I Needed It Again

This is from my blog last year. I wrote then that on the day of that post, I needed to hear the words of the song. I'm feeling that same way today. It is so important for me to remember Who is truly in charge and that He has everything under control. Someday, I will kneel before Him...

 

 I had sort of decided to save this Christmas song until closer to Christmas but I needed these words today so maybe someone else might need them too.  Oh the peace and joy that fills me when I truly listen with my heart to the message of this song. 

 Listen to the song, or read the words as many times as necessary until the message truly touches your heart.

 

The lyrics I've typed do not exactly match the lyrics that are sung but everyone has their own version of this song. I think it speaks for itself so I'm not going to muck it up with a lot of my ramblings.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of OUR dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth. 

(I needed those words today)

 
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
O night divine , O night, O night divine!


Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our FRIEND.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, (I needed those two lines today too)
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!


Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all within us we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, 

ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

God is absolutely not dead nor doth He sleep!

I have always loved the Christmas hymn "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" because I knew the story behind the lyrics...or, rather, I thought I knew the story. Learning the whole story makes the touching lyrics even more powerful.  They are a testament to the healing that can be brought only by our Savior's perfect love.

Here is the story...

In July of 1861, three months after the Civil War had just begun, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was living with his family in Massachusetts. Because of the summer's heat, Henry's wife Fanny, decided to shorten her seven-year-old daughter's long ringlets.

 As many mothers have done through the years, she wanted to preserve her daughter Edie's childhood ringlets. She heated some wax in order to seal the envelope in which the locks had been placed. Without noticing, some of the hot wax fell upon her long, heavy skirts just as a summer breeze came rushing through the window. The smoldering flames grew. Fanny ran from the room to protect her daughter. Henry threw himself onto his wife trying to put out the fire, burning his face, arms and hands.

Fanny Longfellow died the next day. Henry's heart broke.

Later that same tragic year, at Christmas he wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." A year after her death, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." The following Christmas, 1862, Longfellow wrote: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me." For two years, his heart ached for his dear wife.

Around Christmas time in 1863, Henry was informed that his son, Lieutenant Charles Longfellow, was severely wounded in battle. His beloved wife was gone. His son was lost. Longfellow had found solace in his continued writings but by this time his grief was so great that he didn't have any words to write in his journal for the Christmas of 1863. When a writer has no more words to write, one can know the writer's heart is paralyzed with grief.

But then on Christmas Day 1864, three years after Fanny's death and a year after the tragic news of his son's injuries, and in Henry's continued grief, he heard the church bells ringing through the town. Somehow, through the simple sound of the Christmas bells, Henry's wounded heart awoke and a ray of hope inspired him to write a poem entitled "Christmas Bells". His poem would later be put to music and become one of Christendom's most beloved Christmas Carols, "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day".

This is not just a poem or a song - these are the honest words coming directly from Longfellow's heart...

A Longfellow Christmas - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (hear a beautiful rendition of this song by clicking on this link.

Christmas Bells

(The poem has some stanzas not included in the song 

but they help us see what his world was like and why he felt the way he did)

"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!

And 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!

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!

Then from each black accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

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!"

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!"

I love the phrase, "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep..." In Longfellow's darkest grief, the bells would have had to be loud and they would have needed to pierce deeply into his wounded heart in order for these words to come forth.

My heart has been wounded before. Many times. Somehow, in the darkest moments, I have also heard those Christmas morning bells. They have "pealed more loud and deep" when I have needed them and they have awakened my heart to the truth that "GOD IS NOT DEAD, NOR DOTH HE SLEEP."

Maybe someone reading this has felt that same way before. I'm fairly certain we all have. It just happens to be part of this mortal life we have here. Like Longfellow, out of our darkest moments can come beautiful, glorious, eternal lessons. 

This can ONLY happen because out of our Savior's darkest moments came the most beautiful, the most glorious and the most eternal lesson of all...YOU ARE LOVED!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

"For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17

I want to testify, along with Longfellow, and so many others...

GOD IS NOT DEAD! 

HE HAS NOT STOPPED TAKING CARE OF US. 

