As The year draws to a close. I think back with thankfulness of all the ways the good Lord has blessed my life; through the thoughtful council of friends, the unexpected opportunities to learn new things, the meeting of new friends, the opportunities to bless others and see the power of God overflow out of my life into theirs.
Truly it has been a blessed year; another year of serving Christ.
  Below I will list some of the things I did and learned this year:
1. God answers the prayers of those who believe on Him.(you laugh, and I know I should have known this already but this was the first year I really trusted in His power. And consequently saw amazing results!)
2. Made my bed ever morning. (I know, even worse! ;) )
3. Learned to skate.
4. Learned to ride a bicycle.
5. Learned to ride a horse.
6. Learned to swim. (Yes, I really am seventeen!)
7. Did the above three in a skirt, modestly, something my sisters dared  I couldn't do!
8. Learned over Twenty new hymns. (don't ask me to list them all!)
9. Wrote my first song, lyrics and tune! (Don't ask to hear it!)
10. Started publishing video's on you-tube.

I did a lot of other things too. But these are the things that I can remember. Can I be anything but thankful when I think of all these blessings? Besides all of the wonderful things we do all the time and take for granted. So I have posted this lovely song in honor of the passing year may we think on it before we think on all the things we didn't get done or the sins we still struggle with or the bad things which happened to us; and give thanks!

....Vivaldi's Gloria.
 Finally on the last day, a grand finale as it were, I want to share this beautiful classical Christmas piece with you. When I say Classical Christmas music, most, I believe, think of Handel's Messiah.
 But everyone knows about Messiah; not so this one. I didn't even know until a few weeks ago that my mother had actually played violin and sung tenor in this piece when her high school performed the entire piece. That was exciting to learn.
 This is sung entirely by women; even those low parts which sound like they are sung by men!
There are twelve parts, all sung in Latin. I have posted them below with their English Translations.
 I know this is a long piece but please do make some time to listen to this before Christmas, you will not be dissapointed. It is absolutely magnificant! There will be a pause between each movement so you will be able to tell the breaks. Notice the words: Starting with the angel's praise to God when they visited the Shepards, it goes through quoting passages of Scripture about Christ.
                Have a God Honoring Christmas whether you celebrate it or not!
 And may "god bless us, every one!"
                                          

     

      
 

.....The Coventry Carol.
Unlike most Christmas carols, this is a mournful one. It speaks of the sorrows of the Christmas season. When Herod, fearing the birth of another king, sent and slaughtered all the male children in Bethlehem. Now perhaps if Herod had known a little more about this king, he may have known that it would do absolutely no good as we know now. Nevertheless. It did fulfill a prophesy from Isaiah, "A voice was heard in Rahmah, of weeping and great lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted because they were no more."
  When we think of Christ coming to earth let us also remember what He came to earth to do. To become sin! To take on all the guilt of sin as heinous as Herod's horrifying massacre. Let us remember that no sin is too great that God's grace cannot cover it. Let us remember that though Herod would generally be considered more wicked than you or I for the executing of those innocent lives, apart from the Grace of Christ and His redemption of Mankind, ALL of us would be just as bad and perhaps commit crimes much more horrific.
Finally as we hear this song, let us pray for those who even now are killing millions of innocent lives behind a curtain of lies and thank God for coming to earth to save just such people.
    Enjoy this moving fifteenth century song; sorrowful yet beautiful.
                                        

Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,

Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Lullay, thou little tiny Child,

Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,

For to preserve this day

This poor youngling for whom we do sing

Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,

Charged he hath this day

His men of might, in his own sight,

All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!

And ever mourn and sigh,

For thy parting neither say nor sing,

Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

.......Good Christian Men Rejoice/In Dulci Jubilo.
The words to this song were written in the 1850's but the melody dates back to the fourteenth century! It is said to have made even the most pious of men dance for joy when they heard it sung; but that is simply legend.
  The tune was first set to a Latin poem called  "In Dulci Jubilo" (In Sweet Rejoicing) but is now more commonly known in America as the song, "Good Christian Men Rejoice".  Written by John M. Neale.
  Enjoy the song, This video was the best I could get that didn't have an advertisement before but had both songs!  Have a wonderful Lord's day.
                    

......Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne.
 I grew up with this beautiful Christmas hymn and assumed that most everyone else knew it too until we started singing it last year in Choir and our instructor asked who already knew the song, me and my siblings  were the only ones who raised our hands! I was surprised, however it alerted me to a fact, more people need to hear this hymn!
 It was written in the eighteen hundreds by Emily Elliott and Timothy Mathews (My Brother Timothy called it the Timothy and Elliot song and reserved it as a special song for himself and his then little brother Elliot!) And contains five verses arranged in prayer form. 
                 Indeed, may God someday call to us and assure us that there is room by His side for us, what a glorious moment that will surely be!
                     

......The Star Carol.
 Up until today all the songs I have posted have no later than the 1800's but this song, written in the nineteen forty's by Alfred Burt is an exceptionally beautiful carol which, also our choir sang this year and which I would like to share with you all. This choir who sang it, did a good job sound wise; the only problem is that most of them look rather bored! This is a good example of how much one's manner while singing can detract from the overall quality of the choir. But, all that aside, do learn this song if you don't know it. The words are below, as always!
                                    

Long years ago on a deep winter night,
High in the heav'ns a star shone bright,
While in a manger a wee baby lay,
Sweetly asleep on a bed of hay.
Jesus the Lord was that baby so small,
Laid down to sleep in a humble stall;
Then came the star and it stood overhead,
shedding its light 'round His little bed.
Dear baby Jesus, how tiny Thou art,
I'll make a place for Thee in my heart,
And when the stars in the heavens I see,
Ever and always I think of Thee.

.....A Virgin Unsupported.
 A very lovely carol which tells clearly and precisely the Christmas story; urging us in the chorus to rejoice for our Savior was born on this day!
                                  
1. A Virgin unspotted, the prophet foretold,
Should bring forth a Savior, which now we behold.
To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,
Which Adam's transgression had wrapped us in.

Chorus: Then let us be merry put sorrow away;
              our Savior, Christ Jesus was born on this day! 

2. At Bethlehem city in Jewry, it was
That Joseph and Mary together did pass,
All for to be taxed with many one more,
Great Cesar commanded the same should be so. Chorus

3. But when they had entered the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all. Chorus

4. Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for to tie:
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Saviour was born. Chorus

5. The King of all Kings to this world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was sought,
But when she had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox manger she laid Him to sleep. Chorus

6. Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no Longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Saviour was born on this day. Chorus

7. Then presently after the shepherds did spy
Vast numbers of Angels to stand in the sky;
They joyfully talk and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory, our heavenly King. Chorus

8. To teach us humility all this was done,
And learn we from thence haughty pride for to shun:
A manger His cradle who came from above,
The great God of mercy, of peace, and of love. Chorus

.....It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
 This is such a contemplative and beautiful song; one of my favorites.
This is also one of the most messed with Christmas carols! In fact it has been so switched  that once at family bible time (where most of us sing without a hymn book) mommy and I were singing different lines here and there from what the rest were singing! I was glad to find out today that my renderings were the right ones!
 Below I have posted Edmund Sear's, the author, original lines.
  So tell me, are those the verses you know!
                             

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all-gracious King."

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,

With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains,

They bend on hovering wing,

And ever o'er its Babel sounds

The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife

The world has suffered long;

Beneath the angel-strain have rolled

Two thousand years of wrong;

And man, at war with man, hears not

The love-song which they bring;

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,

And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow,

Look now! for glad and golden hours

come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road,

And hear the angels sing!

For lo!, the days are hastning on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years

Comes round the age of gold

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song

Which now the angels sing.

.....O Come All Ye Faithful!
This one is an extremely old Carol, first written in Latin during the middle ages. It is not known for certain who wrote the lyrics or the music though there is much speculation on the subject. 
This song has such a "joyful and triumphant" tune that it fits perfectly with the lyrics. Extremely well matched.
    Below I have put the original Latin and the English translation. When we were children we had a little children's Christmas hymn book with both English and Latin verses. I had the first verse in Latin memorized as did a couple of my siblings it was a really educational experience!
                                

