O Come O Come Emmanuel
We are now in the season of Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. I decided that for Music Monday during Advent and through the day after Christmas I want to share some of my favorite Christmas songs and why I like them.
The first Christmas song I want to share is “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” It is the perfect song to begin Advent because Advent is when we look forward to the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. I love this song because it reminds me of my favorite name for Jesus, which is Emmanuel. I am always awed by the thought that God would choose to come to earth as a human being, in the body of a little baby, to be with us.
I want to share two different versions. The first is a haunting instrumental version by Casting Crowns. Even though it doesn’t have the words, I can hear the words in my head when I listen to it.
The second version is by Jadon Lavik and is more upbeat, but just as beautiful. I first heard it on a CD of various artists that I bought last year.
I hope you will allow this beautiful song to prepare your heart for the coming of our Lord, both His first coming as a baby in a manger, and His second coming that is yet to be. Emmanuel came to be with you, to know you and that you might know Him. He came to ransom you and me just as He came to ransom captive Israel. He came to set the captives free.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV).
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“O Come O Come Emmanuel” is probably my favorite song. It gave me hope this past winter when I thought all hope was gone. It was a needed reminder that Jesus is still there and that he would deliver me.
God bless you, beautiful Linda, for doing Christmas music Monday posts! 🙂 I love Christmas music and our local Christian radio station goes to 100% Christmas music after Thanksgiving.
This is one of my favorite too. I remember the friend I have in Jerusalem, Israel, sharing about this song being sung out in a pubic gathering of some sort . . .and how the power of His Spirit could be so tangibly felt.
Deb, I knew you’d like this one, and I thought of your friend in Jerusalem when I decided to post it! 🙂 I’m looking forward to Christmas Music Monday’s, too, but I don’t know how I’m going to narrow my favorites down to such a short list. I might have to throw in a few Music Wednesdays or Saturdays, or maybe hit three at once on Tuesday. 😉 Merry Christmas, Linda
Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your story of the close encounter with a coyote (wolf) yes, whichever it was, it would’ve been too close for comfort, really. 🙂
You’re welcome. I wish I had time to visit more of the poetry blogs that link over at dVerse, but there’s always something else that needs to be done. I’m glad I chose yours to check out. Your poem was very good. Peace, Linda