HE HAS NOT STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH US. 

HE HAS NOT STOPPED LOVING US! 

HE IS REAL!!!


HE WILL RETURN!!

  Listen for those Christmas bells. Let them ring loud and deep in your heart. Let them testify of our Savior's complete understanding of your heart. Let Him heal you.

Make This the Year You Let Him In... to Stay

It is time. I know it is only the beginning of November but I've been resisting the urge for months now to write about the lessons learned from Christmas songs.

I just want to continue the project I started last Christmas season. You can click here to see those posts.

I've been on sort of a spiritual sabbatical for the past few weeks. What I have learned has been life changing but very hard to convey in a few short blog posts. Plus, some things must be discovered on our own - spirit to spirit - and then treasured in our hearts.

This Christmas song, however, pretty much covers the number one lesson I've been taught...

Let Him In. 

Hmmm, I seem to have learned that before. I understand it on a deeper level now.

Listen to the story of the Inn Keeper as told by the great song writer and composer, Michael McLean, in "The Forgotten Carols". Although it is fictionalized, I think we have all had times in our lives (maybe more than we would like to admit) when we symbolically turned Jesus Christ away.

Let Him In
Michael McLean

I am a man forgotten
No one recalls my name
Thousands of years will fail to
Fully erase my shame
But I turned a profit
Nicely the day
That I turned the couple away
I turned them away...


I didn't sleep that evening
Though I'd sold out my place
Somehow I felt uneasy
Something about her face
Why did I wish
That I'd let them stay?
I didn't think they could pay
Or could they have paid?


Restless, I left my bedroom
I walked the streets all night
Lost in the world I lived in
Found by a heavenly light
Staring at one bright star in the sky
I heard a baby cry
And I knew where that cry
Had come from
'Cuz I'd told them where
they could go
But I didn't think I could face them
And so I walked slowly home
Missing my chance
To share in their joy
I never saw the boy


He never would condemn me
I did that all on my own
He offered His forgiveness
And ever since then, I've known
He lets us choose
Each hour of each day
If we'll let Him in to stay


Let Him in
Let Him in
Let the peace on earth begin
Let Him in
Let Him in
Let the hope and joy begin


And whether it be
In your world today
Or a crowded Bethlehem Inn,
Find a way
Make Him room
Let Him in
Let Him in
Let the hope and joy begin
Let Him in
Let Him in

Now is the time to let Him in and feel the "Christmas Spirit".  Not the day after Thanksgiving until the day after Christmas day.  Start today. I put the words Christmas Spirit in parenthesis because we have convinced ourselves that feeling of good will and peace on earth that we feel during the month of December, is the "Christmas Spirit" but it is truly just the love of our Savior and it can be felt all year round if we so desire.

The irony is that we often choose not to let Him in, but He will always let us in. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." St. John 10:9

Begin now.

Do not delay another moment. Your life will never be the same. 
 

Find a way. 

Here is a little secret - if we pray and ask Him to help us know how to do this, He will. We just have to be willing to listen and then obey.

Make Him room.

 Whatever it is that is keeping you from truly letting the Savior have a permanent place in your heart - and only you know what that is - have the courage to do what it takes to let it go. Once again, if you ask Him, He'll help you with this as well. In fact, the ONLY way you will be able to make room in your heart for Him is with His help.

Let Him in!!

"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" St. John 10:10

 

Make this the year you let Him in your heart - to stay!

A Christmas Reminder

In the area where I live it is 12:00 noon and 112*. Yes, it is normal for us but that doesn't mean we like it. It just means we have learned to adapt (and I pray the power doesn't go out so that our air conditioners don't stop working.)


This morning, as I was contemplating the temperatures, a phrase 
from a Christmas song I love started running 
through my mind,
"Six months from now, on a warm summer night..."
And then I started remembering the whole song and realized I probably needed the reminder - maybe someone else does too.


Here are the words:

  "Will We Forget?"

Michael McLean

The Forgotten Carols

A heart that's been closed may be opening tonight.

A soul that's been lost might believe it's been found.

