Day 25: The Birthday of a King

My grandma died of cancer in 1991...one month before the first grandchild was born.  My grandpa has now remarried, but our "real" grandma always has a special place in our hearts, especially around the holidays. At our LaFleur family Christmas later today, we will sing this song, because it was her favorite Christmas carol. I love you, Grandma. I can't wait to meet you someday!

In the little village of Bethlehem,
There lay a child one day,
And the sky was bright,
With a holy light,
O'er the place where Jesus lay.

Alleluia!
O how the angels sang!
Alleluia!
How it rang!
And the sky was bright,
With a holy light,
'Twas the birthday of a King.

Twas a humble birthplace,
But O!
How much God gave to us that day!
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect holy way.

Alleluia!
O how the angels sang!
Alleluia!
How it rang!
And the sky was bright,
With a Holy light,
'Twas the birthday of a King.

TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR KING! Celebrate and give Him honor! Oh, how the angels sang! Sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

How much He gave to us that day! What a PERFECT, HOLY WAY! His Way is Perfect!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Day 24: It's Christmas Eve!!!!!

As I consider that I only have today and tomorrow left to post carols, I'm debating as to which carol to use today!  There are several that I haven't used yet (crazy, I know!) and I already know which one I'm using tomorrow. So I have decided on this song by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Christmas Oratorio, which was unfamiliar to me, but you might know it:)

1. Beside the cradle here I stand
O Thou that ever livest
Accept me, 'tis my mind and heart
My soul, my strength, my ev'ry part
That thou from me requirest

2. And bring Thee with a willing hand
The very gifts Thou givest
Accept me, 'tis my mind and heart
My soul, my strength, my ev'ry part
That thou from me requirest.
(view original post here.)

With Christmas being tomorrow (!!!!!), this carol is very appropriate as we consider our heart toward our Savior.  


When I was younger, I used to picture myself running to the manger and worshipping Baby Jesus, and feeling ashamed that I had nothing to give Him.  And then singing, "What can I give Him, poor as I am, if I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, if I were a wise man, I would do my part, but what can I give Him? Give Him my heart."
And now, I kneel before Him again.  I see my insignificance and poverty of soul in light of His majesty.  But now, does my heart resist being offered? It is my only possession! How can I give it up? My will, my desires, my everything...can I really give them to this baby?

O my God, do not let me grow stubborn and resistant in my soul.  I know that Christmas is all about Your Gift--Your only Son, because You loved me. Me--who has resisted at every turn, who would never have loved you unless You have loved me first. Love so amazing, so divine DEMANDS my soul, my life, my all!  "Accept me, 'tis my mind and heart, my soul, my strength, my ev'ry part" - it's Yours, Lord. I give it all. Magnify yourself through me this Christmas, and throughout all of my life, which is Yours to use as You will. 


Let's kneel before Him this Christmas and give back the gift of our lives to Him again. 

Day 23: I heard the bells on Christmas Day

 I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1864;
Original title from the poem "Christmas Bells"

Music: "Waltham," John Baptiste Calkin, 1872.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF
Melody Line Only: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Alternate tune: "Mainzer," Joseph Mainzer (1801-1851)
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF
and a contemporary score written by John D. Marks, copyright.

1. I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

2. I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

3. And in despair I bowed my head
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

4. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.'

5. Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Now, I recognize that this song does not speak directly of Christ's birth, but it has always struck a chord with me. 
"Peace on earth" seems impossible.  We sing of it, but look at our world: earthquakes, terrorist attacks, nuclear threats, homosexuality, denial of God, Satanism on the rise...where is this peace the angels sang of?
We can be in despair like this songwriter, "There is no peace on earth, for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men." 
Isaiah 57:21 says,  "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."  
And Romans 3:16-18 "in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Doesn't that sound like the world around us? 

And what about us, those who fear God and await His return.  There is quite a different description of our lives!

Ephesians 2:17 "And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near."

Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all."

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

My friends, since we are the people of the Prince of Peace, our lives should be characterized by peace!  The peace of God...it surpasses all human understanding, but it's very real in our lives! 

Despite the turmoil in the world around us, be of GOOD CHEER!  Our Prince of Peace has already overcome the world and made it possible for us to be people of peace and live in peace with Him and mankind.  

And SOMEDAY SOON, He is coming back! And HE will restore to the whole world a kingdom of peace, and goodwill among all men!  

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the Right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.

