{"id":16081,"date":"2013-12-05T00:01:07","date_gmt":"2013-12-05T06:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=16081"},"modified":"2013-12-04T22:38:33","modified_gmt":"2013-12-05T04:38:33","slug":"o-holy-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/12\/05\/o-holy-night\/","title":{"rendered":"O Holy Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For over 150 years, “O Holy Nigh<\/span>t” has been performed all over the world. \u00a0The history of this song began in the 1800\u2019s in France, when a priest asked a poet named Placide Cappeau wrote a poem for a Christmas mass. He was an unlikely man to write these lyrics—he was a wine merchant who was known for his poetry (not<\/em> his church attendance). Later he broke with the church all together and joined a socialist movement in France. In a carriage, on the way to mass, he went over the lyrics and fell in love with God all over again. The words, still today have that effect on all who listen. It begins with this:<\/p>\n

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, <\/span><\/em>
\nIt is the night of our dear Saviors birth. <\/span><\/em>
\nLong lay the world in sin and error pining, <\/span><\/em>
\n\u2018Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. <\/span><\/em>
\nThe thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, <\/span><\/em>
\nFor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! <\/span><\/em>
\nO night divine, the night when Christ was born. <\/span><\/em>
\nO night, O Holy Night! O night divine!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, <\/span><\/em>
\nWith glowing hearts by His cradle we stand <\/span><\/em>
\nSo led by light a star is sweetly gleaming, <\/span><\/em>
\nHere came the wise men from out of the Orient land, <\/span><\/em>
\nThe King of kings lay thus lowly manger <\/span><\/em>
\nIn all our trials born to be our Friend.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He knows our need\u2014to our weakness is no stranger. <\/span><\/em>
\nBehold your King! Before Him lowly bend! <\/span><\/em>
\nBehold your King! Before Him lowly bend!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Truly He taught us to love one another; <\/span><\/em>
\nHis Law is love and His Gospel is peace <\/span><\/em>
\nChains He shall break, for the slave is our brother <\/span><\/em>
\nAnd in His Name all oppression shall cease! <\/span><\/em>
\nSweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, <\/span><\/em>
\nWith all our hearts we praise His holy name!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Christ is The Lord! O, praise His Name forever! <\/span><\/em>
\nHis pow\u2019r and glory ever more proclaim! <\/span><\/em>
\nHis pow\u2019r and glory ever more proclaim!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We see the birth of Jesus, from a heavenly point of view. His birth awakened the world that was dying. \u201cBut yonder breaks, a new a glorious morn…<\/em><\/span>\u201d all things new, regardless of what we have done or will do, we have a new morning, a new day with Jesus as our Savior. Hope beyond our wildest imagination was born that day, and a weary world has hope wrapped in swaddling clothes. As Mary embraced Him, we, too, embrace Him, and He comes close to us. Naturally, we fall to our knees as we worship the King. Can you even imagine being there on that night?<\/p>\n

\u201cTruly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His Gospel is peace…<\/em><\/span>\u201d He calls us to love each other as He loves us; a truly impossible task if we aren\u2019t staying in constant contact with Him. And because of this love, \u201cchains He shall brea<\/em><\/span>k…<\/em><\/span>\u201d and we will be free from any and all afflictions. Addictions, shame, guilt, anything that holds you will shatter at the sound of His Name. \u201cJesus,\u201d love and freedom and because of the hope we have and freedom He gives, we will forever proclaim to all who will listen. \u201cHis power and glory ever more proclaim…<\/em><\/span>\u201d and \u201cWith all our hearts we praise His holy name…<\/em><\/span>\u201d and we cannot praise Him enough.<\/p>\n

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Let this season be about Him and doing for others. His birth changed this dying world and we will never be the same. Merry Christmas<\/span> and may He forever be praised!<\/p>\n

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