Psalm 47:6

“Sing praise to god, sing praises,” Psalm 47:6 declares, “sing praises unto our King, sing praises.”

Glorying the historic hymns of Christian Faith at worship is an integral part of my personality. O yes, I truly do miss singing in church! “O clap your hands, all ye people;” Psalm 47:1 affirms across the ages, “shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

Singing is good for the soul; singing is good for the body! Several studies reveal that singing allows our brains to release hormones, relieving stress and anxiety. Other studies point to the fact that when people sing together, their kindred heartbeats actually beat in tune with one another!

There is every good reason for God’s people to sing, even if we are not singing together in church. We can individually sing the sacred songs of the church alone. In synchronizing praise together, God heals our broken hearts, our loneliness, and our physical separation, especially during this happy and holy time of year!

For the fact of the matter is that we are never alone, even as prudent health precautions are wisely being followed! God inhabits the praises of His people. “But thou art holy,” Psalm 22:3 proclaims, “O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” What good news within the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We don’t have to actually be in church, we are the church, praising and glorifying Almighty God in worship wherever, and however we are, together or separately!

I personally long to joyously sing the blessed Chistimas songs we joyfully sang not so long ago. Yet being socially distant doesn’t mean we must stay silent. The mystery of Christmas is that God became one of us so that we could become one with him, regardless of our physical location. Jesus Christ suffered everything that was wrong so that we could be made right. “Therefore if any man be in Christ ” II Corinthians asserts, “he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

If this Christmas is socially distant, sing the glorious Christmas Songs of Faith you know and love. You might appear to sing to yourself; this isn’t isolation. God is always “Emmanuel, God with us!” Matthew 1:23

Even if we cannot gather in person,
“Emmanuel,” God is with us.

Even if some Christmas traditions have had to go,
“Emmanuel,” God is with us.

Even if we might not get to hug family and friends,
“Emmanuel,” God is with us.

Even if we cannot sing carols beside each other,
“Emmanuel,” God is with us.

Even if Christmas cheer is harder this year,
“Emmanuel,” God is with us.

{Copied from our D.S.’s 12/11/2020 e-mail}