The Fascinating Story of a Little-Known Christmas Song

The year was 1623; a cold snowstorm from the Northeast was blowing into a small German town. Among those caught out in this storm was a Lutheran priest named Weissel. He, among others, sought shelter in a nearby church. The church sexton, a man who looked after the church and churchyard, opened the door, bowed deeply and welcomed the shivering crowd into the church, saying, “Welcome to the House of God! Here everyone is equally welcome, whether aristocrat or laborer. Shall we not go out into the streets and to the gates and receive all who want to come in? The door of the King of Kings is open to everyone.” 

After giving the sexton a pat on the shoulder, Weissel remarked, “He just delivered an outstanding sermon!” As Weissel then waited for the worst of the storm to pass and pondered the sexton’s words, he formed these phrases in his mind, “Lift high the door, Open wide the gates”, based on Psalm 24. Once home, he composed a song of five verses, using those phrases as the opening lines. A straight translation from the German to the English of the first verse would render it like this:

Lift high the door, Open wide the gates;

The Lord of glory is coming.

A King of all kingdoms, a Savior for the whole world,

Who brings Healing and Life with Him.

So rejoice, sing with joy;

Praise be to God, my Creator, rich in counsel.

Yet the story does not end here. Living in this town was also a businessman by the name of Sturgis. A field bordered his house on which was an important pathway used by those living in a nearby home for the poor and feeble. For those people, this path was the direct route into the city and, more importantly, the church. Much to the dismay of these people, Sturgis fenced in that field and locked the gate, so that the path was no longer accessible. Now those living in the poorhouse would have to walk the much greater distance around Sturgis’ property, making the trip more difficult and, for some, impossible. 

The city leaders and numerous citizens begged Sturgis to open the gate and let the people use his path to the church, but he cold-heartedly and repeatedly refused. On the fourth Advent Sunday of this same year, Pastor Weissel, the administrator of the poorhouse, and the poor and feeble stood outside Sturgis’ home as Christmas carolers. First, Weissel delivered a brief message. He spoke earnestly of the many people in the world who, full of pride, close the door of their hearts to the King of Kings. Then he said, “And today, dear Mr. Sturgis, the King of Kings is standing in front of your locked gate. I beg you, open not only this gate that can be seen, but open also the gate of your heart and humbly welcome Him in.” At this moment, the choir started singing Weissel’s song “Lift high the door, Open wide the gates.” Sturgis stood completely still until the very end of the song, when he reached into his pocket, lifted out a key, and unlocked the gate. After that pivotal moment, so the story goes, the gate was never locked again.

This song is one of the most sung Christmas carols in Germany still today. Although it has been translated into the English language under the title “Lift up your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”, it is not well known here in the States. However, may we remember the message this Christmas season.  Is the door of my heart open for the King of Kings to enter in? Is yours? And are we inviting others who are battling the storms in this life to “come in” out of the cold and into the warmth of a life-giving relationship with Christ? Are we encouraging the proud to humble themselves and open the door of their hearts to the Savior of the world? May we be faithful to this task.

(Source: http://steyler.eu/svd/seelsorge/glaubensleben/Macht-hoch-die-Tu-r.pdf)

-- Amy O’Rear

IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US

            There are three little blond curly heads in our church—Gideon, Peter, and Silas. There is no question that they are brothers—they look very much alike.  And there is no question what family they come from!  Grandma Joy has the same curly blond hair.  They are definitely from the Dilts family.

            I have five children, three boys and two girls.  I like to try to analyze their characteristics and figure out how that came down the family line.  The girls look alike in several ways (maybe from me?).  People often comment on their smiles  (surely from me!).  Stephen got his love of music from me and his grandmother.  Andrew has his great-grandfather’s large hands.  John got his ability to troubleshoot and problem solve from his father.  I have two grandchildren.  Though Mikaela is adopted, I find myself saying, “Oh, she looks just like . . . .”

            I love singing in the cantata each year.  Even the practices are a time of worship for me.  This year I heard Beth sing Mary’s song, and one line jumped out to me in bold.   “Can you see the Father in the Son?”  I have been pondering this line since we began rehearsing.  I can look at my children and where they got their characteristics. . . but when I think of Jesus. . . .Yes, I can see the Father in the Son because Jesus is God Incarnate.  Jesus is God.

            John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Verse 14 says, “And the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

            John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one.”  Now we’re getting into the topic of the Trinity and I tell you I cannot explain it.  I have never heard an explanation of the Trinity that satisfied me.  But I don’t have to understand.  My understanding does not change the truth of the statements about the Trinity.  But I believe it and accept it because I believe God’s Word.  So Jesus and the Father are one.

