Powerful Words

For much of my life I sang Christmas hymns and carols, but never paid much attention to the words I was actually singing. This year I have been giving more attention to the words of these prayers put to song, and it makes them all so much more meaningful.
I love the traditional hymns and also have some favorite contemporary Christian Christmas songs as well. Most of these are on my Christmas playlist. One of my favorites, Chris Rice's "Welcome to Our World," is not, though, since it wasn't on the site.
I heard "While You Were Sleeping" for the first time a couple of weeks ago, although it was released a few years ago. This one is on the playlist. It is Casting Crowns' variation on "O Little Town of Bethlehem." I think it is absolutely beautiful and so very powerful.
I hope you enjoy it and it finds a place in your heart as you prepare for Christ's birth in just a few days.

"While You Were Sleeping"
Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?

United States of America
Looks like another silent night


Kissing the Face of God
Morgan Weistling