The Joy of the Season: What Carol Will Your Life Sing?
“Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, has come to me O Israel!”
“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O Night when Christ was born.”
“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!”
Oh Friends,
Reading those words, just makes you happy, doesn’t it??
Are you humming along? Is there music playing in your head?
Are you smiling? I am!
Why is it that people are happier at Christmas? I wonder if a lot of it has to do with worship. These carols. Amidst all the pain and darkness; war, poverty, and injustice. Uncertainty, unanswered questions, sickness, and struggle. The carols proclaim not what we see and are surrounded by in our day-to-day lives, but the truth.
They draw us back to the reality of God’s love and his plan. To our Savior who came as a baby bringing light to the world and delivering us from all darkness.
When I sing, “Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God incarnate here to dwell,” the truth that God is right here with me no matter what I’m facing fills me with strength.
“Joy to the world, the Savior reigns, let men our hearts employ. Repeat the sounding joy. Repeat the sounding joy!” compels me to lift my voice together with others around the world. And instead of our daily mantra of hardship and struggle, to sing out that the Savior has come with everything we will ever need!
Or when I sing, “Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices, O night divine,” I’m reminded of our mighty God who deserves all my praise. My whole being swells with reverence for my creator and my God and I long to raise my hands and get on my knees.
Oh, thank God for the carols! The truth that we need so desperately to set our hearts and our minds right once again.
For some reason, I’ve been particularly struck by them this year. There’s a desire bubbling inside to make more room for them throughout this short season. I’m watching for spaces to include them. Wanting to seek out a different one each day. Watching for times I can turn them on in the car, sing with one in my early morning quiet time, or while I’m making dinner.
To soak, and sing, about the wonder, power, and strength of God; proclaiming the truth that He is holding me and this world.
When I hear, “Fall on your knees,” and I get the sensation that I literally want to do it, instead of resisting or pausing while it evaporates seconds later, I want to get on my knees, raise my hands, or close my eyes in reverence and worship. To stop holding back in expressing my love because it seems inappropriate or I’m in too big of a hurry. But, take those moments to worship my Emmanuel.
We can do this together! We can notice one of the most powerful gifts God has given us during the Christmas season. We can embrace the carols. Instead of numbly letting them play in the background, we can embrace them as times to proclaim and worship!
Grace and peace,
Lori
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What Carol is speaking to you most powerfully this Season?
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Enjoy the article below about a powerful carol that almost wasn’t. Reminding us that each of our lives is a carol proclaiming the message of who God is to the world!