Starting Right
Starting Right is a 5 minute Day Starter to help keep you motivated, encouraged, and focused throughout your day. DannyMac is a pastor, teacher, motivational speaker, husband, and father. His years of leading and training people have given him vast experience in helping individuals to accomplish change in their lives and meet their goals. He can help you set the course for your day by offering practical advice from God's Word in a positive and fun way. There is no better way to begin your day than by Starting Right with DannyMac.
Starting Right
Embracing the Magic of Christmas Carols: A Journey Through History and Faith
Start your day with a heartwarming exploration into the timeless magic of Christmas carols as we embrace the holiday spirit on "Starting Right with Danny Mac." With only five Mondays until Christmas, we invite you to join us in celebrating the joy and nostalgia that Christmas music brings. This episode kicks off with a fascinating look at the enchanting history of carols, from the ancient "Angel's Hymn" to the melodic treasures of the 1800s. We'll reveal the mysterious origins of "The First Noel," a cherished hymn that beautifully captures the angels' proclamation of Christ's birth. Listen to a special snippet by the talented Carrie Underwood, bringing this classic song to life.
Get ready to be transported to a different time and place as we reflect on the powerful emotions and cherished memories that these beloved songs evoke. Discover the profound significance of these carols in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, drawing from the biblical account in the Gospel of Luke. Throughout this journey, we'll remind you of the incredible gift of Jesus and encourage you to lift your spirits during this festive season. So grab your cup of coffee, take a moment to relax, and let's celebrate together. Have a blessed day, and join us tomorrow for more uplifting conversations.
Good morning and welcome to Starting Right with Danny Mac. I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great five-minute start to your day. So grab your cup of coffee, sit back, relax and let me help you start your day right. Good morning, everybody. It's great to have you here on this Monday morning.
Speaker 1:Now, most of you know that Mondays we always talk about Christian music, but starting today and for the next four Mondays afterwards, we're going to talk about some Christmas music, because there's only five Mondays left. I know that's a real shock to some of us and for those of you that haven't even begun your Christmas shopping yet, that can bring some panic mode on. I realize that. But I ask your indulgence for me because I love Christmas, I love Christmas music and I want to make sure that we have some time to talk about it together. All of us have favorite Christmas carols because usually they bring back some kind of memory for us and they put us in a different place and time, and those nostalgic feelings about this wonderful time of the year pull very strongly on our hearts and our emotions. Well, christmas really should pull on our hearts and our emotions. It's about the greatest thing that God has ever done for us in giving us His Son, jesus Christ, to leave heaven and come and be born on this earth.
Speaker 1:Christmas carols have been around almost as long as Christianity has. It seems that the very first Christmas carol was one called the Angel's Hymn, and it was written back in the year 129, just about 30 years after the book of Revelation was written. It was about this time that many Christians were starting to put together Christian hymns to sing songs about their faith and what they believed, and about this time that many Christians were starting to put together Christian hymns to sing songs about their faith and what they believed and about the God that they were serving. I found out that one of the oldest printed carols was from the year 1521. It was one called the Boar's Head Carol, and apparently it was the carol that was sung at Queen's College in Oxford as the Christmas lunch was carried in, and so I suppose that Christmas lunch included the boar's head. From the 10th to the 14th century there were many Christmas carols written including God, rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and While Shepherds Watch their Flocks by Night. But the most prolific period for Christmas carols seems to be in the 1800s, when many of our most popular carols were printed. Carols like Hark, the Herald, angels Sing and Silent Night and many, many more all came from that time frame.
Speaker 1:Today we're going to take a look at one of the carols that was written back in those 1800s. It was first published in 1823, and we know it as the First Noel. Unfortunately, nobody really knows who wrote it, but it was first published along with some other Christian music in what was called Ancient Christmas Carols. It is believed that the music for it originated somewhere in the west portion of England. The poetry of the words are very plain but very beautiful.
Speaker 1:The word Noel seems to come from the French and the Latin, the word natalis meaning birthday, as this song celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ, and it tells the story of the angels in heaven declaring the birth of the child in Bethlehem to the shepherds in the fields. As we read in Luke, chapter 2 and verse 8,. There were shepherds living in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. It continues in verse 10,. And the angel said to them Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
Speaker 1:Christmas is a time for us to celebrate the birth of that Messiah, and it is one of the most important events in all of history. I'm going to leave you with a portion of the First Noel being sung by Carrie Underwood. There will be a link in your show notes where you can listen to the whole thing. Take care, be blessed, celebrate the season. Don't let anything depress you or get you down about this season. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Have a great day, my friends. We'll talk again tomorrow. Noel Noel Born is the King of Israel.
