This week we are bringing you (in no particular order) 10 of the top NEW Christmas songs for 2021! Click the songs for links to lyric videos and audio.
Today on the show we read some Christmas devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.
Here are the two Christmas devotionals that we read today.
THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS
“Sometimes I feel lonely, and it makes me wonder how lonely they must get out here.”
That was spoken by Asteria, director of a faith-based community group who brought Christmas to El Campamento, a makeshift tent city where many drug-addicted people live. She noted how the holidays can be difficult for those on the street. So she decided to embody Christ’s love by setting up a Christmas tree among the discarded needles; by bringing them gifts, warm drinks, and food; and by leading the singing of Christmas carols. The response was heartening, she said, with many of the homeless voicing their desire to be forgiven by their family and asking for prayer.
In serving the people of El Campamento, Asteria and her team illustrate the true message of Christmas-the gift of God coming to meet us through His Son Jesus. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law” (GALATIANS 4:4-5). Even though we all do wrong, God invites us to become His heirs and children (v.7). He calls those who live on the streets and those who live in mansions to accept His gift of saving grace.
Through Jesus, God gives us the true gift of Christmas right where we are. May we receive and share this gift of love.
By AMY BOUCHER PYE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
It was just a few days before Christmas and my wife, Cari, was standing in the checkout line at the market. The young mother in front of her was carefully assessing the contents of her cart and slowly setting aside items one by one. Cari’s initial impatience turned to compassion as she surveyed the growing pile of items that had been removed and realized the woman didn’t have enough money to purchase them.
“I’d like to pay for those,” she told the checker. The young mother turned with a surprised look on her face: “That’s too much!” she said. Cari, prompted by God’s love and remembering how a stranger, miles away, had bought our own daughter’s groceries in a difficult time, smiled and responded, “Merry Christmas.” They both left the store with tears in their eyes.
Christmas came early to our home with a fresh awareness of God’s kindness and generosity to us through His Son. Solomon wrote in Proverbs of those who are generous: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (11:25). In the following days we were refreshed by a renewed understanding of how God had met our greatest need of all-our need for a Savior-and how His love can unexpectedly overflow from our hearts to others in need.
Kindness is contagious! Because of what Jesus has done for us, may God give us grace to make a generous, practical difference in others’ lives.
By JAMES BANKS
Question: In Genesis, what catastrophe did Joseph predict by interpreting the Pharaoh’s dream?
Answer: A seven-year famine.
Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
We are excited to feature Foodstock 2021 for our weekly Food For The Hungry feature.
Elixir Presents will hold their 10th Annual Foodstock, a live concert, featuring the music of Peter, Paul & Mary, Joan Baez and other folk artists on Monday, December 6 at 7:00 pm.
The concert will be held at the Memorial Theater at the Knox Memorial (112 E. High St., Mount Vernon, Ohio). Admission is food items and/or monetary donation. Information about Foodstock can also be found at www.elixirpresents.com
– I was born December 1, 1913 in Weatherford, TX – My father was a lawyer and my mother a violin teacher – I married at 17 and had a son, Larry, who later became a TV star – My big break came on radio, where I was singing for a show and was discovered by Oscar Hammerstein – I made my Broadway debut in 1938 – I starred in South Pacific, The Sound of Music and my most famous role, Peter Pan – I was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1973
I am…Mary Martin. Congratulations to Marty from Howard, who wins the $5 gift card from Everlasting Cup.
More Monday Motivation from the Our Daily Bread devotional, “Celebrating Jesus.”
