He Came Upon a Midnight: Christmas hope for your mid-February

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I've never been one to limit my Christmas music to December.  As a musician, Christmas always comes in October anyway, and I don't see a reason to force it into the closet on December 26.

After all, I want Jesus to stay right by me the rest of the year, so why not His story? 

This particular holiday season was hectic for us beyond the usual programs and concerts, so I ended the year feeling like I really hadn't done the Christmas carols thing this year.  Not that I was going to do anything about it, mind you, but I did notice.

Some of my piano students agree with me about Christmas music all year; others don't.  The ones who agree get to keep their Christmas music out as long as they'd like--which is why I ended up with one student practicing Christmas through January, and why I started another one on Christmas music in February, for the reading skills, of course.

Is that what led to opening up some Christmas music and playing it during my supper preparations this evening?

Whatever made me do it, those piano sounds turned me teary-eyed pretty quickly.  

It came upon a midnight clear, 
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, 
From heaven's all-gracious King;"
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

My heart once more had no words, no words for the dear ones I know who right now suffer fear, worry, anxiety, sickness.  

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing. 

And once more, my prayer, my hopes for them ascended high, pleading that these same angels would come and brighten the path for my dear ones.  

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, 
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow--
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing. 

Once more through a hymn words of faith crept into my mind, offering their hope not just to me, but to my dear ones, too.

After all, Jesus still offers rest beside the weary road, even if it's February instead of December.

Does Jesus Care?

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Revisiting this third verse of a comforting hymn, because while many celebrate a holiday today, dear friends of mine are grieving the loss of their son.  (Originally posted on November 4, 2009.)

Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye to the dearest on earth to me?

When my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks, does He care enough to be near?

Oh, yes! He cares, I know He cares. His heart is touched with my grief.

When the days are dreary, the long nights weary, I know my Savior cares.

{If you'd like to see the other verses of this hymn, you can find it in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, number 181.  You can also read its text here, where there's also a simple midi recording of the piano accompaniment.}

Crowning Jewel of Creation (A Hymn)

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{Photo:  La Sal del Rey, near sunset.}

My prayer for your Sabbath.  Because singing is often prayer, too, and just as much an act of worship as is prayer.

"Crowning jewel of creation,

Blest and hallowed, sanctified;

Time and changes all transcending, 

Shared forever, glorified.

"Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator's hand.

"Sin and sickness, prayer and weeping

Cease at close of earthly days;

But Thy Sabbath is eternal, 

Joyful thanks to Thee we raise!

"Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator's hand.

"Teach us, Lord, in storm or sunshine

How to truly rest in Thee,

May Thy Sabbath peace enfold us,

And our shelter ever be.

"Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator's hand."

{Crowning Jewel of Creation, tune JEWEL, by Wayne Hooper; words by Gem Fitch.  Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, 385.}

Things to Memorize (A Habit for Day 15)

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 Yesterday we talked about how the Israelites in the wilderness were really good at forgetting what God had done for them in the past, and how merciful He was to them in contrast to their pitiful complaints.  He was right there all the time, yet they couldn't see past their worries.

Thus today feels like a good day to talk about remembering (a gentler word for memorizing, really) the things that will help us keep holding onto Jesus' hand.

In my own experience, stress has a way of putting blinders over my eyes, so I forget how the Lord has helped me before.  I forget His promises, I forget to praise Him for the blessings I already have, I forget to ask for wisdom as I head toward what feels like disaster.

He's always there; I just need help remembering that.

It seems like the only things that readily come to mind are the ones I've spent time reviewing.  So for me personally, the only way the good things have a fighting chance of even entering my brain when I'm stressed is to have them memorized.

Lest you're afraid you won't be able to memorize anything, think for a second about all the things you know by heart.  Song lyrics from your favorite radio station?  The route to work?  The grocery store that has the best deal on avocados?  The names of your friends?

Maybe we could afford to put some additional focus on remembering the things of God, before we're too stressed to search for them, so they'll be as natural to us as the morning drive to work.

