Holy Night

Why do we celebrate events year after year? Birthdays, anniversary's... Christmas. Every year we do the same thing - we pull out the decorations, we put them back up. We wrap up the gifts.., we unwrap the gifts. Buy and receive. It's the same routine. I wonder why we don't just stop the Christmas celebration all together?

"Oh Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth."

Christmas night and the Christmas season is more than just your "run of the mill" celebration. As the song implies, it is holy and sacred. We celebrate to remind us of what is really important about the season. The reminder is there in spirit... not in the wrapping paper or in the fruit cake. The reminder is there in the extra way we express love for one another.

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining."

Has the world changed much since that night? Of course it has - But, really - has it? Have you ever thought of what 'pining' means in the song? I just looked it up - in this version pining means: "to waste away with pain, hunger, grief, or desire". It doesn't say to feel pain, hunger, grief or desire... but to actually waste away in these emotions. The world, before Christ was born, was wasting away in negativity. Even now, some of us, are fading away in greed, depression, loneliness, feelings of low worth and fear of failure.

"Till He appeared and the Soul felt His worth!"

Then HE appeared.... and WE felt our TRUE worth. Whatever you are feeling... if it isn't that YOU are sacred, holy or chosen.... if it is anything else or less than - it's a lie. You are beautiful, perfectly made in Christ's image -- and your worth is immeasurable. You have been ANOINTED in Christ's love and grace. Do you wish you could give Jesus something for His birthday? Begin here -- begin believing in your worth and Christ will celebrate fully in His day.

"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

How many of us are tired and weary? Even the weary can rejoice in the magnificence of being saved by HOPE!! There is a new dawn breaking --- a time for a fresh start! Perhaps this is the reason why we must celebrate -- to remember we can always begin again. We can always return in spirit to this night and celebrate in the fact that we are saved.... saved from waste, hunger, grief and desire. Saved in spirit, whenever we return to this moment.

"Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angels voices!

Do it -- get on your knees. Don't just close your eyes quickly - but, really humble yourself to the Lord. Feel the vulnerabilities of the motion --- and then experience the awesomeness of the act. We can do nothing more but fall in mercy to the one that pulled us out of the stormy sea of death. Hear the angels voices!!! This line is not commanding the angels to say something - rather, it is implying they are speaking all the time --- we must be commanded to hear them! Close your mouth and open the ears of your spirit --- hear the angels telling you of your worth and your calling!

"Oh night Divine. Oh night, when Christ was born."

This is a divine day. Not for anything else. If you make it anything else -- then you chose it to be that. But, Christ chose it to be divine for you and me... give Him that for His birthday. And remember that it is a holy night indeed.

Merry Christmas.