Christmas hymns

(The idea for this post came from my cell group leader, Kristen, who had us read out loud our favorite hymns as we meet this week.  It was really impacting...)

What is your favorite Christmas hymn?  What makes it your favorite?  Well, mine is "O Holy Night".  I've loved it for many years, and it was my first solo in choir in high school.  It's melody reflects the power of the words.  But even I, over the years, had forgotten to really read the words and take in the depth of their meaning.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

I put in bold a few of my favorite lines.  What Jesus did through His birth, and later His death, is so incredibly powerful.  He has broken every chain, every curse, and has set us free.  He is our friend.  Because of that, we can worship.

Someone else had picked "Joy to the World".  And I wanted to leave you with some of those lyrics.  These were the ones that jumped out at me as what I needed to hear...

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

So, I'd love to hear what your favorite one is...but after you go and read the lyrics.  You'll be blessed even more by its message, and I would love to hear what God shows you!