ADESTE fideles laeti triumphantes; venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte Regem Angelorum:	O COME, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant: o come ye to Bethlehem, come and behold Him, born the King of Angels.
R. Venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus, venite, adoremus Dominum.	R. O come let us adore Him; O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, gestant puellae viscera, Deum verum, Genitum non factum. R.	God of God eternal, Light from Light proceeding, Lo, He deigns in the Virgin's womb to lie; God uncreated, very God begotten. R.
En, grege relicto, humiles ad cunas, vocati pastores approperant; et nos ovanti gradu festinemus. R.	Forsaking the sheepfold, to his lowly cradle, obedient and swiftly run the shepherd throng, with exultation let our footsteps follow. R.
Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes aurum, tus et myrrham dant munera. Iesu infanti corda praebeamus; R.	Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring, offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh; We to the Christ Child bring our hearts' oblations. R.
Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum, velatum sub carne videbimus; Deum infantem pannis involutum. R.	The splendor Immortal, Son of God Eternal, now hidden in mortal flesh our eyes shall view. See there the Infant, swaddling clothes enfold him. R.
Pro nobis egenum et faeno cubantem, piis foveamus amplexibus. Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret? R.	For man poor and needy cradled in a manger, O let us in loving arms enfold Him fast! So true a lover shall we not requite Him? R.
Cantet nunc Io chorus Angelorum; cantet nunc aula caelestium, gloria in excelsis Deo. R.	Sing, choirs of Angels, sing in exultation, sing all ye citizens of heaven above, Glory to God in the highest. R.
Ergo qui natus die hodierna, Iesu, tibi sit gloria, Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum. R.	Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesu, to Thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. R.

.....Angels From the Realms of Glory.
 This is a beautiful Christmas hymn, calling all peoples to come and worship Christ.
Written in the 1800's by James Montgomery a Scottish poet, and set to a tune written a few years later, it is indeed a glorious and majestic song. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out much about the history of the writing of this hymn nor much about the author himself. I also couldn't find a nice sounding video which included all the verses and sang it to the right tune. I went with tune over all the verses, because I can post those below; take a look at the fifth verse, we don't see that one in many hymnals and yet that one is one of my favorites. I've often wondered why some verses to some songs seem to be left out and forgotten though they seem so fitting! However that is another topic for another day.
 Please enjoy this beautiful video!
                                 

.....Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
 This song is really deep in theology. The words are rich and full of meaning. Unfortunately I do not have much time right now to go in to the History of this hymn but do take the time to study the lyrics. They unfold the attributes of Christ in a beautiful and triumphant way. 
 Yes, "Triumphant" is the word I would use to describe this song!
Enjoy this video, and have a blessed Lord's day.
          

 .....What Child is this!
   "What Child is this who lays to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?"  Indeed the question that has been asked by many throughout the past two thousand years; a question of wonder and awe. That Christ should take on finite sinful flesh and that, in the form of a helpless babe dependent on others is truly a cause for wonder.
 The lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, who at the age of twenty nine was struck down by a near fatal illness and compelled to keep to his bed for many a dreary month. In order to combat depression, he spent his time writing this and many other hymns.
 The words were later set to another of those wonderful old English tunes which have become legendary along with everything else we know and love about Merry olde England!  "Greensleeves".

                                            
I think the tune fits very well with the words which is a novelty in today's happy-go-lucky worldview on all things no matter how serious. This tune truly conveys the wonder and awe in this song. I will not bother posting the lyrics since they are very clearly printed on the video. Note how they use the traditional endings on each of the verses instead of treating the the later part as a chorus using the end of the first verse as a refrain for all three; you miss so much when you miss the later part of both of those verses especially the second verse. That one is by far my favorite of all the verses!
 How about you all; do you have a favorite verse?

 .....God Rest Ye merry Gentlemen!
  I know that I did this last year; the only problem was that last year I only posted the lyrics without any video. Unacceptable! So I am doing it again this year this time, without the lyrics and only a video! Because I am rather in a rush.
 Tomorrow, I promise, I'll have my act together. Until then, enjoy one of the oldest and most beloved English carols sung by the King's College Choir!
 Merry Christmas.

If any one of my readers has never heard this piece before, please let me know! This is perhaps one of the most well known Cannon's in all of history; right up there with Mozart's "Fur Elise" and Bach's "Jesu Bleibet Meine Freud". 
 For any of you who does not know what a cannon is, I will explain. A cannon is a piece of music where a simple melody called an aria is taken and played through over and over again, each time getting more and more complex in it's harmonies and yet still keeping the simple melody in the back round. Each of the times it is played over with a different harmony is called a variation. I would say that cannons are almost my favorite kind of classical music!  I was listening to this on somebody's blog and suddenly I wondered why I hadn't posted this on MY blog! It is such a beautiful piece. Now, if any one of my readers doesn't like Pachelbel's Cannon, I would love to hear about that as well!
 But, please enjoy this orchestra version. I like it best with just piano and violin, but I couldn't find a video that I liked!  This one, however, is excellent.