Here are some ideas of things to memorize (or at least think about often) to get you going.

• Bible promises.  Keep them short if memorizing is hard work for you, or keep a journal where you write down in your own handwriting the most meaningful ones to you.  Then you can read a book straight through of promises you've claimed for yourself personally.  Trust me, it's hard to be discouraged after a few minutes of pure Bible promises!  Some of the most powerful are the shortest, so memorizing a few is doable for just about anybody.  Need wisdom?  James 1:5.  Need guidance?  Psalm 32:8.  Need hope?  Jeremiah 29:11.
• Experiences you've had where God has clearly blessed your life.  Write them down in story form and share them with family or friends, if appropriate.  Write them down in list form, and keep the list where you have easy access to it and can review it when you're tempted to think God has left you alone.
• Hymns.  Words are almost always more catchy if they come with a tune.  Choose some songs you already love.  You can also choose from different topics, such as praise, prayers for help or guidance, what Jesus did on the cross, the second coming, or heaven.  

Speaking of heaven, I used to feel a little bit like spending a lot of time thinking about heaven would be a sort of denial of the rough realities of this life.  As I've allowed myself to ponder and sing about heaven more, however, I've come to realize it does the opposite.  I can see my present realities with more clarity (which helps me make better decisions for the here and now), and the words about heaven give me the long-term determination to live in heaven's hope no matter what my outward circumstances.

I would thus encourage you to spend a lot of time especially reading and singing about the cross, as the only way you have a way out and a choice; and heaven, where that way out is ultimately leading you.

(Click button for series index.)

(Photo by Barbara Frohne) 

This Week in the Garden, and Moment by Moment Living

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My mom graciously sent these photos of the garden so I could see it really beginning to produce.  Check out how many tomatillos and green beans there are!  Even the Love Lies Bleeding is beginning to put out its cascading blooms.  It's amazing to me how much noticeable growth there is in the garden every week, and it all just happens a moment at a time, imperceptibly growing and changing.

It's a good reminder for me during this week of change and detail and newness, and it reminds me of a hymn.  Mind if I share?

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine, Living with Jesus, a new life divine,       Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,    Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Chorus:

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love; Moment by moment I've life from above; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;  Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there, Never a burden that He doth not bear, Never a sorrow that He doth not share, Moment by moment I'm under His care.

Chorus

Never a heartache, and never a groan, Never a teardrop and never a moan, Never a danger but there on the throne, Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

Chorus

Never a weakness that He doth not feel, Never a sickness that He cannot heal; Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still.

Chorus

Source:  The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, number 507.

Come, O Sabbath Day

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As the Sabbath descends and the sun sinks behind the horizon, I'm thinking of one of my favorite Sabbath hymns.  Perhaps you'll simply join me in this prayer?

"Come, O Sabbath day, and bring
Peace and healing on thy wing:
And to every troubled breast
Speak of the divine behest:
Thou shalt rest,
Thou shalt rest!

"Earthly longings bid retire,
Quench the passions' hurtful fire;
To the wayward, sin oppressed,
Bring thou thy divine behest:
Thou shalt rest,
Thou shalt rest!

"Wipe from every cheek the tear,
Banish care and silence fear;
All things working for the best,
Teach us the divine behest:
Thou shalt rest,
Thou shalt rest!"

Words by Gustav Gottheil (1827-1903); music by A. W. Binder (1895-1966), tune name SABBATH.  Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, number 387.

Love at Home

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Just before my husband and I got married, I wracked my brain trying to think of something to give him for a wedding gift.  I thought of joint tennis lessons (he's active, and loves to play all kinds of things together).  I searched high and low for the right thing.  

Finally, nearly ready to give up, I pulled into my local Christian bookstore, partly to say hello to my friends the employees and partly to make one last attempt at finding the perfect wedding gift for my amazing groom.

