Tag Archives: Christmas
The Joy of God
The joy of God has gone through the poverty of the manger and the agony of the cross; that is why it is invincible, irrefutable.
Is He Not Rightly Called Wonderful?
I do believe that the very angels have never wondered but once and that has been incessantly ever since they first beheld it. They never cease to tell the astonishing story, and to tell it with increasing astonishment too, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, and became a man. Is he not rightly called Wonderful? Infinite, and an infant — eternal, and yet born of a woman — Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms — king of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph — heir of all things and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Wonderful art thou O Jesus, and that shall be thy name for ever.
The Most Wonderful Message the World Has Ever Heard or Ever Will Hear
This Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity — hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory — because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.
J. I. Packer in Nancy Guthrie, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008), 71.
Stooping So Low, But Sinners Raising
If Christ would stoop so low as to visit our… sinful world… in what better way could we demonstrate that we are partakers of His grace than… to imitate His example.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
I became familiar with this carol a year ago. It is apparently sung commonly in the New England region during the Christmas season. The lyrics are provide below the video.
1. The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.
2. His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.
3. For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.
4. I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
5. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.
The Zither Carol
I heard this delightful little carol for the first time this week. Beneath the video are the lyrics.
Girls and boys – Leave your toys – Make no noise
Kneel at his crib and worship him
At thy shrine – Child divine – We are thine
Our Savior’s here
Chorus:
“Hallelujah” the church bells ring
“Hallelujah” the angels sing
“Hallelujah” from everything
All must draw near
On that day – Far away – Jesus lay
Angels were watching ’round his head
Holy Child – Mother mild – Undefiled
We sing thy praise
repeat 3 lines of chorus
Our hearts we raise
Shepherds came – At the fame – Of thy name
Angels their guide to Bethlehem
In that place – Filled with grace – Saw thy face
Stood at they door
repeat 3 lines of chorus
Love evermore
Wise men too – Haste to do – Homage new
Gold, myrrh and frankincence they bring
As ’twas said – Starlight led – To thy bed
Bending their knee
repeat 3 lines of chorus
Worshipping thee
Oh, that we – All might be – Good as he
Spotless, with God in unity
Savior dear – Ever near – With us here
Since life began
repeat 3 lines of chorus
God head made man
Cherubim – Seraphim – Worship him
Sun, moon and stars proclaim his power
Every day – On our way – we shall say
Hallelujah
repeat 3 lines of chorus
Hallelujah
What Sweeter Music
