Truth For The Heart
All of the words Charles Jennens chose for the libretto of Handel’s Messiah are from the Bible. Tassilo Erhardt wrote, “its principal aim is not to tell the story of Jesus’ life, but to point out that the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah are fulfilled in the person of Jesus.”1 However, those […]
Read More– “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 – There are songs in which the music, the lyrics, and the story behind its writing sing with one voice […]
Read MoreOne of my pastors once said that all of America has heard the Gospel in Christmas carols. There’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” because it’s sung in two Christmas classics shown annually on television in the United States. In each classic the main character goes through a hard time with […]
Read MoreI don’t know that either the person who wrote the lyrics or the one who composed the music of this song is a Christian, but the words still grasp and express truths about Christmas Day. While birds don’t give us peace, God is able to do so in the midst of our sorrows. Though we […]
Read MoreNot only do Christmas carols tell the story of the birth of Christ, but many explain why He was born. Indeed, when the angel appeared to the shepherds the very reason he said he was bringing them good news of great joy was because a Savior was born for them. But the angel said to them, […]
Read MoreGood Christian Men, Rejoice is a rollicking carol of joy. The lyrics and music echo each other as words and notes both rejoice that Christ is born. It was translated into English1 from Piæ Cantiones,2 a compilation of Latin songs done in 1582, by Finnish student, Theodoricus Petri. The music is based on a 14th […]
Read MoreThere is such rich variety in the music of Christmas. The carols we sing have come to us from different centuries, from different countries, and with many different musical styles. In “Lo, How A Rose Er’e Blooming,” I mentioned that when we sing these words or listen to these carols, we join with other believers […]
Read MoreI first heard Mary, Did You Know? sung by a small ensemble at the water’s edge of St. Augustine during an outdoor Christmas celebration over ten years ago. The lyrics and music throughout the song call you to meet and to know the Lord Jesus. The song’s bridge contains the words that caught me then and […]
Read MoreMusic is one of the most wonderful aspects of the Christmas season. The songs of hope, joy and love span centuries and countries, and when we sing these words or listen to these carols, we join with other believers who in other times and in other places worshiped God with the same music. “Lo, How […]
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Kindling for Candles 