This is my new desktop wallpaper, an illustration by Chris Koelle. Koelle and team just finished a full length-animated film based on a poem by preacher John Piper. I backed the project on Kickstarter and will be receiving the DVD soon. Viewing party anyone? Watch the trailer.

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Wow. You will want to hear/download this album. For fans of Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes. Which is basically everybody. Did I mention free?

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

Imagine seeing six billion people do the ‘wave’ in perfect unison, celebrating the arrival of their King.
“There he is—he comes!” the children shout.
Today the King will come to my house and dine with me—isn’t it amazing? I shall prepare a grand feast for him!

Clap your hands! We have a perfectly righteous and loving King.
He sacrificed everything to save us, so I gladly give him my allegiance.
Happy songs rise from each corner of the land, and from every creature in heaven and on earth.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

End the downward spiral of rebellion and grief.
Reverse the corruption of earth, air and sea.
The King cleanses the world and its creatures of a stubborn poison.
The antidote is his own blood.

He governs the world with perfect justice and mercy.
There is nothing better than being under his loving rule.
This is a glorious wonder, and we treasure this mystery in our hearts.

More Christmas classic translations:

• O Holy Night
• O Come O Come Emmanuel
• Joy to the World

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Come to us, o God. Come rescue us!
We your people are stuck. This deadly sand will soon swallow us whole.
We are far from home, desperate and alone
Until your Son, the promised one appears.

My friends, lift up your heads! Lift up your eyes!
God has come. He fulfills His promise to save us.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Our rescuer is here.
He brings a marvelous light that pushes away all darkness.
He says with authority, “Do not fear death, I have come to destroy it!”

The whole world longs for you, o God.
By loving you above all else, humans will be united and we shall experience true peace.
You will be our just and loving King.

More Christmas classic translations:

• O Holy Night
• O Come O Come Emmanuel
• Joy to the World