Sing Out with Joy

This video is from the Behold the Lamb of God Christmas concert featuring Andrew Peterson and friends. A group of us had the privilege of once again attending the concert earlier this month. Year after year, I never grow tired of this show. I almost get more excited about this concert than I do about Christmas itself (and I’m not the only one!). The video is from the opening of the show. I love how he frames the Story: "Gather round, ye children come/Listen to the old, old story/of the power of death undone/by an infant born of Glory".

It’s so mind-boggling and so wonderful all at the same time. And that’s really what I’ve been trying to focus more on these days- the truth of the Story. I can be my own worst enemy at times. Sometimes it just seems impossible to escape from my own brokenness and depravity. But the good news is that all things are possible with God- through that baby boy whose birth we celebrate next week, I do have an escape after all, so to speak.

And that’s why I appreciate Behold the Lamb so deeply- it cuts through the tinsel and the treats and the credit cards and tells the story of a people in need of redemption, and the God (who is still living and active today) who loved them enough to rescue them- rescue us- from our broken and depraved state.

Matthew and I listened to the album for the first time this season on our way back from Thanksgiving. We had spent some time in Pella, where I enjoyed meeting more of his family, and then in Amana, where he joined us at Uncle Bruce’s for the big meal, games, and life stories. When we drove back on Sunday I realized that it was the first time in four years that I wasn’t sad to be going back to Nebraska. We were listening to Behold the Lamb as we crossed back into Omaha, and the Story continued as we headed south to Bellevue. Christmas lights were starting to shine on rooftops throughout the city and my heart twinkled right along with them as I thought about the music, this relationship with Matthew, and the start of Advent.

I recently read one of the most beautiful reflections on Advent on my dear friend Ann’s blog. I can’t do it justice here, so I invite you to read her family’s story here. I’ve also been reading a blog called Advent Poetry administered by a member of the band Jars of Clay, Charlie Lowell. Every day he posts a wonderful poem about the coming of Christ. It’s been nice to daily reflect on the Story in this way.

I hope you all take time to remember amidst the hustle and bustle of the next few weeks as well.

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
who was God, but He made Himself nothing
He gave up His pride and He came here to die like a man
Son of God
Son of Man

Halleluiah.