The video of this song by Anna Hawkins, the reverence, the scenes of Israel touched my heart. I would love to see Israel in person, but if I can’t, I so appreciate the glimpses technology gives me of the land God has blessed, and where my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lived his life here on earth.

I love the way the light, in this rather dark, classical painting of the Nativity, shines out from the Christ Child. He is the light of the world—and this artwork, painted in the 1700’s by an artist who is now unknown, captures the way the Savior ‘disperses the gloomy clouds of night,’ not only in the world, but also in our heart, mind, and spirit.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ~II Corinthians 4:6

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL (Between 1500’s and 1700’s, might be as early as 12th century)

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 Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.