Now, if you've grown up in the same circles that I did, you'll remember an oblong, tattered little hymn book that sits on your parents' and grandparents' shelves.  The cover may be ready to fall off, but you can probably still make out the title on the front.  If you're like me, you've wondered about that signature of ownership in the front--who owned it first, which were their favorite hymns to sing, how long they treasured and cared for the  little volume, all the while looking for the soon return of Jesus.  Maybe you see your parents' names written below the first name, with the phone number they must have had when you were born.  Maybe you've chuckled at the directness--and oh-so-trueness--of the temperance tunes, and tried to sing a few of the hymns without ever hearing them before.  Then you might wonder, like I do sometimes, why people ever stopped singing those unfamiliar gems.

So it was that day, as I walked into the bookstore, that I gasped.  Because here all this time of searching for the right gift, I had forgotten all about the one hundred year anniversary Christ in Song reprint.  My husband-to-be was a singer, a choir conductor, a professional musician with the goal and dream to always make music purely for the glory of God.  It was the perfect gift for my handsome singer.  Its title sums up his life mission in its three simple words.

I took it to the counter, where my friend and colleague of four and a half years smiled and promised to engrave the groom's name in silver, to match the title's lettering.  She refused to let me pay for the lettering.  I think her smile may have had something to do with the Bible she was engraving for me, from my groom, with my new married name.

We took our wedding gifts on our honeymoon--my new Bible and his new songbook--and established the habit of family worships in our married life.  (Worships together were a habit even in our dating life, but there's just something extra special about worships with your new spouse.)  We paged through the songs and spent a lovely afternoon near Mt. Rainier singing in our beautiful rented cabin.  (It was raining outside.)  

From that afternoon on, we knew just which hymn would, as often as possible, close our Sabbath days together:  Love at Home.

This Sabbath, he and I are apart.  But these words filter through my mind, drawing my heart closer to Jesus and closer to my husband, reminding me how it happens that marriages stay loving and families stay happy.  Take a look especially at the last verse, and make it your prayer with me today.

"There is beauty all around,

When there's love at home;

There is joy in ev'ry sound,

When there's love at home.

"Peace and plenty here abide, 

Smiling fair on ev'ry side;

Time doth softly, sweetly glide,

When there's love at home.

Chorus:

"Love at home,

Love at home;

Time doth softly, sweetly glide,

When there's love at home.

"In the cottage there is joy,

When there's love at home; 

Hate and envy ne'er annoy,

When there's love at home.

"Roses blossom 'neath our feet,

All the earth's a garden sweet,

Making life a bliss complete,

When there's love at home.

Chorus.

"Kindly heaven smiles above,

When there's love at home;  

All the earth is filled with love,

When there's love at home.

"Sweeter sings the brooklet by,

Brighter beams the azure sky;

O, there's One who smiles on high

When there's love at home.

Chorus.

"Jesus, make me wholly Thine,

Then there's love at home;

May Thy sacrifice be mine,

Then there's love at home.

"Safely from all harm I'll rest,

With no sinful care distress'd,

Thro' Thy tender mercy blessed,

When there's love at home.

Chorus.

Look for all four verses in Christ in Song, number 580, or three of the four verses in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, number 652.

Five Years Ago Today

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Did you realize that five years ago today I published my first post here at Ladder of Mercy?  It's the post that tells you where the blog name came from, and it started a tradition of writing about hymns that I still love.

I thought it would be fun to take a quick snapshot of my life then, compared with my life now.  After all, half a decade can bring a lot of change! 

Back then, I was working as an administrative assistant.  I sometimes longed to earn my living from something "more creative", but was constantly reminded how much I was learning and growing in the field I was in.  {Now I wouldn't trade it for anything.}

Now, I work as a piano teacher (taught seven lessons today, and loved every minute--wish I had more!) as well as a housewife.

Back then, I had many friends who were housewives.  I knew they kept busy.  I know how busy there were now because I have time to carry the load of running the household smoothly.  I barely keep up!  But I love the opportunity to more carefully plan for meals and errands and laundry and summertime gardening.

Back then, I volunteered a lot at my local church.  I played the piano for services, organized everything musical, and even sat on the church board as clerk.  

