O Come All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father glory in the Highest;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

The First Noel

The First Noel, the Angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the East beyond them far

And to the earth it gave great light

And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star

Three Wise men came from country far

To seek for a King was their intent

And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest

And there it did both Pause and stay

Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three

Full reverently upon their knee

And offered there in His presence

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel! 

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord

That hath made Heaven and earth of nought

And with his blood mankind has bought.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Did you know that the lyrics to Hark the Herald Angels sing was written by Charles Wesley, John Wesley's brother. The song was written in 1739 and placed to the tune we sing now in 1840, it was composed by Felix Mendelssohn written to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and his invention of the printing press.

Hark the herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n 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!"

Silent Night

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

'Round yon virgin , mother and child

Holy infant so, tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night

Shepherds quake, at the sight

Glory streams from heaven afar

Heavenly, hosts sings Hallelujah.

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Joy to the World!

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS 

I'm going to attempt to write a post a day about some favorite christmas carols. In celebration of Christmas. Today's carol is my favorite "JOY TO THE WORLD". 

Did you know that Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts and was an imitation of the last half of Psalms 98. Up until that time in history church hymns were limited to the psalms from the old testament. The deacon of a church challenged Isaac to write music at age 15 after Isaac complained about the atrocious worship in song; the deacon said to Isaac "the give us something better". 

Well I have to say he did give us something better. 

The tune was composed by George Fredrick Handel. 

Joy to the world! The Lord is come

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods

Rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

No more let sin and sorrow grow

Nor thorns infest the ground

He comes to make

His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found

Far as the curse is found

Far as, far as the curse is found

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 wonders and wonders of his love

A Feminist Friday

I always say I'm a bit of a feminist, and I know hearing the word "Feminist" can automatically bring out a picture in peoples minds of a radical woman who pickets and protests, burns her bra, and refuses to shave her legs. I think that's a flawed interpretation of feminism but needless to say that stereotype does exist, and while I'm no bra burning feminist. I am strong believer in upholding intrinsic values of humanity. Too long have women been scrutinized and objectified in the media, too long have women (globally and nationally) been tortured abused and mistreated. I am passionate about creating a world where men and women can reach their potential regardless of their gender. I could go on and stand on my soap box for days but the reason I decided to post this topic was because I saw two videos this week on the facebook newsfeed that shocked me to my very core. Both videos brought to light how we are failing at creating a world/society/culture that values women.

MEDIA INFLUENCE



QUESTIONS OUR GIRLS ARE ASKING!
Fathers Mothers and anyone who has a woman that they love whether it's their mother grandmother sister or daughter etc. Take note we need to do a better job at creating a world where women are valued and treated that way.

I had a High school bible teacher tell us one day that he believed women were the crowning jewel of creation. He went on to explain that when crowns are crafted for royalty the crown is incomplete until the last jewel which is usually the most exquisite is placed on the crown, that jewel is referred to as the crowning jewel. Creation was incomplete just as a crown is incomplete until God created women that is why they are the crowning jewel of creation. I always respected that man because he really did value the women in his life.

If you value your women they will go on to do incredible things in this world. I think Louisa May Alcott had it right when she wrote this in her most famous book Little Women.

“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you’ll make it a better place." -- Marmee, Little Women”

Let's take note. we need more Marmees in this world. I hope I can be a mom just like her someday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALT!!!

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. ~ walt disney

A co-worker brought it to my attention that today is Walt Disney's Birthday. And while dear old Walt is no longer alive I think in honor of the day he was born I would dedicate this post to my love for Disney!

I mean if you think about it what an incredible man, his life work has probably played a part in each of our lives. Can any person really say that they did not have Disney as a part of their childhood memories. He had an influence on so many people and children in this world. It's inspiring how one person can have a dream and an imagination and when given the opportunity to really create and bring that dream to life, it can have the power to touch
so many people's sense of childhood wonder and joy. So to Mr. Walt Disney, thank you for sharing your magic and may your legacy live on!