Christmas...

It's time -- Christmas Eve snuck up on me and is finally here. Time to go find where the Baby Jesus figure is hiding. (We don't put him out until the kids have gone to bed. Yes. Even though they are teens, we don't put the Jesus figure into the creche until Christmas Eve.)

So as I kick off my shoes, and wrap the last few presents...
as I try to remember if all the presents I've squirreled away are indeed under the tree...
as I figure out what we are having for Christmas dinner (no - I still haven't quite finished that task from last Friday!)
...in the bustle and busyness... I don't want to forget that God IS with us. Emmanuel.

He is Here.

Merry Christmas...
Deb

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 Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight.

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace.

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.