The Music of Christmas

On Saturday (yes, exactly one week before Christmas), I was at the Orange Village (the Orange Mall for those of you from the oldy moldy days).  Shopping.  For Christmas presents.  Yes, you might call me insane...but, it was just that much easier partnered up with my best friend in the whole wide world, Debbie!  We actually split up to make the most of our time and met up back in the middle of the mall when we were done.

As I was done a tad earlier than Debbie, I took a seat and people watched (one of my favorite past times).  Yes, I DID have my smart phone and I could have played Boggle...but people watching is much more fascinating.  You should try it.  First off, I noticed how unhappy mostly everyone looked.  And tired.  And hot.  And hurried.  It was raining and cool outside, and, as if to compensate for the cooler weather, the mall cranked up the heaters.  Along with the human sea of shoppers, the mall was stifling hot.  Perhaps that lended to the general crankyness of old and young alike.  Even Santa, at the obligatory "Photo with Santa," kiosk, looked grumpy and less than jolly.

Amidst the non-harmonious noises of children crying/whining, husbands calling for lost wives, cell phones ringing and wet tennis shoes squeaking on the waxed food court floor, there were the beautiful sounds of a formally trained choir singing Christmas songs.  Just as they finished "Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come," the introductory notes from Handel's Messiah, "Hallelujah Chorus," seemed to diminish the usual hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping noises.  I had to stand.  And, I noticed a few wiser ones around me stood also.  (Just an aside here, you should stand up when the Hallelujah Chorus is performed. It is a show of honor and respect to Him Whom the song is praising.)

I couldn't help myself.  I was taken by song into the glorious presence of my Lord and King, Jesus.  I was smiling and enthralled by the well trained voices as they surged in harmonious praise and worship to He Who "will reign forever and ever more."  And, to me, it seemed everyone within my view seemed to pause and listen.  Granted, NOT everyone stopped.  But, many did.  And many were smiling.  And, then, I was looking eagerly for Debbie to share in that beautiful moment of praises being offered up to our King!  Alas, she was stuck in a line at Sears!

As the song ended, people applauded and cheered! The spokesman for the choir announced the choir would be taking a lunch break.  He wished us all a "Merry Christmas, and to remember to keep Christ in Christmas."  More applauding, more cheering!

Are you remembering to keep Christ in Christmas?

Read on for some fun with Christmas Carols from Dare2Share...and then some great reminders as we wind down these final days til Christmas.

The following is from dare2share:

I hope you have a sense of humor this Christmas...otherwise, you may not find the following as funny as I did! :o)

From: http://www.dare2share.org/students/you-are-the-music-of-christmas/

You Are the Music of Christmas

So what comes to mind when you hear the word "Christmas"?

Decorated trees?  Church bells ringing? Friends and families? 

X-Box 360 and Call of Duty?

For me, I can't help but think about music.  For some reason I never grow weary of hearing the classic carols and the Christmas songs that I've sung as long as I can remember.  And here's a list of songs that I don't exactly remember, but seem to fit our world pretty well.  Check these out:

Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?

Amnesia -- I Don't Remember If I'll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic Personality Disorder -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me  

Manic -- Deck The Halls And Walls And House And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses And Trucks And Trees And Fire Hydrants And.......

Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented Are  

Paranoid -- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us

Antisocial Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open Fire

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Alzheimer's -- Walking In a Winter Wonderland Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe

Oppositional Defiant Disorder -- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House

Social Anxiety Disorder -- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

Attention Deficit Disorder -- We Wish You......Hey Look!! It's Snowing!!!

No offense meant and all kidding aside, have you ever wondered where the first Christmas song to Jesus Christ was sung?  You may be surprised, and you definitely don't want to miss the meaning behind this incredible scene:

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed (Luke 2:8-18).

Can you even imagine being at this breathtaking scene?  Imagine the greatest music your ears could attend to and multiply it by infinity, and it still wouldn't compare to the heavenly choir's harmony celebrating the tiny infant who would one day walk out of His own grave.

And not only is the music ridiculously awesome, even better is the message that the angels proclaimed:

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master"

This is the heart of Christmas - which comes from 'Christ + Mass' (mass being a celebration) - so we rejoice and marvel at the fact that the God of the Universe wrapped Himself in flesh to give us the greatest present that humanity could ever experience: Jesus Christ.

So this Christmas, take some time to be still and reflect on the incredible weight and implication of the angelic message: our Savior has appeared, and because of His birth, death has been defeated. Christmas means forgiveness.  Christmas means eternal life.

And Christmas also means that we have the same opportunity as the shepherds - remember what they did?

"They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child."

The shepherds were so overjoyed and overwhelmed by the good news of Jesus that they ran to tell anyone and everyone who would listen…

And how about you?  Have you tuned out of the message because of the busy/stressful/materialistic/food coma season that robs us of the true joy that comes when we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world?

Let's make the music of our Christmas a song of deliverance that celebrates the Christ and tells the world the Good News!

Christmastime gives us one of the best opportunities of the year to share our faith.  Use some of the time you have off to connect with friends at a coffee shop or over lunch to ask them what they believe is the significance of Christmas.  Pray for an opportunity to share Christ through the story of the angels and the shepherds.

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.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
   and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
   with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
   will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

 

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us") (Matthew 1:23).

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/