Now, I haven't managed to volunteer at my new church much.  I frequently travel with my husband's music groups, and I was asked today to play the piano for a children's Sabbath school when I can.  I'm excited to re-enter the church-involvement part of my life back then that I loved so much.

Back then, I wondered if God was planning to unite my life to a husband.

Now, I see how brilliant His plan really was, and my appreciation for His leading and the man He put in my life daily grows.

Back then, I lived in a little rented three-bedroom house across the street from my office.  It had two apartments in the basement, and some flower beds out front that I used for my vegetable and flower garden.

Now, I live in a bigger house {my husband keeps saying we should fill it up with children...} that has a wonderful kitchen and a great big garden out back.  Rather than a busy street out front, we have a quiet neighborhood to live in, and an orchard behind our large back yard and garden.

Back then, I was within four driving hours of my parents and brother.

Now, I am thousands of miles away from my family AND my in-laws.  {Sometimes sacrifices must be made to follow the will of God and work in the harvest fields.}

Back then, I didn't dream of getting any more education.  Life was providing me with enough of that.

Now, I am blessed to have my master's degree.  I would have been the last one to guess it, but I'm grateful every day for the learning, experiences, and people God put in my life via graduate school.

Back then, I didn't have a camera, and I didn't include many photos in my sporadic posts.

Now, my goal is to invite  you here for new words and photos more and more often, with a constant desire to grow as a woman of God, as well as to bless you, my readers.  

Thank you for stopping by today for a visit.  I hope you'll stick around for my next five  years!

Day is Dying in the West

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When I was a little girl, we sang the same song every Friday night.  Dad sang the same beautiful harmonies, and I never could figure out how he could hear the extra notes and find them with his voice.  (I’m finally learning.)

The calm of sunset, the house freshly cleaned, a delicious (and often easy, crockpot) supper always seemed to speak Sabbath peace to my young heart.

Will you join me this Sabbath, in the peace?

Day is dying in the west,

Heav’n is touching earth with rest.

Wait, and worship, while the night

Sets her evening lamps alight

Through all the sky.

Refrain:

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God of hosts,

Heaven and earth are full of Thee,

Heaven and earth are praising Thee,

O Lord, most high.

Lord of life, beneath the dome

Of the universe, Thy home,

Gather us who seek Thy face

In the fold of Thy embrace,

For Thou art nigh.

(Refrain)

While the deepening shadows fall,

Heart of love, enfolding all,

Thro’ the glory and the grace

Of the stars that veil Thy face,

Our hearts ascend.

(Refrain)

When forever from our sight

Pass the stars, the day, the night,

Lord of angels, on our eyes

Let eternal morning rise,

And shadows end.

(Refrain)

{Did you notice the poetry?  How the rhyme scheme was so well-crafted, and yet not stiff?  Each verse has an AABBC rhyme structure, which is easy to spot.  But the fun thing I JUST NOW noticed?  The “C” line in verses one and two rhymes, as does the “C” in verses three and four, which makes a rhyme scheme entirely made up of couplets.  I know.  You thought that was genius, too.}

--Day is Dying in the West, text by Mary A. Lathbury; tune CHAUTAUQUA by William F. Sherwin; SDA Hymnal number 51.

Happy New Year

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My hopes for myself and for you run as follows. Because I know these things will help you and me be happy.

• Daily time in prayer
• Daily time in Bible study
• An abundant daily intake of fruit and other healthy delights
• Daily fresh air
• Enjoyable physical exercise
• Gallons of sunshine every time it appears
• Fresh flowers, often
• Diligence and patience even when it's hard
• An eye for people who need Jesus
• A heart on constant pilgrimage, heading always toward heaven.

And do you know Who offers us all these?  Yes, Jesus.  I hope you know Him well, and more every day.

Love,
Heidi

Sledding

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We went walking through the corn field today, ending at the river.  Is it just me, or is it just so fun to see where somebody else went walking, too?  (You can tell they're geese, right?  I keep forgetting to charge the camera, but the phone does OK in a pinch.)

