willingness to perform in smaller venues.

Their press release says, “Between re-arranging the classic hymns, to creating beautiful emotive indie pop music, the band has recorded 11 albums together. Please join them in celebrating this jubilee by catching up on the records you’ve missed or download the entire catalog.”

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.

Now it’s your turn: What are some of your favorite Christian artists today?

Related posts:

• Spring Concert 2010
• Are Hymns Still Relevant in our Worship?