Happy Birthday: November 2012

What is my favorite Christmas carol? I couldn't possibly pick just one, but if forced I would probably have to say "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night." I must admit I love the tune, but I also love how it tells the whole Bible story of the shepherds without adding much to it.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night

by Nahum Tate, 1700

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around,
And glory shone around.

Luke 2:8-9 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

�Fear not!� said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind.
�Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind
To you and all mankind.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

�To you, in David�s town, this day
Is born of David�s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign,
And this shall be the sign.

Luke 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

�The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid,
And in a manger laid.�

Luke 2:12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God on high,
Who thus addressed their song,
Who thus addressed their song:

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

�All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from Heaven to men
Begin and never cease,
Begin and never cease!�

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

To finish the story:

Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

What's your favorite Christmas carol? I love so many of them. Is it tied to a special memory or does it contain a special thought about our Savior? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

I've been listening to Matt Redman sing "Endless Hallelujah" when I recognized some of the lyrics. I couldn't quite place them, so I looked at the little paper in the CD case. There are several lines from "When This Passing World is Done" by Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843). I do find it interesting that the man who wrote about "this passing world" died before his 30th birthday, only 6 years after writing this song.

Endless Hallelujah

by Matt Redman

When I stand before Your throne
Dressed in glory not my own
What a joy I'll sing of on that day
No more tears or broken dreams
Forgotten is the minor key
Everything as it was meant to be

[Chorus]
And we will worship, worship
Forever in Your presence we will sing
We will worship, worship You
And endless hallelujah to the King

I will see You as You are
Love You with unsinning heart
And see how much You paid to bring me home
Not till then, Lord, shall I know
Not till then, how much I owe
Everything I am before Your throne

[Chorus]
And we will worship, worship
Forever in Your presence we will sing
We will worship, worship You
And endless hallelujah to the King

No more tears, no more shame
No more sin and sorrow ever known again
No more fears, no more pain
We will see You face to face
See You face to face

[Chorus]
And we will worship, worship
Forever in Your presence we will sing
We will worship, worship You
And endless hallelujah to the King

When This Passing World is Done

by Robert Murray M'Cheyne in 1837
Click here to see the music.

When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,

1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

When from off the mount of God
We review the path we've trod,

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Then, Lord, shall I fully know -
Not till then - how much I owe.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall,

Revelation 6:15-17 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink, -

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Then, Lord, shall I fully know -
Not till then - how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne,
Clothed in beauty not my own,

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love Thee with unsinning heart,

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Then, Lord, shall I fully know -
Not till then - how much I owe.

When the praise of heav'n I hear,
Loud as thunder to the ear,

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, " Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns."

Loud as many water's noise,
Sweet as harp's melodious voice,

Revelation 14:1-3 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.

Then, Lord, shall I fully know -
Not till then - how much I owe.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should [are indebted to] always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,

Romans 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,

Hidden in the Saviour's side,
By the Spirit sanctified,

Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.