In light of today's tragedy, I thought this song was fitting.
Grown Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
Do you remember me? I sat upon your knee; I wrote to you With childhood fantasies.
Well, I'm all grown-up now, And still need help somehow. I'm not a child, But my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish, My grown-up christmas list. Not for myself, But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end. This is my grown-up christmas list.
As children we believed The grandest sight to see Was something lovely Wrapped beneath our tree.
Well heaven surely knows That packages and bows Can never heal A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start, And time would heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend, And right would always win, And love would never end. This is my grown-up christmas list. This is my only life-long wish. This is my grown-up christmas list.
Here's really fun Christmas song with a great message by Bryan Duncan.
I've been a fan of Bryan's for many years, and he's always put out great music. "This Christmas, one of five bonus Christmas songs on the album Conversations. You can hear the Conversations album FREE for a limited time here: http://igg.me/p/286384/x/945004."
but you only have a few days left to get it!
If you happen to miss it, but want to get ahold of his new Conversations album, here's information about it: http://sogoodforthesoul.com/ You can also preview the entire album there.
This Christmas - Bryan Duncan
After the snowfall melts away
and Christmas bells have ceased to ring
one gift of love on Christmas Day
transcends the season
to be love the whole yearh through
Let this one gift last forever
its the love that I get from you.
It never gets old
It's the love I need
and it's what I want
and it's what I want for you
The story is told
of a new born love
It's the best of all I know this Christmas brings
Long after Christmas ties are gone
and treasures here no longer new
this Christmas love just like a song
brings out the season
to be sung the whole year through
Let this one gift last forever
in the love that I get from you
It never gets old
It's the love I need
and it's what I want
and it's what I want for you
The story is told
of a new born love
It's the best of all I know this Christmas brings
Count the days till Christmas comes
Treat every soul like it was Christmas
364 plus one
and with this Christmas done
we'll start all over again
start all over again
It never gets old
It's the love I need
and it's what I want
and it's what I want for you
The story is told
of a new born love
It's the best of all I know this Christmas brings
It never gets old
This Christmas
and it's what I want
and it's what I want for you
The story is told
this Christmas
of a newborn love
and it's what I want for you
The story is told
this Christmas
Most of my family and friends probably don't known this. So, Shhhhh, don't tell them.
I like ballets. I like classical music. There. I said it in public.
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is part of The Nutcracker ballet. It tells the story of Clara and the Nutcracker. Here's a description of the ballet from Wikipedia:
Act I Scene 1: The Silberhaus HomeIt is Christmas Eve. Family and friends have gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the night's festivities. Once the tree is finished, the younger children are sent for. The children stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.
The festivities begin. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Herr Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara and Fritz's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. Drosselmeyer then has the precious dolls put away for safekeeping.
Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man, used for cracking hazelnuts. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, purposely breaks the toy. Clara is heartbroken.
During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop the clock in place of the owl. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The Nutcracker also grows to life-size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of Gingerbread man soldiers and the mice, led by the Mouse King. The mice begin to eat the gingerbread soldiers.
The Nutcracker appears to lead the gingerbread soldiers, who are joined by tin soldiers and dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded Nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to stab him. Scene 2: A Pine Forest
The mice retreat and the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them. Act II Scene 1: The Land of SweetsClara and the Prince travel in a nutshell boat pulled by dolphins to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince's place until his return. The Prince recounts for the Sugar Plum Fairy how he had been saved by Clara from the Mouse King and had been transformed back into a Prince.
In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, and tea from China all dance for their amusement; candy canes from Russia; Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes; Mother Gigogne has her children emerge from under her enormous skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.
A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which Clara and the Prince are crowned rulers of The Land of Sweets. Soon, however, the people of the land of the sweets begin to disappear one by one, until the Nutcracker Prince himself disappears, and Clara is found sleeping in the parlor. The Nutcracker Doll is under the Christmas tree. Clara awakes, thinking it was all a dream, but then finds her crown sitting beside her, leading to question, was it a dream? She walks to the Christmas tree and takes her Nutcracker, going back to sleep, the implication being that if it was all a dream, that she would want to keep dreaming.
Who doesn't love How The Grinch Stole Christmas? Get it? 'Who'....
Anyway, this cartoon has been an annual tradition for many families since it was first aired in 1966. The song at the end is a Dr. Seuss classic. Welcome Christmas is joyful and fun!
The party's on The spirit's up We're here tonight And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
The moon is right The spirit's up We're here tonight And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time Simply having a wonderful Christmas time Simply having a wonderful Christmas time Simply having a wonderful Christmas time
Go Fish has a unique Christmas song that my family loves. Christmas with a Capital C talks about how our society is trying to kill all public displays of Christmas. Every year there's more stories of atheists and atheist organizations trying to stifle Christmas. There really is a 'war on Christmas' going on, and Christians need to take a stand and put an end to it.
