Participants: John Stoddart (Host)
Series Code: 3CS
Program Code: 3CS000002A
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00:01 All things were made through Him,
00:03 and without Him nothing was made that was made. 00:06 In Him was life, 00:08 and the life was the light of men. 00:11 Celebrate this special season 00:13 by worshipping our Savior and King 00:16 as we bring you 00:17 "An Evening with John Stoddart." 00:32 Angels we have heard on high 00:37 Sweetly singing o'er the plains 00:42 And the mountains in reply 00:46 Echoing their joyous strains 00:51 Glory, glory 00:56 Gloria 01:01 In excelsis Deo! 01:06 Glory, glory 01:11 Gloria 01:15 In excelsis Deo! 01:31 Come to Bethlehem and see 01:36 Him Whose birth the angels sing 01:40 Come, adore on bended knee 01:45 Christ the Lord, the newborn King 01:50 Glory, glory 01:55 Gloria 01:59 In excelsis Deo 02:04 Glory, glory 02:09 Gloria 02:14 In excelsis Deo 02:38 Glory, glory 02:43 Gloria 02:47 In excelsis Deo 02:53 Glory, gloria 03:03 In excelsis Deo 03:07 Glory, glory 03:12 Gloria 03:16 In excelsis Deo 03:20 Glory, gloria 03:24 Gloria 03:30 In excelsis Deo 03:36 Gloria, 03:45 In excelsis Deo 03:50 Glory, glory 03:55 Gloria 03:59 In excelsis Deo 04:12 I'm singing glory 04:36 Good evening and welcome. 04:37 I'm so honored that you chose to spend this time with me. 04:41 Over the next few minutes 04:43 we're gonna just share some music 04:45 that reminds us of the power and the importance 04:49 and just the beauty of Christmas 04:51 and the story and the gift and all those things 04:54 that represent the sacrifice that our Lord made 04:57 and coming down from glory to save us. 05:00 Coming down not just as a King but humbling Himself 05:05 and making Himself the lowest of the low 05:07 so that no matter how low you feel 05:09 or you feel you're fallen 05:11 you know that Jesus can lift you up. 05:15 And it's in that spirit 05:16 that I would like to share a song 05:18 that I wrote a few years back that just shares 05:21 how that story has impacted my own life, 05:25 when I think about how God rescued me. 05:30 How He thought enough of me to send love from a star. 05:54 Colored lights and snowflakes 05:58 Dancing in the wind 06:03 It's another Christmas holiday 06:07 About to begin 06:13 Candy canes and presents 06:17 Covers around the tree 06:21 Where on top the Silver Star shining 06:26 Is all the world at peace 06:31 It's my favorite time of year 06:34 For reasons not so plain to see 06:40 As long ago on Christmas Eve 06:46 Lord was born for me 06:49 Because You were in heaven 06:54 I was on earth 06:59 When I needed You here 07:03 Send a baby so dear 07:08 In a manger 07:12 On the hay 07:17 You sent me love from a star 07:22 Christmas day 07:32 The world is full of sadness 07:37 So much pain and tragedy 07:41 Still there shines a star of hope 07:45 Inside of you and me 07:52 If we could just be blinded 07:55 By what tears us all apart 08:00 We could see beyond the outside 08:05 And with straight through the high 08:09 For what Christmas means 08:12 Is more than just some tins all on a tree 08:19 Long ago on Christmas Eve 08:24 Love was born for me 08:28 You were in heaven 08:33 I was on earth Lord, 08:38 When I needed You here 08:42 You send a baby so dear 08:46 In a manger on the hay 08:56 You sent me love 08:58 Oh, from a star Christmas day 09:05 Oh, you were in heaven Lord 09:10 I was on earth 09:15 When I needed You here 09:20 You send a baby so dear 09:24 In a manger 09:27 On the hay 09:34 You sent me love from a star 09:38 Christmas day 09:43 You sent me love from a star 09:48 Christmas day 10:07 Christmas day 10:18 What a beautiful promise, what a beautiful thought 10:23 that as far away as God was 10:26 it wasn't too far for Him to reach down 10:28 to rescue you and to rescue me. 10:32 What would've that night must have been like. 10:37 We read the stories and little bit glamorized 10:40 now I think we see the Christmas decorations 10:44 and we think about wise men 10:47 and we see manger scenes decorated beautifully. 