"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

I think our dear brother Yi Le doesn't have to dream of one. Huge blizzards happening up north where he is.

The Western conception of Christmas often conjures up the image of snow and long nights. Yes, winter can get really cold and dreary.


But the whiteness of such an image overwhelms me. Snow falls and blankets the entire earth, whitewashing the dirt everywhere. As I hummed "White Christmas", my brain had a chain reaction that produced an unexpected search result - a hymn, Whiter Than Snow.
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Whiter Than Snow
by James L.Nicholson (1872)

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract ev’ry stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice.
I give up myself, and whatever I know,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst “No,”
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.
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His blood flows and covers me, washes me and I am whiter than snow!

Awake, my soul! Dream no more!