At first when I read the title of the song I wasn't sure if I have herd it, but then read on and the tune came back. It's the one where you could run out of breath singing the line Gloria forever lol. Ding Dong, Merrily On High everywhere I looked up even on wiki, said it was thought to be French dating back to the 16 century, but origionally written in Latin and was called "Gloria, in Excelsis Deo"

1 Kings 19 is used in today's advent song, talking about Elijah listening to God's call. This chapter is simply talking about hearing God's call when you read it over afew times. God had asked Elijah to stand for and with Him against the people that chose to rebel against God. That applies in different ways in today's society where Christians are making a stand and listening to God's call what God wants us to do. We got to make sure for the right reasons and things.

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.   

 Ding Dong! Merrily On High

Ding dong! Merrily on high

In heav’n the bells are ringing:

Ding dong! Verily the sky

Is riv’n with Angel singing.

We seem to have so many bells and chimes and rings in our lives. Whether the microwave is letting us know that the “homemade” chicken nuggets are ready, or our car is beeping to tell us that our seatbelt is unbuckled, or that super annoying “Aaaeee! Aaaeee! Aaaeee!” coming from our alarm clock is piercing through the dark bedroom to jolt us from our slumber; our lives are surrounded by noises and alarms. These alarms can mean so many different things.

From this classic, beautiful Christmas carol we are drawn a picture of the celebrating chimes from heaven. It’s almost as if the author of this song is describing the way we might hear a call from heaven. In several different passages, scripture describes how someone heard from God. In some instances it was a booming sound like thunder and in others a still, small voice.

Have you ever heard that gentle whisper calling you like Elijah heard in 1 Kings 19:12? God can call us in many different ways. But what he calls each of us to is unique. He may be calling you to minister to a friend going through a tough holiday season. He may be calling you to a new profession. God can use medical doctors to serve those who cannot afford treatment, contractors to build a school in a poverty stricken country, or a lawn care worker to cut the grass of an elderly widow in the neighborhood. Whatever your talent might be, God can use it to bless others. The important thing is for you to listen to His voice, just like the beautiful chimes from heaven. He is calling you to be a light in someone’s life this Christmas.

So, go ahead and hit that snooze on your alarm clock, but answer the call of the Father on your life.

Questions:

How have you heard from God in the past?

What is God calling you to do for someone else this Christmas season?

My Answers:

I know God has called me to do several things such as helping out/doing youth group/ministry as God sees I have a heart for youth and a gift of helping, leadership, encouragement, kindness and maybe afew more. I know He's called me give money when needed to help a cause and or people. God called me for different things to do in youth group for telling a devotion, there's been times I had changed my devo because God wanted me to say something else than what I had writtten up. God also placed writting this blog near the end of summer. There's many things that God has called and will call me to do, even if it's through prayer. God can place people in your mind to pray for as well.

I'm not sure yet what God wants me to do for someone else this Christmas season, I've been asked to pray from a friend about somethings in thier life, but when God dose have something, He'll let me know if I keep my heart, ears, eyes open.