Christmas Music

Like most other people, I absolutely loooove Christmas music. Usually I start listening either around Thanksgiving or right before. It's exciting to get out the CDs (or iTunes...) and listen to songs you haven't heard in a while! Well yesterday, while taking Charlie to Oxford to meet Mom, I got out my Amy Grant Christmas album for the first time this year. Yes, the one with "Tender Tennessee Christmas," that I can remember listening to every year since at least 4th grade. It was the first time this season I heard "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and the rich theology and real meaning of Christmas hit me fresh. I sang it over and over again (thankfully the boys were asleep in the back...) and just relished what our God came to do so many Christmases ago.

Here are the words to the Amy Grant version:

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 angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

With angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

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.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the Incarnate Diety!

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace, Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Christ, the highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord,

Come, Desire of Nations come, fix in us thy humble home,

Come, Desire of Nations come, fix in us thy humble home.

Amen.