It didn’t feel like Christmas to me this year. No special joy in planning, do not like my tiny Christmas tree, gift giving has evolved to a ritual, every station I tried seemed to only play childish or meaningless songs, no traditional carols.
Last Friday morning, on utube, I came across a concert called The Birth of a King. I began to listen and was carried away by the power in the words of these familiar songs.
When they sang “Mary Did you know,” I began to see Jesus in the flesh, see Mary kiss the face of God, and lives changed forever, as songs of praise are lifted to the coming of the Great I Am.
I envisioned the Father looking down onto His psalms, where Mary’s name is engraved, and choosing her to be the mother of His precious Son, and her joy in being a part of bringing about the greatest gift ever.
I heard “Oh Come Emanuel,” where I mourned until the Son of God became mine and remembered how I had rejoiced at His grace.
At “Oh come all ye faithful,” I joined them with “Oh come let us adore Him.” And added He alone is worthy and give Him all the glory.
“The first noel led me to look up noel’s meaning. All I found was it represents singing carols, especially at Christmas. I too sang “praise to my heavenly King.”
“Angels we have heard on high,” released worship as I came on bended knee, or at least my heart, and I recognized the consistent phrase, come, come.
I relished the tidings of comfort and joy, over dismay or Satan’s power in “God rest ye merry gentlemen,” grateful He was “born this day.”
“On the midnight clear,” I heard the angels, listened and joined, grateful the King has come.
My hopes and fears were met with Him who imparts blessings in “Oh little town of Bethlehem.” The greatness of Him who was born in us, abides in us, our Lord, Emanuel.
The Son of God, loves pure light, alighted on my heart as “Silent Night,” dawned with fresh redeeming grace because Christ our savior is born.
I have come to “own” Him because I know “What child is this,” and joy, joy that He is born
I have asked Him who was “away in a manger,” to stay by my cradle as He did on that “Midnight Clear,” and peace and goodwill came to man.
When I heard, “Hark the herald angels sing,” glory to the newborn King, arose, the joy that He brought with light and life and healing in His wings, reminded me He was born to raise us sons of earth.
Truly, it was an “Oh holy night,” for those of us in sin and error pining, but He appeared, and we found hope, and praise His holy name, and proclaim His power forever.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Mary knew it and I came to know it afresh, this Christmas season, with great rejoicing.
Will you lift your hands with me and praise Him and tell the world, “Joy to the world, the Lord HAS come” as you reflect on and give glory to the newborn king? Listen for the phrases that quicken your heart as you sing these familiar carols and be aware of how many of them use the word “come,” or “Emanuel.”
CHRISTMAS 2024
It didn’t feel like Christmas to me this year. No special joy in planning, do not like my tiny Christmas tree, gift giving has evolved to a ritual, every station I tried seemed to only play childish or meaningless songs, no traditional carols.
Last Friday morning, on utube, I came across a concert called The Birth of a King. I began to listen and was carried away by the power in the words of these familiar songs.
When they sang “Mary Did you know,” I began to see Jesus in the flesh, see Mary kiss the face of God, and lives changed forever, as songs of praise are lifted to the coming of the Great I Am.
I envisioned the Father looking down onto His psalms, where Mary’s name is engraved, and choosing her to be the mother of His precious Son, and her joy in being a part of bringing about the greatest gift ever.
I heard “Oh Come Emanuel,” where I mourned until the Son of God became mine and remembered how I had rejoiced at His grace.
At “Oh come all ye faithful,” I joined them with “Oh come let us adore Him.” And added He alone is worthy and give Him all the glory.
“The first noel led me to look up noel’s meaning. All I found was it represents singing carols, especially at Christmas. I too sang “praise to my heavenly King.”
“Angels we have heard on high,” released worship as I came on bended knee, or at least my heart, and I recognized the consistent phrase, come, come.
I relished the tidings of comfort and joy, over dismay or Satan’s power in “God rest ye merry gentlemen,” grateful He was “born this day.”
“On the midnight clear,” I heard the angels, listened and joined, grateful the King has come.
My hopes and fears were met with Him who imparts blessings in “Oh little town of Bethlehem.” The greatness of Him who was born in us, abides in us, our Lord, Emanuel.
The Son of God, loves pure light, alighted on my heart as “Silent Night,” dawned with fresh redeeming grace because Christ our savior is born.
I have come to “own” Him because I know “What child is this,” and joy, joy that He is born
I have asked Him who was “away in a manger,” to stay by my cradle as He did on that “Midnight Clear,” and peace and goodwill came to man.
When I heard, “Hark the herald angels sing,” glory to the newborn King, arose, the joy that He brought with light and life and healing in His wings, reminded me He was born to raise us sons of earth.
Truly, it was an “Oh holy night,” for those of us in sin and error pining, but He appeared, and we found hope, and praise His holy name, and proclaim His power forever.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Mary knew it and I came to know it afresh, this Christmas season, with great rejoicing.
Will you lift your hands with me and praise Him and tell the world, “Joy to the world, the Lord HAS come” as you reflect on and give glory to the newborn king? Listen for the phrases that quicken your heart as you sing these familiar carols and be aware of how many of them use the word “come,” or “Emanuel.”