39 results for tag: Christmas

Hymns of Hope: O Little Town of Bethlehem

The City of David was situated on a hill just a few miles south of Jerusalem. Weary travelers, brought in by the census, were packed in every available room in town. Yet, in the quietness of night, while the streets lay in sleepy silence, the stillness was broken by the cry of a baby. Into the darkness, Light had dawned, and the course of history was forever changed in that little town of Bethlehem. O little town of Bethlehem,how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleepthe silent stars go by;yet in thy dark streets shineththe everlasting light.The hopes and fears of all the yearsare met in thee tonight. That ...

Hymns of Hope: Come, Thou Long Expectant Jesus

Although the people of Israel had been long awaiting the coming of the Messiah, He did not come as they expected Him to. They expected the triumphant coming of a king, but not one born in a humble stable. They expected Him to be adored and extolled at His coming, but not by lowly shepherds. They expected Him to confront their oppressors, not the piety of their religious leaders. In fact, all throughout the gospels, we see the long expected Jesus breaking all our expectations. We tend to fill our thoughts of Christ with our own suppositions of what He should be like, and what He should do on our behalf. But Jesus did not leave the ...

Hymns of Hope: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come! God, be with us! This was Israel’s cry. Aching. Yearning. Hoping. How long, O Lord? They cried out to God in the midst of their exile, first under Babylon and then under the oppression of the Roman empire. They longed for rescue, for all that was wrong to be made right. They knew the Promised One would come to ransom them. Surely the Messiah would be here soon. In their mourning, they waited for His coming. Clinging to expectation and hope, they rejoiced at the promise of His rescue, knowing that their God was faithful. He would keep His word. O come, O come! God, be with us! And He did. God Himself ...

Christmas Joy

I spent some time this week looking over all of the Christmas decorations that are scattered throughout my home. The word "joy" appears at least a dozen times. The holidays are characterized by joy. For the entire month of December, families are driving around to stare in awe at marvelous light displays, everyone's kitchen smells like peppermint as preparations are make for an annual cookie exchange, wishlists are created or updated in anticipation of traditions of gift-giving, and playlists are curated so that the songs of the season are always ringing through the air. But, it can be so difficult to participate in the joys of the Christmas ...

Christmas Hope

O holy nightThe stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of our dear Savior's birthLong lay the world in sin and e'er pining'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Does it seem as though the thrill of hope has been absent this Christmas?  Everywhere you go you are surrounded with glistening lights, songs of merriment, and all of the sights and tastes and smells of the season. But when your heart is aching and broken, these joyful festivities somehow just seem to intensify the emptiness you feel inside.  Maybe you’ve pasted on a smile and ...

Hope: The Reason We Celebrate

Nine. Nine Christmases without my baby boy. Nine years of slowly driving around town, sipping hot chocolate, looking at Christmas lights, and wondering which house would be his favorite. Nine years of walking down the boy toy aisle at Target and choking back tears. Nine years of feeling like a big part of my heart is missing during the holidays. As a grieving mother, it feels like pain and sadness just come out of nowhere, especially during the holidays. If you’ve had to excuse yourself from a party because you just can’t seem to hold back the tears anymore, you are not alone. If looking a teeny, tiny Christmas jammies have made you start ...

Healing and Hope at Christmas

“What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? Who is this who lives with the lowly, Sharing their sorrows, knowing their hunger? This is Christ, revealed to the world In the eyes of a child, a child of the poor. This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.” Two of my favorite Christmas songs are What Child Is This? and Child of the Poor. Their haunting melodies draw me in to reflect on the lowly humanity of Christ and then worship Him as Savior.   ...

Links for Hope Moms: Holiday Edition

We want to share with you links to posts, videos, and resources from around the web to uplift, help, and encourage you in your walk with the Lord as you grieve. {What Suffering People Wish You Would Do at Christmas} // "Remind them that our faithful Savior will never fail or forsake them. That Jesus walks with them and He weeps with them. Remind them that He knows every detail of their struggle. Remind them that for all of us, the unshakeable hope of Christmas lies solely in Emmanuel, for our God has come to us and will forevermore be with us."{Celebrating Christmas with a Broken Heart}// "In the wake of grief, emotions are ...

Our Hope This Christmas

The people of Israel were waiting for the coming of the promised Messiah. They were living under the threat of the Assyrians, who would later bring the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity, when the prophet Isaiah delivered news of a child who would come to dissipate the darkness and redeem the world from sin. This birth announcement was a glimmer of hope in the midst of the fear and sorrow. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 We live in the space between the ...

Advent: The Gift of Love

I was eight and a half months pregnant that first Christmas in my grief. Just four months before, we had received a diagnosis for our unborn son that left us knowing that, barring a miracle from God, we’d be saying goodbye to him way sooner than we ever imagined. There was something so significant that year about being pregnant at Christmastime.  I had low energy, both physically and emotionally, and so in some ways Christmas became a little bit simpler. But, honestly, it became a little bit more meaningful too. I would go about my days, obviously with child, and I would think about what we were about to celebrate: Christmas. The birth of ...