10:52 I've never been in a manger before 10:53 but I've been around some farm animals. 10:58 They don't know they smell that great. 11:02 What a humble God we serve 11:04 that He would endure indignities for us. 11:14 What a night. 11:18 My daughter when she was eight-years-old 11:20 she is an aspiring musician as well 11:22 and God gave her the song and the funny story 11:27 is when I heard it as a songwriter I listened 11:29 then I said, "Man, that's a beautiful song. 11:33 Where did you hear it?" 11:34 And she said, "I wrote this, daddy." 11:37 And so it thought may be she just forgotten 11:39 where she heard it. 11:42 And so I called friends of mine 11:44 and I asked around "If you heard the song?" 11:47 I sent them copies. 11:48 And sure enough 11:50 this was the song that was written by my daughter 11:53 when she was eight years old and it did helps us envision 11:57 what that evening must have been like. 12:01 But right now, we are going to look at it 12:03 through the eyes of an eight-year-old. 12:05 It was on a night, what must that night have been like. 12:37 Nowhere, nowhere it was on a night 12:42 That boy turned into man 12:47 It was foretold that he was king 12:52 Was born in Bethlehem 12:57 Was born in Bethlehem 13:21 When He was born a precious babe 13:26 Who shined so kind and bright 13:31 Or how I wish that He was me 13:37 Who held the child that night 13:42 Who held the child that night 14:05 When He grew up so strong and true 14:10 And tried to rescue men 14:18 They disagreed and now proceed 14:23 To destroy His perfect plan 14:47 He ain't for saint and sinner too 14:53 He came for every soul 14:58 So everybody try your best 15:04 To understand His word 15:09 To understand His word 15:15 To understand His word 15:39 It's fascinating thinking about these stories 15:41 from the eyes of a child. 15:43 I like putting myself in the story. 15:46 I think about Mary and what she must have felt 15:50 like carrying that baby 15:52 having a ride a donkey all those miles. 15:55 I think about Joseph what he must have felt 15:58 like a first time father dubious circumstances. 16:04 And but there is-- I think there is something that happens 16:08 in the heart of a dad when you see that baby 16:12 for the first time and with all that 16:14 what may have been going on 16:16 in Joseph's mind and in his heart. 16:20 I can't help but imagine that 16:24 when he saw that baby for the first time 16:28 that his heart began to melt. 16:30 Not just because this was the son he was to raise 16:34 but this was indeed the Son of God 16:37 who had come to save him. 16:41 I can only imagine that he must have felt a tinge of joy 16:47 and he just would have felt his heart melt the first time 16:50 the baby Jesus wrapped His fingers 16:53 around his small pinky. 16:56 What must it had been like I never knew. 17:17 I never knew a miracle could be 17:25 So precious and beautiful to me 17:33 And You gave Your eyes 17:37 And I see what I never knew 17:50 And one of Your smiles 17:54 Is worth more 17:57 Than a sky full of diamonds together 18:06 Now I know what love is for 18:14 I never knew 18:22 So, so precious Jesus 18:31 Because of all You do 18:39 This gift You gave me 18:47 I give it back to You 18:55 I never knew that one simple touch 19:03 Of another hand to mine 19:06 Can mean so much 19:11 I never seen a miracle 19:16 With such 19:20 A wonderful mystery 19:27 I never knew till there was You 19:47 So, so precious Jesus 19:55 Because of all You do 20:02 This gift You 20:06 You gave me 20:11 I give it back to You 20:18 I never knew that one simple touch 20:26 Of another hand to mine 20:29 Can mean so much 20:34 I never seen a miracle 20:38 With such 20:42 A wonderful mystery 20:51 I never knew till there was You 21:00 I never knew 21:06 Till there was You 21:20 Lord, till there was You 21:31 Thank You, Lord. 21:38 Well, all this talk of babies and families is kind of got me 21:43 thinking about what it was like for me growing up. 21:46 I loved to play the piano. 