The Sounds of Christmas

People who know me know that I love Christmas music. And I’m not talking here about just loving it during the holidays…from Thanksgiving to maybe a few days after Christmas. No, I’m talking about listening to it starting in October and all through the holidays. Granted, there are others who may listen to it all year long and all I have to say to you guys is, “more power to you. I’m committed, but just not that committed.”

There are a few reasons why I love it so. First, it is directional. Christmas music is like a road map. Christ is in the center of that road map, like a big sprawling city and Christmas music is like each of the roads, streets and avenues that comes flooding into it. It’s directional because it leads me home to Christ. That’s one of the reasons why I love it so.

Second, it’s hopeful. As bad as things may seem in my life or in the world for that matter, Christmas music reminds me that there is a king who still reigns and one who has not forgotten his subjects. There’s a shepherd who has not forgotten his flock. There’s a savior who has not forgotten his friends. It tells me that God is healing this broken planet “far as the curse is found.” I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning. It makes me want to go to work. It makes me want to call my friends and neighbors and ask them for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat and talk about how Jesus heals all of our broken places. It gives me hope for tomorrow and out of the mouth of that great theologian, “Red” from Shawshank Redemption, “hope is a great thing, maybe the best of things, and no great thing ever dies.”

Finally, Christmas music is “incarnational.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with that word, it means to “take on flesh.” What Christmas music does is it tells the old, old story. It tells the story of a great God, the one true God. He is high and lifted up. He is mighty with power and majesty and there is none like him in the whole world. And yet, he made himself low, of no reputation, “majesty or beauty that we should desire him.” Put another way, he drew himself near to the “nothings of this world” so that he could take nothings and turn them into something – his very own treasure! His pearl of great price. "He dug a hole in the ground, put his treasure in it, and then went and sold everything he had, just so he could have that treasure.” God, in Jesus, drew himself near, became incarnate, to make you and me his treasure. And Christmas music tells me that story like almost nothing else can.

So, this Christmas I want to share my love of Christmas music with you. I’ve developed a playlist for the holidays. You are welcome to enjoy it. And may it direct you to Christ. May it give you hope when the light in your life is dim. And may it bring near to you the treasure of Christ’s love. Merry Christmas!

Here's a link to a small sampling of my favorite Christmas songs. I hope you enjoy!

open.spotify.com/user/129413364/playlist/3VsMW522pWqTWWbjtdI99n