Love Came Down At Christmas
Hymns and carols played a significant role in my childhood which shaped my life in big and small ways.
A few months back I had a severe sore throat which left me almost, ‘voiceless’. It was then that I caught myself wanting to sing or hum choruses and hymns of praise throughout the day. When I became better I was so glad to rejoice and praise God in song.
“O Lord open my lips, that my mouth will declare your praise.”
-Psalm 51:15
As my parents often shared with us the stories behind the hymns we sang as a family, I realize that each hymn and carol was written after much prayer and very often after an encounter with God. I often use lyrics of those prayer songs in my own quiet time to carve out my prayers to the Lord.
This Christmas, I chose three carols to ponder and pray with. Here I share them with you. I hope you can pray with them, listen to them, sing them and enjoy them, by yourself and with family and friends.
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine
Love was born at Christmas
Star and angels gave the sign.
Lord, this Christmas, help me to bask in your love for me- true, complete and constant.
“God can never love you more than he loves you at this very moment.”
-Joyce Meyer
Hymn writer Dorothy Gurney calls out to God saying, ‘O Perfect Love’ (what a phrase to use to describe God),’ All human love transcending.’.
Lord, love is not something you do, you are love. Help us as we plan and prepare, cook, clean and decorate this Christmas, to be mindful of that love. Give us opportunities to pass on that love to a needy world. Give us eyes to see and a heart which is more than willing to give.
Whom can we bless with kindness and compassion this Christmas?
Which family could we surprise with a hamper of treats?
In John 21 Jesus reinstates Peter by repeating these words- If you love me, feed my sheep. He says the same to us, we are called to feed His sheep.
Joy to the world
The Lord has come
Let heaven and nature sing
Ranjit and I live in New Zealand where we celebrate a Summer Christmas. The days are long, the sun shines on our sparkly beaches and the Pohutakawas (the New Zealand Christmas trees) are in full bloom with their radiant red flowers! As I write this, I can see a few first flowers on our own tree reminding me that Christmas is just round the corner.
In the busyness of decorating, buying gifts and entertaining, Lord let me make room and give margin for moments of quiet and stillness to sit by a window and look outside. Help me Lord to walk with you, talk with you and admire your creation. Snow or sunshine, fog or rain help us to praise you ‘Let heaven and nature sing’.
How can I carve out time starting now, to spend time in nature and rejoice as I praise God?
As a family how can we enjoy some no screen time in the garden, on walks or at the beach?
O Little Town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
This carol always leaves me wondering why God chose Bethlehem for his only Son to be born in. Author and Bible teacher Liz Curtiz Higgs in her book The Girls of Christmas says that at the time when the angel Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth, Mary was barely 12 years old and Nazareth had about 100 people living there. The Creator chose and looked on the small, seemingly insignificant and unworthy place to send an angel who was standing by His throne in heaven!? A stable for the Saviour of the world to be born? I wonder about the young man or woman who worked cleaning the stable and tended to the animals there. Did they realize that this was a divine baby?
Lord, at times when I feel small, insignificant and unworthy remind me that I am called, I matter to you and you have a plan for me. Whether I work in the kitchen peeling potatoes, in the farm or work sorting rubbish, Lord, you see me, you are with me. As you had a plan for Mary, Lord, you have a perfect plan for me. Amen.
This Christmas let us worship fully, spend less, give more and love all.