21:48 I probably started playing when I was-- 21:51 according to my dad I couldn't been 21:56 more than three or four-years-old 21:59 and I just took to the instrument. 22:00 It was just the gift that God had given me. 22:03 And I always loved to play and Christmas was no exception. 22:08 There are so many found memories that I have of just 22:12 that time growing up, just a wonderful family 22:15 that it was always lots of music in the house. 22:18 You might remember this song. 23:17 You remember that one? 23:19 "O Little Town of Bethlehem." 23:21 Oh, man, I could go on and on. 23:22 What about this one? 23:25 Joy to the world 23:28 The Lord has come 23:30 Let earth receive her King 23:37 Let every heart prepare Him room 23:44 And heaven and nature sing 23:48 And heaven and nature sing 23:51 Let heaven, let heaven 23:57 And nature, nature sing 24:05 As growing that's one of my favorites. 24:08 Oh, this is an old one. 24:10 There's a song in the air 24:13 There's a star in the sky 24:17 There's a mother's sweet prayer 24:20 And a baby's low cry 24:39 "There is a star in the air." 24:41 These songs just bring back such more memories for me. 24:44 Oh, here's one that I just remember we-- 24:47 in our house we had particular records 24:50 that only came out at Christmas time. 24:53 And this song was probably my favorite record, 24:57 Christmas record of all time and it's a song 25:00 that I still to this day I love to pull out at Christmas 25:04 because it just reminds me of the spirit, 25:06 of the time that we were in 25:08 and it just takes me back to my childhood 25:10 and all the more memories I had during that time. 25:13 See if you recognize this song. 25:41 Sing sweet and low a lullaby 25:49 Till angels say Amen 25:56 A mother tonight is rocking 26:04 A cradle in Bethlehem 26:14 While wise men follow through the night 26:22 A star that beckons them 26:29 A mother tonight is rocking 26:36 A cradle in Bethlehem 26:43 A little child shall lead them 26:49 The prophets said of old 26:55 Through storm and tempest heed them 27:01 Until the bell is tolled 27:12 Sing sweet and low your lullaby 27:21 Till angels say Amen 27:28 A mother tonight is rocking 27:36 A cradle in Bethlehem 27:56 A little child shall lead them 28:02 The prophets said of old 28:08 Through storm and tempest heed them 28:14 Until the bell is tolled 28:23 Sing sweet and low your lullaby 28:32 Till angels say Amen 28:41 A mother tonight is rocking 28:49 A cradle in Bethlehem 28:57 A mother tonight is rocking 29:14 A cradle in Bethlehem 29:43 Such fine memories of growing up. 29:46 Yeah, I grew up in Philadelphia 29:48 and I'm looking at all this snow around me 29:50 and as much as I love the snow at Christmas time 29:57 and the idea of icicles and point setters everywhere 30:03 and the beautiful landscapes you see. 30:08 I have to admit there is part of me, 30:11 I think perhaps it's the West Indian part of me. 30:15 My dad is from Jamaica 30:17 that whenever I see the cold outside 30:21 it makes me want to find something in someplace warm. 30:25 Got my tea here. 30:29 I know for everyone, you don't live in a place 30:31 where you get snow at Christmas. 30:34 I remember being in Barbados one year for Christmas 30:37 and it was a unique experience but I have to say 30:41 there is something about for me 30:43 going back to my roots in the Caribbean 30:46 that I just always have to include 30:48 when I think about Christmas. 30:51 And so I would like to sing a song for you now. 30:54 It's a song that I'm sure you know 30:56 but I put my own little twist on it. 30:58 It's sort of my way of adding 31:01 a little bit of warmth to your Christmas season. 31:06 You will recognize when we get to the part 31:09 where it feels like we are back in the Caribbean. 31:12 I hope you enjoy this one. 31:20 O come, O come, Emmanuel 31:29 And ransom captive Israel 31:39 That mourns in lonely exile here 31:46 Until the Son of God appear 31:57 Rejoice! Rejoice! 