Hail, hail to the newborn King!

And so, Advent season is upon us once again. Once again we turn our minds to this holy season and give thanks for the incredible gift of a Savior - Immanuel, God With Us.

Yes, this season has been degraded by rampant commercialism and attempts by the ACLU and others to turn it into the season of political correctness, but I would remind you that the Reason for the Season is still on His throne, and His will cannot be thwarted.

How appropriate - although possibly unintentional - that the Christmas season is preceded by Thanksgiving. Isn't it good that our hearts are prepared for the season of giving? Isn't it right that we have been thinking of all the things for which we are thankful, and now we are ready to contemplate the greatest Gift ever given?

This morning, on the way back from dropping the Munchkin off at school and running some errands, my iPod was playing my "Christmas" playlist, and Selah's song "Light of the Stable" from their Rose of Bethlehem album came on -

Hail, hail to the newborn King
Let our voices sing Him our praises
Hail, hail to the guiding Light
That brought us tonight to our Savior

Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!

Come now, let it shine so bright
To the knowing Light of the stable
Kneel close to the Child so dear
Cast aside your fear and be thankful

Hail, hail to the newborn King
Let our voices sing Him our praises
Hail, hail to the guiding Light
That brought us tonight to our Savior

Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!
Halle, hallelujah!

Thus, today, I call on Christians everywhere to join with me and prepare their hearts for the King, to rejoice in the Advent of His birth, and to rededicate themselves to proclaiming His glory, His love, and His sacrifice!

" Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 40: 3-5, NKJV)

UPDATE: Adam will again be hosting the Carnival of Christmas this year. So please consider his guidelines, and plan to offer up a celebratory post in honor of the season!

UPDATE, 2.0: Also offered at Third World County's OTA post, Christmas Alliance 1.5...

UPDATE, 2.5: Submitted to the Chrismas Alliance's homepage for 2006...