Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men. Luke 2:14 The Sounds of Christmas

The first time I ever heard a choir sing Handel's Messiah in a live concert, it just amazed me. I was a senior in high school and the music just blew me away. I remember that, and the many performances of Handel's Messiah over the years, and then think if that is so amazing to hear, I wonder how a whole multitude of angels praising God could sound.

When we think about those shepherds on the hillside in the Christmas story, we think about how the glory of God shown down on them, and the first angel appeard, and they were afraid, but what about what those shepherds heard that night? Wow! It must have been mind boggling to hear all of those angels praising God.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13, 14

I know that the sounds I hear at Christmas can't compare with that the shepherds heard, but the sounds I hear are very special. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas sounds.

Bells At our house, we always a put jingle bells on our front door. It's a Christmas decoration that my husband's Great Aunt gave us several years ago and it's kind of become a tradition to put it on the inside of our front door. It's got several bells on it and makes a loud jingly sound when anyone comes in or out. It's fun. It adds that extra twinkle for this time of year. I love that part of the Christmas story that refers to "tidings of great joy" in Luke 2:10. Bells remind me of that joy.

Laughter Don't you just love the sound of laughter at Christmas when friends and family get together? My children's laughter is one of those sounds of Christmas that I just want to grab hold of and make a memory. Isn't it the way we are at birthday parties? Laughter and fun. Well, Christmas is when we celebrate Christ's birth, so I think all that laughter is so appropriate.

Music I love Christmas music. I enjoy some of the newer Christmas tunes but there's nothing like our old Christmas songs such as "Silent Night", Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and so many others. The words in those songs are just so powerful as they tell different parts of the Christmas story.

The Christmas Story Read Aloud One of the sounds I enjoy at Christmas is someone reading the Christmas Story aloud. I enjoy reading and re-reading it straight from the Bible, but there's something special to me about someone reading it out loud that just brings the story to life.

Requests and Wishes Another sound we hear at Christmas is the "I wants", especially if you have kids or grandkids. I enjoy hearing my kids tell me what they want for Christmas. It helps me determine what they are most excited about and what they'd really like, because of course they know they are not going to get everything they ask for.

Aren't you glad we can tell the Lord our wants and wishes too? He wants us to talk to Him about our wants and desires as well. After all, the Lord came so that we can live life to the fullest. He gives us eternal life but also in Christ we can have that abundant life. …I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10b

Conclusion: These are all sounds that inspire me and give me a lift when Christmas rolls around. I know you probably have your own favorite Christmas sounds, but I hope we'll all take time to remember those first Christmas sounds of that multitude of angels praising God.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14

So, what do you hear at Christmas?