Sunday, December 1, 2024

Do You Worship the Babe in the Manger?


Big Idea: Diane sang in church as a 6 year old, “Do you worship the babe in the manger?”

This advent Diane would like to reflect on Christmas songs that meant something special to her at different stages of life.



That curly haired little girl


Though I am an introvert, I willingly sang special music in church as a little girl. 

My mom coached me and played the piano. I memorized the song and she taught me to enunciate the words clearly.


I recall at Christmas being decked in a velvet dress with curly hair. Surely I had pink sponge curlers put into my hair overnight as my hair was straight and thick.

Once after singing, an old man shook my little hand in his massive dry grip and pressed a nickel into mine.

“Never stop singing,” he whispered.



Heavy lyrics for a 6 year old


My mother liked this Christmas song she taught me. I still have it memorized. The song explains:

The Babe in the manger was God’s only Son,
Who came to the world to die.
The Babe in the manger could never have done
The work of His God on high.

The Babe left the manger and went to the Cross
To pay the wages of sin.
Your way of forgiveness is not by the Babe,
But the Christ who died for your sin. -W.S. and Mildred Dillion

It explains “the reason for the season.”



In my house Santa was a fun story but Jesus was the real thing. The story of Jesus’ love was significant to every part of our life.

At 6 years old I recall praying alone at my bedside one night to be forgiven for my sins, which a precocious six year old knows she has, and asked Him to be my Lord. I’ve never regretted it.



From glorious heaven to a humble place



My father liked Philippians 2:1-6 NLT which explains Jesus emptying Himself of His heavenly glory and becoming a helpless infant, to ultimately later in His life die for our sins on the cross; risen to glory again.

This passage illuminates one of my Dad’s favorite Christmas hymns, “Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe, only His great eternal love made my Savior go.”

He gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:7-8 NLT



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Previous post: 3 Ways to show kindness this Thanksgiving
Next post: Handel's Messiah

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Reflect:

1. What would you say is “the reason for the season” of Christmas?

2. Can you see a connection between Christmas and Easter? Explain how you perceive it.




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