A few years ago, as Christmas approached, I was going through some personal struggles and even considered leaving the ministry. However, as I sat to review the worship music for the beginning of the Christmas season, I couldn’t stop singing the lyrics to Away In A Manger, one of my favorite Christmas carols. I love the simplicity of the song and am always impressed by the childlike faith it evokes.
Here are those first three stanzas:
Away in a Manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The Stars in the sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children, in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
However, as I sang, I felt the song wasn’t complete, so on that day, I wrote two extra stanzas. Doing so help restore my faith and hope in the Lord. I pray they minister to you as you read them below.
No longer a baby, He grew to a man, sent to us from heaven to fulfill God’s plan. He died on a cross to atone for our sin, then rose from the dead to be alive again.
This precious Lord Jesus is all that we need, if we make him our Savior and our Lord indeed, Oh please, wondrous Jesus, be with us today. Fill us with your spirit, we now humbly pray.
Merry Christmas.
*photo courtesy of Unsplash
JohnJFrady.com 
Wow this is awesome and perfect for me today.