But six months from now on a warm summer night,

Will we pause to remember this night in December

When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?

Will we forget the promise we resolutely made?

Will we forget to thank the Lord for all the gifts he gave?

We'll say it's human nature, but something seems amiss

When there is just one time of year reserved for nights like this.

Six months from now on a warm summer night,

Will we even remember the night in December

When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?

Will we forget the feelings, will we forget to sing

Will we forget the Christ child came and gave us everything?

We'll have a hundred reasons why we have set aside

The memories of this season when His spirit touched our lives.

But He who came to save us for all eternity

Has not forgotten those who need His mercy to be free.

And though the number's greater than the sands upon the sea

There is no time of year that He's forgotten you or me.

He has not forgotten us on any lonely night.

He has not forgotten that our joy requires His light.

He has not forgotten those who are homeless as was He.

He has not forgotten you; 
He's not forgotten me.

Wise Men STILL seek Him...even in July.

Will We Forget?

So I didn't get to as many Christmas Carol Lessons as I had hoped but that leaves more for next year and believe me, I got more in me! :) I thoroughly loved the Christmas season this year and I think trying to learn from the many different songs about the true Reason for the Season made a big difference for me.

I purposely saved one of my favorite Christmas songs until AFTER Christmas day and into the new year...you'll see why. There weren't any video recordings of this song so you'll have to just read the lyrics.

"Will We Forget?"

Michael McLean

The Forgotten Carols

A heart that's been closed may be opening tonight.

A soul that's been lost might believe it's been found.

But six months from now on a warm summer night,

Will we pause to remember this night in December

When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?

Will we forget the promise we resolutely made?

Will we forget to thank the Lord for all the gifts he gave?

We'll say it's human nature, but something seems amiss

When there is just one time of year reserved for nights like this.

Six months from now on a warm summer night,

Will we even remember the night in December

When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?

Will we forget the feelings, will we forget to sing

Will we forget the Christ child came and gave us everything?

We'll have a hundred reasons why we have set aside

The memories of this season when His spirit touched our lives.

But He who came to save us for all eternity

Has not forgotten those who need His mercy to be free.

And though the number's greater than the sands upon the sea

There is no time of year that He's forgotten you or me.

He has not forgotten us on any lonely night.

He has not forgotten that our joy requires His light.

He has not forgotten those who are homeless as was He.

He has not forgotten you; He's not forgotten me.

My New Year's goal is to remember Him as much as He remembers me. I already know I'm going to fail but I'm going to try really hard. 

For example: I was having sort of a rough day yesterday thinking about some blessings that I long for that most likely won't be coming. I am so blessed, believe me, I am incredibly blessed but there are some blessings I long for that I don't even pray for any longer because it is just not the Lord's will that I have them at this time. 

So yesterday I was thinking about this a lot, despite the fact that I have just spent the past couple of months concentrating on my many, many blessings. See, I kind of started to forget ALREADY!! But the Lord did not forget me. He arranged for me to help out in the nursery at church yesterday where I held a sleeping child for 2 hours. The child would not let me put him down and was very distraught about not being with his mother so I just sat and held him. There were enough people helping that day, they actually didn't even need me. But for some reason I was there. That little boy needed me and I very much needed him.

During that two hours, as I looked down at the sweet child's peaceful face, I was reminded of what is really important and that eternity is so much longer than earth life and that I need to just trust that the Lord has a plan for me that is tailored specifically to help me get Home to Him, and someday I'll understand. Someday, after He helps me see that He knew exactly what He was doing all along, I'll look into the Savior's eyes and I'll thank Him from the bottom of my heart for not always giving me what I wanted, because He always, always, always gave me exactly what I needed.

I've learned this lesson soooooo many times in my life. But my weak, forgetful, mortal mind needed to be reminded yet again. Gratefully, Jesus did not forget about me in those moments and He did what He could to gently remind me of His continual, undying, completely comprehensive love for me and understanding of me.

It may not be Christmas any longer and we may have already started to lose that "Peace On Earth Good Will Toward Men" mentality but luckily for us the Man who can teach us how to create "Peace on Earth" has NOT forgotten us - nor will He ever.

