Tag Archives: christmas carols

He shall be called Prince of Peace…

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There is a song for Advent in this post – you just have to read a lot first!  :)

hand prints, foot prints for christmas

Today I am adding  Casting Crown’s “I Heard the Bells.” It was probably about 10 or 12 years ago that I began to really understand the amazing thing that happened over “secular” radio airwaves each Christmas season as classic Christmas carols were played.  There it was – out in the hustle and bustle of shopping and crowds and malls, KOSI-101 playing Bing Crosby’s voice singing these lyrics:

“…’There is no peace on earth,’ I said,

‘For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“GOD IS NOT DEAD, NOR DOES HE SLEEP;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With PEACE ON EARTH, goodwill to men.”

peace on earth

The story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writing these words, while unique to him, also proves that across time, we all experience the pain of loss.  These are chaotic and confusing days and our world is politically, socially and most certainly spiritually distraught.  Then in our own small lives an unforeseen setback comes to mar the beauty of the life we had tried to carve out.  Sickness, professional fails, broken friendships, shattered dreams, the death of some one important…it can cause us to want to just forget about the whole Christmas thing, to feel as Longfellow did at the prospect of merry-making

“In despair I bowed my head, ‘There is no peace on earth, ‘ I said.”

But, oh how I thank Henry W. Longfellow for pressing through and getting the revelation of the truth of what the angels proclaimed in dazzling, glorious, bright-light words to the shepherds so long ago.  Because he wrote the words that led to a song that, while we may see it as just another old-fashioned Christmas carol, becomes a TRUTH released into the atmosphere proclaiming the VERY words of God and His Word will always, ALWAYS accomplish what it was sent forth to do.  Dig it, people – Christmas is a time you can actually, really, with total boldness and clarity declare the Word of God on your life, on the lives of your friends and family and into your community.  You have the GOOD NEWS!  Give it!

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

‘Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'” Luke 2

So, for today, Casting Crowns with a newer rendition of these powerful lyrics.  This song gives me goosebumps!  Everytime the choir sings, “Peace on Earth,” I get so excited about this amazing gift from heaven all over again.

Glory to God in the highest – I worship Him, I gift Him with my abandoned love and praise.  Peace on earth and goodwill – He gifts me back!  And He gives good gifts!  Please receive this today, and believe it no matter how scary or hopeless the world seems: God is good and He gives PEACE.  May you be blessed today with a “suddenly” moment just like the shepherds were.  :)

P.S.  No kidding – I really just mean to post a song, not get all crazy enthusiastic about it, but this i what happens to me!

Jesus said:  “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  John 14.27

Let heaven and nature sing

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One of my favorite things about the Christmas season when I was a child was sitting in a dim room with only the lights of the tree twinkling and I’d sing all the Christmas carols I knew.  I had no idea at the time that I wasn’t just singing songs about the Christmas season, but I was actually being impacted with spiritual truth about God’s great gift to us.

While my own kids were growing up, even though it could be challenging to get a spare moment, I would still find an evening or two to myself to do the same. It was good to find peace during the season’s rush, in a light-quiet room, to sing truth, to just sing myself into joy.

These days you could do brain surgery from the glow of our 12-foot tree, due to the 6000 lights Dave loves to add. But stealing time to sit there and sing is a priority for my Christmas joy-quest.  I love Christmas carols!

This past weekend as I waited in line for some hot chocolate and caramel corn in a tiny and extremely crowded establishment full of holiday shoppers, an older gentleman behind the counter was singing his head off.  No piped music for him.  He just reared back and proclaimed, “Silent night, holy night…,” and then, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come...”

How unusual, how risky and politically incorrect in these days, and yet, not one person there seemed offended or got out of the very long line to leave the store.  Because it was “Christmas music,” it was OK.  How cool is that?  Even if they have never heard those songs before (and I bet they have), seeds were sown that afternoon into shopper’s hearts.  And as year follows year and season follows season and they hear them again and again, that beautiful truth will continue to be declared as an inescapable testimony (no matter how far they may be from Christ) – those seeds remain, ready to spring up!

I love Christmas carols!

In the Old Testament God told Moses, “Now write down this song and teach it.”  So Moses recorded a very lengthy song God gave to him and he taught it to the Israelite people.  They sang it.  Moses instructed the people to take all the words of the song to heart saying,

“These are not just idle words, these are your life.”

God knew and Moses knew that a song can impact your heart and memory like nothing else can. When you consider some of the rich, spiritual truths found in Christmas carols (and I sing them a lot, so I have!),  you can see that the joyous messages contained in them are life-giving.  Consider these incredible truths. Better yet- sing them:

“Son of God, love’s pure light”  Jesus is the light of the world.

“Let every heart, prepare Him room”

“God is not dead, nor does He sleep” Bing Crosby does a great job of declaring this important message.

“Born that men no more may die”

“O, come let us adore Him” What an invitation to personal worship.

“God rest ye…let nothing you dismay”  Because Jesus was born, we get rest, rest! “…to save us all from Satan’s power.”  Sin’s terrible grip is broken, rest.  “O, tidings of comfort and joy…,” rest.

And who hasn’t heard Mariah Carey on KOSI 101 belting out, “And in His Name, all oppression shall cease!” ?  

Right now, for these brief few days, we don’t have to feel sheepish or guilty about what Christmas has become, but we can be the most joyous celebrants around.

I think we should all stand in shopping lines and sing Christmas carols and make people smile…or think we’re weird, but at least plant the seeds of truth in a song that will stay in their heads.

Do it.  Sing a carol in a music-less place. I will if you will!  Let me know how it goes!!!

Blessings, Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Go sit by the Christmas tree.  Remember the gift God hung on a tree 2000 years ago while anticipating the gifts under my tree we will share in a few days.  Sing with uproarious joy.  Sing!