On the way back, we noticed some kids sledding on the hill by the school.  As soon as we realized they were our Christmas hosts, dear husband said, "See?  I thought that would be a good hill!  Maybe they'll let us try."

So of course we went to say hello.  And lest you think my husband driven by the desire to go sledding, he likes everyone and would stop to chat sled or not.

We helped build a jump.  We chatted with Mr. Adult on the sidelines.  We {gently} threw snow in return for the snow thrown at us.  Then it came.

"Mr. S!  Would you like to try?"

Then, "Mrs. S!  Would you like to try?"

No, thank you.

"Are you sure?"

Well, Mrs. S is accustomed to more than two inches of snow beneath her sled, so that when she falls off, there's plenty to pad the fall.

So no, not today.

But she sure did enjoy the sunshine!

My father-in-law gave us a specially bound booklet at Christmas.  He told in the front how a similar volume has influenced his life forever.

Leave it to Scripture tondo that.

It's full of more than enough versions of 1 Corinthians 13 to read one every day of the month.  My husband already reads the "love chapter" every day already, but this gift is getting me going on it, too.  As my father-in-law challenged, I'm journaling my thoughts each day.

I may share some of my journalings with you as I continue the journey.  I'd also love to hear what's inspiring your devotional life as we turn the corner into the new year.

The Day After All the Singing

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Well, we've had a lot of music here lately.  Come to think of it, there's always enough music in my life, too.  But today I wanted to do a little update on other things, since I'm now in the habit of posting every day.  (I do like to write, after all.)

I've planned to bake several things, but haven't yet.  I wanted to make fruit salad, but the pears are still hard.  But here are a few ideas I've had.
• Pumpkin gingerbread from Simply   Recipes http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pumpkin_gingerbread/.
• Cinnamon Rolls
Savory Onion Rolls (that look like cinnamon rolls, only with onions inside)

I'm enjoying having my husband around ALL day EVERY day, and consider myself so blessed that I have a husband I enjoy so much.  We've been exercising together, sitting by the wood stove together, playing games together, doing puzzles together, running errands together (which I usually do by myself and enjoy, but it's more fun when he's with me).  Sounds dreamy, right?  That's life with a great man. 

I think I am at the point where I can keep unpacking and doing chores while also having time and space for more crafty things to be happening.  I'll keep you posted if and when I get going.

I read this morning about the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, exercise.  Have you aired out your home lately?  I cracked some windows for a while today, and the whole house felt fresher in a matter of minutes.  Air is great stuff.  :)

So is snow.  It's beautiful out where we live today.  So we took a walk in it, and saw that someone else had the same idea.  (See photo.)

Sing We All of Christmas: Our Lamb is Born

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This one is brand new.  I wrote the text, and my dear husband wrote the music.  (Copyright 2012).  Leave a comment with your e-mail address, and I'll send you a PDF of the score.

Born in a manger, He
Came among creatures who
Knew not His mission to
Die as my Lamb on my tree.

Suffering my shame is
The only way He can
Earn the position as
My only hope to find

Peace on the earth and
Good will to men.

Lambs in the stable see
God born as man and a
Lamb, one of me, one of
Them, the one Shepherd.  He

Leads me beside the still
Waters.  My cup over-
Flows with His goodness for
Unworthy me.

He gives peace on the earth and
Good will to men.

Sing We All of Christmas: As With Gladness Men of Old

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I love it when hymns and carols tell the truth of Jesus and also relate it to my journey today.  And I love it when they remind me of the joy it is to come to Jesus.

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

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heav'n and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

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 heav'nly King.

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 ko star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

Tune DIX (more familiarly set to "For the Beauty of the Earth") from Conrad Kocher, arranged here by Melvin West; text alluding to Matthew 2:1-11 by William C. Dix; SDA Hymnal 123.

Sing We All of Christmas: Angels We Have Heard on High

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One bit of musical knowledge you should have about this carol is that it is "macaronic", or has two languages (Latin and English) in the same piece.  Isn't that a fun word?