Jonathon shared Tim Gustafson’s “Dreaming at Christmas”
For Irving Berlin, Christmas held not joy but sadness. The composer of “White Christmas” lost his infant son on Christmas Day 1928. His wistful song, which longs for a bygone time of holiday joys, would become wildly popular during World War II, resonating with troops overseas dreaming of Christmases back home. Dreams and grief are crucial themes of the Christmas story. In a literal dream, an angel explained the miraculous conception of Jesus to Joseph (MATTHEW 1:20). Another dream warned the Magi to avoid the murderous Herod (2:12). And an angel told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with the baby Jesus (V. 13). We welcome the dreams of Christmas. The sadness, however, intrudes like a rude guest. Rachel weeps (v. 18). For soon after that first Christmas a paranoid king would slaughter helpless children (v. 16). In Matthew’s gospel, Rachel, a matriarch of Israel, represents a nation’s inconsolable grief. It’s a scene we yearn to see deleted from the story. Why must there be such sadness in this, the greatest of all stories? Jesus Himself is the only satisfying answer to that question. The Baby who escaped the Bethlehem tragedy grew up to conquer all such tragedies, even death itself, by dying and rising for all of us. As another Christmas carol says of Him: The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.
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Joe shared another devotional about a Christmas song, “Joy to the World,” from Poh Fang Chia
“Joy to the world…” Meifang stopped mid-sentence and forced down a sob as painful memories of her mom flooded her mind. This time last year, her mother stood right next to her, singing the same song. But now she was gone, her life tragically cut short by an accident. For Meifang, Christmas would never be the same again. It was hard to celebrate when all she had was sorrow and grief. Perhaps, like Meifang, you’re feeling grief or sorrow this Christmas. How can you sing for joy when your heart is full of pain? Isaac Watts originally penned “Joy to the World” not as a Christmas carol but as a reminder of our future hope when Christ returns. It’s based on Psalm 98-a psalm that calls the earth to praise God for His love and faithfulness (v. 3). He came to save (v. 1), announce His victory, and reveal His righteousness (v. 2). And He’ll come again “to judge the earth” with righteousness and fairness v.9). These are great reasons for us to sing with joy. If this Christmas is tinged with sorrow and grief, hold on to the hope of Christ. Not only does He provide comfort now but He aIso assures us of our future hope. One day all sorrow and pain will cease when Jesus comes again and wipes every tear from our eyes (REVELATION 21:4).
Name two things that are on every mom’s Christmas wish list: 1- babysitting 2- sleep/nap 3- spa day 4- gift card T5- a family portrait clothing/shoes/pajamas 7- jewelry
Congratulations to Jenn of Danville, who wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Top collecting schools in two categories will once again be awarded the traveling plaque as provided by COTC to recognize each school’s accomplishment.
The Central Knox County Award will go to either Mount Vernon or the Knox County Career Center. And The Greater Knox County Award will go to one of the following schools: Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, or Fredericktown. Each year, the winning school’s name is added to the traveling plaque.
Representatives from each school will be invited to participate in the Food For The Hungry broadcast from the Memorial Theater at the Knox Memorial on Friday, Dec. 10.
For more information about the High School Food Drive Competition, schools and students can contact Shawn Dugan through email by using shawndugan@windstream.net, to help coordinate their collections or answer questions.
Here are the 2021 collection dates for Knox County High Schools:
* Fredericktown High School: 11/15 – 11/19 – just wrapped up
* Centerburg High School: 11/16 – 12/1
* The Knox County Career Center: 11/29 – 12/9
* Mount Vernon High School: 11/30 – 12/7
* Danville High School: 11/30 – 12/7
– I was born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee – I was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in 1956 – I was a three-time player of the year and all-American at he University of Cincinnati – I co-captained the US gold medal basketball Team in the 1960 Olympics – I became the first player to average a triple-double in 1962 – I won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971 – I retired as the NBA’s all-time assist leader; and am now 7th all-time – I’m in the college and pro basketball halls of fame
I am…OSCAR ROBERTSON! Congratulations to Dave from Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.
It’s artist news day and NEEDTOBREATHE is making its documentary available to the public.
Earlier this month we talked about NEEDTOBREATHE’s documentary “INTO THE MYSTERY”, if you didn’t get a chance to watch the documentary in person, well you’re in luck because Greenwich Entertainment announced that the documentary will be available on demand starting today on most streaming platforms! The film release will follow the band’s massive 38-city tour across the United States.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and without telling a soul, the band went to a historic house-turned-recording studio in remote Tennessee to work on new music. Over the next three weeks, they resided under one roof and handcrafted an album titled, “Into The Mystery”. The documentary offers a rare look at the collaboration of artists at the height of their creative powers who are struggling with the same fear and isolation that has affected everyone the last 16 months.
