Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to me!

And to you!

Dreaming of a green Christmas

Merry Christmas!

(almost)

Depending on where you live, Christmas may be upon you, coming quite quickly, or something other than those options! If you read this in the weeks to come, and possibly months before I post again, Merry belated Christmas!

I wish you the merriest of a day.

Over the past several weeks and months, I have been awed by God, and inspired by His creation, His grace, and all that He has given and continues to give.

Many songs have words that are powerful, and I have found myself writing out lyrics for songs. I wish my musical mind had as much inspiration as my lyricist mine. Hopefully someday those two will align more. But for now I have hundreds of lyrics, and only about a hundred full songs! Still quite enough for now. I'm excited for the days off this next week to complete songs and put to music the words of my heart.

This song is by Francesca Battistelli. It's called "You're Here". I really enjoy Christmas songs that go deeper into how the day felt.

Hold on now, I gotta take a deep breath
I don’t know what to say when I look in your eyes
You made the world before I was born
Here I am holding You in my arms tonight

Noel, Noel
Jesus our Emmanuel

You’re here
I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior
King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own
But You’re here

Don’t know how long I’m gonna have You for
But I’ll be watching when You change the world
Look at Your hands, they’re still so small
Someday You’re gonna stretch them out and save us all

Noel, Noel, God with us Emmanuel

You’re here, I’m holding You so near oooh oh
I’m staring into the face of my Savior
King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own
But you’re here, you’re here

Someday I’m gonna look back on this
The night that God became a baby boy
Someday You’re gonna go home again,
But You leave your spirit and flood the world with joy

You’ll be here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left me on my own, but you’re here… You’re here
Hallelujah, You’re here
Hallelujah, You’re here

I'll share a portion of a song I'm working on. So far I've written it with a Christmas theme for the verses, but I think that I will change it so it can last longer than several weeks each year!

Hope, peace, joy, love,

I know deep inside,

This is the reason for Christmas.

It’s the hope that lasts through every circumstance.

It’s the peace that surpasses my understanding.

It’s the joy that overfills my soul.

It’s the love that’s the reason I am whole.

Maybe you’ve lost the hope, and the peace might seem far gone,

Your eyes don’t show the joy of the Lord, and the love has slipped out of your grasp,

But I promise,

There is hope, and peace is here,

The joy can be found if you let it near,

And the love can overwhelm you if only you open up your heart,

Just open up your heart

(lyrics by Nadine Schroeder)

In church over the advent season there was a theme of four words for Christmas - Hope, Peace, Joy & Love - beautiful words really. I find I often miss church due to school work, working late, or whatever else, but somehow managed to make it to all four advent services, and I am so thankful. I was so inspired and encouraged, as well as taught new things which have helped shape me even more like my Creator! I have such a desire to seek out God, and I feel like over the past few weeks, I have found Him in new ways. This is so great for me. I am quick to be down on my faith in the past year, and it is beautiful for me to finally feel the peace, joy, love, and hope of the season fill my every day.

I wish you these as well. Whether you love Jesus or only know His name, I pray that you will know my Christ. He truly is incredible. I am so thankful for all that he does for me, and I wish it for you as well.

Merry Christmas.