The King of Glory Comes, the Nation Rejoices!

The 2015 Christmas season is often a painful reminder of past Christmases. “Merry Christmas” is being replaced with “Happy Holidays.” Hallmark and other Christmas programs, omit nativity scenes. The Christ child is replaced with magical Santas.

When I entered my grandchildren’s Christian school, the band was playing an old tune, “My Country ‘tis of Thee.” I hadn’t heard that song played by children since I was a child in public grade school. Believe me, that was many generations ago. I even recalled the verses I had loved to sing the best: “Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of Liberty, To thee we sing, Long may our land be bright With Freedom’s holy light, Protect us by thy might Great God, our King.”

Modern-day Americans are being taught a new type of freedom, a new type of entertainment. Our forefather’s idea of liberty is being replaced. Much like the salvation message about Jesus laying in a manager, is the forgotten symbol for Christmas. Old songs, traditions, and beliefs are tossed aside like garbage—to please twenty-first century politically-correct mandates.

I mediated on the changes I have seen to my beloved nation and wondered about my grandchildren’s future as I waited for their entry into St. Paul Lutheran Church’s sanctuary. You can just imagine my exaltation when the children came marching in singing to the top of their lungs:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dwfq9j9l5lwbmy1/Enter%20%281%29.mp4?dl=0

“The King of Glory comes, the nation rejoices Open the gates before Him, lift up your voices. Who is the King of Glory? How shall we call Him? He is Emmanuel, the promise of ages.”

Pray our nation will open wide the gates for our beloved Jesus, and that this nation Under God shall have a Great Awakening, and share Christ’s heavenly vision throughout the world.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Revelation 22:14,15 “…Surely I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20

Played by St. Paul’s Lutheran School Band:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvlocufnlsjduaq/20151216_184129.mp4?dl=0

Lyrics to “My Country ‘tis of Thee” by Samuel F. Smith – 1832

My country, ’tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,
‘Neath Education’s sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation’s pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven’s gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light impearled,
God hold secure!

May you and your have a blessed Christmas season. What are your thoughts, does America need a spiritual revival?