Sunday Song Lyrics, Christmas Edition: O Holy Night

The Album:

This is one of many album's by this title.  

While I do like Sarah Groves, I really picked it for the picture.

The Lyrics:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise his holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Click here for a clip of seven-year-old Rhema Marvanne singing this song.  I'd never heard of her before I searched out a link for this post.  I confess it isn't my favorite performance, but the she is just adorable.

Andrea's Take:

This has long been a favorite carol of mine.  The beautiful sweeping melody is the perfect frame for the moving lyrics. I love for a Christmas song not only to focus on Jesus's birth, but also to remind us of  His greater purpose in coming to earth that long ago night.

As is common for me, my favorite lyrics are in the second verse (a verse often neglected in the performance of Christmas music).

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. 
And in his name all oppression shall cease. 

Peter tells us that "God is no respecter of persons." These lines embody that truth for me.  

A Special Birthday Tribute

Seventy-seven years ago today a very special baby girl was born to Willis and Dorothy Stout. They named her Naomi Stout. They did not give her a middle name. She was the sixth of her mothers seven children.

She grew into an adorable little toddler

Her family traveled a rocky path, and she lost her father and a beloved brother before she was six years old.

As the years passed Naomi grew into a lovely young woman.

In 1953 she graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, Missouri. Shortly thereafter she married. Four children were born before the marriage ended painfully for Naomi. She raised her family alone for several years before meeting the love of her life. Wilford Cardwell. The two married December 26, 1970. Wilford filled a long-empty void, and quickly became "Daddy" to Naomi's children. Wilford and Naomi lived happily together until Wilford's death in 1989.

"Smoochie Face"

Naomi's children grew up, married, and had children of their own. She watched all of their triumphs and mistakes, and she guided them the best she knew how. Though disagreements and rifts sometimes occurred, those children never forgot where they could find the unconditional love of their mother.

David, Terrie, Brenda (my mom) and Ross with Naomi
about 1990

Some time in the mid-1980s two of Naomi's granddaughters learned she had not been blessed with a middle name. They thought this was a terrible injustice and took it upon themselves to remedy the situation. Forever after, Naomi proudly claimed the moniker Naomi Elizabeth Cardwell.

Naomi "Elizabeth" with Tiffany (age 7), Heath (2-3 months),
and Andrea (age 4). Summer 1983. 

Many more years passed. Naomi's grandchildren grew up, married, and had children of their own. She continued to rejoice in their triumphs and mourn their mistakes, still guiding the best she could.

On December 13, 2010, Naomi Elizabeth Cardwell celebrated her 76th birthday surrounded by her children and grandchildren. We decorated her Christmas tree together, as we had for more decades than I can remember.

On July 22, 2011, having buried her mother, her beloved husband, and all of her siblings, Naomi went home to Heaven.

Taken December 13, 2010

This year, Naomi celebrates her birthday with Jesus, and with all the loved ones who awaited her on the other side. Those of us who love her miss her terribly. Today we celebrated her life. We will never forget the legacy of love she left behind.

Happy Birthday, Grandma! 

We Love You!

Sunday Song Lyrics: Adoration by Newsboys

The Album:

The Lyrics:

I’m here with the others

Who saw the heavens testify

Now I hang back in the shadows

I want to come close

I want to know

She sees me shivering here

She smiles and with a nod

I walk through the mud and straw

To the newborn Son of God

Come, let us adore Him

He has come down to this barren land

Where we live

And all I have to give Him

Is adoration

He raises a wrinkled hand

Through the dust and the flies

Wrapped in rags like we are

And with barely open eyes

He takes my finger

And He won’t let go

And He won’t let go

It’s nothing like I knew before

And it’s all I need to know

Come, let us adore Him

He has come down to the world we live in

And all I have to give Him

Is adoration

God is with us here

Our Immanuel

God is with us here

Our Immanuel

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Jesus, our Immanuel

Is with us here and He won’t let go

Andrea's Take:

I don't usually post the entire song, but this one is good from beginning to end.

It's one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands. I have the album. I bought it for "He Reigns" (a song that could easily appear in a Sunday Song Lyrics post in the future). "Adoration" was the hidden jewel on the album for me.

Favorite Lines: 

These lines lend this song the feel of "Little Drummer Boy" only it's Biblical (as much as I love LDB--and I really, really do--no such person is mentioned in Scripture).

She sees me shivering here

She smiles and with a nod

I walk through the mud and straw

To the newborn Son of God

The persona is rather like Simeon and Anna, those two devout elders who saw Jesus as a baby in the Temple, but they knew right away that He was The One.

He takes my finger

And He won’t let go

And He won’t let go

It’s nothing like I knew before

And it’s all I need to know

And finally:

And all I have to give Him

Is adoration

As though he wanted anything else...

What a Beautiful Day!

Okay, I know the calendar says it's still winter until sometime late next month.

I also know winter could come screaming back and - God Forbid - bury us under inches of ice and snow again just anytime.

But let me just take this moment to praise the Lord for the beautiful weather.  Late yesterday afternoon I walked to the mailbox and heard birds singing.  Birds. Singing. In February.

Today I saw a tiny bird hopping across the bricks at the bottom of my kitchen window.

And I heard frogs. I love the sound of frogs. To me nothing says, "All is well," like the sound of frogs singing in the trees.

After weeks of being cooped up staring at the ice and snow covered world, having my windows open and breezes flowing through my house is just about the greatest blessing I can imagine.

Thank you, Lord.