32:01 Emmanuel 32:06 Shall come to thee 32:09 O Israel 32:16 O Israel 32:21 O come, Emmanuel 32:31 O Come, Desire of nations bind 32:40 Of peoples in one heart and mind 32:50 Bid and be strife and quarrel cease 32:58 Fill the whole world with heaven's peace 33:07 Rejoice! Rejoice! 33:12 Emmanuel 33:17 Shall come to thee 33:20 O Israel 33:30 This is our prayer, Lord. 33:32 Bid and be strife 33:34 And quarrel cease 33:39 Fill the whole world 33:42 With heaven's peace 33:49 Rejoice! Rejoice! 33:54 Emmanuel 33:59 Shall come to thee 34:01 O Israel 34:04 Rejoice! Rejoice! 34:09 Emmanuel 34:13 Shall come to thee 34:17 O Israel 34:18 Rejoice! Rejoice! 34:23 Emmanuel 34:28 Shall come to thee 34:31 O Israel 34:46 O Israel 34:54 O rejoice! O rejoice! 35:01 Emmanuel 35:07 Shall come to thee 35:12 O Israel 35:17 Shall come to thee 35:22 Lord, come to us 35:28 Lord, come to us 35:34 O Emmanuel 35:40 Please come to us 35:42 Dear Lord 35:45 Emmanuel 35:50 Please come to us 35:55 Lord, we need Your spirit 35:59 To wash all of Your people 36:04 Lord, we need You to hear the broken heart 36:11 And set the captives free 36:15 We rejoice! 36:20 Rejoice! 36:23 Emmanuel 36:29 Shall come to thee 36:35 O Israel 36:50 Is that your prayer? 36:55 Let the Lord of heaven, 37:00 the Jesus of the manger would come to you today. 37:14 There's a dichotomy in the manger. 37:21 I confess it's one I have troubled grasping often. 37:32 Because God is so big, 37:38 bigger than we can imagine 37:44 that when you try to take a being 37:50 that is so big that God can be everywhere 37:56 all at the same time. 37:57 That's pretty big. 38:00 He can be here in this studio while we are making this music. 38:07 He could be on the other side of the world in China or Japan 38:12 or in the Pacific or in India or in Africa. 38:18 All at the same time so that when I reach out for God 38:24 and I cry out to Him and I say, Lord, I need You 38:29 that even where You are right now. 38:31 If you are praying that same prayer with me 38:35 that Jesus is near to you where you are as He is to me. 38:42 That's a big God. 38:44 I'm grateful. 38:50 But it still leaves us with this dichotomy 38:52 how can a God that big taken... 39:00 I don't know compress Himself 39:02 or I don't even know the right word... 39:10 so that He can make Himself reachable and touchable. 39:19 I believe He came so that we could touch Him. 39:23 And He wasn't so far away 39:28 but He came closer that we could touch Him. 39:36 O come let us adore Him 39:43 O come let us adore Him 39:53 O come let us adore Him 40:04 Christ the Lord 40:15 O Christ the Lord 40:21 He came so He could save us 40:30 He came so He could save us 40:39 He came so He could save us 40:50 He's Christ the Lord 41:02 For He alone is worthy 41:11 For He alone is worthy 41:21 For He alone is worthy 41:31 He is Christ the Lord 41:36 And He is worthy of all our praises 41:43 He is Christ 41:46 O Jesus Christ 41:50 And He is worthy of our praise 41:53 He is worthy of our worship 41:57 Christ, He is Jesus Christ 42:04 Christ the Lord 42:06 Lord, we worship You today 42:10 Christ the Lord 43:00 When we have these quiet moments... 43:08 we make room in our lives... 43:15 for the God of the universe. 43:24 And in these quiet moments 43:26 I believe we make room amidst all the voices... 43:37 especially at Christmas time we are caught up 43:41 in the gifts and the presents and the decorating 43:44 and family dinners and all wonderful things, 43:55 plus remember to save some room 44:04 in Christmas for Jesus. 44:24 Away in a manger 44:32 No crib for his bed 44:37 The little Lord Jesus 44:44 Laid down His sweet head 44:50 The stars in the bright sky 44:56 Looked down where He lay 45:03 The little Lord Jesus 45:09 Asleep on the hay 45:24 The cattle are lowing 45:30 The baby awakes 45:36 But little Lord Jesus 45:40 No crying He makes 45:46 I love thee, Lord Jesus 45:52 Look down from the sky 45:57 And stay by my cradle 46:02 Till morning is nigh 46:12 Is nigh 46:35 Be near me, Lord Jesus 46:41 I ask thee to stay 46:47 Close by me for ever 46:53 And love me 46:57 I pray 47:00 Bless all the dear children 47:07 In thy tender care 47:15 And fit us for heaven 47:23 To live with You there 48:14 I just cherish those moments. 