            One of the verses quoted often during the Christmas season is Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest upon His shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  This child would be the Mighty God. 

            Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”  Immanuel—God with us.  That babe in the manger was God.  We know that.  We even sing about it.  But is it amazing, awe-inspiring, too wonderful for words to us?

            “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.

              Hail the incarnate Deity.

              Pleased as man with men to dwell,

              Jesus, our Immanuel.” 

(Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

           

“God with man is now residing,

  Jesus, our Immanuel.”

            (Angels from the Realms of Glory)

“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”

            (O Come, All Ye Faithful)

            O God!  O Immanuel, God with us!  God Himself came to dwell with us.  Can you see the Father in the Son? 

IMMANUEL!  GOD WITH US!

~~Faith Himes Lamb

Sin Nature--It's so Adorable

Our baby grandson loves to come to our house. He comes in smiling, we hug him and love him as he smiles at us, we put him on the floor and he smiles as he races on all fours to his favorite toys – the electric cords, the fire extinguisher, and the toilet. Of course, he wants to put his mouth on them, and, especially the electric cords, bite them with his two teeth. He already knows we do not want him to play with those things. We give him colorful, fun things that make noise and roll around and are fun to bite. But, no, he insists on going for those things we don’t want him to have.

People say the sin nature shows up early. But he’s so cute! We can’t be mad at him. And he’s so young! It can’t be too bad (yet).

Unfortunately, we may continue to have such a casual attitude toward our own sins, as adults. But it’s so ____________ (fun, harmless, fashionable – fill in the blank). And we’re so _____________ (innocent, not as bad as others, in special circumstances – fill in the blank).

How do our favorite sins, or even the ones that bother us but we keep them, fit in with the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience”? II Cor. 10:5,6.

Every thought? Thoughts can’t be that bad. But God’s Word says, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Luke 6:45

Every disobedience? Ouch.

My husband was once talking to a co-worker who told him, “Yes, I know it’s a sin, but I’m not going to give it up.” At least she was honest. But we don’t want to be that honest. We want to excuse ourselves, as we excuse our baby. (Our excusing does not necessarily apply to other people, unless they are harboring the same sins we enjoy.)

Let’s be honest – for our eternal good. God says, of sin, “for the end of those things is death.” Romans 6:21 That’s not adorable. It’s not fun. And it’s not for our good. It’s like biting the electric cords, just because it’s fun.

We try to protect our little children from the serious consequences of poor choices. So does God. He tells us what to avoid and He gives us all good things. Don’t be a baby.

--Lynda Shenefield

We Stand Forgiven

This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross. 

(WORDS AND MUSIC BY KEITH GETTY AND STUART TOWNEND COPYRIGHT © 2005 )

Not too long ago, we sang this song on a Sunday morning, and in memory I returned to childhood when my mother caught me in a lie. I recall that I hid in my playhouse hoping she wouldn't know where I was, but she sought me out and discussed the importance of telling the truth. My mother was gentle, trying to understand why I told the lie, but I recall the "awesome weight of sin" that this song refers to. I felt terrible, wishing I could take back the hurtful words but knowing I couldn't.

Though that childish transgression seems insignificant all these years later, it stands as a time when I knew I was a sinner and understood my need for forgiveness. There are other incidents too painful to recall or mention, but maybe you know what I'm talking about. Maybe you have some weighty memories of your own.

I am so grateful that God forgives, that Jesus was willing to take the blame and bear the wrath so I could "stand forgiven." But I'm not the only one who needs forgiveness. Jesus bore the weight of the whole world's sin. When we consider some of the awful things we've heard, this truth seems too much to imagine.

But let's bring the truth home and determine to be kinder and gentler with those who need the mercy and love of God. As we revel in our own good standing with God, we should pray for others who haven't found it yet--others including the tiresome and the trying, the profane and the cruel. These are people who carry a terrible burden that Jesus longs to lift from their shoulders.

This Christmas season, remember the cross that Jesus came to. Don't let his sacrifice go unappreciated.

 --Sherry Poff

A Year of Lessons

November always gets me thinking about gratefulness and nostalgia over the past year. Sometimes those feelings get stronger over the next month heading into January where we flip the final page on the chapter of a year and move on into the next...but, those stirrings are hitting me pretty hard already at the end of November this year. 

In recent years I have chosen a "word of the year" to kind of set the stage for the upcoming trip around the sun. It was "Inspire" when I felt I had been keeping my head down to the ground and not looking up for inspiration from what God was doing around me.  It was "Intentional" when I learned I shouldn't just go through life reacting to whatever came my way, but to be purposeful in setting goals and making my days filled with proactive rather than reactive words and deeds. 

I didn't choose a word of the year for this year because in December 2016 I was struggling through a bit of depression barely functioning through the holidays I usually enjoy with all the enthusiasm of Buddy the Elf, but I felt more like Scrooge. I had literally worked myself into a frenzy. Concerts, rehearsals, events, school responsibilities, meetings, day after day after day.  In the middle of that , I was headed into the second trimester with my pregnancy and we had a scary midnight trip to the emergency room when I thought we were losing our baby.  I had gone more than two months without taking time to read a book, get coffee with friends, go on a date night with my husband, and a much less than adequate time reading my Bible or praying.  January came with compulsion to do something to change this path. I didn't want to start 2017 the way I ended 2016. 

So, even though I didn't choose a word in December/January to describe this year, as I look back on it, I think my word of 2017 would be Selah. It's the year she arrived.  It's the year God taught me about taking a Sabbath margin in my life. It's the year He taught me about seeking and creating community. It's the year God taught me about how to live entrusted with the gospel, His gifting and calling. It's the year He taught me about making my work purpose-filled for the gospel.  God taught me to breathe this year and that in the sound of my breath I could glorify him in my work, my sabbath and my Selah.

I don't know what word He will have for me in 2018, but as I look back on 2017, I want to praise Him for all He has taught me and brought me through this year. I would like to think at thirty-two, married with two kids, and as a tenured choral director I would have this whole "adulting" thing down. But, what I'm finding out is there is always another lesson to learn in the next chapter. 

--Gabrielle Haston

Reeds and Flax

 FIRST OF ALL...Happy birthday to my dear Brant! Anyone who knows him has heard these words: “Don’t forget November 19^th is my birthday.”J

Now let’s get to the thought for the day....

ISAIAH 42:3 - “A bruised reed will He not break, and the smoking (dimly burning) flax will He not quench (snuff out).”

We recently heard a pastor quote this scripture from Isaiah 42:3. It was not the main focus of his message but he made the comment that “reeds are used to make music.” That interesting verse has caught my attention and I have been meditating on it a bit.

First of all, Webster’s definitions:

               Reed: A tall, slender grass. It can be used for thatching, basket work, musical instruments,  a loom part, an arrow, or an ancient Hebrew measuring unit.

 Flax: A slender, erect plant with delicate blue flowers. Its seeds can be used to make linseed oil or can be eaten; its fiber is spun into linen thread.

People can be “a bruised reeds” or "dimly burning flax.” But they can be whole again...they can be useful again for the Lord. They can “make music” and “burn brightly” again.

Brant and I go to the Chattanooga Rescue Mission every few weeks where I give the devotion for the ladies who come in for the night. Their favorite song to sing???  It is, week after week, “Victory In Jesus.” That tells us somewhere in their past lives these women have possibly been like “flax with delicate blue flowers” or “a reed to make a beautiful basket or music.” They have made wrong choices that have taken their lives in very bad directions. BUT some of the ladies have chosen to listen to wise counsel and, even though they are “bruised and dimly shining,” their lives have become profitable again.

We remind them of that wonderful promise in Psalm 103:10...”He does not treat us as our sins deserve...” God’s mercy is always there.

If you have not found the shop on the Northshore called “Renew All Things,” look it up or check out their website. It is located off the lower shopping area below Frazier Avenue. This is a local ministry rescuing women who were “bruised reeds and dimly burning flax.” They are now making lovely gifts to sell and telling their stories of how God has rescued them right here off the streets of Chattanooga through others who have given for this ministry.

As the holiday season comes, perhaps you will be with a family member or friend who needs to be reminded that a “bruised reed” is NOT a “broken reed” and can make music again. A “dimly burning flax” has NOT been “snuffed out.” Be “a Job” as in Job 4:4 - “Your words have supported those who have stumbled...” God’s love will be the best encouragement you can give along with hugs.

--Maylou Holladay 

Prepared

When I drive to the children’s home where I work, I feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of serving abused and neglected children. Their problems and their families’ problems seem insurmountable. I pray for strength, wisdom, and insight. The job is bigger than I am, and the enemy relentlessly attacks me with doubt and insecurity.

But then, God reminds me of Moses (and others). God called Moses to influence Pharoah to do something he did not want to do and to convince over a million people to follow him into the unknown. Potential danger filled this assignment, and he would be rewarded with humiliation if he failed.

