Joy to the World…

guestburdens, christ, christianity, Culture, doubt, faith, Happiness, Jesus, Mormon, music 8 Comments

Today’s post is by Rachel Maw.  I’m the kind of person that could listen to Christmas song all year long. Yes, I know that probably annoys the heck out of a lot of you, but I can’t help it, I love Christmas music. I love all the bells and the instrumental music. I love going to choir concerts and my son’s middle school band concert and even the beginning band concert at the elementary school, although I could have used some ear plugs sitting on the front row this year (who knew a bunch of 4th, 5th and 6th graders could play so loudly). I love singing Handel’s Messiah every three years with our stake (next year isn’t that far away). The more music the better. It puts me in the Christmas Spirit better than anything else (especially after growing up in cold weather states and now living somewhere with no snow).

Here are my top 10 favorite Christmas song in no particular order.

(Note: This list is subject to change at any given moment.)

Carol of the Bells

What Child is This

Do You Hear What I Hear

O Holy Night

Veni Veni Emmanuel

We Three Kings

Sleighride

Still Still Still

Let There be Peace on Earth

You can listen to them here…

This year a particular song has been going through my head. It has been a hard year in some ways. I have struggled with faith. I have been filled with doubt at times and wondered what happened to that strong testimony that I used to have and this song keeps popping into my head giving me strength with the words and music. It’s called Shine for me Again, Star of Bethlehem. It’s the story of a young shepherd boy who follows a star to Bethlehem the night of Jesus’ birth.

This phrase……..(listen to it here Shine for me Again Star of Bethlehem )

“But life goes on, years beyond one brief night of my youth. Time clouds my vision of truth, of truth. And tho’ I stumble and fall, I can hear some one call, “Do not Despair, your Star is still there”.”

………..has always touched me. Every time I sing it I feel something and it gives me hope. Time does cloud my vision of things I have felt and experienced in the past, but I do feel something telling my that my Star is still there. I just need to continue searching for it.

What about you…what are some of your favorite songs at this time of year?

Comments 8

  1. Here is the x-mas music I listen to every year — a celebration of the darkest time. Projekt artists remake traditional classics in “goth” style 🙂

    http://www.projekt.com/excelsis/

    Check out the version of the “Welcome Christmas” song the “Who’s” sing from the Grinch who Stole Christmas cartoon. There’s a streamed sample at the top of the page.

    Excelsis CDs are quirky, but get me in the mood. I like the symbolism of the season, a bright point of spiritual light in the time of least astronomical light.

  2. I love the song ‘O Holy Night.

    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.”

    After I became a born again Christian the lyrics of the song ‘O Holy Night bring me to tears every time. After I left Mormonism I began to understand that this little baby isn’t simply the Son of God as I previously understood him. He is mighty God, The everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace in human form.

    The lyrics of this song are “fall on your knees” and “hear the angels voices”, a “night divine”. The birth of Jesus wasn’t just a cute little baby in a manger. It was the birth of our deliverer, our savior, and the everlasting Father in the flesh.

    Adam and Eve had God speaking to them in the Garden. In the Old Testament they had God in the Ark of the Covenant behind a huge curtain. But, on the night that Christ was born we received God in this little baby. Whats even more amazing is when Jesus left he said we could have God within us. Isn’t that amazing! I LOVE JESUS!

  3. “After I left Mormonism I began to understand that this little baby isn’t simply the Son of God as I previously understood him. He is mighty God, The everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace in human form.”

    Sorry, but it has to be said:

    That is exactly what Mormonism teaches. Now if you are saying there is no distinction between Father and Son, that is not what Mormonism teaches, but your exact quote describes what we teach perfectly.

  4. Ray…

    The Jesus of Mormonism is NOT Everlasting. He is NOT the Father made flesh. He is NOT mighty God.

    He is NOW Everlasting. He is A father made flesh. He is A mighty God.

    Big difference.

  5. Were we talking about Christmas music or arguing who worships the best Jesus? I forget. LOL. Grab a cup of warm spiced cider, sit down by the fire, and enjoy the spirit of the season with us Joe P. 😉

  6. the song you choose is one of my favourites.. I can feel the Spirit so strong… This year in our ward choir we are trying to sing it but in spanish, cause we are chilean. And we expect that people who share with us the presentation, could feel the Spirit too. thanks for adding a part of this song… is very hard to find it.

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