Yesterday at church, the worship leader introduced the last song, “Joy to the World”.…..said that this different arrangement might just make us dance. And it certainly did get the congregation moving and smiling and clapping. It was jazzy, upbeat and fun, as sticks on the drums were replaced by brushes. Music moves our soul……can make us happy, sad, excited, serious, silly, reminiscent, proud, humble, and on and on. It oftencauses us to act. Music was created by God to stir the senses. And it causes us to worship……..to glorify Jesus.
Christmas songs and carols that stir our souls help us to pause and contemplate why we celebrate Christmas. They really are the very best of all. This particular song sung by Branden Heath really got my attention last year, and I find myself humming it often: Just A Girl, written by Brandon and Lee Thomas Miller. Please check out the lyrics. (Of course no one knows how the innkeeper felt when there was a knock on the door, but this song is certainly a unique perspective of how he could have felt)
I wonder if you’ve heard the story of little fame and lesser glory
The night the keeper of the inn, In the little town of Bethlehem
Encountered Joseph and Mary, About to birth the Savior of the world
His wife said, go and see who’s knocking, He ran down to the gate, unlocked it
The moment he heard Mary’s cry, He couldn’t look them in the eye
Denied them and went back to bed, When his wife asked who was there
He said, I don’t know Just a girl, Just a couple gypsies begging at the door
Told’em we don’t have room for any more, And closed the door, It was just a girl
We tried to sleep but wasn’t able, He snuck down to the dirty stable
The two had found for covering, and laid her in her suffering
The keeper knelt outside the barn, And in the light of that great star, He prayed, what have I done
He’s just a babe, Just minutes old there trembling in the hay
I could have found a room for them to stay, I’m so ashamed
He’s just a babe, There was no robe, there was no crown, The shepherd stood on royal ground
The keeper wept for what he’d done, He turned away God’s own Son
Just a King, Just a million angels crowding in to see
Jesus there among humanity, Just a babe
Just minutes old there trembling in the hay, Staring at his mother in the face, She’s just a girl, Just a girl
Does she even know that she just changed the world, Does she even know that He will save the world, Does Mary
know that He will save the world
She’s just a girl, Just a girl, Just a girl
Please take a few minutes and watch this beautiful DVD
I read this morning in Daily Bread this quote:
The birth of Christ brought God to man; the cross of Christ brings man to God
Yes, so many details to prepare for during the Christmas season. They take time….and they need to be done. As we continue on with our preparations, let us all prepare our hearts through the word of God by reading the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 and listen to the absolutely life changing music about God’s greatest gift sent to us on Christmas.
Merry Christmas, dear friends and family!
