December 15, 2014

Do You Hear What I Hear - (For the Love of Christmas Songs but ya'll know how I am with picking Favorites!)



We hear it all around us... long before Pandora or Spotify or even entire radio stations were dedicated to them 24/7, this is the time of year that we are engulfed in Christmas music! It's in the stores, on the radios, playing at parties... it seems there is just no escape from it!



I know for some - it is almost like torture... but for this girl? I LOVE me some Christmas songs!

I am a firm believer that one can not have too many Christmas CDs... my Honey, however, is not so - um, festive! He thinks my stack of holiday CDs is towering high enough and yet - he loves me and listens gladly (?) to all my beloved songs from December 1st through December 25th. (No -ish involved.)


I get that it can be too much...  overplayed... too much happy, joyful music... and yet, there's this:



O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, 
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,
O night divine!

(And don't even get me started on
"Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother
And in His name All oppression shall cease.")


and this:
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.


Oh, and this:

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you



and don't forget this:


O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

So much great theology... so much heaven and nature singing...

Let's join in with the chorus... I don't know about you, but something shifts... something settles... something magical happens when you actually sing the familiar songs slowly... closing your eyes and actually letting the words come from your heart, not just your memory!


Sing with me... sing it slow and on purpose... sing it if you are feeling festive, yes - but sing it especially if you are not! 



I am linking up with Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday


So - what I want to know is what is your FAVORITE Christmas Song of all time? Classic or quirky, Christian or Santa-related... fill me in! (Afterall, there may be music that I 'need' to add to my collection!)

17 comments :

  1. My most favorite ever is Oh Holy Night. It sends me into His presence. For fun, I do love "Baby, it's cold outside."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now WHY am I NOT surprised, my friend? When pressured to pick a favorite, O Holy Night wins, hands down! And Zoeys' version of Baby It's Cold Outside - LOVE!)

      Delete
    2. Ahhh, I love Zooey's version! <3

      Delete
  2. I am a "Go Tell It On the Mountain" and "Joy to the World" girl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm - now why does this not surprise me? I can tell you from what little I know of you (so far) my friend - you ARE a Go Tell It On the Mountain and Joy to the World kind of girl! xoxo

      Delete
  3. I love the classics "O Little Town" "O Come Emmanuel" etc. But my all time fave is "More Than A Story" by Go Fish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK... so - I don't think I have ever heard More Than A Story... googling it now! :)

      Delete
  4. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (along with the story behind it). Casting Crowns' version completely changed the tune (which I don't usually approve of) but they did it beautifully. <3
    I have to get my Christmas music fix when Adam's not around, though - I love it, but his dad was Santa Claus (like, professionally, keeps his beard year-round, *is* Santa) so he got burned out a long time ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure I have heard Casting Crowns version - but I am going to have to search YouTube for it to listen again! Wow... yeah, I can see how Adam may not be too excited about Christmas music, growing up with Santa and all! ;)

      Delete
  5. Silent Night will FOREVER be my favorite Christmas song...like, ever. My kids even know the words mainly because I haven't quit singing it! Ha! Love the videos here friend! Oh...I'm feeling a new playlist coming on...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw - I love that song too! I have fond memories of that from when I was little, as well as when my Girlie was little... you can't go wrong with the classics! Amen for a new playlist!

      Delete
  6. I have about 48 hours worth of Christmas music on my iPhone right now. It's more than I can listen to between now and Christmas! For fun, I just looked at my most frequently played. It's Bing Crosby's Adeste Fideles. (O Come, All Ye Faithful)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice! Bing Crosby! I knew someone would have to mention Bing! It's Christmas, after all! Thanks for sharing, Susan!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4:25 AM

    I'm not a fan of Christmas music on the radio but I love all of these songs!! Love to sing them, love the words. Thanks for sharing them with us, Karrilee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holly - I love that you are bold enough to say that! My husband loves the message - and some of the melodies - but it's overkill to him to have it everywhere, all the time! (Then again - he's not a big top 40 guy either, for the same reason!) Bless you, friend!

      Delete
  8. First a hearty, Amen! Karrilee! Little Drummer Boy is my favorite. I love the humble approach of the child, with nothing to give and Jesus's response. . . Then He smiled at me, pah rump a bah bum - Such a beautiful picture of how we must approach Christ and how He responds. I'm definitely a traditional Christmas carol girl, I love the divine truths that these song bring into our world during the holiday season. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw I love that song too! I'm glad you mentioned it! I love it for all the same reasons you mention - plus... it's so catchy! ;) Merry Christmas, friend!

      Delete

Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

Blog Archive