CAROLING # 3

I knew I heard

ANGELS

singing 

glitter-graphics.com2 ANGELIC SONGS"1st "Angels we have heard on high"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5DskjMs-gk

Have you ever really looked at the words to these traditional Carols that we sing?

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o'er the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

Say what may the tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see

Christ Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

  

See Him in a manger laid,

Whom the choirs of angels praise;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

While our hearts in love we raise.

  

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,  good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV

DEVOTION from Life Church

"What gives you awe? What things cause you to become speechless when you see them? Is it the sight of a family member you haven’t seen in years? Is it visiting a majestic place like a mountain or a historical place like the ancient pyramids of Egypt? The night Christ was born was the most monumental and awe-inspiring event that as ever occurred in human history as God sent His one and only Son to earth so that we could ultimately have eternal life. There has not been an event in history before or after Christ’s birth that resulted in such celebration that the angels themselves made their physical presence known and their voices heard in song. Can you imagine how the shepherds’ jaws must have dropped at the site and sounds of the angels? That moment was so majestic that we probably cannot fully comprehend what it was like because honestly, none of us have encountered such a sight.

It seems like people tend to have fewer experiences these days of complete awe. Technology has brought so much of the world to our living rooms and fingertips that we can see anything we want and feel like we are at any place we want to be.

Unfortunately, most of us probably have fewer awe-inspiring moments with God like we should. Our relationship with Him often becomes too comfortable and even ordinary. This Christmas, make an attempt to regain those awe-inspiring moments with God. Strive to make your relationship with Him something so inspiring that it causes you to rejoice like the angels did. Don’t let your relationship with Him be ordinary, but rather make it extraordinary." ~  from LifeChurch Devotion

Describe some of the awe-inspiring moments you’ve had with God. How have these moments impacted you?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you can start having more awe-inspiring moments with God?

BACKGROUND:"The popular traditional religious Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" was originally a traditional French carol known as "Les Anges dans nos Campagnes"  which translates literally "The Angels in our Countryside." It was translated from French to English by James Chadwick in Crown of Jesus in 1862. The music, a hymn titled "Gloria," was arranged by Edwin S. Barnes. The combination of the two was first published together in a carol collection dated 1855."
... and the 2nd ANGELIC song:

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th’angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;

Christ the everlasting Lord;

Late in time, behold Him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail th’incarnate Deity,

Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,

Jesus our Emmanuel.
Refrain

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Ris’n 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.
Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,

Fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,

Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display Thy saving power,

Ruined nature now restore;

Now in mystic union join

Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Refrain

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,

Stamp Thine image in its place:

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in Thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,

Thee, the Life, the inner man:

O, to all Thyself impart,

Formed in each believing heart.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 NIV

"Jesus was born with one purpose. As it says in the carol (in bold gold), He was “born that man no more may die.” His birth was all about our new birth. In 1 Peter 1:3, Peter praises God for the “new birth into a living hope” – and all that is possible because Jesus laid aside his glory and offered Himself in our place, taking the punishment of death we deserved for our sins. His death and resurrection gives us new life. As you go about your business and your busyness of the season, intentionally take a few moments to slow down and remember that Jesus was born to give YOU a second birth. What a reason to praise Him!" ~ from LifeChurch Devotion

Our dear musically gifted Cathy, from Melodies and Hymnsongs shared SISSEL singing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" and it was as if you were listening to an angel sing. It was my first time hearing this angelic voice! I encourage you to go hear her over there and tell Cathy "thanks" for sharing her. Of course, there are many other great voices that have recorded this song: Amy Grant, Mahalia Jackson, Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Mariah Carey and another angelic voice, Charlotte Church.

BACKGROUND:
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" was written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, the brother of the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley. Though Welsey did not mind people reprinting and using his song, he did not want any words changed and he went so far as to put that in writing. His friend and co-worker, George Whitfield, ignored that request and changed the wording of the first two lines from "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings" to what we use today.

The original music played with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" was also different from the current version, being slow and solemn, as that was what Wesley wanted and that was how the song was played for 101 years. In a completely unrelated event, in 1840, composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote a song to commemorate the invention of the printing press. He said that his music could be used for other works, with the exception that it was not to be used for sacred music. Fifteen years later an organist named William H. Cummings ignored that request and adopted the music from the second chorus of Mendelssohn's song for the carol. He also organized the song into the ten-line stanzas that are sung today. The final version was published in 1856."

Angels have a very important part in the Christmas story and throughout the Bible.There is abundant mention of angels in the Bible. Angels are both good and bad spiritual beings. We are never to worship or idolize angels.God sends angels as His Messengers.Angels are designed to serve God in worship, revealing as messengers, guiding, providing, protecting, delivering, strengthening and encouraging, answering prayer, caring for believers at the moment of death and fighting in the heavenlies. Mary and Joseph were both visited by an angel to deliver some pretty important key messages to the entire Christmas story. For me, I connect "peace" with angels but if I were to encounter one, I'm sure at first, I would be like Mary, fearful and a sense of awe.The shepherds also were given such a glorious appearance:

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

After Jesus' birth, an angel played a significant part once again, safely guiding Mary, Joseph and Jesus to protect them from danger.The Christmas story is filled with angels.

Imagine yourself in any of these people's positions, experiencing the appearance of angels, and having to rely on the message of an angel as truth.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

Here's a short devotional on

ANGELS

and

another God-incidence

the series is called

"Christmas Joy"

Please notice I have added a CAROLING PAGE ABOVEwhere you can see the links of the BLOG HOPat the end
JOIN BYLINKING UP
at
CAROLING
and
BLOG HOP
with us

All you do is post one of your favorite 
Christmas Carols

Since this is my series for Christmas Joy, I have shared extra 
on the CAROLS but you only need to share the song. 

The important part is to enJOY and sing along as we visit each other 

"CAROLING"

(and maybe a hot chocolate or some apple cider)