The Wexford Carol

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born
The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town
But mark right well what came to pass
From every door repelled, alas
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox's stall
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angel did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Arise and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born
With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger he was laid
And by his side a virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife
There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet


My testimony is best borne through song. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Only Begotten Son of God. His birth was prophesied from the beginning, that all men might look to Him for redemption from death and sin. The miraculous birth of Jesus pales in comparison to the miracle of His Atonement. He is the Alpha and Omega and the author of our salvation.

Carl Bloch Exhibit

I had the chance to visit BYU's Carl Bloch Exhibit last week. It was stunning and wonderful to see the paintings I'm so familiar with. Here is one of my favorite of his images: 

I love Christmas, and I love the way light works in this picture. The darkness outside that permeates everything speaks to me and how the world would be without Christ. Most of all, I love the way the light radiates from the infant Christ. I love that while Mary is distinctly in the light, it is certainly Christ that is the source. I love the way the humble shepherds ignore all except for the face of the newborn Lord.