48:18 I'm so glad I got to share that with you 48:21 those moments where I feel like it's just me and Jesus. 48:25 That's really what this is all about, you know. 48:38 My grandmother was one of my biggest musical influences. 48:43 She was a musician-- she was many things. 48:46 She was a musician. 48:48 She played the organ, she was about this tall, very feisty, 48:51 feisty lady and but she could cook and she could sew 48:56 and she could, she was a Bible worker 48:59 and she led the choir and she played the organ. 49:01 And just you name it and that she wasn't afraid of anything. 49:08 But I remember many, many days growing up in church 49:14 sitting and watching her. 49:16 I remember when I first got a chance to sit on that organ 49:19 I just was so amazed to watch her 49:22 especially because she was small of stature. 49:24 She had such command of that instrument and I said, 49:27 "I want to do that one day." 49:29 And she would show me little things here and there 49:31 and one of my favorite memories was every week 49:35 at midweek prayer service at our church 49:39 I would meet her there and she would always have 49:43 a payday candy bar for me. 49:44 I don't know if you know what a payday candy bar is 49:47 but its-- I don't even remember what it taste like. 49:50 I just remember that every week 49:53 my grandmother would have a payday candy bar for me. 49:55 And me shame to say it was 49:59 one of my motivations at that time 50:00 for wanting to come to midweek prayer service. 50:05 But I think somehow she knew 50:07 that any motivation at that stage was good. 50:12 She just wanted me to be there and I go to enjoy it 50:16 and to love it for myself and now I go 50:19 not because I'm getting a payday candy bar 50:23 but because I know I'm able to meet Jesus there. 50:27 So I want to share a song 50:29 that just honors the memory of my grandmother 50:32 and not just the musical 50:35 but the spiritual impact that she had on my life. 50:39 And I like to share this song with you 50:41 it's called "Only On Christmas Day." 50:59 There in the kitchen front of the stove 51:05 Grandma is cooking 51:08 She's got food on the clothes 51:11 I smell turkey in dressing 51:14 A favorite apple pie 51:17 And she sees at the moment 51:20 With a tear in her eye 51:23 And I feel her emotion 51:26 Because the meaning of Christmas 51:32 Shows what she was 51:35 Only on Christmas day 51:41 She found a star to show her the way 51:46 To the cross and the price that He paid 51:52 To give her this hope on this Christmas day 51:59 Then for the first time it all became clear 52:05 There was much more to this day 52:08 Than just snow and reindeer 52:11 More than the sleigh bells the carols and gifts 52:17 Because He took our sorrows for much more than this 52:23 And to mark the beginning of my new life 52:27 Yes, it did I live for ever 52:32 Because He lead to die 52:35 Only on Christmas day 52:41 I found a star to show me the way 52:46 To the cross and the price that He paid 52:52 To give me this hope on this Christmas day 52:59 Like, you can take off a presents 53:02 That are beneath the tree 53:05 Just give me Jesus for eternity 53:19 Oh, thank You, Lord 53:26 Oh, thank You, Lord 53:33 Only on Christmas day 53:40 I found a star to show me the way 53:46 To the cross and the price that He paid 53:53 To give me this hope on this Christmas day 54:05 I found a star to show me the way 54:17 To give me this hope 54:29 I found a star to show me the way 54:34 To the cross and the price, price that He paid 54:42 To give me this hope 54:48 To give you this hope 54:51 Oh, yes, He did 54:55 To give us this hope 55:02 On this Christmas day 55:22 Thank you so much for spending this time with me. 55:25 God bless you. |
Revised 2024-12-16