I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.
From Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) served the United Kingdom as Prime Minister from 1940-1945 and later from 1951-1955. He unwavering leadership during World War II lifted the spirits of his nation in the darkest of times. He was also a prolific writer with countless published works.
From Psalm 85:5-6: “Will you be angry with us forever?Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again,so that your people may rejoice in you?”
From Luke 2:12-14: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!'”
From Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall returnand come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;they shall obtain joy and gladness,and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
With lyrics composed by renowned English hymn writer, Issac Watts, “Joy to the World” has become the most published Christmas hymn in North America. These verses were penned in 1719, and they share an interpretation from Psalm 98. In this Advent season, the hymn holds a special place with its emphasis on the joy we have been patiently waiting for.
This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
From Micah 5:3-5: “Therefore He shall give them up until the timewhen she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of His kindred shall returnto the people of Israel. And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord,in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they shall live secure, for now He shall be greatto the ends of the earth, and He shall be the one of peace.”
Another beloved Advent hymn is “What Child is This.” The lyrics were crafted by English hymn writer and poet, William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. In 1871, the tune of a traditional English song, “Greensleeves,” was added to the lyrics. This hymn shares the spirit of peace, forever witnessed in the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
One of Advent’s most enduring hymns is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. The original text was composed in Latin during the 12th century. In 1861, English priest and scholar John Mason Neale translated the lyrics into what many Christian recognize and sing today.