The Message of Christmas

Dec 20

If you know anything about me at all – you know that I am famous for my addictions in life.

My first and life-altering addiction is to the Word of God. It sustains me … and changes me … and propels me … and encourages me. Nothing even comes close to my affinity for and dependence upon the Bible. I must have my daily fix … I just must!

And then … my lesser addictions in no particular order are these … I am addicted to college basketball… to the beach… to my grandchildren. I also have been known to eat way too much chocolate from time to time.

Oh … and then there is coffee. Sweet, aromatic, enthusiastic coffee!

And, you must also know, that one of my fiercest and most unremitting addictions is to Christmas music!

How I love the glory of the sounds of Christmas music! My delight in the songs of Christmas is deeper than I can even express on the written page.

“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!”

So passionate is my love for the melodies of advent that I have set aside October 1 as “The First Official Day of Christmas Music Season”. I awake all of my adult children on that momentous day with a link to listen to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas!” (That particular song, I might add, is the McLeod Family Theme Song!)

I have discovered over the course of my life that 3 months of the lyrics and melodies of Christmas is not nearly enough. So – due to emotional necessity - between January 2 and September 30 – I am a closet Christmas music listener!

Don’t judge me … just don’t judge me!

“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

But one thing that you must understand about my affinity for Christmas music is that it is actually not the little ditties that refer to snowmen who dance … reindeer who fly … and chestnuts that roast that are my musical drug of choice.

I really don’t care about Santa, baby … or about how cold it is outside … or even about the wreath that hangs on your front door.

But I do care about the message of Christmas. I care about it very, very much.

“Immanuel! God is with us! And if God is with us, who could stand against us?! Our God is with us, Immanuel!”

I deeply desire for the message of Christmas to nestle its way into the recesses of your heart until you are changed forever.

“Joy to the world! The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!”

This past week, I was introduced to an incredible quote by the great Chuck Swindoll. Are you ready for it? Are you ready to smile through your tears?!

“Christmas is the one time of year when the whole world is singing our song.”

What?!! That is so good … let me quote it again …

“Christmas is the one time of year when the whole world is singing our song.”

Thank you, Mr. Swindoll. Thank you for verbalizing what I have always known to be true.

Contained in those 15 easy-to-understand words is the singular reason why I love Christmas music with a passion that drives me to listen to it again … and again … and again.

You see … this is the truth … during the month of December …the whole world celebrates!

They celebrate in the only ways that they know how … by spending … and eating … and shopping … and sending … and baking … and giving … and partying … and relaxing … and decorating.

However … they can celebrate for an entire month without ever knowing “what” or “Who” they celebrate.

But we, who belong to Jesus Christ, celebrate with a different motivation and a unique intention.

We know Who we celebrate!

We know why we sing!

And our song is so resilient … so extraordinary … so eternal … that we must sing it more than 30 days of the calendar year! Just as the skies over Bethlehem exploded with the song of the angels … my heart explodes with the song of Christmas!

“Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

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!

Born to raise the sons of earth – born to give them second birth!

Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn King!”

And so, too, I will sing!

I will sing of the manger through the dark of January and through the snow of February.

I will sing of Shepherds and Wisemen through the slush of March and through the showers of April.

I will sing with the angels through the flowers of May and through the sunny days of June.

I will sing about Christmas through the fireworks of July and through the dog days of August.

I will sing about Bethlehem and its wonder through the cooling days of September and the colorful days of October.

I will sing about that Baby Boy during the bounty of November!

And then, when my calendar turns its expectant page to December– I will singer louder and clearer!

I will sing about the heart of Christmas during the heart of the season … and then I will sing some more!

Nothing will stop this girl’s Christmas song … nothing at all!

Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!

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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