Our Longest Night
Did you see “The Christmas Star”?
We had a ridiculous amount of fun…
…and also felt a tremendous awe, at the same time!
In which case, I think we had a tiny foretaste of heaven.
There’s such a stirring in the unseen realm right now. Angels are swirling the waters. This stirring is manifesting in my life in several gentle manners: it has been a wonder to me, just how well the Holy Spirit can comfort His own. At a time when loss is very, very difficult, I and my family have been carried by God.
Worship on Sundays has taken on a resonance that makes me feel like I am being wrapped in a blanket of peace.
It was sweet to have my youngest son worship with us at Harvest Church yesterday. #thescruffychurchforthescruffycity
Altogether, there’s a strong sense in my spirit that all is well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
It’s the winter solstice.
Tomorrow, the year has officially tipped its scale, and the weight of favor is towards light.
Tonight, though, is that one last longest night, a portal for miracles. I’m going about the noble work of resting in faith, believing. I will lay my head upon my pillow in less than an hour, in the arms of a preacher.
We will pray aloud together as we always do, we may wipe away a few tears, nevertheless, without us doing another thing - just pray and rest, that’s all we will do - we will awaken tomorrow to more light than what was, the day before.
The coming “bleak midwinter” will be anything but bleak for me. This dark and inward looking series of weeks is often when I do my best work. I plant the seeds that will bear fruit in years to come, for years to come. Seasons have their rhythms, their reasons.
And every 800+ years or so, God gives us a Bethlehem Star.
None of these things are meaningless to one who knows God intimately. He places signs in the heavens above because He is a playful teacher.
I highly recommend that you bundle up with coats and hot chocolate tomorrow night, go outside and identify the Christmas Star with little ones - surely you know a few. Take pictures, laugh and sing a carol or two. Then watch The Nativity Movie by a warm wood burning fire. Share pictures of your star, and plan a nice dinner, because tomorrow you will have a few more moments of light!
After the star festivities, after all have left for their own beds, I want you you to crawl blessed into your own, and pray. Then…sleep. Sleep soundly. Sleep in peace. Sleep in innocence. Wake up to the knowledge that your friends are there, always ready to journey the Christian life alongside you.
How rich and righteous and favored we are. His very own.
To Encourage Your Advent Celebration
My talk begins just a few minutes in. I shared it in my home church, Harvest Church in Knoxville, TN (the awesome #scruffychurchforthescruffycity) this past Sunday. I hope it helps you love Jesus more than ever. The above image isn’t from this talk…but it’s fitting, because I’m speaking by a cozy fire. If you need some deep encouragement this Christmas season, get cozy, lean in (tap “play audio”) and listen…