Oh how I love this wonderful season, when we remember the magnificent lowly birth of our Saviour and King Jesus Christ!! I love the Christmas hymns we sing at church, especially There Were Shepherds, Hymns of Zion #300. Absolutely beautiful to sing scripture in a cappella congregational harmony; it’s beyond description. I love the CDs we play at this time of year, especially Handel’s Messiah, and especially the Hallelujah Chorus. Again, words fail. I love the excitement and awe of the children as we focus on this Christ-child who was born in a barn, raised as a young Jewish lad, grew into a perfect sinless man, was crucified on a horrible cross for MY AND EVERYONE’S SINS because HE LOVES US THAT MUCH, laid in the grave for three days, and then ------- UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE!!! And the greatest gift that ever was or is or will be: God’s gift of His Son for us, giving us salvation, joy in our hearts, peace everlasting, and heaven too. Wow. Can we ever praise Him enough??? Thank You seems so trite – but what other words are there?
“When words fail, music speaks”
This hymnwriter says it so beautifully. This is another of my favorite Christmas hymns; I especially like it because it takes the Christmas story clear to the end. Although often overlooked in the world’s celebrations of Christmas, the end of the Christmas story is not in a barn; it’s in an EMPTY TOMB, Hallelujah!!!!
The Babe of Bethlehem (Hymns of Zion #36)
The blessed story of the Christ, The babe of Bethlehem,
Is worthy of our song and praise, And stirs the hearts of men.
The fullness of God’s love divine, Surrounds the Christ so mild
Alas how many only know The Saviour as a child.
Our saving hope is all in vain, If here our love should cease.
For in the man of Galilee, We find the gift of peace.
‘Tis not the babe, but Christ the man Who walked in Galilee;
‘Tis not the manger, but the cross, That sets the spirit free.
Be not content this babe to know, Nor stay at Bethlehem,
But go with Christ to Calvary’s brow, Beyond Jerusalem.
‘Tis there men learn to know the Christ, For there He bore man’s sin.
Then open wide the door of heart, And let the Saviour in.
May all who don’t know Him and His peace SEEK HIM TODAY.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [knowing]. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
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