Ready for your new favourite Christmas song? Here it is.
From the album, This Christmas, by Francesca Battistelli (2020)
Lyrics:
Long awaited precious promise
Son of God and son of man
Heaven’s glory in a manger
Has come to us in Bethlehem
Messiah
Messiah
A baby born to save us all
Messiah
Messiah
On our knees we fall
All we longed for, all we needed
Shining in this child’s eyes
Hope forever, death defeated
Because of this one holy night
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore…
If you haven’t discovered Matt Redman’s album, Let There Be Wonder (released early 2020), please seek it out. It has been a wonderful refuge for the soul in the midst of these turbulent days. Here is a beautiful acoustic version of “Upon Him”.
Lyrics:
Upon a hill, a perfect Saviour
Upon that day, the greatest love
The punishment that should have fallen on us
Upon Him, upon Him
Upon His head, a crown of thorns
Upon His heart, a broken world
The wage of sin, the weight of our transgressions
Upon Him, upon Him
Christ has died, we are forgiven
And Christ alive, we are the risen
And He shall come again
Praise the King, praise the King
Upon our hearts, His name is written
The King of kings and Lord of lords
We’re pouring out a song of praise together
Upon Him, upon Him
Christ has died, we are forgiven
And Christ alive, we are the risen
And He shall come again
Praise the King, praise the King
One name upon our lips, Jesus
No greater name than this, Jesus
And every knee will bow
Every heart confess
Jesus, Jesus
Upon Him Artist: Matt Redman Written by: Matt Redman, Andi Rozier & Jon Guerra © 2020 Integrity Worship Music/Said And Done Music/ASCAP (adm worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK & Europe which is adm by Integrity Music), Jaguerra Songs/BMI, Shatteredmusic/ASCAP (admin. at EssentialMusicPublishing.com) CCLI# 7138935 #MattRedman#UponHim#LetThereBeWonder#Acoustic @Integrity Music
Here is a powerful song from Matt Redman’s new live album released at the start of 2020, “Let There Be Wonder”. Lyrics are in the YouTube link. Enjoy! I think this is the standout song from the album. Let me know if there are others you have on repeat!
Blessings!
1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)
This song from Mercy Me is a great encouragement in the midst of the weariness and challenges which 2020 has brought us. The film clip is also quite a unique and creative one! I trust you find these words from the bridge an especially beautiful glimpse of the joy of heaven to come.
“I know that the cross has brought heaven to us
But make no mistake there’s still more to come
When our flesh and our bone are no longer between
Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be
When all that’s been lost has been made whole again
When these tears and this pain no longer exist. . .”
Are you disappointed
Are you desperate for help
You know what it’s like to be tired
And only a shell of yourself
Well you start to believe
You don’t have what it takes
‘Cause it’s all you can do
Just to move much less finish the race
But don’t forget what lies ahead
Almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Well this road will be hard
But we win in the end
Simply because of Jesus in us
It’s not if but when
So take joy in the journey
Even when it feels long
Oh find strength in each step
Knowing heaven is cheering you on
We are almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
I know that the cross has brought heaven to us
But make no mistake there’s still more to come
When our flesh and our bone are no longer between
Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be
When all that’s been lost has been made whole again
When these tears and this pain no longer exist
No more walking we’re running as fast as we can
Consider this our second wind
Almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
We are almost home
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover / Nathan Cochran / Bart Millard / Barry Graul / Mike Scheuchzer / Robby ShafferAlmost Home lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
As we celebrate Christmas Eve today, I thought it appropriate that the final Christmas song be an expression of the grace that comes wrapped up in the gift of Christ. This is “Amazing Grace” performed by Human Nature. Merry Christmas to you all!!
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
Amazing grace, amazing grace…
Amazing grace
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
Amazing grace… amazing grace…
Amazing grace…
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Amazing Grace… amazing grace…
Amazing grace… amazing grace…
Was blind, but now I see
This song seems to divide people (into those who dislike it and those who love it). I’m somewhere in the middle regarding the lyrics. But this arrangement by the Pentatonix has such drama and beautiful harmony, it is definitely worth a listen.
And in answer to the question, did Mary know? The short answer is yes, in some small measure, she did know who Christ would be and what he would do (see Luke 1:46-55 for details). No doubt the reality was both much worse and much better!
Mary, Did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Oh
Songwriters: Buddy Greene / Mark Lowry
Mary, Did You Know? lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group
O Holy night, starry sky
We were dead until tonight
Christmas changes everything
Long lay the world inside our sin
He has come here to forgive
Christmas changes everything
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, love has found us
Hope in a manger our Saviour is setting us free
This is rescue, Christ has come to make us new
Oh Christmas changes everything
Now God has met us where we are
A thrill of hope for hopeless hearts
His perfect love will shatter every fear
We’re coming back to life again
And it’s all because of Bethlehem
Rejoice, oh rejoice!
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, love has found us
Hope in a manger our Saviour is setting us free
This is rescue, Christ has come to make us new
Oh Christmas changes everything
We will fall on our knees
We will fall on our knees
We will fall on our knees
O Holy night, holy child
We were dead till you came to life
[Chorus]
Hallelujah, you have found us
Hope in a manger, oh Saviour we fall on our knees
You are rescue, you are making all things new
Oh Christmas changes everything
Yeah Christmas changes everything
Christmas changes everything.
Songwriters: John Mark Hall / Dale Oliver / Bernie Herms
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Capitol Christian Music Group
Here is another great new song/arrangement by Paul Baloche on his album ‘Christmas Worship’ (performed with Kathryn Scott).
Heaven’s splendour left behind
The King of glory born to die
God and man to reconcile
You came to offer up Your life
This is love this is love
Incarnate King begotten Son
This is love this is love
You choose to make Your home in us
Worship fell that holy night
Angel voices filled the sky
Lowly shepherds raised their eyes
Following the star so bright
Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Copyright © 2013 Integrity Worship Music, Leadworship Songs
Writers: Paul Baloche, Rowland Hugh Prichard, Kathryn Scott, Charles Wesley
‘Joy to the World’ was not intended to be a Christmas carol. In its original form, it had nothing to do with Christmas and wasn’t even written to be a song. Rather, hymn-writer Isaac Watts published a book of poems (1719) in which each poem was based on a psalm. Instead of simply translating the original texts, he adjusted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as revealed in the New Testament.
One of those poems was an adaptation of Psalm 98. He saw this psalm as a celebration of Jesus’ role as King of both his church and the whole world. More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols. (More info? https://www.crossway.org/articles/a-brief-history-of-joy-to-the-world/)
The song I’m sharing today is a great medley which combines ‘Joy to the World’ with ‘Shout for Joy’ by Paul Baloche. A winning combo!! Take a moment to consider how these lyrics can bring great joy at any time of the year.
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
Shout for joy
For the son of God is the saving one
He’s the Saving one
Shout for joy
See what love has done
He has come for us
He’s the saving one
Joy to the World, the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floodsRocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, Emmanuel
O come let us adore Him
Copyright © 2013 Integrity Worship Music, Leadworship Songs, Integrity’s Prasie! Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing/West Main Music, Windsor Music
Writers: Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, Jason Ingram, Isaac Watts, GF Handel
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