That thought makes me want to break into "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" (wink, wink)

Three Kings Found The Lord

When I was maybe 10 or 11-years-old, my mom brought home a cassette tape by Michael McLean entitled "You're Not Alone". She played that over and over again. I learned to love the songs on this cassette, but the one I loved the most was one that seemed like it should have been on a Christmas album. I'm so glad it wasn't because I think that was when my quest to feel the Christmas spirit all year long began - even though I might not have realized this desire at the time.

The song is entitled "Three Kings Found The Lord". It is still a great song and quite popular today. It has undergone some changes and additions, which have only enhanced the powerful message. It is, obviously, about the Three Wise Men and their journey to find the newborn King

Now, I need to say here that of all of the endearing characters that play a role in the traditional Christmas story, it is the Three Wise Men I can identify myself with the most. Not because I consider myself wise or anything like that. I identify with the fact that they were on a great quest with only a star and their faith to guide them. Where did they come from? Who were they exactly? How long was their journey? I think if it was important for us to have that information we would have it. Instead we just know that they set out to find the greatest treasure any one of us could hope to find - Jesus Christ.

Many of us are on a journey not unlike their own - a great journey to find Jesus, our Savior. The words to this song explain my feelings so much better than I can...

The same light which beckoned them to seek the Lord of men still calls to us today. There truly are many choices and so many different voices and often we can feel completely lost on this journey. But we cannot give up. We simply cannot give up. And even if you take just one step closer to Him each day, at least you are going toward Him and not away from Him.

"We have a star that shines today. The love that He gave teaches how and shows the way. 

That light, it's clear to see if we have faith and believe.  

And if you've lost your way, that light burns bright today and it will shine eternally. 

Three Kings found the Lord and so can we."

I believe that if you find yourself on the wrong path and you cannot find your way back, you can kneel down and plead for guidance and divine help to get back on the path again. I believe that the Savior wants everyone to come to Him and if we will just ask for His help and then be willing to receive and follow His guidance, we will find Him.  It is His LOVE that guides the way - a love that can fill our hearts and mind and spirit with LIGHT.

I like to think of myself on the same journey as the Three Wise Men, albeit a much less glamorous tale. There have been times in my life when I lost my way and I needed divine help beginning the quest again.  The Wise Men are an example of endurance, faith and willingness to do whatever it took to find The King. I love that they were intelligent, "wise" and probably important men yet they spent their days seeking out a baby boy of whom prophets had prophesied would come. The world lay in darkness and denial that the promised Messiah would come as a baby born in a stable of all places. Yet these men had enough faith and conviction to follow a star to find this newborn king! Amazing. I love that their lives were guided by the Spirit. 

I love that we are not any different than they were - our lives can be just as guided by the spirit as was theirs. 

Three Kings found the Lord...and so must we.

He Played His BEST For Him

The society we live in is very good at telling us how inadequate we are. We aren't good enough or pretty enough or rich enough or skinny enough. We can't do this and we need to do more of that. This list goes on and on. We just pick, pick, pick.

HOWEVER...

"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

"Remember the worth of souls is GREAT in the sight of God." (D&C 18:10)

The story of the Little Drummer Boy is about a small boy who thought he did not have a gift fit to give a king - the newborn king. He was homeless with only a little drum to his name. Playing the drum didn't seem like any kind of a gift when he compared it with the grand gifts given by the Three Wise Men.  Nonetheless, he played his drum for the baby Jesus. Actually he played his BEST for Him and the Savior accepted his gift. That is the heart of the story.

How does this apply to us personally...the Savior won't compare our gift to that given by anyone else. He only cares that our gift is our best and it has come from our heart. I believe that in those moments when you offer a gift to Him - service to others, faith in His plan and in His timing, prayers and whatever else that you may do to honor Him - His heart melts with love and appreciation for you.  He sees your heart and loves you for what Hes sees - even if the world doesn't.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum.

What gift do you have for Him this season? It is HIS birthday we are celebrating, remember? What gift would be of most worth to Him.....You.

