Christmas carols

Joy to the World!

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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20 KJV

After passing through the halls singing carols one-night last week, it seemed clear that there were many places far more joyful than a nursing home. And yet…the tears that flow, the peace that is evidenced on their faces and by their attitudes, tells me that there is a joy which God once sent to earth, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. I am so glad that He came as a real baby, to a real stable in Bethlehem, and willing lived among us to show us the way to Heaven. He humbled Himself even further and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and the book of Hebrews tell us that it was all for the joy set before Him. From the cross, Jesus could look out over thousands of years and see the faces of every one of us who have come to Him for forgiveness and Salvation. What could be more joyful message than this? I do hope you enjoy our rendition of Joy to the World – Isaac Watts 1719. As a side note, the lady singing with me is not my dearest, but one of our several volunteers who come to help at the nursing homes where we serve.

Jesus Loves to Hear us Sing!

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I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4 NLT

A few Christmases ago, as we were singing “Silent Night!” at a nursing home; a soft unfamiliar voice began to join us. When I turned to see who it was, I was shocked to see it was a 103-year-old lady, who had never even spoken a single word over the entire year during which she had been wheeled into our services. Then, it occurred to me that some of my other friends there could no longer remember where they were or how they had come to live there. A few had forgotten their children’s names and one or two, could not even remember their own. Yet, the miracle was that as we sang Silent Night; most had no trouble remembering the words as we lifted our voices together in worship.

As those last notes faded away, that experience made me remember that what mattered was not about how smart any of us were, how much money we had in the bank or where we lived. All that really counted in the end, was that we mattered to God. God has promised to carry us, not only during our years of beauty and youth, but even through white hair and failing memory. His love is an eternal and unchanging commitment, and even when everyone else forgets us, Jesus will carry us for a lifetime: and no matter when we were born or where we are living, He still loves to hear us sing to Him today! 

God and Sinners Reconciled

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She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 
Matthew 1:21 ESV

Though it was released in 1946, the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life” continues to touch audiences, generation after generation. Though social mores, technology and politics have changed, the human heart remains the same. And of all the scenes in the film, perhaps none is more loved than the final minutes as an entire community comes together to help George Bailey. One by one, his friends, coworkers, neighbors (and even a few enemies), show up to donate the money needed to keep George out of jail on Christmas. Let’s listen to the words to the Christmas carol they sing: 

Hark the herald angels sing,  
Glory to the newborn King! 
Peace on earth and mercy mild, 
God and sinners reconciled!

Maybe we are moved, because deep within our hearts is a longing for reconciliation, and George Bailey is discovering the wonder of reconciliation for us all. He has learned to pray; He has learned to trust God and He has found that God has answered his prayers through the love of a community. Everything in George’s life suddenly looks different to him, because of reconciliation. Even the name “Jesus” means, “Jehovah saves” and part of that saving was His becoming the sacrifice for our sins so that when we put our faith in Jesus, then God and sinners just like you and me can be reconciled! Hark the Herald Angels Sing by Charles Wesley and George Whitfield. Music by Felix Mendelssohn 1739

Caligiuri, Peter. A Christmas Treasury: Large Print Edition (pp. 8-10). Kindle Edition.