O Come Emmanuel

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
"O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel SHALL come to Thee O Israel."
This is my favorite hymn that calls us to prepare for Messiah's coming, the Christ, or as the prophet Isaiah tells us, Emmanuel, God-with-Us! Does hearing it send prickles down your spine as it does me? Whenever I hear it, I will know that Advent has truly come upon us. And that Christ's birthday is near.
"O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel SHALL come to Thee O Israel.
Can you hear the dark tones of fear and gloom and despair---and then the bright tones of rejoicing at the promise of Emmanuel coming to those whose hearts are open and ready? "Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing!"
COME, EMMANUEL!

submitted by Walt Scott