It's 53 degrees out and dropping, so I feel the Christmas spirit today. I'm freezing in Florida--a rarity in the Sunshine State. Nonetheless, I pray as we jump around with all the jingly sounds of a jolly holiday season, we will also reflect on the amazing grace of Jesus. I'll dive into two of my favorite Christmas worship albums, but there are many more than the ones I mention here. I hope this will encourage you to check out more melodies by these artists with a fantastic handle on what Christmas truly means.
Christmas: The Peace Project by Hillsong Worship
Last week, I prefaced this album with the release of "O Holy Night" by worship leader TAYA, a rendition initially featured on this album. In addition to that incredible melody, "Seasons" is a Hillsong Worship essential for me, Christmastime or not. Worship artist Benjamin Hastings, who led this song and helped write it, sings, "If all I know of harvest/Is that it's worth my patience/Then if You're not done working/God I'm not done waiting." The entire song is a metaphor for working out our own faith about the growth of sequoias, and the reliance on God that it speaks of is a year-round message. Honorable mentions on this project include "Joy to the World" and "Noel" since they are Christmas music staples in and of themselves.
Behold by Lauren Daigle
It wouldn't be Christmas without Lauren's "Light of the World," a melody I look forward to hearing on the radio yearly. She crafts a beautiful true story of people longing for salvation and receiving it as the Savior, Jesus Christ. "For all who wait/For all who hunger," He has arrived! "Behold your King," all you who wonder, Lauren cries out. She admits that as children of God on this side of Heaven, we will struggle and question God. However, when we do, all it takes is a reminder of His grace in sending His Son and a realization that the world's light will dawn again.
Due to my profound love for "Light of the World," I will confess that I have not explored the rest of this album as much as I should. Nevertheless, her renditions of "Jingle Bells" and "What Child Is This?" are exceptional. I will make it a point to listen more to this album in the coming weeks, and I hope you will, too.
Selena Schulz is NRT’s youngest staff contributor. She loves God, music, reading, and writing.
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