Christmas in a Carol

O thou joyful day, O thou blessed day,

Holy, peaceful Christmastide!

Earth's hopes awaken, Christ life has taken,

Laud Him, O laud Him on every side!

Not surprising, but I'm deep into a devotional titled Christ in the Carols by Christopher and Melodie Lane. It ties the message of yuletide song lyrics into the message of the Bible. You've got your typical Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. But there are also some forgotten harmonies such as a traditional German number 'O Thou Joyful Day' and 'The Happy Christmas Comes Once More' by Dane Nicolai F.S. Grundtrig. 

These older hymnals begged the question of what is Christmas. So, I'll put down the initial answer that filled my mind. It's a celebration.

Those who know me won't be surprised at this definition, as my spirit goes neon at the first hint of holiday themed shopping aisles and frosty October flurries. (The Christmas music goes on before October fifth and plays until March, people! Deal with it!) So speaking as someone whose enthusiasm could easily throw them into a coma, take it from me...

...the celebration only becomes better when you realize the ACTUAL celebrating part.

'But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, 

born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, 

that we might receive adoption to sonship.'

~Galatians 4:4-5~

There's a reason that Christmas gets us so hyped and nostalgic, excited and yearning. It's the time God designated to bring us closer to him. Entire generations were growing up far away from him. And the Creator of the Universe- or our hair and our breath- wasn't about to be resigned to that. 

He didn't just pass an edict, like a lot of the rulers were into back then. No, he GAVE a piece of himself- Jesus Christ- so that a pathway into His love would be possible! 

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown

When Thou camest to earth for me

~Emily E.S. Elliot, 1864~

He bridged the way to hope, grace, mercy, love, and compassion... the tools we find ourselves using in the constant spinning washing machine of our world.

'In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!'

~John 16:33~

He indeed overcame! And it all started at Christmas! So I stand by my answer of a celebration. (Be it 25 days or 52 weeks.) A celebration of who came and what he was to later bring!

Acknowledge

'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 
one came from the Father, full of grace and truth'

~John 1:14~

Context can complicate the simple question of 'what does that mean?'. Here, Hosea brings up the acknowledgement of God in Hosea 6:

'Lets us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.' (verse 3)

What does it mean to acknowledge? Well, first off, it's a verb in every sense... to verbally recognize authority, to admit the truth or reality of something, and five other definitions that have one expressing and realizing the validity of something. 

Think about the distractions of today's society. These distractions, ironically, come at us tenfold around the holidays... when family time and slowing down are the most emphasized. So, in the midst of baking, shopping, channel surfing,... and baking... and football games and ugly sweater parties... and baking... let's not forget to acknowledge the reason that Christmas is the time of comfort and joy.

'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called, 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.'

~Isaiah 9:6~

(Now excuse me while I go bake my third batch of cutout cookies and caramel-chocolate oatmeal bars.)

Christmas Headlines

(You all knew this was coming, what with my loud and melodious love for Christmas carols!)


Christmastime is here                                         When Christmas comes to town

O come, Emmanuel                                             It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year

Deck the Halls                                                     Mary did you know?

Trim up the tree with Christmas stuff                  Come All Ye Faithful

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

                                                                             Up on the Housetop 

O Christmas tree, O Tannebaum                          I heard the bells on Christmas Day;

And Jingle Bells                                                   'Joy to the World!'

Upon a Midnight Clear                                        'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

Dashing through the snow                                    

In a one-horse open sleigh                                   Hark! The Herald Angels sing

                                                                             O little town of Bethlehem

O Holy Night                                                       We Three kings of Orient

Down Santa Claus lane                                       "This, this, is Christ the King!"

The Little Drummer Boy

And Frosty the Snowman hurrying on his way      Infant so tender and mild

                                                                                Away in a manger

Good Tidings to you and your kin                         You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear

Tidings of comfort and joy                                    Christ the Savior is born...

The Holly and the Ivy                                            Christ the Savior is Born!


Dreaming of a White Christmas

A Winter Wonderland

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too

String Up the Tree!

December First To-Do List

1. Have the Christmas tree on all day. Open my Bible to Luke Chapter 2 and revisit the Christmas story, setting my mind and soul right for the season! 
2. Watch several hours worth of Christmas specials!
3. Address envelopes for Christmas cards.
4. Stack my Christmas books on my nightstand for nightly reading.
5. Check my Christmas gift list (TWICE!)
6. Commence the wrapping of said gifts already bought.
7. Place Christmas CDs in my car and beside my player, at work and at home.
8. Hang the stockings!
9. Display Christmas cards of years past.
10. Stir a cup of hot chocolate (marshmallows or whip cream optional) and sip dainty throughout the day.
11. Open my Bible to Luke Chapter 2 and revisit the Christmas story, setting my mind and soul right for the season. Keep the Christmas tree lights on ALL day!

