Darkness & dawn

"In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them

to your holy dwelling." (Ex. 15:13 NIV)

Yesterday I had a strong sense of "It's always darkest before the dawn." Every so often I wrestle with a strong sense of discouragement and/or fears. This past weekend I had a strong spell of that. You could say that is because the devil wants to keep me from doing what God wants. Maybe. Maybe it's my sinful nature. I don't know. But when I got up the next day and the spiritual "fog" had lifted I felt much better.

I have parents and friends who go to chiropractors in order to get their necks or spines adjusted so they don't have pain. I was thinking the other night that when my internal world-my spirit-gets all out of whack, I need a spiritual chiropractor to snap me back into alignment with God. Thankfully, our God is a god of redeeming the hard stuff and using it for his purpose.

The group Selah has a song out that speaks, in part, to this: "UNREDEEMED." Thank goodness God works in places where grace is soon to be so amazing...

The cruelest world
The coldest heart
The deepest wound
The endless dark
The lonely ache
The burning tears
The bitter nights
The wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every lie that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled
It may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see
It will not be
Just watch and see
It will not be unredeemed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhOSspNj84w

But God will redeem my life from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself. (Ps.49:15 NIV)

Thank you, God for redeeming our lives when we feel we are in the pit. Thank you for taking the unfulfilled, unrestored places and creating beauty out of ashes. Help us see your miracles, your work, your redemption. Take us to yourself we pray. Amen.

Then pealed the bells

Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. (Luke 2 - MSG)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

God, this time of year is full of traditions, memories, and special events. Even as we remember and reflect and renew our earthly relationships, help us remember the "old familiar" story of your birth is the center of it all.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Thank you for the men and women who have passed down the Christian faith through the years. Thank you for the martyrs, the persecuted church, those that are ridiculed and scored for their faith - both in the past and in the present. Thank you for the witness of all your people through times and places for the Good News of Jesus Christ. Help us to take this faith and live it out in the here and now and pass it on to future generations.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

God, for the many places in the world that are still under the thumb of the evil one we pray for deliverance. For those bound in slavery, for those oppressed by governments, for those whose existence is tied to evil - we pray for release for the captives, restoration of sight to the spiritually blind, and the reclamation of the Good News in lives and hearts currently crowded by the many faces of evil. We pray for peace to come into these situations and into every life yearning to know your peace.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for being living, wonder-working, and the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank you for showing your power in our world and faithfully keeping your promises. Thank you for your protection, your provision, your revealed holiness.

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!*

Come, Lord Jesus, come. We need you to finish the work you have begun, turning this fallen, dark world back to goodness and life and abundant life. Use us for the work we can do until there is peace on earth and good will to all.

Amen.

(*by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Finding the Light

Stir up your power, come to save us, O Lord of hosts, restore us; let your face shine upon us that we may be saved.  (Ps. 80:3, 4)

Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You (by Tim Hughes; 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing))

Our pastor told a story in church about a man who was going cave exploring.  He took everything he'd need - extra batteries, extra food, extra water, rope to follow back out - with him deep into the cave.  When he got there he put everything down and started to walk around.  Just then his lantern which he had left with his gear went out.

He wandered around in the utter darkness knowing all his supplies, the things that would keep him alive, were very close.  But, quickly disoriented, he could not find them.

I was thinking of the hopelessness of that dark situation.  And I was reminded that he had everything he needed - a lamp, extra fuel, food, water - but he couldn't reach it.   Much the same way people living in spiritual darkness don't realize that everything they need is within their reach.  Our call as Christians is to be a light to help them find the spiritual Light of Jesus Christ.  

Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth        ("Silent Night" by Gruber/Mohr)

God who from the beginning was Light, shine on us and shine through us.

Lord let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
Lord let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us  ("Shine On Us" by Michael W. and Deborah D. Smith; 1996 Sony/ATV Milene Music Deer Valley Music)

Stir up your power, come to save us, O Lord of hosts, restore us; let your face shine upon us that we may be saved.  (Ps. 80:3, 4)

Amen