Rachel Spangler's Blog, page 24

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 20 – We Three Kings

Today we travel.  600+ miles likely all in rain, our car loaded down with gifts.  Like people the world over we make the trip to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the those we love most.  It’s not a search across the desert, there will (probably) be no camels, and (hopefully) no run ins in psychotic kings, but I do love the idea of being tied to hundreds of years of travels, who search for a chance to celebrate this Holiday no matter what the trip may entail.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 19 – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Today’s song is one of Jackson Spangler’s favorites.  Can’t not share the extra video of his rendition too.

 

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 18 – Who Would Imagine A King

I spent today with my little miracle.  Jackie was home sick from school so we had a lot of time to cuddle and watch movies together.  He’s on the go so much these days and he’s gotten too big to let me rock him anymore so I cherish the time we get to spend snuggling.  This time of year also reminds me of the first Christmas after he was born. With a November birthday he was still a newborn that holiday.  I spent hours rocking him and singing every Christmas song I knew.  As a new mom marveling at him and wondering who he might become I found myself singing this one a lot.  I hope it touches something special in you too.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 17 – Little Town of Bethlehem

We’re getting deep into Advent now. My soul senses the spirit stirring.  A gathering energy. At one point today while wrapping presents I felt the overwhelming urge to pray. I dropped to my knees right there in my office, and then words failed me.  I had nothing really to say, so instead I stared out the window over mountains of snow and watched smoke rise from my neighbor’s chimney.

I wonder if that’s how it felt that first Christmas.  An energy, a stirring, the sense that something was happening, even if those in Bethlehem that night lacked the words to articulate what they were feeling.

“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given. And G-d inparts to human hearts the blessing of His heaven.  No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek soul will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

I’m on the Liz McMullen Show!

If you’re looking for something fun to listen to between song blogs please take the time play my newly released episode of the Lz McMullen show. In addition to the audio recording there’s also a little slide show and a chance to win a free copy of one of books.

Go check it out at: http://www.thelizmcmullenshow.com/episode52/

 

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 16 – Come and Worship

It’s Monday.  I had to shovel the driveway to get Jackson to school, then slog through snow to run errands.  The bank, the library, the post office.  Wrapping presents.  Editing Timeless. What’s that? My order isn’t going to ship before Christmas? Lovely.  You don’t take credit cards?  Who doesn’t take credit cards? Also, what are we having for dinner? It’s snowing again. Are you freaking kidding me?

Whoops, there I go again. So much stress.  So many things to do. So overwhelming and it’s just Monday.  I don’t know about you but its time for me to take a few minutes to refocus. Time to recenter.  Time to remind myself what it’s all about. I hope today’s song and the beautiful video with it, will help us all do just that.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 15 – I Heard the Bells

This had become a favorite of mine in the last few years.  I still get chills every time I hear it and given yesterday’s theme this one carries extra weight.  I truly believe the  good outweigh the bad and love outweighs hate.

And in despair I bow my head;

“There is no peace on earth” I said “

for hate is strong and mocks the song

of peace on earth goodwill to man

But the bells are ringing

Like a choir singing

Does anybody hear them? 

Peace on earth goodwill to man

Then rang the bells more loud and deep;

God is not dead nor does he sleep

The wrong shall fail the right prevail; 

with peace on earth goodwill to man

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 14 – Coventry Carol

Today is the one-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook school massacre.  Not a very Christmasy topic, I know, but it’s one that has stayed with me.  I’ve been dreading this day on the calendar, even as I have anticipated so many other things about this time of year. It seems so discordant to be celebrating and mourning at the same time. How can there be any true happiness in a world filled with so much pain.  But then again, maybe it’s only when we acknowledge how truly awful this world can be that we fully understand the magnitude of the Christmas story.

We like to think of the first Christmas as being very clean and happy and sweet.  The problem is that it’s just not.  The world isn’t clean and simple right now, and it wasn’t clean and simple then, either.  Life can be lonely and terrifying and violent.  There’s so much heartbreak out there, and for some reason those heartbreaks seem even worse this time a year as I think about people who are hungry or sick or isolated, or worst of all, wracked with grief.   The thing is, without those things, we wouldn’t have needed Christmas in the first place.

Perhaps the most impressive part about the Christmas story is that Jesus willingly came into a horrible world.  He was born into abject poverty and homelessness to an unwed mother in an occupied country with a dictatorial leader. And  in the horror of all horrors, immediately following His birth, that leader set about slaughtering children. I cannot think of a more wretched start to a life. Which only tells me there is nothing here and now that He can’t understand.  No matter how awful things get or how hopeless we feel, Jesus has seen it, experienced it, and loved through it.

Through the story of Christmas,  we are reminded not only of how good life can be, we are even more importantly reminded that even when life is at its absolute worst, we are not alone. Each and every one of us can rejoice in that knowledge that there is nothing the love of Christ cannot endure.

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 13 – What Child Is This?

Another classic for you all. It’s a Medieval tune with civil war area lyrics.

The King of Kings salvation brings;

Let loving hearts enthrone Him!

25 Songs of Christmas: Day 12 – One Child One Day

This is a lesser known favorite of mine from Reba McEntire, and you all know how I feel about her.  This one is a  modern song with it’s heart in the right place.  Can any of us hope for anything more this time of year?