Merry Christmas

A Baby Changed Everything

This song has deeply touched my heart. I hope it blesses you as well. Please visit Becoming Me to read a special post inspired by these lyrics and my own experiences.

Happy Birthday Jesus

I thought this video was soooo precious

The Subsequent Verse

I love Christmas music...especially traditional carols that bring tidings of Christ's birth. I can also, by memory, sing (albeit not in tune) the first verses of such carols. As familiar and beautiful as these first verses are, I think that in most of the songs the best lyrics are saved for the subsequent verses.

Here are a few examples.

The First Noel -- Verse 6

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing --Verse 3

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Oh Holy Night -- Verse 3

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Joy to the World -- Verse 3

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 wonder wonders of His love

These verses resound in my heart because they point not to just Jesus' birth, but to His death and Resurrection.

Here's some Third Day with their take on Joy to the World

I Wonder and I'm in Wonder

During the Christmas season I find myself wondering about the non-essentials of Christ’s birth. I think it must be the mommy in me, because I never asked such questions before my children were born.

I wonder how long Mary labored.

I wonder what the weather was like that Middle Eastern night when Mary and Joseph entered the City of David. Since the shepherds were outside with their flocks, it couldn’t have been too crisp an evening. I wonder if it was actually hot.

I wonder if Jesus was born in the evening or in the wee hours of the morning.

I wonder if other women came to help her, or was it only Joseph by her side.

I wonder if Joseph remained calm.

I wonder if Mary and Joseph felt twinges of misplaced guilt about laying down the Son of God in an animal trough.

I wonder if baby Jesus sucked in His first earthly breath and exhaled with a blustery cry.

I wonder what Jesus looked like as a baby. Was His skin robust and pink? Was He thin or pudgy…long or short? Did He have a head full of black curly hair, or was His hair straight, shaggy and a shade of dark brown? Perhaps he was born without hair. I cannot imagine a bald baby Jesus, but it is possible that He was.

I wonder what words Mary first whispered to her firstborn son.

I wonder if Mary gave her newborn a nickname or if she only called Him Jesus.

I wonder if Joseph carved presents for Mary and the boy he would raise as his own.

I wonder what Jesus thought. Did His earthly body immediately possess the mind of a divine being, or did that come later.

I wonder if the animals knew that they shared their home with their Creator.

As I wonder about the unknowns of that most holy night, a thin layer of mist fills my eyes as I remember with wonder what I do know as truth. Awe captures my breath as I visualize the Almighty God being born a poor baby who would become the ransom for the souls of every man and woman. How amazing is that grace of which I am in wonder.

More Coloring And A Christmas Concert

On Sunday evening, X-factor, my nephew Michael and I went to a lovely Christmas concert at a local Methodist church. Here are some pictures of us dressed up before the show. Yes...my hair is lighter. Against my stylist's instructions, I lightened myself one last time. I love the color...finally! However, I should have listened to her, because I burnt my scalp! Hair is not meant to be dyed three times in one month.

Sweet Baby Jesus

The baby Jesus that is a part of our resin nativity scene is much loved. Here are a few remarks/commands I've made to my children regarding the swaddled babe.

To Both Children

"Do not fight over baby Jesus. Fighting makes Jesus sad."

To Z-Man

"Do not put baby Jesus in your mouth!"

"Do not throw baby Jesus at your sister!"

"Do not bang baby Jesus on the coffee table, you'll give him a boo-boo."

"Do not put baby Jesus in the trash can."

"This baby Jesus is not allowed to take a bath."


To X-Factor

"Z-man would not have baby Jesus if you hadn't taken him from the manger."

"Do not tease your brother with baby Jesus. Jesus is for everybody and does not like to hear little girls say 'na na na na naaaa.'".

"Do not put baby Jesus in your purse."

"No, baby Jesus does not want to go to Wal-Mart with us."

"Do not put baby Jesus in your toy box."

"Yes honey, I know Jesus is the King of Kings, but He has a throne in Heaven, please do not put the baby Jesus in your princess castle."

"What a beautiful lullaby. I'm sure He'll sleep much better now."

To Myself

"Someone really needs to make a Jewish Baby Jesus who looks like He was born in Bethlehem...not Sweden."