Songs of Christmas: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Ladies and gentlemen we have entered into one of the most magical, generous, heartfelt, times of year! It's Christmas! One of the things I enjoy most, much to chagrin of several who are reading, I am sure but I refuse to apologize, is the music! We're going to take a song and look closely at the history and what the Bible has to say about the message.

Here is a bit of the history behind the song:

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas was written in 1951 by Meredith Willson, an American songwriter who later went on to great fame for writing the music and lyrics to the Broadway hit musical – The Music Man. Willson wrote the song and originally called it, "It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas" but the title really stuck when she added the words ‘a lot like’.

In the song, they speak about a Grand Hotel, which is widely believed to be the Grand Hotel in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. However, this is difficult to prove as many hotels in that era were named the Grand Hotel.

As Willson was a Broadway musical writer, she incorporated this song into the score of the play Here’s Love with slightly different lyrics. This song became quite popular when it was released as a single by Perry Como in 1951 and then again by Bing Crosby that same year.

Ten years later, in 1961, Alvin and the Chipmunks even covered it on their album "Christmas with the Chipmunks." In 1986 Johnny Mathis covered "It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas," and this track was included in the film Home Alone 2. Most recently it has been done by crooner, Michael Buble.

"It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas," is one of those easily recognizable and highly beloved Christmas songs that people everywhere cherish when they hear it around Christmas. It will easily put you in the Christmas spirit!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42 NLT

The Distraction

Of

~Responsibility~

There are so many things that are vying for our time, especially around the holidays. Cooking, decorating, being with our families, buying gifts, wrapping gifts, parties, plus our normal stuff like, school, jobs, chores, sports, church, small groups...you get the idea. And listen, there is nothing wrong with those things. As a matter of fact, we need to be doing those things! These things become problems when we allow them to distract us from the main thing-Jesus. Yes! Even church can distract us from Him!

Look at verse 42- Jesus responds to Martha by telling her to calm down. Check out Mary...she has "chosen" (according to NIV), or "discovered" (in NLT) "IT." But it's what Jesus says next that is the clincher..."and it will not be taken away from her."

Go back to what Martha was doing...it was good! Until she allowed it to consume her to the point she missed out on Jesus.

While this may be the most wonderful time of the year, it can also be the busiest and most stressful and the loneliest for many people. Instead of pouring ourselves into the activities, the responsibilities of the season, we need to pour ourselves into Jesus.

The Dedication

Of

~Devotion~

When our attention-energy, devotion, dedication-is on Jesus, we're set! Mark 13:31 tells us that Heaven and Earth will pass away but the Word of the Lord will last forever!

All of the stuff we occupy ourselves with will one day be no more and all we will be left with is our relationship with Jesus...what will that look like for you?

Mary made the choice to sit at the feet of Jesus even when things needed to be done because she couldn't miss a thing He had to say! Sure that meant a few things may not get accomplished but she found the importance of being with Him greater than getting stuff done.

When we put Jesus first and allow time to be spent with Him, He will give us wisdom, strength and purpose with our time to take care of the details of our days.

How can we allow ourselves to become so consumed with the stuff of Christmas that we neglect time with the guest of honor?

This season is about HIM! At all times He needs the driver's seat, the head of the table, the center of our attention. We can't afford to neglect that truth and thus remove Him as priority and settle for the "stuff" of our lives to become the spotlight. All of the stuff is worthless unless He is the center of it all and He can only be the center if we put Him there.

It is the most wonderful time of the year because we pause to remember the most Wonderful One who ever came.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT