In the dark night

I sit here in the silence and just savor these quiet moments.

For some reason this year the weeks leading to this Christmas week were way too rushed, way too full, and not nearly as focused on Advent as I'd wish. The Advent tree in the dining room has had its ornaments added as afterthoughts every few days, rather than diligently each evening with Bible reading. I'm feeling a bit sad that this year I am not truly as focused on Christ and the advent of his birth as I have been in the past.

So, although being awake at 2 in the morning is not my most favorite thing it is giving me time to reflect on this amazing event that took place over 2000 years ago, and was foretold for thousands of years before that.

14"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." Isaiah 7:14

A virgin shall be with child. Where else is this possible but with God himself? And a son named Immanuel...

from Hebrew `immānū'el, literally: God with us

Imagine, so many centuries before his birth, God told us through His word, that He, through His son would come to live with us. At a time of year when so many are acutely aware of the failings in their family, of the ache they'll hold next to their heart for some reason, of the sadness they'll experience as they mourn someone not with them God himself tells us that He will come to live with us, and his very name as God the Son, will mean "God with us." What an amazing promise. What joy and hope that should give to us. Rather than sitting and pondering the perfect menu, fretting over missing lights (my bad!), or going deep into debt for that perfect gift, God instead wants us to prepare for the coming of His son, our savior.

Although it's been late in coming to my heart this year I am so thankful that God has given me this quiet moment to savor the beauty of this season.

If you'd like to enjoy some music that will help you to focus, please click on the link below and enjoy our Christmas sing along... you'll have to click each link (there are 21), but it's worth it. For "Redemptive History" go right to link 6... I pray this will bless you and will speak to your heart!


Prelude-Good Shepherd Band Christmas Sing-A-Long 2010 from Church of the Good Shepherd on Vimeo.

Please note... this link just takes you to the first of the videos... click on the words below and you'll go to the page where you can find the entire menu, scroll fashion on the right of the page... yes, there are 21 links, but just watch over a period of hours if you don't want to do it all in one sitting. This is an amazing time of worship and giving thanks to God!