I hope y'all don't mind, I gave myself the day off yesterday. :)
So, did you know that the Hallmark channel decided to bring back its Christmas marathon to help people weather the quarantine? I didn't either... until a friend posted about it on FB. I actually don't much think of this as a Christmas song. I feel that way about several Christmas hymns, actually, so don't be surprised if you see another few in the not too distant future.
Think about the lyrics for this beauty... "O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant..."
"Glory to God, glory in the highest!"
"Jesus, to Thee be all glory given."
"O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"
See what I mean? These lyrics are just downright good for the soul!
Not to mention, we tell the story and sing songs of the resurrection year 'round, why not also of His birth?
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" ~ Luke 2:14 (NKJV)
"My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence." ~ 2 Samuel 22:3 (BSB)
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him..." ~ Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." ~ Colossians 1:9 (CSB)
Bonus praise song of encouragement... just because! :)
Actually... speaking of Christmas... Several years ago, I was asked to sing for a women's Christmas brunch. Everything in me called out to do this song. So, I did... with the following introduction.
Imagine for a moment that you are royalty. Intellectually, we know that to be royalty is an awesome responsibility, especially in ancient times. A king or queen is responsible for a nation, a people, and all that entails. Our fantastic fairy tale trained minds think of jewels, balls, and affairs of state. All of the above wrapped up in a crown. How must it have felt, as a king, to make a long journey, away from all of that, to approach and be in the presence of the newborn King of kings? “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him’… When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
We don’t know if the Magi, bearing gifts were indeed kings, or wise men, or what we might call monks, there are many theories, nor do we know how many there were. But we do know that you, having claimed Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus Christ, as your savior are a daughter of the King. I can only imagine approaching under the watchful eye of His earthly parents, in full knowledge of who had just arrived to walk among us, falling to my face in worship. What must it have been like to approach the manger by starlight that night long ago? By the blood of the Messiah and your personal commitment, you are an adopted daughter of the Most High God, daughter of the King, royal blood runs through your veins. When you come before the manger this Christmas as did the Magi, and every day in truth, what will you do?
May God bless you and keep you, friend... always, in all ways.
Comentários