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Read more Behind the Christmas Carol: Carol of the Bells
Carol of the Bells is another popular Christmas Carol, but actually began as a New Year’s song. The song was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914. He was approached by the Conductor of the Ukrainian Republic Choir Oleksander Koshyts to create a song based on traditional Ukranian folk chants. The original folk song was written in a pre-Christian […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: Named by God
Last week, we spent with the shepherds who had first one angel and then a host of angels appear to them. The shepherds then made their way to Bethlehem to see the child they were told about. The child was now a little over a week old and the time had come to circumcise him. The Law, since the time […]
Read moreMerry Christmas
Merry Christmas!!! Here are a few pictures and a video to help you enjoy the holiday. While we enjoy the fun part of Christmas, let’s never forget the true reason for the season. The birth of Jesus Christ. He was born, so that he could die for our sins and offer us eternal life with him. […]
Read moreBehind the Christmas Carol: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly is a traditional Polish Christmas Carol. Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed, a British musician and playwright, translated the song into English and published it in December 1920. She found the carol in the 1908 hymnal Spiewniczek Piesni Koscieline. The origin of the song is believed to date back to possibly as far back as the 13th Century. […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: Glory to God in Heaven
Last week, we joined the shepherds who were frightened when an angel appeared to them. But, the angel brought good news that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem and he could be found wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. So, let’s join the shepherds again. Last week, an angel appeared. Meaning one angel. But, that angel is […]
Read moreHeroes of the Faith: Amy Carmichael
Amy Beatrice Carmichael is known for her missionary work to India, where she opened an orphanage and founded a mission. Amy Wilson Carmichael was born on December 16, 1867 in Millisle, County Down, Ireland. She was the daughter of David and Catherine Carmichael. She was the oldest of their seven children and her father worked as a miller. “One possibly […]
Read moreBehind the Christmas Carol: I Wonder As I Wander
I Wonder as I Wander was written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. Niles was attending a fundraising meeting in Murphy, North Carolina when they were ordered out of town by the police. Niles later wrote the following of hearing the song, “A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform attached to the automobile. […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: The Glory of the Lord Shone
Last week, we were with Joseph, as an angel came upon him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. We are fast-forwarding a few months and Mary and Joseph has travelled to Bethlehem, where they found a stable and Mary gave birth to a tiny infant named Jesus. One can only imagine how the angels […]
Read moreHeroes of the Faith: Lottie Moon
Growing up in the Southern Baptist Church, each Christmas we take up the Lottie Moon Foreign Mission offering. This goes to fund and assist foreign missionaries around the world. But, who was Lottie Moon? Why do we take up an offering in her name? Charlotte Digges Moon was born on December 12, 1840 in Albermarle County, Virginia. She was the […]
Read moreBehind the Christmas Carol: I Saw Three Ships
I Saw Three Ships is a traditional English folk song. The song was written by wandering minstrels as they traveled throughout the country during the middle ages. “In the original version of the carol, the Three Ships were the ones taking the supposed skulls of the wise men to Cologne cathedral in Germany.” Over the course of time the lyrics, […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: Fear Not
The angel has appeared twice already to Zacharias and Mary, but He is about to appear a third time. This time to Joseph, who is engaged to Mary. Imagine Joseph’s shock and hurt when Mary told him she was expecting. Scripture tells us that he was trying to decide what to do with her and to put her away quietly. […]
Read moreHeroes of the Faith: Lillian Thrasher
Lillian Trasher founded the first Orphanage in Egypt and known as the Nile Mother of Egypt. Lillian Hunt Trasher was born on September 27, 1887 in Jacksonville, Florida. She was raised as a Roman Catholic in Brunswick, Georgia. After a term of Bible college, she worked for two years at Faith Orphanage in North Carolina. After hearing a missionary from […]
Read moreBehind the Christmas Carol: The Coventry Carol
The Coventry Carol is an English Christmas Carol that dates back to the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry as part of the mystery play The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors in England. The play depicts the Christmas story found in the Gospel of Matthew. “The carol is the second of three songs included in the […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: A Messenger of God
We are digging into Christmas from the viewpoint of the angels. Last week, we joined Zacharias as the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Today, we are join Mary, as we pick her story up in Luke 1:26-38. We do not know what Mary was doing or where she was, but she was going about her day when an angel appeared […]
Read moreA Heart of Gratitude: Gratitude for our Present Situation
After leaving my abusive relationship, I waited for six years for my life to move forward. I grew frustrated, angry, depressed and discouraged on more than one occasion. There were times when it was impossible for me to give thanks for my present situation. But, then I reminded myself that I had so much to be thankful. I was in […]
Read moreHeroes of the Faith: John Gibson Paton
John Gibson Paton greatly improved life in his missionary work in the South Pacific. He was born on May 24, 1824 in Braehead, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was the oldest of eleven children born to James and Janet Paton. At the age of twelve, he began to learn his father’s stocking manufacturing business. He worked fourteen hour days beside his father […]
Read moreBehind the Christmas Carol: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” was written by Charles Wesley. He wrote the song to commemorate the Nativity of Jesus and prepare for the Second Coming. He intended the song to be sung during Advent and Christmas. In 1744, Charles Wesley looked at the situation of the orphans in the areas around him. He also thought of the great class […]
Read moreThe Angels view of Christmas: I Stand Before God
We have been taking a look at the Eyewitnesses to Christmas, as we’ve covered Mary, Joseph and Elisabeth and Zacharias. What better view of heaven than those witnesses that had the full view from both heaven and earth. That of the angels. An angel is a spiritual being acting as an agent, attendant or messenger of God. Often they are […]
Read moreThanksgiving is Purely American