I saw someone post this the other day, "My faith is personal, but it's not private." This is so true. Any Christian that follows the 'politically correct' garbage that says you have to leave your faith at home has forgotten Christ's command:
Matthew 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Christmas With A Capital C - Go Fish "IT'S CALLED CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C " It's called Christmas! Well I went to the coffee shop to get myself a mocha, The lady at the counter said "Happy holidays"; I said, "Thanks lady, I am pretty happy, But there's only one holiday that makes me feel that way." It's called Christmas, what more can I say? It's about the birth of Christ and you can't take that away. You can call it something else, but that's not what it will be. It's called Christmas with a capital "C." God's got a law and we pretty much destroyed it. We're gonna get judged, there's no way to avoid it. But Jesus came down to take the punishment for me. He did it for you too, so maybe you can see . . . Why It's called Christmas, what more can I say? It's about the birth of Christ and you can't take that away. You can call it something else, but that's not what it will be. It's called Christmas with a capital "C." It's called Christmas! It's called Christmas! It's called Christmas! It's called Christmas! It's called Christmas, what more can I say? It's about the birth of Christ and you can't take that away. You can call it something else, but that's not what it will be. It's called Christmas with a capital "C."
We tend to get caught up in the commercialism that surrounds Christmas. Black Friday! Cyber Monday! Trees! Lights! Decorations! Gifts! While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of that, it becomes wrong when we let it overshadow the true meaning of Christmas. There's one person that I know of that sums it up best. Linus:
I think this song says it best. Christ is the reason for the season. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Some of you may not consider this to be a classic Christmas song, but I sure do! Stryper, the pioneering Christian Metal band released this in 1986 in a re-release of their groundbreaking EP The Yellow And Black Attack!. I wish they'd release a full-length Christmas album!
Reason For The Season - Stryper You, you say that you've got it figured out
That life's about, you do what you want to.
You, you walk the tightrope of unbelief
Can't you see? His way is reality.
We all know it's better to give than receive.
Then why don't we give God the glory?
Don't hide it, don't fight it, just believe. He is the reason for the season.
He is the reason for today.
He is the reason for the season.
Celebrate, celebrate. Your life can be a holiday
Everyday when He is with you.
Hey (HEY!), let's get back to what it's all about.
Shout it out. Christ is the reason.
We all know it's better to give than receive
His gift is for those who beleive.
You got it if you want it, just beleive. He is the reason for the season.
He is the reason for today.
He is the reason for the season.
Celebrate.
We all know it's better to give than receive
Then why don't we give God the glory?
We all know it's better to give than receive
His gift is for those who beleive.
You got it if you want it, just beleive.
He is the reason for the season.
He is the reason for today.
He is the reason for the season.
No matter your style, The Little Drummer Boy is one of the most well known and loved songs of the Christmas season. I remember watching the claymation video every year as a child. Most people are very familiar with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version of this song. It gets a ton of radio airplay around Christmas time. I like that version, but I like more modern renditions of it too.
At the bottom of this post you'll also find a song by The Newsboys called Adoration. It's basically the same story as The Little Drummer Boy. Most people don't really think about it, mainly due to the fact it was released on a worship album containing other songs, but this is a powerful and beautiful Christmas song. Check it out below the Little Drummer Boy lyrics.
I found this great video featuring the Whiteheart version of the song. This video is not by Whiteheart, but the message in it is beautiful.
Whiteheart Version
At the request of a friend, I've also included this version by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. :)
Bing Crosby/David Bowie Version
The Little Drummer Boy - Traditional Lyrics
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
Adoration
This reminds me of a passage in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. As summarized by Leigh Nash of the band Sixpense None The Richer when telling David Letterman about the origin of the band's name:
It comes from a book by C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity. A little boy asks his father if he can get a sixpence—a very small amount of English currency—to go and get a gift for his father. The father gladly accepts the gift and he's really happy with it, but he also realizes that he's not any richer for the transaction. C.S. Lewis was comparing that to his belief that God has given him, and us, the gifts that we possess, and to serve Him the way we should, we should do it humbly—realizing how we got the gifts in the first place.
Adoration. What more can we give the One who owns it all anyway?