Day 22: O Come all Ye Faithful

1. O come, all ye faithful, 

Joyful and triumphant,
O Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;

Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

2. God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, Begotten not created. Chorus

3. See how the shepherds,
Summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps:  Chorus

4. Lo! star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him frankincense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ child,
Bring our hearts' oblations: Chorus

5. Child, for us sinners
Poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace Thee,
With awe and love;
Who would not love Thee,
Loving us so dearly? Chorus

6. Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God,
In the highest; Chorus

At the entrance into the choir. Unison.

7. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesu , to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing. Chorus

This has always been one of my favorite carols!  It's one of those I just like, and have to think about why exactly I like it. It could be the thrill of singing it, the triumphant melody and harmony, and the call to adore my Savior. It could be the whole presentation of Christ as King, to Whom belongs all the glory.  

I don't think I had ever read stanzas 2, 3, 4, or 5 until today. I love the way they draw in the other characters of the Christmas story.  But this phrase in stanza five jumped out at me: Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

That reminds me so much of my thoughts when I submitted to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at age six.  "If He loves me so much, giving His life for me, how can I not give my life to Him?" Truly, this question is one of the groundworks of my faith: "we love Him because He first loved us."

I know that I would never have chosen Jesus. I would never have loved Him, had He not loved me first in such a sacrificial and unconditional way.  And that is (one of the many reasons!) why I love Him!

O come let us adore Him, all those to whom He has shown His great love! Let us give Him our love, our souls, our adoration, our praise, and our very lives! O come, let us adore Him, Christ OUR Lord!

Day 21: As with GLADNESS Men of Old

1. As with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most glorious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.

2. As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

3. As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

4. Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5. In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!

Now I know that the wise men were not there at the stable...
just consider this the continuation of Christmas 2008, finally the wise men are here!
I love the application in this carol: being led by Christ, worshipping Christ, finding joy in Christ, offering our treasures to Christ, and singing to Christ!
Offer Him your all this Christmas and bow before Him as Heavenly Babe and Heavenly King!

Day 20: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday...I was down with the stomach flu, along with half of my family:( We're all on the mend today, though, Praise the Lord!

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

This is a Biblically-accurate carol, as well.  I especially like the beginning "Let nothing you dismay, Remember..." We are so forgetful!  But if we remember the reason for our festivities, if we remember why He came, if we remember that we are not under Satan's power anymore...ah, then great is the comfort and joy!

Day 18: A Christmas Carol-What Sweeter Music

A Christmas Carol, Sung To The King¹ In The Presence At Whitehall

Words: Robert Herrick (1591-1674), 1648

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), pp. 230-1.

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!
Heart, ear, and eye, and everything.
Awake! the while the active finger
Runs division with the singer.

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this day,
That sees December turned to May.

If we may ask the reason, say
The why, and wherefore, all things here
Seem like the springtime of the year?

Why does the chilling Winter's morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell, like to a mead new-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden?

Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
'Tis He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see Him come, and know Him ours,
Who, with His sunshine, and His showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome Him. The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the heart,

Which we will give Him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do Him honor; who's our King,
And Lord of all this reveling.

A Christmas Carol

I was introduced to this song at the Faith Baptist Bible College Festival of Carols Christmas Concert a few weeks ago.  It was a vocal arrangement called "What Sweeter Music." I had no idea what the song's origin was and assumed it was a new song.  Then today, I am searching for a carol for the 18th, and find one called, A Christmas Carol. I open it up...and surprise! I know this song!

Then I look on youtube for a video of it, and voila! It's a famous song!

Me and my assumptions....:)

This video is by vocalessence, and well worth watching! The words WITH the music is even more powerful! (again, if you pause the music at the bottom of the page, you will be able to experience the video better:)

Today will be a crazy day! Church cantata practice from nine until twelve, and then our youth group's Christmas party, complete with ice skating, white elephant exchange, and an ugly sweater contest!

But the message of this song reminds me...despite busyness, God desires my worship and my praise! Every time I sing or meditate on a Christmas carol, I can praise my God for His amazing gift of Christ!

He has changed my life, so that there is purpose in the hustle and bustle; I know the Lord of all this revelling and public mirth!

Awake the voice! Awake the string!  What sweeter music can we bring than a carol about our Lord's birth?

Day 17: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing : Lyrics

Play Music !

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

If you hadn't noticed by now, I really enjoy old carols that no one really sings anymore, but have rich truths, and usually have an aversion to those "classic" carols that everyone knows, but no one really pays attention to the words.
This carol is untypical!  When was the last time I sung this song and really thought about it, though? I know the words, so I focus on my harmony part and lose the powerful message!
"Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn king!"

