One of my favorite things about the Christmas season when I was a child was sitting in a dim room with only the lights of the tree twinkling and I'd sing all the Christmas carols I knew.  I had no idea at the time that I wasn't just singing songs about the Christmas season, but I was actually being impacted with spiritual truth about God's great gift to us.  While the kids were growing up, it was hard, but I would still find an evening or two to myself to do the same, to find peace in the rush in a light-quiet room, to sing truth, to sing myself into joy. These days you could do brain surgery from the glow, due to the 6000 lights Dave puts on our over-sized tree. But stealing time to sit there and sing is a priority for my Christmas joy-quest.  I love Christmas carols!

This past weekend as I waited in line for some hot chocolate and caramel corn in a tiny and extremely crowded establishment full of holiday shoppers, an older gentleman behind the counter was singing his head off.  No piped music for him.  He just reared back and proclaimed, "Silent night, holy night…," and then, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come…"  How unusual, how risky and politically incorrect in these days, and yet, not one person there seemed offended or got out of the very long line to leave the store.  Because it was "Christmas music," it was OK.  How cool is that?  Even if they have never heard those songs before (and I bet they have), seeds were sown that afternoon into shopper's hearts.  And as year follows year and season follows season and they hear them again and again, that beautiful truth will continue to be declared as an inescapable testimony no matter how far they may be from Christ - those seeds remain, ready to spring up!  I love Christmas carols! 

In the Old Testament God told Moses, "Now write down this song and teach it."  So Moses recorded a very lengthy song God gave to him and he taught it to the Israelite people.  They sang it.  Moses instructed the people to take all the words of the song to heart saying, "These are not just idle words, these are your life."   God knew and Moses knew that a song can impact your heart and memory like nothing else can. When you consider some of the rich, spiritual truths found in Christmas carols (and I sing them a lot, so I have!),  you can see that the joyous messages contained in them are life-giving.  Consider these incredible truths. Better yet- sing them:

"Son of God, love's pure light"  Jesus is the light of the world.

"Let every heart, prepare Him room" 

"God is not dead, nor does He sleep" Bing Crosby does a great job of declaring this important message.

"Born that men no more may die" 

"O, come let us adore Him" What an invitation to personal worship.

"God rest ye…let nothing you dismay"  Because Jesus was born, we get rest, rest! "…to save us all from Satan's power."  Sin's terrible grip is broken, rest.  "O, tidings of comfort and joy…," rest.

And who hasn't heard Mariah Carey on KOSI 101 belting out, "And in His Name, all oppression shall cease!" ?  

Right now, for these brief few days, we don't have to feel sheepish or guilty about what Christmas has become, but we can be the most joyous celebrants around.  I think we should all stand in shopping lines and sing Christmas carols and make people smile…or think we're weird, but at least plant the seeds of truth in a song that will stay in their heads. Do it.  Sing a carol in a musicless place. I will if you will!  Let me know how it goes!!!

Blessings, Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Go sit by the Christmas tree.  Remember the gift God hung on a tree 2000 years ago while anticipating the gifts under my tree we will share in a few days.  Sing with uproarious joy.  Sing!