Poor Moses was scared! He made excuses and asked God to choose someone else. This made God mad for He had invested a lot into Moses’ preparation. God had arranged for Moses to be reared in Pharoah’s palace where he would be educated and learn Egyptian customs. He may have learned administration skills while there too. Yet, his formative years remained secure with his own parents. He knew who he was. Then, God took him into the desert for forty years to learn about shepherding dumb sheep (this no doubt would be invaluable – haha!).

Moses did not realize how God had prepared him or maybe he would have been more confident – or not. The job remained big and scary! But God promised to go with him and empower him. He sent someone with skin on – Aaron – so he would not go alone. God does the same for us. If He has called us, He will prepare and empower us. We must lean into Him and not become too dependent on ourselves. He’s the One with the wisdom and strength and knowledge. After all, He IS the great I AM!

We Love our Little Treasures

           I would like to share with you a sweet story by an unknown author that presents a powerful truth. I will summarize the first part. A little girl named Jenny finds delight in some dime store pearls. She works extra hard to earn the money to buy them…

How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere--to kindergarten, to bed, and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower; her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green! Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said. "Well, then, give me your pearls." "Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?" "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one." A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you." "Well, then, give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father. "No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams." Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. "Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. Are you holding onto things which the Lord wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes, it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.... The Lord will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.            Amen! How true it is that God will always give us something better because His gifts are eternal and fulfilling, whereas our worldly treasures are momentary and only briefly satisfying. I do want to be careful with that statement and make sure we don’t take it to a prosperity gospel extent, like if I give up my Honda, God is going to give me a Ferrari!

 But most of us, if we stop to evaluate honestly, have these cheap, worldly treasures that we cling to for comfort. We might call them coping mechanisms, hobbies, passions, comfort food, shopping therapy, achieving success, or…idols (ouch!). Idols do not have to be naturally bad things, but can simply be good things that we use in an unhealthy way. Here are a few measures I use to identify idols: anything that you turn to before God or more than God, something that is difficult to go a whole day without, a way that of trying to control life, or anything consumes your thoughts frequently. 

Various idols do look different. For instance, food is a delightful gift God has given us to enjoy, but when our day revolves around what we can eat next that will bring us joy/pleasure/comfort, it sounds like an idol. You shouldn’t go a day without eating, but need to deal with being consumed by it constantly. Then again, with eating disorders/control, it can be just as consuming to constantly think about not eating or how to eat as little as possible.

God has revealed to me ways that I have been coping that have recently become unhealthy and (ooh, I hate to say this) idolatrous. I know that I have throughout my life enjoyed comfort food, escaping to books or TV, and occasional retail therapy. In a small measure, sometimes these things can be useful (though not always most productive) to brighten a tough day or set my heart on a lighter note. But since the miscarriages, it slowly has gotten worse until I finally realized that I am leaning on these methods of comfort or pleasure as a way of coping INSTEAD of turning to God. It is embarrassing (which is just pride), and it is heart-breaking to know that I have substituted the truth and everlasting comfort of God for such paltry things. It is also frustrating that my flesh fights to live the way I want to live and keep my petty joys when God is waiting (lovingly and patiently) for me to trade in these things that do not really satisfy for His abundant, eternal gifts. I am taking the Walking Worthy class, and it is one major way the Lord and I are dealing with these issues.

My dear sister, what consumes you? What beautiful but temporary thing of this world brings you comfort, joy, or peace for a moment, but then you have to turn to it again or to something else to try to continue that comfort? What do you turn to instead of God? How do you ‘cope’ when life is tough? What is the thing that if you don’t get to do it every day or a certain number of times a week, that it really frustrates you? The truth is that most of us have some idols, even if they are fairly well contained. Perhaps you are going through a great spiritual time right now and this is not a great issue – Fantastic! But keep checking your heart because idols creep in all too easily. And perhaps you can be a resource of compassion, strength, and help to a sister who is currently struggling.

For those of us convicted that we hold some things in this world a little too closely, let us turn to God and offer these unfulfilling things back to Him. Let us meditate on the truth of His word – find Scripture that speaks to your situation or to the general heart condition beneath your coping. Find safe people who love and accept you to talk to, confess your struggles, and get some encouragement, accountability, and potentially ideas of how to deal with it. Let us keep seeking God regarding these issues until we can truly let them go and take instead His lasting, fulfilling treasure. In doing this, we will honor the Lord by seeking Him first, and we will simultaneously enjoy more of the freedom and abundant life that He bought for us at such a great price!

“It is for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

--Judith Graham