Give your heart to Him, your will to Him, your life to Him. No matter the current state of your life. Whether you are saddened by wrong choices or the choices of others. Whether you feel completely flawed and broken. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed and inadequate and incapable. Whether you feel that nothing about you would be a gift fit for a king. It is important for us to remember that while He walked this earth, Jesus spent His days with those who fit all of these descriptions. He spent His days with the outcasts and the poor, the lonely, the sinners and the diseased, with those who were not easy to love or look upon. 

He wants your broken heart and contrite spirit. Give yourself to Him. He will heal you. He will mend you. He will make more out of you than you could do on your own. But for now, He'll take you just the way you are - He loves you that way.

P.S. It is so important for us to remember that He loves everyone the way they are right now - even those whom we have a hard time loving.  We look on the outward appearance, but He sees the heart, even if the good is hidden deep down in someone's heart, He still sees it. (that is good news for all of us!)

A Burst of Light

Do you know the story of George Frideric Handel's Messiah? I didn't, until recently and it has touched my heart. What had once just been beautiful music to me, is now an amazing ray of light that burst from a darkened spirit when that spirit was touched by our Savior's love...

Handel was never really a great success. He struggled for years to write successful operas. Not for lack of his talent, he just seemed to be writing the wrong things at the wrong times. Eventually, in 1741, after overcoming a serious stroke which temporarily paralyzed his right arm and in the midst of creditors knocking down his door, he gave what he thought would be his farewell performance. He felt completely empty with nothing left to give.

Not long afterward a former collaborator, Charles Jennens, presented him with a manuscript filled with scripture about Jesus Christ, asking Handel to compose an oratorio. Handel was hesitant but from the first words, "Comfort Ye", his heart was touched. Three weeks later, THREE WEEKS LATER, he finished the Messiah! "Upon completing his composition, he humbly acknowledged, 'God has visited me.'"

As you listen to this recording, imagine Handel, in the darkest of moments, the depths of despair, completely empty, with nothing left to give, opening up his heart and mind to the powerful truths given to him in this inspiring music. This is not his work, it is the work of God. It was a gift to his son, George Frideric Handel, who needed Him. Who needed to know that all was not lost. Who needed to know that he was still loved and watched over and important and talented and worth all the Savior suffered for him. And now countless numbers of our Father's children have felt the power of Handel's gift. It was a gift to all of us because all of us need to be reminded of our Savior's powerful love on a regular basis. This music, as I wrote before, is as a ray of light bursting through the darkness in Handel's heart. A light that can only come from our Savior Jesus Christ.

Listen now to a small portion of this brilliant light that dispelled the darkness from around Handel...

I loved the energy of this group and I loved the different groups of people singing and the smiles on some of their faces and I loved that at the beginning of the performance, the audience stood out of respect for this piece of music.

Here's the thing...Handel felt broken, lonely, lost, forgotten, empty. I have felt all of those feelings before. I think it is safe to say that every single person who will read this has felt those feelings before. It is also safe to say that we will ALL feel them again and maybe again and again. How did Handel break out of the chains of darkness? The same way we all can - through the power and hope and LOVE of our Savior Jesus Christ. This same light can burst through our own saddened hearts dispelling the darkness and showing us the beauty of our Father's eternal plan for our happiness.

When has the Savior blessed you with just enough to get through a tough situation? When has He reached down and healed your heart or blessed you with a tender mercy that could have only come from Him? When has he let you know that He knows you and He knows where you are and what is going on in your life? He may not have inspired you to write a famous piece of music, but if you ask Him to help you remember, He'll open your eyes to how involved He has been in your life from the very beginning. As we remember these moments of light,  we will be able to proclaim as did Handel, "God has visited me." For truly He has, more than we know.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

For He shall reign forever and ever!

Hallelujah!!

My information comes mostly from an article found in the December 2010 issue of the Ensign, a magazine published monthly by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: http://lds.org/ensign/2010/12/handel-and-the-gift-of-messiah?lang=eng

O Holy Night!

