The Song of Christmas

A Cup of Tea with Carol
Written By Carol McLeod

The songs of Christmas pronounce the very meaning, the genuine heart and the vivid story of this holy season.  The carols that have grown so vibrant through the years embrace the heartfelt message of Christmas in every stanza … in every melody … and in every word.

More than the food of holiday parties … the songs of this season fill all of the ravenous places in humanity.

More than the lights on every home on every street … the hymns of Christmas light up the darkness with His presence.

More than the mountain of gifts under the family Christmas tree … the joyful and hopeful anthems of advent give generously to a world awash with expectation.

“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices!”

Into our weariness came a Savior.  The tired travelers of life are now rejoicing because of hope. Simply because of the song that only hope sings.  Do you hear the song of hope?  Is hope singing in your world today?

“Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?  When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?”

Mary … the virgin who was no more than a girl herself … kissed the face of God.  Oh!  To be there that night when the angels sang and the shepherds danced!  Oh!  To watch this young mother fall in love with heaven’s darling!

“Hallelujah! Oh, how the angels sang!  Hallelujah!  How it rang!  And the sky was bright with a holy light!  ‘Twas the birthday of a King!”

His birthday was a night when the darkness of a world in pain exploded with rare and glorious colors!  That night that Jesus was born was a night when the voices of an angelic choir roared in victory!  That night!

“Oh come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.”

I am my own innkeeper …  and I must decide if there is room for Him or not.  Will I cast away other interests and distractions in order to make a place in my heart for Him?  Or does my heart embarrassingly declare, “No Vacancy”?

And we dare not overlook this triumphant theological treatise that fills the canyons of our frightened world with joy explosive!

“Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!  Hail the Son of Righteousness!  Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth;  Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.  Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, left the glory of heaven so that you and I would not have to experience the pains of death!  He was born so that we could be born again!  No wonder the angels sang!  

My heart joins in the Christmas anthem that resounds through eternity!  I can’t stop singing the melodies … the lyrics … and the hymns that declare Christmas!

But perhaps it is the songs that children sing during this holy season that speak the loudest and linger the longest.

“Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me I pray.  Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.”

Oh!  To experience the faith and joy of a child at Christmas time!  To know that Jesus came for me and that His love is truly the only gift that matters!

“Sleep well, little children, pleasant dreams through the night; Tomorrow is Christmas, all merry and bright.  Soon you’ll hear the bells ring, time for dreams to come true; As the world wakes to bring, Merry Christmas to you.”

One of the greatest miracles of Christmas is that the entire world joins in the proclamation! Christmas has a singular and dynamic song that cannot be stilled and will not be silent.  Christmas awakens each one of our hearts to hope … to joy … and to the Light of the World.

“I played my drum for Him pa-rum pum pum pum; I played my best for Him pa-rum pum pum pum; Then He smiled at me pa-rum pum pum pum; Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum; Me and my drum.”

The Christ child of Christmas smiles at the child in all of us when we sing for Him.  Your song may not be the loudest song or the strongest song … but sing anyway!  

Sing at the top of your lungs and from deep within your heart this year at Christmas!

Don’t let the pain of the past year silence your song or stifle your joy.  The song of Christmas is a song that resounds over the mountains and the valleys of life.  The anthem of this season echoes triumphantly over human pain and in spite of deep disappointment.  

The joyous carols of Christmas have the intensity that it takes to boil away the distractions of the season and then to help us to focus anew on why He came.  He came for you … He came for me.

That’s what Christmas is all about.  He came.  

He came so that we could sing.  

He came so that we could hope.  

He came so that we could live.  

My deepest prayer is that when you sing the songs of Christmas this year that you will be reminded of the matchless and glorious miracle of Christmas.  This Baby … the little Boy in the manger … changed everything for you and for me.

What can I give Him poor as I am;  If I were a shepherd, I would bring Him a Lamb; If I were a wise man, I'd sure do my part; So what can I give Him I'll give Him my heart; I'll give Him my heart, Give Him my heart; What can I can give Him but all of my heart; I'll give Him my heart, Give Him my heart; What can I give Him but all of my heart; What can you give Him? What can you bring? What can you offer that's fit for a King; Bow before Jesus that's where you can start; What can you give Him? Just Give Him your heart; Give Him your Heart! Give Him your Heart!  What can you give Him but all of your heart?  Give Him your heart! Give Him your heart!  What can you give Him? Just give Him your heart
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Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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