13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14; NIV)

Yesterday in my daily devotion, the above verses were part of the scripture passage for the day. It was about when the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of the Christ child. He had told them where to find the baby Jesus and how they would recognize Him when the heavenly host appeared with the angel “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'”

I was reading the study notes on this passage, particularly verse 14, and discovered the phrase “Glory to God in the highest” is of Latin and Greek origin. It has been translated from “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Do you recognize this? Sing with me. “Glor-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-or-ia, in excelsis Deo.” Or, if you want to start at the beginning…

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Refrain
(credit for lyrics goes to dltk-holidays.com)

I think at some point I knew where the words came from and the meaning of them. However, if that was the case, I had forgotten, so this was a pleasant surprise to me. I always love discovering little treasures like this. I think it is one of the ways God reaches out and touches us and reminds us that He is involved in everything.

The next time I’m trying to make my way through the long “Gloria” without taking a breath :-), I will know as I finish the phrase that I am actually singing as the angels did, “Glory to God in the highest.” Can I get an Amen?

Christmas Blessings,

I will post a few more decoration meanings next week just in time for Christmas, but for today, I want to share a song with you that expresses the wonderment I feel sometimes about God’s divine plan for mankind.

I am posting a video as well as the lyrics. The video, quite honestly, is a little hard to watch, but then there was nothing easy about how my Savior sacrificed Himself for me.

Mystery
A child was born on Christmas Day
Born to save the world
But long before the world began
He knew His death was sure
The pain and strife secured

Mystery, how He came
To be a man
But greater still
How His death was in His plan
God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His hands

The Christmas trees
They glow so bright
With presents all around
But Christmas brought
A tree of life
With blood that sacrificed
The greatest gift in life

chorus

I am just a man and
Can’t begin to comprehend
When You look into this traitor’s eyes
What do You see that justifies the Lamb
(emphasis mine)

God predestined that His
Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His plan
Mystery, mystery
(Lyrics copied from lyricstime.com)

As we celebrate Christmas, may we not forget the sole purpose for Jesus coming to this world. He came to die for me, and He came to die for you. I am a sinner in need of saving, as are we all. I can not save myself. God is a holy God, and He can not look upon me in my sinful state. He demanded a sacrifice, and Jesus was that once and for all sacrifice that would forever negate the need for another sacrifice to be made.

Jesus was God’s gift to us. His salvation is free. It is ours for the asking. I have asked for it, and I have received it, and I grow more grateful and in love with Him every day. What love, indeed!

Do you know Him? Have you received His free gift of salvation? Of all the gifts you could receive this Christmas, there is none greater than this. If you have already received this gift, then spend time thanking Him during this Christmas season for what He has given you.

If you have yet to receive this most precious Gift, you need only ask. To learn how, click on the Ready? button in my right sidebar.

Feeling rich beyond compare,

Today I thought we would explore the meaning behind a couple more traditional Christmas decorations.

The Christmas Wreath

(Credit for this image goes to www.4giftgiving.com.)

The circular shape represents eternity with no beginning and no end. The evergreen color, as with the Christmas tree, signifies eternal life.

Christmas wreaths are typically made from pine or holly branches. In the case of holly branches, the leaves have thorns representative of the thorns in the crown placed on Jesus’ head before his crucifixion. The red holly berries remind us of the blood He shed when He paid the ultimate sacrifice and died for our sins. (Information gathered from holidayinsights.com.)

The Christmas Poinsettia

(Credit for this image goes to www.giftlebanon.com.)

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is named for Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the US Minister to Mexico in 1825. It is believed that he was the first to bring the plant to America in 1828. Apparently, the Mexicans in the 18th century believed the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem and that is how it became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the plant is small and yellow. It is surrounded by bright red leaves often mistaken for petals.

Mexican legend also tells the story of a little girl who wept on her way to church on Christmas Eve because she had no gift to bring. As she knelt on the ground to pray, she saw the red beauty of the plant and took it to the Christ child as her gift. (Thank you to Rev. Eric Stroshine and wilstar.com for this information.)

I haven’t yet gotten myself a poinsettia this year. I think I need to go in search of one tomorrow.

Christmas Blessings,