I want a Christmas just with Christ
without its empty frills
that by a hostile world are priced,
a world that Christmas kills!

I want to see God´s Son adored,
but not with worldly charm
that year by year my soul has bored
and does the gospel harm.

I want to use the Christmas time
to make the gospel´s sound
with Christ, His death and glory rhyme,
on that I don´t yield ground!

I want a Christmas and a home
for neighbors to invite
beneath an unseen gospel dome,
yet full of Heaven´s light!

I Christmas want because of Christ,
Him crucified I preach,
He for our sins was sacrificed,
O, what a Christmas speech!

So let the world have Christmas fun,
while Christ it does despise,
its emptiness my soul does shun,
Christ only satisfies!

Nov. 10, 2012 – jn