I admire songwriters, the people who can take emotions and thoughts and put them to rhyme and a tune, making it powerful.  I must confess, that has never been me.  I’ve only tried to write a song a couple times in my life. 

One time was when I was a young teenager (thirteen to fifteen, maybe?) and was going to public school.  I came up with a song called “People Are Watching You.”  It wasn’t an award-winning tune or lyrics, but my church family loved it.  If I ever came to church without a special, someone would call out, “Just sing the song you wrote.”

Since I don’t have much song-writing talent, it’s a good thing I didn’t write a lot. Heehee

Then there was another song.  Somewhere as an older teenager or young adult, it started to bother me that at Christmas time, we only called for the “faithful.”  The song says “Oh come all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant.” 

I thought, “That’s great, but what if you aren’t any of those things?  Didn’t Jesus come for the broken?” 

As I read the 35^th chapter in Isaiah, the words to “Oh Come All Ye Faithless” came to me.  Unfortunately, the original words from that Christmas years ago have been lost, but I have tried to piece together what I could.

I’ve gone on to understand and love the original words of “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful,” but just for today may I share my joy in thinking of this song another way?

So, if you’ve been having a blissful “Silent Night” then you may not understand.  But if your emotions feel messy, if you feel weak, if you feel broken…this song’s for you!

Oh come all ye faithless

Come with heavy burdens

Come ye who feel no strength to make it on your own

Hiding in Him

This baby in a manger

His grace He freely gave us

The power to change and save us

Oh come give Him your life, your heart, your all

Oh come all ye failures

Full of agitation

Oh come bring your fears and doubt, your parched soul athirst

Waters shall burst forth

Springs in the dry desert

His songs and joy He’ll give you

His presence, heal and cheer you

Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

Oh come all ye wounded, confused, and broken hearted

Come ye with no sight and ye cripples, come

He’ll strengthen the weak hands

Give you faith for victory

He’ll guide you through the dry land

A highway there to walk in

Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

Isaiah 35

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:  behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing:  for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water:  in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there;

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Praise the Lord!  What promises!  Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the LORD!