So, how’s the weather in your neck of the woods? It’s rainy and chilly here in Western PA as I'm writing this. I don’t mind it at all. Truth be told, summer isn’t my favorite season. Winter is. I was so happy this past year to be trudging through a couple feet of snow on my walks. No bugs, no humidity, just me and the stillness of a winter morning.
Another reason I love winter is Christmas. I was fairly excited when I realized it’s less than 5 months away. Ok, I heard you groan. But I’m still just as excited! :)
Since I grew up in choirs and we started practicing as early as October, I can never get enough Christmas music. Even when I’m practicing for Christmas performances, which unfortunately didn’t happen this past year, I usually have my Spotify playlists looping for hours.
In the small town I grew up in, there were no contemporary services at church with a worship team. I heard hymns sung by a choir and accompanied by a pipe organ. When I graduated from college and moved to a big city in 1991, I made an interesting discovery. I was in a music store and found a Christmas album by Steven Curtis Chapman. That led me to other albums of his and on a wonderful listening journey into Christian contemporary music. Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful traditional hymns. But this music was so new and interesting. Similar to the pop music I heard on the radio, but with a different twist: all the lyrics reminded me of my Savior.
It’s been such a blessing to be able to hear “Christmas” music all year round. It’s been a huge part of my spiritual journey and continues to be incredibly important to my growth. That fact was the inspiration behind the lyrics “Wise men are still following the baby in the hay. Jesus now lives in their hearts; it’s Christmas every day!” from my song Our Savior Has Been Born. Listen Here: Our Savior Has Been Born
I’m in the process of recording both that song and The Way (in the Manger) and wanted to stop and share them with you. Listen here: The Way (in a Manger)
I can’t get snow falling for me all year, but I can have the joy of the Christmas season in my heart 365 days. Walking with Jesus, it truly is “Christmas every day!” He even makes the summer heat and humidity a bit more bearable. Whatever the season, whatever the weather, whatever circumstances in my life, I can “do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13)