I had sort of decided to save this Christmas song until closer to Christmas but I needed these words today so maybe someone else might need them too.  Oh the peace and joy that fills me when I truly listen with my heart to the message of this song. 

 Listen to the song, or read the words as many times as necessary until the message truly touches your heart.

The lyrics I've typed do not exactly match the lyrics that are sung but everyone has their own version of this song. I think it speaks for itself so I'm not going to muck it up with a lot of my ramblings.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of OUR dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth. 

(I needed those words today)

 
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
O night divine , O night, O night divine!


Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our FRIEND.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, (I needed those two lines today too)
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!


Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all within us we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, 

ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

My Grown-Up Christmas List

 If the truth be known and if I had been blessed with a beautiful singing voice, I would be a professional singer without a doubt. When I was much, much younger, I used to pretend I was a professional singer and my poor family was subject to me constantly singing as if I had a microphone in my hands, dancing all over the house with stars and lights in my eyes.

If my dreams had come to pass, I would make a new Christmas album every year because I love, love Christmas music. Although I do not dance around the house pretending to have a microphone in my hand, my children and husband are subject to the same wannabe as when I was little. I sing every song, every word. I hate to admit it but my children have actually asked me to stop singing at times because "it hurts my ears mommy". True story. :)

As I mentioned earlier, I have been listening to Christmas music for a while already this year. Music is so powerful and the words to some of the Christmas songs found in this world are no exception. Some beautiful, powerful sermons can be found within simple Christmas songs. I've already discussed "Away In A Manger". I think I'll discuss as many as I have time to this season. Today's pick is one of my favorites. When I sing along with  this one (because that's what I do)  I feel it deeply in my spirit. The items on this Christmas list are a true desire of mine and of so very many, many people in this world.  I look forward to the day this Christmas list is fulfilled - because I believe with all of my heart that one day it will be. 

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.

Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need

 No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.

 "But, verily I say unto you that in time ye shall have no king nor ruler, for I will be your king and watch over you. Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a  free people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver, and what can stay my hand?" Doctrine and Covenants 38:21-22

Read that again and really think about what Jesus Christ is saying to us. HE will be our King. HE will be in charge when He comes again. No political party will have power. No one will exercise unrighteous dominion. No leader will confuse us or lie to us or hurt us because our Savior Jesus Christ will be our lawgiver. It really is a day to look forward to. It really is a day to hope for and live for. 

One of my favorite titles for Jesus Christ was penned by Paul in the book of Hebrews when he wrote that Christ is an "high priest of good things to come." Hebrews 9:11

Good things will come, they WILL come.

Away In A Manger

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. I know that sounds weird coming from someone who is willing to dedicate a whole blog to writing about Jesus Christ but it is because it is sooooo easy to completely forget why we celebrate Christmas that makes Christmas a frustrating holiday for me. So many people in the whole world now, not just those who call themselves Christians, celebrate Santa Clause and decorated trees and snowmen and presents and presents and presents, yet they do not celebrate Jesus Christ whatsoever. I also feel so disappointed (in myself mostly) that the desire to love each other and help each other and live a Christlike life can be felt at Christmas time more than any other time of the year but it is almost as if when the clock strikes midnight and December 25th is over, the feeling is gone. I want it to stay! I want it to stay! I want to live in a world that feels the true Christmas Spirit - the love of Jesus Christ - ALL YEAR LONG. I want to feel it in my own heart ALL YEAR LONG!

That said, I still love Christmas and I have been listening to Christmas music for at least a couple of months now. The other night my 5-year-old daughter asked me to sing a song to her before she fell asleep. I decided to sing "Away In A Manger" to her. The words touched my heart as I thought of how she, a little girl who can be very afraid of the dark, might hear the words. 

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

There are many experiences in our lives that may metaphorically make us afraid of the "dark". There may be the darkness of sin or sorrow or of unknown future outcomes. I believe that in those times we can call on our Savior and He will look down from the sky and stay by us until morning or the "light" comes back into our lives.

I believe that He IS close by us forever and He DOES love us, we ARE in His tender care and if we turn our lives over to Him, He will fit us for Heaven to live with Him there. 

Why is this just a Christmas song?