History, Real Life, and Faith
“Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light,” is the full title. Johann Rist wrote the original hymn, and the English translation comes from John Troutbeck. It’s full of the nativity excitement–what that day and time would be like–based in the Gospels. “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav’nly Light” words The Christmas carol has two stanzas: 1 Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,and…
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Charles Wesley’s Advent hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” is a 1534 Christmas carol written by Martin Luther for his family. This is one of many he wrote, and his German title is “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.” Catherine Winkworth, a noted British hymnologist of the 19th century, translated it into English. Fifteen verses to tell the story! According to…
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What are you thankful for in 2020? Besides knowing it’s only five weeks until 2021? During Thanksgiving week, I like to reflect and review reasons to be thankful in a given year. 2020 has proven a challenge, but I came up with five major categories First, why be thankful in 2020? Several years ago, I had a major disappointment. I…
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It’s Christmas carol time. Many folks have sung Christmas-themed songs since childhood. But what are they? What does “Christmas carol” mean? Songs sung in December with a theme revolving around Christmas. Carol means song or hymn. That’s pretty simple. They’ve been around for a long time. The first noted Christmas-related hymn was written and sung to celebrate Jesus’ birth at…
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A unique devotional: for kindred spirits!