Fervent Records' GRAMMY-nominated artist and multiple Dove Award-winner
Francesca Battistelli recently released her first solo Christmas album,
Christmas, on Oct. 16, which includes classics and newly-penned tunes. She also has songs showcased on two additional holiday albums that also released the same day: Word Record's
A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth and A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary benefitting the Special Olympics. Those albums are available on iTunes and retail outlets everywhere.
I had the great opportunity to interview Francesca about her original Christmas song "Heaven Everywhere." This is my eighth "behind the song" devotional interview with her, making Francesca my most featured female artist in my series over the past five years.
Regarding "Heaven Everywhere" what's the main message of the song?
This was one of the first songs we wrote for the album. I went to Ben Glover, who co-wrote "You're Here" with me, and I mentioned that there was something about how at Christmastime, everyone seems a little bit happier, gives a little more grace, and is a little more understanding of each other. It's wonderful, but why can't that last all year long? We started exploring that idea and came up with a really powerful song challenging us to love each other more and love each other better all year long.
Do you have any Bible verses you used to write the song?
Over the past couple of years, my husband and I have been memorizing the Book of James.
James 5:7-9 fits the message of this song: "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!"
What is the takeaway message about the song and the album?
I definitely wanted the album to be joyful and fun, and sometimes Christmas albums can all sound the same. I wanted the songs to be fun, and I also wanted to share some of my favorite songs and some original songs.
"O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "What Child Is This" are two of my favorite traditional Christmas songs. I really see now why artists make more than one Christmas album. The new songs really fit and match the rest of the songs. I hope my album is one that people want to listen to year after year. I really loved the Christmas albums by Mariah Carey, Chicago, Jewel and Amy Grant when I was growing up.
My parents had this six disc CD player carousel and I would put my favorite six albums in there after Thanksgiving and listen to them until Christmas. There's something special about that, and I have such great memories about listening to Christmas music so I hope people enjoy my album as well.
Lyrics:
I hear the bells, they're ringing loud and clear
You can't help but love this time of year
It's Christmastime, there's something in the air
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
Somehow there's a little more of love
And maybe there's a little less of us
Or maybe we're just slightly more aware
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
It's the smile on a man who has finally found hope
It's the tears of a mother whose child has come home
It's the joy that we feel and the love that we share
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
It's funny how it takes a holiday
To show us how the world could truly change
If we all took the time to really care
There'd be a little more of heaven everywhere
It's the grace that we show to a world that needs hope
It's giving our lives knowing they're not our own
It's the joy that we feel and the love that we share
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's the joy that we feel and the love that we share
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plain
Asbury's Bible commentary: "In this passage the focus is upon the community of faith. Most striking is the fivefold mention of the Lord in the opening paragraph. Up to this point in the epistle the Lord has been named only three times. In a sense, James presents here a description of a living church: the Lord in the midst of Christian brothers. That is the very heart of the church. James may be suggesting that, although Jesus is not visibly present, His imminent presence was a reality in their midst. Jesus said, "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." They must practice the presence of the Lord, as they anticipate His visible presence. If they do, they must know that He is present both to encourage and to judge, for the Judge is standing at the door! The perfect tense indicates that the arrival of the Kingdom is an imminent reality. Assuredly the Lord is working in the community out of compassion as they cultivate uncommon patience."
The distinctive attitude of the Christian community is patience. Christians who know the presence of the Lord in varied circumstances may also know blessedness. Job is an example, and his patience involved the exercise of endurance.
This song, "Heaven Everywhere," has a great devotional message. Is there something special that you do at Christmastime that you could do throughout the year? Are you showing unconditional love to someone at Christmas that you could show another time of the year?
As the song's lyrics declare: "It's funny how it takes a holiday, To show us how the world could truly change, If we all took the time to really care, There'd be a little more of heaven everywhere." Amen to that!
(You can listen to this song
here.)
