SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD!

Psalm 100
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!


I love the whole season of Christmas songs. I’m not particular when there are played for they all speak to me in pretty much the same way. Granted there are many who would disagree with me, but I don’t mind. The songs of Christmas are not particularly welcome before Thanksgiving nor after December 25. But for me, any time is a good time. I can almost see you shaking your heads in disbelief.

My favorite is “Angel’s We Have Heard on High” . You know, the one with 2 lines of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”. There isn’t a single number in “Handel’s Messiah” that I don’t find favor with, culminating of course in the “Halleluiah Chorus”. What a gift Handel was given, both the words and the music are so expressive.

I remember the very first time I heard carolers, a carollin in a church bell tower, the Salvation Army Brass playing in front of a store, the first time I sang a Christmas hymn I loved playing any and all Christmas music on the piano and later on the organ. But my favorites were the church hymns. Sometimes I can’t sing them loud enough. They are etched on my heart. The words are so meaningful:

“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me.”
“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus—there is room in my heart for Thee.”
“No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow … “
“He comes, a Child, from realms on high, He comes the heavens adoring; He comes to earth to live and die, A broken race restoring.”
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
“All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace: good will henceforth from heaven to men, begin and never cease.”

We are thankful for this season that reminds us of our blessings, inspires us to be better people, encourages us to care about our world, and gives us opportunity to shout to the Lord! He is everything we could ever need or want, forever, Amen.