If you have been following my carol posts for the past three weeks, you may see a pattern. I am transfixed by the Incarnation of my God! He became flesh!  I cannot wrap my mind around it, and yet I cannot get my mind away from it!

Because He became flesh, He was like as me, was in all points tempted as I am, yet without sin, becoming the only perfect High Priest, who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses!  Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to help in time of need!

 

 

Day 16: Cast off All Doubtful Care

Better late than never? :)

Cast off all doubtful care,
    Exile and banish tears;
To joyful news divine
    Lend us your listening ears.

1. An earthly tree a heavenly fruit it bare,
        A case of clay contained a crown immortal,
A crown of crowns, a King whose cost and care
        Redeemed poor man, whose race before was thrall
    To death, to doom, to pains of everlasting,
    By His sweet death, scores, stripes and often fasting.

2. A star above the stars, a sun of light,
        Whose blessed beams this wretched earth bespread
With hope of heaven and of God's Son the sight,
        Which in our flesh and sinful soul lay dead.
    O faith, O hope, O joys renowned forever
    O lively death that deathless shall persever!

3. Then let us sing the lullabies of sleep
        To this sweet Babe, born to awake us all
From drowsy sin that made old Adam weep,
        And by his fault gave to mankind the fall.
    For lo! this day, the birthday, day of days,
    Summons our songs to give Him laud and praise.

We always need to be reminded to cast our cares and burdens down at the Master's feet! We continually try to bear our load on our own, and become oh! so weary, when all the time is burden is easy and His yoke is light!

I considered including the midi for this carol, but decided against it. The words to this song sing music to my soul, and I don't need a tune to revel in it!  
"A case of clay contained a crown immortal, A crown of crowns, a King" - it thrills my soul to think of it! O faith, O hope, O joys renowned forever!
We ever revel in the truth of Christmas!

Day 15: Calypso Carol

For today, a newer carol, composed in 1964 by Michael Perry. (Pausing the automatic music at the bottom of the page might be helpful if you want to avoid a chaotic sound:)



See him alying on a bed of straw
Draughty stable with an open door
Mary cradling the babe she bore
The prince of glory is his name.


Refrain:
Oh, now carry me to Bethlehem
To see the Lord appear to men
Just as poor as was the stable then
The prince of glory when he came.

Star of silver sweeps across the skies
Show where Jesus in the manger lies
Shepherds swiftly from your stupor rise
To see the Saviour of the world.

Mine are riches from thy poverty
From thine innocence, eternity
Mine, forgiveness by thy death for me
Child of sorrow, for my joy.

Angels, sing again the song you sang
Bring God's glory to the heart of man
Sing, "Bethlehem's little baby can
Be salvation to the soul."

Refrain:
Oh, now carry me to Bethlehem
To see the Lord appear to men
Just as poor as was the stable then
The prince of glory when he came.

It blows my mind that for two thousand years, believers have celebrated this wonderful event!  A song writer in the 2nd century could have written similar words and they would have been as true then as they are now. 
Ours is not an irrelevant religion, but a living faith!  We have the same hope and trust in the same God that Stephen, Peter, James and Paul did, which gave them to courage to die for their faith!

Mine are riches from thy poverty
From thine innocence, eternity
Mine, forgiveness by thy death for me
Child of sorrow, for my joy.

It is because we have this joy that we can live a victorious life, transcending our wicked and perverse generation, among we are to shine as lights in the world!

Around the world today, Christians are dying for this faith.  Stand with them. Pray for them.  And live a life that they would live if they had the same freedom we take for granted.

Day 14: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

The lyrics to this song were penned by Martin Luther in 1531 for his little son, Hans, and the music was by Valentin Schumann.

From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

From heaven above to earth I come,
To bear good news to every home,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will gladly sing.

To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little Child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth

From the point of view of the angel, I believe, and since it was written for a child, pleasantly simple.  I love the reference to "pious mirth"--now that's a fun description for an angel! I wonder what that would look like? 

A good reminder that sometimes the "simplest" things have deeper meanings, and the "deepest" things can be understood by a child.  Any child can know that Jesus is God and came to earth as a baby, while a lifelong scholar of the Bible can never fully understand that concept.  

"Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Romans 11:33

Day 13: I Know Not How

Tune is available via midi here.


1. I know not how that Bethlehem’s Babe

Could in the Godhead be;
I only know the manger Child
Has brought God’s life to me.

2. I know not how that Calvary’s cross
A world from sin could free;
I only know its matchless love
Has brought God’s love to me.

3. I know not how that Joseph’s tomb
Could solve death’s mystery;
I only know a living Christ,
Our immortality.

We KNOW that Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby, fully God and fully man.