Adoration - The Newsboys
I'm here with the others
Who saw the heavens testify
Now I hang back in the shadows
I want to come close
I want to know
She sees me shivering here
She smiles and with a nod
I walk through the mud and straw
To the newborn Son of God
Come, let us adore Him
He has come down to this barren land
Where we live
And all I have to give Him
Is adoration
He raises a wrinkled hand
Through the dust and the flies
Wrapped in rags like we are
And with barely open eyes
He takes my finger
And He won't let go
And He won't let go
It's nothing like I knew before
And it's all I need to know
Come, let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
And all I have to give Him
Is adoration
God is with us here
Our Immanuel
God is with us here
Our Immanuel
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, our Immanuel
Is with us here and He won't let go
Come, let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
And all I have to give Him
Is adoration
Sting sang what I think is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs of the season. Gabriel's Message was featured on A Very Special Christmas, a benefit album for Special Olympics, as well as Sting's "Russians" and "If On A Winter's night..."
It is based on the Annunciation of The Lord to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel that she shall miraculously conceive and give birth and name the baby Jesus.
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
The video's kinda weird, but here ya go:
Gabriel's Message - Sting
The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow
His eyes as flame
"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured lady," Gloria!
"For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel,
By seers foretold
Most highly favoured lady," Gloria!
The gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name."
Most highly favoured lady Gloria!
Of her Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn
And everyone through out the world will ever say
Most highly favoured lady Gloria!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
Help to make the season bright,
Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh,
And ev'ry mother's child is gonna spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.
[musical interlude]
And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.
What could possibly say Christmas more than the word Emmanuel?
Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us."
Amy Grant's rendition of the song Emmanuel is another Christmas classic. Most people think Amy wrote the song, but actually it was another well known CCM artist that wrote it.... Michael W. Smith.
One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is Snoopy's Christmas by The Royal Guardsmen. The Peanuts are awesome, of course, and Charlie Brown's Christmas is a fond memory of many people. A timeless classic. Check this out from Wikipedia:
A followup to their earlier "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron", the song is about how Snoopy had to go out and fight the Red Baron on Christmas Eve. The Baron has Snoopy at his mercy after a long dogfight but, instead of shooting him down he forces Snoopy to land and offers Snoopy a holiday toast. Afterward, Snoopy and the Red Baron fly their separate ways, "each knowing they'd meet on some other day".[1]The release begins with a male chorus singing the German yuletide classic "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree"), and the middle of the song is bridged by chimes ringing out a phrase from "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". The chimes can also can be heard during the fade out at the end of the song. Although fictitious, the song recalls a historical event. During World War I, in 1914, "The Christmas Truce" was initiated not by German and British commanders, but by the soldiers themselves.[2] The length of the cease-fire varied by location, and was reported to have been as brief as Christmas Day or as long as the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Trench-bound combatants exchanged small gifts across the lines, with Germans giving beer to the British, who sent tobacco and tinned meat back in return. No Man's Land was cleared of dead bodies, trenches were repaired and drained, and troops from both sides shared pictures of their families and, in some places, used No Man's Land for friendly games of football.[3] The song even has the initiator correct as it was generally the German soldiers who called over to the British and initiated the truce and, in the song, it is the Red Baron—a German WWI hero—who extends the hand of Christmas friendship to Snoopy.
Snoopy's Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
(O Christmas tree, O Christmas Tree)
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
(Of all the trees most lovely)
The news had come out in the First World War The bloody Red Baron was flying once more
The Allied command ignored all of its men And called on Snoopy to do it again.
Twas the night before Christmas, 40 below When Snoopy went up in search of his foe He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ring out from the land Asking peace of all the world And good will to man [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_songs/snoopys_christmas.html ] The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight Why he didn't shoot, well, we'll never know Or was it the bells from the village below.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land Bringing peace to all the world And good will to man
The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine And forced him to land behind the enemy lines Snoopy was certain that this was the end When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend"
The Baron then offered a holiday toast And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host And then with a roar they were both on their way Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land Bringing peace to all the world And good will to man
My favorite part of Christmas is the music! I LOVE Christmas music! When I was a kid, I would listen to it all year long. Sometimes I'll still sneak in a listen in July. I'm going to try to share a Christmas song every day from today through Christmas. Enjoy!
There are so many old traditional songs that are special at Christmastime. I like some of the more modern renditions of them too, though.
Check out this medley of two classic Christmas songs by Michael W. Smith. He blends together I Saw Three Ships and Joy To The World wonderfully. This is one of my favorites.
I Saw Three Ships
The origins of I saw three ships are unknown but it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era. The theme for I saw three ships is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus lines of I saw three ships ensure that the carol will be well remembered. Author of the lyrics and composer of the music for I saw three ships is unknown. (http://www.carols.org.uk/i_saw_three_ships.htm)
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice again,,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Then let us all rejoice, again,
On Christmas day in the morning. Joy To The World
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Joy to the World is a popular Christmas carol which is based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. (http://www.carols.org.uk/a27-joy-to-the-world.htm)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
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.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
