Hope Harbor

O holy night is a magbificent Christmas carol. It has a majestic melody and a profoundly significant message. It proclaims that the Divine became human. This baby was Deity robed in flesh. He came to bring hope to a weary world. (The lyrics are copied below) In the 2nd verse the songwriter describe those who came those who came to worship. The words of verse three describe the impact of His ministry and teaching. I address the first verse last because it is my favorite.  It clearly conveys the truth we need to grasp about the reason Jesus came to earth - to be our Savior. The essence of the Gospel can be summed up in these words: Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! My summary/paraphrase of this section is though we were languishing in sin, our hope is that God sent His Son...

Go Tell It On the Mountain is a jubilant African-American Spiritual song. It was written by John Wesley Work Jr. dating back to at least 1865. It is considered  a Christmas carol because it proclaims the Nativity of Jesus. I enjoy this song - not only because it has a lively melody, but also because it conveys a zeal and urgency to declare to EVERYONE the Good News that Jesus Christ has come. Below I've copied the lyrics that give details of the Christmas story. At the end of this post you will find a link so you may listen to a joyful children's choir singing Go Tell It On the Mountain. Go Tell It On the Mountain Lyrics Refrain Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens There shone a holy light. Refrain The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! above the earth, Rang out the angels chorus Th...

In a previous post I mentioned that all too often the message in Christmas carols is not recognized as we are caught up in singing the familiar melody. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is one such song. Did you ever notice the pause after merry in many versions? Some copies of the lyrics actually have a comma inserted there. Many years ago I heard a dear Christian man discussing this Christmas carol. He explained that its true meaning is often missed by modern singers. He pointed out that the intent was an exhortation to remember that God can cause our hearts to have joy because Christ came. It is not a song meant only for men already merry. The song writer wanted to bring cheer to believers, reminding us that there is no need to worry or fear. We can truly find joy as we remember Jesus came to rescue us. He came to save us. Rest - To be free from whanever wearies or disturbs; to be quiet or still. [ Websters ] Ye - The plural of the pronoun of the second person in the nom...

Many of the songs popular at this time of year are cheery. They might have a catchy tune that stays lilting in our memories. We may find ourselves happily humming or singing old favorites like Jingle Bells or Winter Wonderland even though they do little to convey the true meaning of the season. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is one such song. It's lovely melody and sentimental lyrics have been etched in my memory for many years. Recently after my household Christmas decorating had been completed, I was feeling festive and that classic song came to mind. As I sang it (Don't worry only my cat and dog were subjected to my less than talented voice), I realized that it did not really honor the birth of our Savior in a manner in which He deserves. I attempted to substitute words and phrases maintaining the poetic pattern but I am not a skilled song wrter so I was dissatisfied with my efforts but hoped God could smile at my feeble attempts. Then yesterday I learned that th...

As I consider the song Joy to the World, I am prompted to ponder what is the true source of joy. The lyrics of this majestic carol remind us that the humble arrival of our King should bring great joy. This hymn it is believed also declares Christ's triumphant second coming. Luke 2:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “ Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Following is an excerpt from Wikipedia: Joy to the World " is a popular Christmas carol . The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts , based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Test...

I enjoy Christmas Carols. The words and music have a way of encouraging the heart and lifting the spirits. They can set the tone for celebrating the birth of our Savior. The lyrics typically convey a profound message of truth. I must confess, I did not always appreciate the lyrics of the popular songs of the season. For much of my life I didn't grasp their true meaning. It was only after my relationship with Jesus became more personal rather than merely religous (salvation) that I realized what truth Christmas Carols actually proclaim. One of my favorites is Hark The Herald Angels Sing. The verses of this song clearly convey the good news of the Gospel - purpose for Christ's coming. Luke 2 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “ Do n...

When I think of the Nativity story I am usually guilty of not seriously considering what actually took place with real ordinary people. Mary was a young girl, still a teenager it is believed, from a simple village. She was engaged to a local carpenter named Joseph. An angel appeared to her and told her that she would become pregnant (even though she never had intimate relations with a man), and give birth to a special baby. All mothers think there babies are sprcial, but this One would be the Son of God. The angel even instructed her as to what He must be named. It's amazing that, not only did Mary believe this proclamation, she willingly accepted the assignment. In that era, having a child before marriage was not a socially acceptable norm as it sadly is today. She likely faced scorn and ridicule from her neighbors. Can you imagine the bewilderment and hurt Mary's finance must have felt when his bride-to-be returned obviously expecting a baby after a lengthy visit with.her c...

Christmas is swiftly approaching. I know it is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and feel stressed by the busyness of this season. There is much to do. There are gifts to purchase or to make, cookies to buy or to bake, in addition to countless other tasks to accomplish. I am grateful that dear friends helped me decorate again this year. I am very pleased that their talented artistic touches have made it festive in my home. This year I have a sense of anticipation. I want to not only get my house ready; I want to prepare my heart as well. It is good for us to always remember what God did for us in sending Jesus. At this time of year His birth for our redemption can come into clearer focus as we anticipate Christmas. I wonder if any of you have ideas to share regarding activities or traditions that help you get into the spirit of the true meaning of CHRISTMAS. Celebrations and Traditions by John and Kathy Stockman offers resources and activities to ...