We KNOW that through Him we have forgiveness of sins and an inheritance with those who are sanctified through faith in Him.

We KNOW that we have eternal life. 

This Christmas many people become desperate, lost and confused. They don't know the truth, and they don't even know if there IS truth. 

We KNOW that there is truth, and we KNOW the TRUTH HIMSELF.

Do not be ashamed of the Truth, for those who know it will be set free by it.

Day 12: In the Bleak Midwinter

In the Bleak Midwinter

Words: Chris­ti­na Ros­set­ti, 1872; she wrote these words in re­sponse to a re­quest from the mag­a­zine Scrib­ner’s Month­ly for a Christ­mas po­em.
Music: Cranham, Gus­tav T. Holst, 1906 (MI­DI, score).

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I was thinking of this carol today since it FINALLY snowed here in Iowa, and doused us with snow and ice so that we cannot leave our dwellings! Church was cancelled, and so here I sit. "Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow" :)

Verse 2 gives me shivers. Heaven cannot hold our God, and yet a stable could suffice? That was enough for Him?

I cannot give Him starry hosts, or lightning bolts, or snow, or great sea creatures, or mountains, or even rain clouds, but what I can give Him is more important to Him than any of these things!  He created me in His image and for some specific purpose!  And now, I can give my life back to Him, for His purpose and glory! 

Day 11: Behold My Servant See Him Rise

Behold My Servant See Him Rise

For Advent

The Saviour Foretold.

Words: Not Stated

Music: Not Stated
Meter: C.M.

Source: J. G. Adams and E. H. Chapin, eds., Hymns for Christian Devotion - Especially Adapted to the Universalist Denomination. Boston: Abel Tompkins, 1853, #198, citing Christian Psalmist.

1. Behold my servant; see him rise
Exalted in my might!
Him have I chosen, and in him
I place supreme delight.

2. On him in rich effusion poured,
My spirit shall descend;
My truth and judgment he shall show
To earth's remotest end.

3. Gentle and still shall be his voice;
No threats from him proceed;
The smoking flax shall he not quench,
Nor break the bruised reed.

4. The feeble spark to flames he'll raise;
The weak will not despise;
Judgment he shall bring forth to truth,
And make the fallen rise.

5. The progress of his zeal and power
Shall never know decline,
Till foreign lands and distant isles
Receive the law divine.

Since the music to this song is unknown, we can imagine a Jewish-type chant!  This carol quotes various prophecys and psalms which speak of the coming Messiah and His reign.  I cannot wait for the day when all the foreign lands and distant isles will be under His law and all the people therein will bow the knee to Him!

Day 10: The Day of Redemption

New song for you, too? Here the tune here.
Day of Redemption

Words: Flo ra Kirk land, in Sun day School Hymns No. 1 (New York: Tull ar-Mer e dith Com pa ny, 1903), num ber 261.

Music: Fred C. Pull in, in Sun day School Hymns No. 1 (New York: Tull ar-Mer e dith Com pa ny, 1903), num ber 84 (MIDI,NWC, PDF).

1. The day of redemption
hath come with a song—
The song of redemption
from sin so strong.
The angels first chanted it over a hill;
As Christmas returneth it echoes still.

Refrain.
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Hark the angel chorus rings!
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Bow before the King of kings!

2. Redemption most wonderful!
Gift from the sky,
Redeemer most gentle, so low to lie!
O herald so glorious sent from above,
To speak to the shepherds
of God’s great love.

Refrain.
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Hark the angel chorus rings!
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Bow before the King of kings!

3. O marvel of tenderness!
Marvel of light!
The King from the glory,
so wondrous bright!
Is resting all quietly, pillowed on hay,
And gone is earth’s darkness!
Behold! ’tis day!

Refrain.
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Hark the angel chorus rings!
Hail! Hail! day of redemption!
Bow before the King of kings!

re·demp·tion

  [ri-demp-shuhn]

–noun

1.

an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.

2.

deliverance; rescue.

3.

Theology . deliverance from sin; salvation.

4.

atonement for guilt.

Redemption is a wonderful, rich word! Aren't you just SOOOOOO grateful for having been rescued from the guilt and stain of our sin, from the deep pit of despair we fell into, of the deep debt that HE PAID in our place?

I love the third verse of this carol, "Marvel of tenderness, marvel of light! The King from the glory,

so wondrous bright!

Is resting all quietly, pillowed on hay,

And gone is earth’s darknes

Behold! ’tis day!" 

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!" 

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light!"