Glory to God in the highest!

Sing sweet and low your lullaby
till angels sing, "Amen."
A mother tonight is rocking
A cradle in Bethlehem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I celebrate the day
that You were born to die
so I might one day pray for You to save my life.

the eve of our Saviour's birth

I'm sitting in the kitchen surrounded by sugar cookies and gingerbread boys dotted with little red candies. I sit here because through the glass doors in the kitchen I can see the snow falling. I love the snow. What is it about snow that makes me feel such a quiet gladness? What is it about walking through the snow, watching the snow, lying in the snow, that makes me feel such a still happiness? The war movie-watcher in me remembers scenes of battles in the snow, frost bite and gunfire and exploding shells breaking the silence and peace of the snow. The numbness in my fingers and toes while shoveling the driveway gives me just a taste of what those men must have felt, and forces me to respect and admiration and gratefulness. The writer in me tries to document and analyze the feeling I have at the sight of snow. It's always a futile attempt.

Still, still, still one can hear the falling snow. For all is hushed, the world is sleeping; Holy Star is vigil keeping. Still, still, still, one can hear the falling snow.

This year Christmas has been more about Jesus than is has all the years before. The focus hasn't been so much on presents and traditions, since parts of my family are absent and the traditions have sort of shattered and been swept under the rug. So Christmas morning won't be spent waiting at the top of the stairs for Dad to get his camera ready, like the previous 21 years of Christmases. Instead of the bustle of wrapping paper flying and telling Kitty to stop eating the ribbons, I can spend more time thinking about why Christmas even exists. "'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'—which means, 'God with us.'"

My anticipatory prayer on the eve of our Savior's birth: O come, o come Immanuel!

"thanks" doesn't even come close

Tonight I sat in the Methodist church downtown Wilmore as a brass band played Christmas carols and ribboned wreaths hung on the walls. I thought of the fact that this was my third year sitting in this church, letting my hands and feet warm after long walks up and down the street, ducking in and out of shops to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate. The last line of Bing Crosby singing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" came to my mind, and I agreed: Sure, it's Christmas once more.

Afterward, I turned on the Christmas lights in my room and curled up on my couch, listening to my "Solemn Christmas Music" playlist. Mannheim Steamroller's "Still, Still, Still" came on, and I was reminded of what Christmas really is. Buttons and signs in peoples' yards declare "Jesus is the reason for the season!" but how often I forget the solemnity of Christmas.

Still, still, still
tis the eve of our Savior's birth

It reminds me of Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." Still. Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to Quiet! be still, but I think He also commands us to be still. Just be still. Amidst the Christmas carols and traditions and foods and shopping and movies....be still, and know who Jesus is. "'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'—which means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23).

I love when the angel appears to the shepherds in Luke 2, and in verses 13-14 it says, "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" I can't imagine being those shepherds when that heavenly host appeared praising God. It reminds me of the heavenly host in Revelation 5:11-12, "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousands times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang, 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'"

I just love that we join in with that. The shepherds joined in with that then, we join in with that now, and when we get to heaven, we will join in with that!

Ding dong merrily on high, in the heaven the bells are ringing
Ding dong merrily the sky is riven with angels singing
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
Even so, here below, below, let steeple bell be swungen,
and i-o, i-o, i-o by priest and people sungen!
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).