The Beauty Of Christmas!

[Hidden In Him]

Started watching a movie rendition of A Christmas Carol this evening (it's a tradition with me every year), and a line just stuck out to me. Ebenezer Scrooge is declaring Christmas to be a humbug, and nothing more than a time for spending money we don't have, but his nephew turns to him and says, "I've always thought of Christmas as a kind, charitable time; the only time when men open up their shut hearts and think of all people as fellow travelers to the grave, and not some other race of creatures bound on other journeys."

I agree. It's the one time of year when generosity is the theme, and a reminder that our time here is limited. People take time to decorate their homes with lights for others to enjoy. And songs about the Savior are playing in the background everywhere I go, and you can walk through stores and feel like your Lord is still welcome and still has a place in society, still loved and honored. And it's wonderful to know people all over the Western world are celebrating Him together, each in their own languages.

A thread for everything beautiful about Christmas: Songs, family, lights, giving, and our Lord. Favorite carols and Christmas songs are welcome, along with pictures of all things beautiful about Christmas.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year, and experiences the joy of the season to the fullest.

I prefer Don Oiche Ud Mbeithil, but the Wexford Carol is also sometimes sung in Gaelic, and the melody line is very beautiful as well.

 

[Mayflower]

Our Christmas tree. If Charlie brown survives with two kids and a cat, I'll just go ahead and get a new one next year.

 

[Mama Etna]

I love the lights that are hung up around Christmas. I have on my kitchen table which is solid Oak I little fiber optic tree that changes color. The most beautiful aspect is the story of Jesus birth.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2: 8-14

 

[farouk]

Our Christmas tree. If Charlie brown survives with two kids and a cat, I'll just go ahead and get a new one next year.

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@Mayflower That's a bright one!

 

[farouk]

@Hidden In Him

Here's a great, Biblical carol!

1 O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him,
born the King of angels.

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

2 God from true God, and
Light from Light eternal,
born of a virgin, to earth he comes!
Only-begotten Son of God the Father: [Refrain]

3 Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest: [Refrain]

4 Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: [Refrain]

 

[farouk]

PS: The O Come All Ye Faithful lyrics that I know are slightly different from the ones I just posted, I see...

 

[Hidden In Him]

PS: The O Come All Ye Faithful lyrics that I know are slightly different from the ones I just posted, I see...

Actually I like these additional verses. All you ever normally hear is the first.

This one is excellent as well:

Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
There a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall
With the poor, oppressed and wholly
Lived on earth our Savior holy
And our eyes
At last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that child, so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children along
To the place where He is gone

 

[Hidden In Him]

About Herod's pursuit of the Christ child, and two sisters wanting to protect Him, singing him to sleep with a lullaby.

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters two, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing,
“Bye bye, lully, lullay?”

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

Herod the king, in his raging,
Chargèd he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All young children to slay.

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

That woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and may
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
“Bye bye, lully, lullay.”

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[farouk]

@Hidden In Him So is this Las Vegas, maybe?

 

[Hidden In Him]

 

[Hidden In Him]

@Hidden In Him So is this Las Vegas, maybe?

I'm not sure. Never been there.

 

[farouk]

Here's Las Vegas at Christmas:

Michelle Maria CCA3.0, wikimedia

 

[farouk]

Las Vegas artificial Christmas tree

Forest and Kim Starr, CCA3.0 wikimedia

 

[farouk]

Poinsettia Christmas flower, Las Vegas

Forest and Kim Starr, CCA2.0 wikimedia

 

[Hidden In Him]

Las Vegas artificial Christmas tree

Forest and Kim Starr, CCA3.0 wikimedia

Well that's a little gaudy, Lol, but the first one was nice.