{Hallelujah! Hallelujah!}

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It's a tradition to stand during Handel's Messiah. My throat constricts and my eyes blur whenever I come to my feet and huskily whisper, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I can't quite shout it out like those strong sopranos. I'm too emotional. Perhaps I should bow instead?

Dear friends, may this weekend be to you full of the awareness of this God Who is exactly all that we need. He is our Counselor, our God, our Father and the only One who can offer true peace. He is mighty, eternal and wonderful. And He came. For us. For me, for you.

This Babe whom we celebrate is all of this. He is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. Together we proclaim, "Hallelujah!" Yet we simply cannot stand for the weight of it. And so we bow.