The Latin part of the text, "Gloria in excels is Deo", means "Glory to God in the highest!". And of course we know who sang it first (the angels), although they probably didn't sing in Latin or English.

Put together with the verses, the carol as a whole voices the shepherds' story of hearing the angels sing, alternated with questions asked by their listeners.

People who sing parts love to sing this--all the parts are interesting, and together indeed make a glorious sound.

Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.

Refrain:
Gloria in excels is Deo,
Gloria in excels is Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love.

Refrain

Tune GLROIA, a French carol arranges by Edward Shippen Barnes; text taken in part from Luke 2:13-17, a French carol translated in "Crown of Jesus" and adapted herd by Earl Marlatt; SDA Hymnal 143; see also the Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal.

Sing We All of Christmas: O Come, O Come, Immanuel

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Tonight, dwell on this thought:  God came to be with us.  And since He came so long ago, He can be with us even now.  While I can't take away the griefs and crimes of the world, I know a God who promised to be with me and with you even until the end of the age (which is when He will come again).

O come, O come, Immanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Immanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and high;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
All people in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

Refrain

Text translated by John M. Neale and Henry S. Coffin; tune VENI EMMANUEL, fifteenth century French processional; SDA Hymnal 115.

Sing We All of Christmas: Silent Night

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Many of you probably know how this carol came to be:  the malfunctioning organ, the text written and given to the organist to write a tune, the plan for guitar accompaniment.

Sometimes the things that are in disrepair in in our lives can breed blessing, no?

I've wondered sometimes whether it really was a silent night, but it seems that quiet or not, our pondering of that holy birth brings with it an awed and grateful silence.

For unlike many of the carols we've loomed at already, this one pauses beside the manger, an ear turned to the hills where the angels sing. 

We pause to see Jesus sleeping, tended by Mary.  We pause from a distance to see the shepherds and hear the angels.  We pause as we turn back to this Savior-Baby.  We pause to sing His praise.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright;
Round yon virgin mother and Child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Darkness flies, all is light;
Shepherds hear the angels sing,
"Alleluia! Hail the King!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born."

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, loves pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.

Text by Joseph Mohr and translated from the German (in this case) by John F. Young; tune STILLE NACHT by Franz Gruber.

Sing We All of Christmas: Angels from the Realms of Glory

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Angels have seen a lot to weep about, and I'm sure they must sometimes.  I think they weep over senseless meanness and killing, over unhappy families, over suffering.  At least, I would if I were them.

How much more of sin and sorrow they see than we do, how much more they realize how far we have sunk.

Perhaps it was with a special joy, then, that they sang to the shepherds.  A joy that only comes when they're telling people about the Savior.  A joy you and I can experience with them.

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
He, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth;

Chorus:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the Infant Light;

Chorus

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star;

Chorus

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending,
In His temple shall appear;

Chorus

SDA hymnal 119; text by James Montgomery; REGENT SQUARE, tune, by Henry Smart.

Sing We All of Christmas: Joy to the World

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This one hardly needs explanation, but I do encourage you to ponder the words afresh.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Text by Isaac Watts; tune ANTIOCH arranged from Handel's Messiah by Lowell Mason.  SDA Hymnal 125.

Photo taken about twenty-five minutes before sundown today atop the Massanutten ridge.

Sing We All of Christmas: O Come, All Ye Faithful

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Tonight, a standard favorite, one I memorized in early elementary school for a Christmas program (as part of a choir).

Was it then that I discovered I loved being in choir?  Maybe it was.  I still do love being in choir.  {Need to find one...}

Let this joy and triumph fill your skies tonight, because when Jesus comes, evil must flee.

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 Jim,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

(Refrain)

Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

(Refrain)

ADESTE FIDELES, tune, appeared in John F. Walter's Cantus Diversity, 1751; anonymous text translated from Latin by Frederick Oakeley (and others); SDA Hymnal 132.

*Today the wind was sweeping the clouds and sunlight as I came out of the library laden with books.  I didn't put them down to snap the photo.