Tuesday, December 11, 2012

13...

The Star
 
"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was."
 
Matthew 2:9
 
Silent Night
 
 
Christmas in Kentucky
 
 Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song about his memories of Christmas in Kentucky. He shares the great memories of family time, the little bit of snow they might or might not have gotten, rolling down the back roads, etc. He also talks about when it's Christmas in Kentucky, it's Christmas everywhere else. The whole world is all celebrating the birth of Jesus together.
 

14...

(I know, it's a little late. In my defense it was all ready to be published last night, but I was too into Grey's Anatomy and making Christmas presents that I forgot to hit "Publish".)

Herod and the Magi
 
"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.'"
 
Matthew 2:7-8
 
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
 
 
Away in a Manger/Child in the Manger
 
This song is a beautiful medley written by Michael W. Smith. Child in the Manger is written about the special child that was born on that very first Christmas night, which is why it connects so well with the traditional Away in a Manger.



Sunday, December 9, 2012

15...

Out of Bethlehem will come a ruler...
 
"When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:
 
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
 
The Christmas Song
 
"Merry Christmas to you"
 
 
 God Bless Us Everyone
 
This song is from the soundtrack to "A Christmas Carol". Because it's from that movie, I would guess that it is based off what Tiny Tim says in the end:
"God Bless Us, Everyone!"
The song goes deeper, though. Talking about all of us coming together with joyful, grateful, and giving hearts, because a miracle has just begun!
"God Bless Us, Everyone!"
 


16...

Magi
 
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'"
 
Let it Snow!
 
Yes, please let it snow so we can have a white Christmas!
 
 
 The Angels Sing
 
Not really a story behind this song; it's just about getting worn from the stress, shopping, and parties of Christmas, and then forgetting it all when you see your kids, nieces, nephews, etc. in a Christmas program. You are so involved in that program, and realizing everything is all fine and well because you have times like those to look back on. Great memories are being made.

 


Saturday, December 8, 2012

17...

Jesus
 
"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived."
 
-Luke 2:21
 
Away in a Manger
 
 
Home
 
Michael Buble wrote this song in 2005 for his then-fiancee, describing his loneliness from missing her in the lyrics.
Although Michael Buble wrote this song, I'm not a huge fan of his; so, I'm using Blake Shelton's version for this. (But Michael Buble does accompany Blake).
 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Poem

(Countdown is posted below)
 
This is kind of sad, because this poem is so true.
But it is also very funny, enjoy:
 
Politically Correct Christmas Poem
 
'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.
And labor conditions at the North Pole,
were alleged by the union, to stifle the soul.
 
Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety,
released to the wild, by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear,
that Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!
 
The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh,
because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA,
And millions of people were calling the cops,
when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops.
Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened,
and his fur trimmed red suit was called "unenlightened".
 
To show you the strangeness of today's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.
He went to Geraldo, in front of the Nation,
demanding millions in over-due workers compensation.
 
So...half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,
joined a self-help group, packed and left in a whiz,
demanding from now on that her title was Ms.
 
And as for gifts...why, he'd never had the notion
that making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur...
Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her,
Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot,
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacifistic.
 
No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth.
And fairytales...while not yet forbidden,
were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden,
for they raised the hackles of those psychological,
who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
 
No baseball, no football...someone might get hurt,
besides - playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe,
and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.
 
So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed,
he just couldn't figure out what to do next?
He tried to be merry he tried to be gay,
but you have to be careful with that word today.
His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground,
nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found.
 
Something special was needed, a gift that he might,
give to us all, without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy - with no indecision,
each group of people in every religion.
Every race, every hue,
everyone, everywhere...even you!
 
So here is that gift, its price beyond worth...
 
"May you and your loved ones,
Enjoy peace on earth!"


18...

Praising God
 
"The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
 
-Luke 2:20
 
Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy
 
The best version of this song:
 
 
 
Christmas Like a Child
 
This song is for those who have lost the "sparkle" of Christmas. I believe, no matter what, that at Christmas, if people are excited for it, they are like a child (at heart) again (for that month, season, or day). If they don't get the least bit excited, they have lost their joy for Christmas. I always feel "like a child" at Christmas, because I get extremely excited for it. I'm the type who listens to Christmas music in November (sometimes a little before). If you don't feel like a child at Christmas, how can you enjoy it? So, be immature, joyous, giddy, but most of all, be EXCITED for Christmas. Christmas is the time to be like that, Jesus has come! I think that's a great reason to act like child. How else would you act? Jesus has come, there is peace on earth and good will to men!
Feel Christmas like a child...