Here is what the band had to say. “We’re big fans of music documentaries where you get to actually watch the artist creating in the space where the record is made. Getting to see an idea stretch and grow into a finished song is really inspiring, but we’ve never really let our fans see behind the curtain. Now people will get to pull up a chair and become a part of the process as we create our eighth studio album in an old house in the hills of Tennessee.”
Lord, Your ways are higher You know Your plans for me You give purpose and a future Even when I can’t see
Answer: For The Good by Riley Clemmons
Congratulations to Leanne of Howard for guessing the correct answer! She wins THREE $5 gift cards to Everlasting Cup!
Today we started a series of Christmas devotionals from the seasonal Our Daily Bread publication, “Celebrating Jesus.”
Joe’s devotional is from Lisa Samra, called ‘A Down Under Christmas…’
I love seeing pictures of our Australian friends celebrating Christmas. Not because they have more creative decorations or a fancier tree, but because they’re usually celebrating at the beach! It’s easy for people who live in the Northern Hemisphere to forget that countries in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate Christmas during their summer months. It’s just not what I expect to see at Christmas.
Sunny Christmas celebrations also point me to the reality that so much about the first Christmas was unexpected. At Jesus’ birth, men from countries east of Israel saw a star and recognized it as a sign that the promised future ruler of Israel had been born (MICAH 5:2).
So these highly educated scholars left their homes and, after arriving in Israel, went to the place they expected to find a new king: the palace. But Jesus wasn’t there. Realizing their mistake, they continued to be directed by the star until they reached a humble home in Bethlehem. It was there that they found Jesus (MATTHEW 2:10-11).
Regardless of whether we celebrate in the sun or snow, at Christmas we remember the birth of a baby who grew up to teach us about God and offer to all the most amazing of gifts, a relationship with Him. Like the wise men, when we search for Him and accept this gift, we find hope and joy beyond all our expectations.
Jonathon’s is from Winn Collier, called ‘A Table for All…’
The upcoming holiday looked grim for Scott. He figured he’d simply be warming up a frozen dinner and watching some football alone. Dreading the isolation, Scott decided to put an ad in the paper, inviting other lonely people to dinner. No less than twelve people showed up! That was 1985, and every year since, Scott has placed a similar ad, welcoming as many as 100 people and now meeting in a local church building. Homeless neighbors, those who’ve lost their family, strangers who can’t travel home-Scott sets a table big enough for all kinds of people.
Isaiah describes God’s intention to welcome every wayward straggler, all who are downtrodden or forgotten. He’s a “refuge to the poor… [a] refuge to the needy in distress.” (25:4). With God, those who are desperate for friendship or forgiveness or hope can find their hearts’ desires. One day “the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat” (v. 6). God widely extends the invitation, welcoming everyone to join Him for a feast-friends gathered around the table of grace.
This is God’s heart for us, and what He promises to do. We may bear the weight of loneliness or despair; but in Jesus, God welcomes us. And if we’ll simply come, each of us will find our seat at a table with room for all.
Name the top two disadvantages of owning a pet: 1- cleaning up after them (66 votes) 2- walking them (10)
Congratulations to Erika from Marengo, who solved this two-week stumper and wins two $5 gift cards to Everlasting Cup!
Praise the Lord it’s Friday! Here’s this week’s countdown:
10. Casting Crowns – Scars in Heaven 9. Tauren Wells f/Rascal Flatts – Until Grace 8. We Are Messengers – Come What May (1st week in the Top 10) 7. Anne Wilson – My Jesus 6. for King and Country – Relate 5. Jeremy Camp – When You Speak 4. Maverick City Music – Promises 3. Tasha Layton – Look What You’ve Done 2. Matthew West – What If? 1. Phil Wickham – House of the Lord (5th week at #1)
NEW MUSIC FRIDAY – new songs added to the WNZR playlist today include:
Driving Notes 