I love winter because of December.

I love December because of Christmas.

I love Christmas because of Christ.

And I pray for my priorities to reflect 

such love this holiday season.

The Horse Who Prayed

An island in the middle of the bluest ocean was home to many horses. One of these younger geldings could run so fast that he had been to every corner and cliff of the island. He walked the same beaches and meadows as the rest of his horse kinsmen, but a restlessness came on him that didn't the others.
The horse wondered what was beyond their island and the vast, beautiful ocean that surrounded it. If there was something more out there, he wanted to go and find it.

However, there was no way off the island for the young horse. It frustrated him greatly. So the horse did the only thing he could. And he prayed for God to send him a way off of the island.

Father, if You could allow me off this island, please show me the way. I would love nothing more then to travel and see the farthest corners of Your creation.

It was short, but sincere and the horse quoted it every hour that day, racing back and forth along the beach and meadows. Come twilight, the horse fell asleep on the sand, exhausted. He woke in the early morning, but instead of pale rays of sun, there was an angry wind pushing gray clouds close to the island. The horse immediately trotted for the caves, where he and the others would be safe. The clouds grew darker and lightening cracked before heavy raindrops began falling over the grass and the horse's back. The horse looked back as the clouds went black and purple...

Suddenly a terrible flash of lightening shot down from the sky! The horse felt himself suspended in its light for a moment... then a searing pain along his back. The lightening had struck him! His legs kicked wildly as he fell to his side, writhing in the white-hot torment. He couldn't breathe or think beyond this terrible pain that now consumed his body. As fast as he was, he couldn't move, except to whinny and moan as the pain continued. God, I am in pain! Make it stop! Make it stop... or have me die!

The horse didn't know how long til he finally passed out, only that upon waking up, the pain had been replacing with stiffness and dizziness. And a weight that the horse did not recognize. Did I die?

But a glance around told the horse he was still at home on the island. Surrounded by his horse kinsmen, who all gaped at him with wonder and fear. The horse, though he stumbled, stood, and realized why. He was heavier because a strong, wide set of graceful wings now adorned his back!

The lightening! The horse turned in an excited circle, testing the movement of his new wings. Just as quickly though, he remembered the pain, his own wish for death. Bending a foreleg, the horse bowed to the heavens. Forgive me, Father. And, I thank You. 

Then the horse arose, feeling the wind sweep under his wings. He gathered his strength in his legs... and with a mighty push, he soared into the air!

THE END

Winter Spell

In the lull of the magical powder, I thought I would supply you with a poem to set the mood for the coming season!

Frigid frost frames the window's edge 

Light flakes gently lay themselves

Atop one another, building

Towards their beauty

Wind slices the trees stripped

Of their leaves, crusted with ice

Their swaying branches

Finger the dark-gray sky

A blanket of pure white 

Carries itself on the wind,

Swirling against itself as a

Warm, velvety beverage seeps

Down my throat and heats my body

Within my solitude

The glowing dance of the fire's flames

Drapes its warmth across my shivering

Shoulders, protecting me from the 

Chilled air it has yet to conquer

Content of the night washes over me

Until I'm drowned in its peace

The snow glimmers even in the night

It pulls the sweet weight of sleep

Upon my eyelids

Carrying me further and further away

~~~~~

It's coming, we all know it... EMBRACE IT!

Bearing

My devotions pulled me into Psalm 136 this morning.

In which the phrase His love endures forever is repeated through all twenty-six verses. God reminds readers of His rescue of the Israelites from captivity, leading them through the Red Sea, and the inheritance He gave them, even after forty years in the desert.

The chapter signalizes the Lord's love for His chosen people; a good reminder for me and anyone else. The bad days can be turned hopeful with this, and the good days can become even brighter with it. That however wasn't what was flooding my mind as I read the verses.

Endurance is applied to a lot of things, usually coupled with words such as perseverance or stamina. Yet, endurance is tied to the ability or strength to outlast pain, hardship, or some other undue strain. Many times, we find we are able to endure something because God loves us. (I have literally been a ball of tears on the floor, with God's love my only string to sanity.) In the midst of it all though... what does God have to endure?

Our scoffs, our angry outbursts...

Our excuses, or flat out shunning of His teachings for the sake of our own choices...

Our worship (time, energy) of idols...

Our endless repeats of the same mistakes...

Our reliance on our own strength, patience, courage, etc.

Yes, God's love endures forever. It endures for us, His crafted children. In spite of all the walls we try to build between ourselves and it.

'Give thanks to the God of heaven

His love endures forever.'

~Psalm 136:26~