...the night that Christ was born

For about a month after Thanksgiving, I have Christmas music playing throughout my home.  I love the familiarity of Amy Grant's "Tennessee Christmas" (from my college days) or the melancholy mix of Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong" or the 11 or so original tunes by Peter Mayer in "Stars and Promises." But by far, my single most favorite song in the last 3-4 years is "The Night that Christ was Born" by Kirk Franklin.  Besides the beautiful 4-part harmonies, the lyrics cause me to stand still wherever I am and worship the Lord for His Christmas gift to me:  "...Oh, such a wonderful Savior, to be born in a manger, so that I could share His favor and my heart be made anew..."  

Yes, the night that Christ was born, everything changed...in my life and in yours:

• His birth announced the redemptive plan - an opportunity for us to receive forgiveness of sins;
• His birth heralded healing for the nations - anyone could call on His name and be saved from eternal separation from God;
• His birth declared joy and peace with God and man - a peace only possible for us through Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

When was the last time you stopped to consider the difference Christ's birth has meant in your life?  If it's been a while, why not stop right now and give Him thanks for His gift to you, because, as the trumpets sounded and the angels rejoiced on that amazing night, a relationship with the God of the Universe became a reality for all of us.

Check out this amateur performance of the song sung by a church choir from Aachen, Germany - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaRU7EIwkLo   How wonderful to see the nations of the world rejoicing together!