advent: o come, Emmanuel.

The November chill is setting in around here. It's been cold, wet and cloudy, and I don't remember the last time I've seen the sun. Needless to say, my pajamas have been getting a lot more wear lately! Mr. Bingley has been enjoying the extra cuddle time, too. 

I'm missing the sunshine, for sure, but staying inside, crafting and making winter comfort food isn't too shabby. And yes, Christmas music is playing at least some of the time. Because it can be nasty and gloomy and depressing outside, but being reminded of the hope of Christ inside balances the scale pretty well.

Another one of my favorite Christmas hymns is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I have always loved this one for the promise it presents--Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. It seems dark and impossible now, but none of that scares away Jesus. He walks right into the midst of the dirt and saves us all.

And yes, while this song is talking about the actual nation of Israel, who was (and some of them still are) waiting for the Messiah to come and save them at the time of Jesus' birth, I believe it is just as timely for us, here and now. Will you try something with me? And it may be a little corny, but go with me for a minute. Put your name wherever you see "Israel," and see how that hits your heart. It may bring the very hope you need in your situation.

"Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O ______."

He will come to you. In your broken marriage, in your loneliness, in your financial despair, in your hopelessness. He will come.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.




I dreamed of doing an acapella version of this during my worship leading days. It's still on my bucket list...until now, let us be satisfied with this piece of glory: