This Little Light of Mine!

 

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:1–9 ESV).

 

"This Little Light of Mine" is an American gospel and folk song dating back to the 1920s. It is known for its simple melody and message of hope, and became an anthem during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The song is inspired by the biblical passage in Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus encourages his followers to let their light shine. The lyrics first appeared in poetry in 1925, and while evangelist Harry Dixon Loes created a popular arrangement in the 1940s, researchers have not found evidence that he wrote the original. The earliest known recording was made in a Texas penitentiary in 1934.

 

Sometimes we use the term “blinding light” to say that a light is so bright that if you look directly at it, you could damage your eyesight. Here the Bible talks about the opposite effect—when light heals. We read that God’s servant will give sight to people who are blind. We begin to see here that God’s light—shining through his chosen servant—heals, frees, and releases people who were thought to be beyond help and hope. God even declares that his light is for the Gentiles—people whom Israel thought were outside of God’s care and concern. Through this prophetic word, God seeks to “unblind” the social and spiritual imagination of his people.

 

By extending the benefits of God’s redemptive work far beyond the borders of Israel’s imagination, God’s faithful servant disrupts Israel’s comfortable, self-focused peace. Instead, God invites them to see that his mission is intended to welcome all people into his peace. Let the Light God has given you shine through everything you do and say this Christmas!

 

We Have Seen a Great Light!

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV).

 

Our reading today provides an immediate follow-up to the passage we reflected on yesterday, about choosing to live in “utter darkness.” Because of God’s mercy, the gloom and hopelessness of consulting the dead will not be the final word on their lives. Instead “a light has dawned” on them. It is a pivotal Old Testament prophecy promising an end to darkness and oppression through a coming child (the Messiah) who will bring eternal peace, justice, and righteous rule, giving him majestic names like Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, establishing unending peace on David's throne, and fulfilling this through God's zealous work.

 

We should notice the unfolding impact of this “great light.” God’s people will rejoice in ways that need all kinds of metaphors to describe. Their oppressors will lose their power. The very instruments of war used to control them will be destroyed. All these signs point to freedom and new life that the people could not achieve on their own. The joyful hope of God’s deliverance flows through this prophetic word. Further, God promises to do all of this through the birth of a child, whose rule will bring never-ending peace. Where death once tainted everything, now the people who are trapped in darkness will see God’s flourishing kingdom coming into view. To make this certain, God declares, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

 

During Advent we should remember how God started this rule of peace through the birth of Jesus Christ. And we look forward to the day when God will bring us into the fullness of this vision.

  

From Bad to Worse

 

And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. (Isaiah 8:19–22 ESV).

 

God’s people did not always walk in God’s way. At times, the leaders of God’s people even consulted with mediums (cf. 1 Samuel 28:3-25). Here Isaiah notes the consequences of trying to consult the dead to find spiritual direction that only God can provide: “They will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.”

 

God’s words through Isaiah are clear: there is no peace for someone who seeks life among the dead. Isaiah declares that the contrast between seeking God and seeking the dead is as different as day and night. Rather poetically, the prophet writes, “They have no light of dawn.” In other words, seeking guidance from the dead is like walking into a never-ending night. You can’t find the light of day by turning to the night.

 

The allure of such things is that they promise to provide quick access to the spiritual realm and to spiritual power. But that runs contrary to God’s Word in the biblical story we remember during Advent. For instead of demanding that we find magical ways to access God, God has taken the initiative to seek us out. God came to us in Jesus Christ, so that through him we might have unhindered access to God himself. He is our Hope and Light!

 

Good, Better, or Best?

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. (Psalm 119:105–112 ESV).

 

There have been times in my life when I needed to choose between good, better, or best. It’s always easy to choose between good and bad, but choosing good, better, or best is difficult. The psalmist in our reading today describes God’s word as a lamp and a light. There is a sense of movement here with the emphasis of the psalmist’s feet on a path. We don’t know where the psalmist is going, but it’s notable that the psalmist doesn’t say, “Your word is a light outside my house.” The picture here is that God’s word guides the believer through life, even in dark spaces where the path is uncertain and potential dangers may lie ahead.

 

This psalm reminds us that God has not left us to figure out life on our own. Rather, God’s word accompanies us, showing us how to live faithfully as God’s people here and now. While our technology, governmental structures, and understandings of the universe are different from when the Bible was written, the commands and the stories of God’s faithful love provided through the Bible help us to see what it can look like to walk in the light of God’s path today.

 

Choosing between good, better, and best involves prioritizing activities and choices that offer the most value, impact, or spiritual growth, recognizing that many good things can consume time needed for truly superior options, like focusing on deep family connection (best) over just scheduled activities (good), or prioritizing essential gospel principles over merely busy work. It's about discernment, understanding that the best choice often strengthens faith, improves lives, and aligns with higher purposes, even if it means letting go of other good but less impactful things. This is the essence of wisdom, which comes from God.

 

As we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we also learn to recognize more fully that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s word. Jesus was sent not simply to guide us but to be “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) through whom we receive salvation and experience peace with God. He is that Light we need for the journey!

Is Peace with God Possible?

 

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalm 80:1–3 ESV).

 

If you observe the lighting of the Advent Wreath, you will have lit the Peace Candle by now. Today’s Bible passage addresses a deep-down concern: Is peace with God ever possible after God decides to hold us accountable for our sins? There is a reason why this candle is also know as the Shepherd’s Candle. You may recall that the announcement of Jesus’ birth was made to the shepherds by angels singing. This is what Luke records:

 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

 

The reality of God’s gift of salvation in Christ does not give us freedom to do whatever we want without consequences. Psalm 80 recognizes that our sins damage our relationships with God and with each other. The psalmist describes how God’s discipline of Israel is evident among the nations: “You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors. Your vine is cut down at your rebuke your people perish.” There is no argument about Israel’s sinfulness, no complaint that God’s discipline might be too harsh. But Psalm 80 returns again and again to God’s character: “Make your face shine on us.” God is the one who chose Israel and who cares for them. The psalmist is declaring that God is the only one who can restore them.

 

Advent gives us an opportunity to be honest with God about our sins. Jesus came to restore us and all of his creation from the consequences of our sin—something we could not do on our own. Peace with God is only possible because Jesus took on himself the consequences of our sin. He does bring us peace!

 

Wait on the Lord

 

Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:11-14 ESV).

 

Today’s reading describes how the psalmist has faced real threats from wicked people, enemies, armies, oppressors, and false witnesses—all bent on destroying him. The psalm includes bold declarations about not fearing those foes, and it offers pleading prayers for God’s protection as opponents come near.

 

I have found that my experience of God’s peace can change from one circumstance to the next as well. There are moments of bold faith when I am not frightened. I believe God and am ready to follow wherever he leads. Then there are times when I feel doubts overtaking my faith, and I find myself asking God to save me. In situations like that, the threats can seem bigger and more powerful than God.

 

This back-and-forth movement is part of our faith journey. We recognize that if the certainty of our peace with God and our salvation depends on us, we will fall short. In Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, God secures us from all that threatens, and we are strengthened for the life of faith that God calls us into.

 

"Wait on the Lord" is a biblical phrase meaning to actively trust in God's timing, guidance, and power, rather than passively waiting. It involves actively seeking God through prayer, scripture, and worship while confidently expecting that He is working, even when His plans are not immediately clear. This kind of waiting is an active process that strengthens faith and courage.

 

During the Advent season, we learn to wait in confidence, not denying our struggles but leaning into the peace that is ours through Jesus Christ, who secures us in God’s light and salvation.

 

The Lord Make His Face to Shine Upon You

 

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’” (Numbers 6:22–27 ESV).

 

The second Sunday of Advent candle is the Peace Candle, also called the Bethlehem Candle or Candle of Peace. It symbolizes the peace Christ brings to the world and represents hope, preparation, and the peace that comes from God. This candle is typically purple, a color that can signify royalty or preparation. On this day, both the first (Hope) and second (Peace) candles are lit on the Advent wreath.

 

I always marvel at our reading today. The Israelites were not a shining example of faithfulness while they wandered in the desert. They grumbled and complained, threatened to go back to Egypt, and even made idols to worship in place of God (cf. Exodus 16-17; 32-33). Yet God instructed Aaron—whose hands had made those idols—to bless the Israelites. Even more, God said that this would “put [his] name on the Israelites”—in other words, God wanted to be so closely identified with the Israelites that they would be part of his family!

 

Notice too that the middle of this blessing asks God to “make his face shine” on his people. It’s fitting to compare this image to a parent beaming with pride over their child or to a spouse absolutely glowing with joy at the sight of their partner. This blessing is beyond what Israel could have hoped for: having God turn toward them with overflowing delight at being associated with them!

 

Many centuries later, God became even more associated with us in his Son, Jesus Christ. Even more than we could have hoped, God became one with us in life and in death. Through Jesus, we experience God’s face shining on us with delight. And as Paul later wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

 

Hope in the Darkness

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.” (Exodus 10:21–29 ESV).

 

Have you ever encountered a darkness that can be felt? I recall walking back to my truck from my tree stand after deer hunting one evening. It really wasn’t a very pleasant day, weather-wise. There were dark storm clouds that had been gathering all afternoon and as the sun set, the wind whipped around in all directions, and the temperature dropped quickly. Fortunately I knew my way back to the truck very well and managed to get loaded and in the shelter of the truck just before the blasts of thunder and lightning began with the accompanying downpour of rain. I sat there a while hoping the rain would ease up a bit and realized how I had absolutely no control over the darkness that seemed to engulf everything as far as I could see. You could almost feel the darkness.

 

Our Bible reading today tells part of the story of God’s confrontation with Pharaoh through Moses. Pharaoh had repeatedly resisted letting God’s people go free from slavery, and God had responded with increasingly intense plagues, all of which challenged Pharaoh’s authority and control. This time, God brought a “darkness that [could] be felt” over the whole land of Egypt. Unlike the darkness of a passing storm, this darkness stayed for three days! It’s as if God was saying to Pharoah: “Stop resisting me. You are not in charge. I can even remove the creational boundaries between light and dark, night and day!” But Pharaoh would not listen.

 

While confronting Pharaoh, God reassured Israel by giving them light and hope during the unnatural darkness, and in this God was saying, “You are mine, and Pharaoh cannot separate you from me.” In Advent, we lean into this same hope-filled assurance: in Christ, God will move heaven and earth, night and day, to set us free from all that enslaves us! That is our great Hope!

  

A Strange Light in the Distance

 

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1–6 ESV).

 

We almost always travel east on vacation. In large part that’s because our favorite spot is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park located in Tennessee. I always dread the last leg of our trip home. Typically, we stay in Memphis and drive home from there. It’s about a ten-hour trip for us. When we cross the Texas state line from Arkansas going west, I feel a bit closer to home, though I know it’s still a long way. However, when I see the skyline of Dallas with the lights of Reunion Tower, I know I’m almost home. It almost pops up when you round the curve just east of Dallas. Moses may have felt something of that wonder when he saw the bush burning in the distance while tending the sheep.

 

After fleeing Egypt in fear for his life (cf. Exodus 2:11-15), Moses settled in Midian. He got married and had children. He became a shepherd and learned the wilderness terrain over a period of 40 years. But then God interrupted Moses’ ordinary life with the flickering light of a bush on fire that did not burn up. This strange sight caught Moses’ attention and awoke his curiosity. He went closer.

 

What catches my attention is that God called Moses from a bush. God could have spoken with a thundering voice or sent an angel to talk with Moses. Instead, God used a small impossibility—a bush burning without being consumed—to bring Moses into an even more impossible situation—leading God’s people out of slavery in Egypt.

 

I am in awe at how God uses this unusual fire to rekindle hope in Moses and eventually among the people of God. God had seen their misery, heard their cries, and was moving to rescue them from their suffering and oppression in Egypt after more than 400 years. But the hope sparked by this strange sight is even bigger than Moses and Israel imagined. For, one day, God would do something even more impossible by sending his own Son to free us and all of creation from our bondage to sin, death, and decay. That was the greatest Light the world would ever see! While it seemed strange to the shepherds of that night, the angels proclaimed:

 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).

 

Jesus is a Light for all of us! Like Moses and the shepherds… go to that Light!

 

Can You Count the Stars of the Night Sky?

 

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1–6 ESV).

 

Our reading today has been an encouragement to me at many times in my life. I wonder how many times Abram had looked into that sky, asking God to fulfill his promise from years earlier to give him children of his own. I also wonder if Abram had stopped praying that prayer, and when. God had promised him that the nations would be blessed through his offspring (cf. Genesis 12:1-3). But nothing had changed. Abram and Sarai still didn’t have a child.

 

There is weariness and sorrow in Abram’s response to God: “What can you give me since I remain childless?” Here Abram is basically asking, “Can I truly believe you?” For many of us, this is our story too. We’ve prayed repeatedly, trusting that God hears us and cares for us. Sometimes God shows up with a miraculous answer. But other times we cry out with the psalmist, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). Remember it was 25 years before God fulfilled the promise to Abram in the birth of Isaac, and nearly 2,000 more years passed before God sent Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of his promises.

 

During Advent, we join Abram in waiting with our weariness and sorrows. And God invites us to remember and believe that his faithfulness, mercy, and love for us extend from one end of the heavens to the other—far beyond our ability to count. Go ahead… see if you can count the stars. It is futile since there are so many. This is just a small glimpse into the greatness of our God to provide for us. The birth of Jesus is just the beginning! Trust in Him!

 

The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14–19 ESV).

 

I am indebted to the Bryson City, NC, travel website for our photo today. Originally it was taken by one of the staff photographers with Up N’ Adam Adventures. The location of the photo is Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park along the Cove Road. While I have never seen the Milky Way in the Smokies, I have witnessed the incredible display of God’s creation in other locations. It is nothing short of spectacular!

 

Those times when I have lingered in the woods after a day of hunting, walking back to camp as the stars began to make their appearance known are memorable. Perhaps the most memorable is the occasional shooting star that streaks across the sky. It is grandeur at its apex.

 

In our reading today, the sun and moon get most of the attention. But we are told that God “also made the stars.” It’s as if God poked trillions of little holes in the backdrop of the night sky. Even on the darkest nights, when the moon is nowhere in sight, the stars remind us that God’s light is still present. The darkness will not overcome God’s light.

 

Admittedly, I long for God’s actions in my life to be as bright as the sun, as clear as a full moon, or as awe-inspiring as a shooting star. But I often overlook God’s faithful presence in the background. The stars remind us that God is always there. This can also remind us that Jesus entered the world on an otherwise ordinary night and that God even used a star to announce his birth. There is hope in the darkness because God “also made the stars.”

 

As you look at the lights of the night sky, would you be reminded that Jesus is the ultimate Light in the darkness!

 

The Greatest Light of the World

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. (John 1:1–8 ESV).

 

I’m sure that most of you have watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold. The segment of the movie that portrays him hanging all the lights and gathering the family for the great reveal is priceless. After the failure of the lights to come on when the final connection is made, he panics and searches everywhere for the one possible mistake. Ultimately there was no mistake. The plug had been disconnected at the source. It is coincidentally plugged in and as if by a miracle the house is ablaze with light. With shouts of joy and a “I knew you could do it Clark” from his Dad, everyone is happy.

 

You may remember the reading from yesterday (Genesis 1) as Moses records the creation with God creating light in the midst of the darkness. That reality invites us to wonder, “What would God do first to overcome the darkness? It starts with God’s first creative act: creating light in the midst of the darkness. The sun, moon, and stars will come later in the creation story. But at this point God simply creates light and then calls the light good! There is something incredibly beautiful about this creative act. The first act of creation sets the stage for everything that will follow in the rest of the Bible’s story: God is the one who makes something out of nothing. God is the one who creates light.

 

The Bible presents God as the one who pushed back the darkness with this first light. In a way, that’s what the first week of Advent is about. This is the declaration of the Apostle John in our reading today. So, as we anticipate celebrating Jesus’ birth, we wait in hope for God to create something new in us, to bring light into the darkest circumstances of our lives. The greatest of all Light has now come. Turn to Him today!

 

The Beginning of Advent

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1–5 ESV).

 

Advent is a Christian season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas. It typically begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th and lasting until December 24th. It draws our attention to the coming of Jesus Christ, focusing on themes like hope, peace, joy, and love, which are often symbolized by lighting candles on an Advent wreath. This month we will be using various passages of Scripture to draw us toward a deeper understanding of the significance of the birth of Jesus.

 

Today’s reading, which are the Bible’s first words about the earth, are that everything was “formless and empty” and that “darkness was over the surface of the deep”—a poetic way of saying that the world did not exist before God started creating. Perhaps you have been in a place without any light. It can be so dark that you can’t see your hands even when you touch your nose. The Bible begins with a darkness that is deeper than that. It’s the deepest darkness the Bible writers could imagine: the empty darkness of the world not existing.

 

As we begin Advent, looking forward to the light of Jesus’ coming, there is something very comforting about the Bible’s beginning. However heavy and impossible our current circumstances may feel, the Bible reminds us that our story begins with the God who creates life in the midst of the deepest darkness imaginable. In other words, with God there is always hope! That is the central message of Christmas!

 

When You Face Struggles

 

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (ESV) (Psalm 55:1-8; 22 ESV).

 

I hope you have never found yourself in such a difficult circumstance that you just wanted to run away. Sometimes in life, the troubles we face can cause deep inner turmoil. We may struggle with our mental health, a physical disability or disease, a relationship that feels stuck, a difficult career, a deep disappointment or loss, a cycle of poverty, or something else. Many different things can make us feel trapped. I know that such times are real. David, in our reading today was facing such a time in his life. He gives us an insight that we might find the peace we so desperately seek.

 

When David wrote this psalm, he was feeling disillusioned and stuck. He was distraught by the situation he was in, and he felt betrayed by a friend. He desperately wanted a way out and dreamed of being like a dove so he could fly far away from all his troubles. But as he wrestled with his discouragement, he grew to understand that although he did not have wings to fly away, he did have a voice to call upon God. The solution to being released from life’s burdens isn’t to escape but to give them up to the Lord: “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you.”

 

Echoing the assurance of this psalm, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… Learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Come too Him. He will sustain you!

 

My Refuge and Fortress

 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91 ESV).

 

Look at the light in your room now. Feel the heat coming from it. See its blinding brightness—how this tiny thing can light up a room. Now imagine a small warehouse full of nothing but lightbulbs shining, lining its shelves from top to bottom—this is like the brightness of a single bolt of lighting. Lightning is a striking display of raw power in nature, stunning and destructive. People need to protect themselves from lightning. Many cultures throughout history feared lightning as a god.

 

Sometimes, we say, sudden events strike us like lightning. A sudden death or accident or disaster—even an overwhelming temptation—can grip us like a bolt from the blue. When that happens, where can we find a place of protection and safety? What is so powerful, so firm, to keep us safe from the outpouring of danger and destruction?

 

The Lord is our refuge, our fortress, our rock. This is a common theme in the psalms. The world and all the forces of evil cannot approach or destroy the safety we have in God. Whatever comes at you, God holds you in peace—safe and close in his care.

 

Seasons of Life

 

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Daniel 2:20–23 ESV).

 

Sometimes, as much as we want to hold on to the way things are, we must face the reality that change is a part of life. Teenagers are encouraged to “leave the nest,” and “empty nesters” gradually become accustomed to different rhythms in life as their children leave home. Still, even when it’s time for a change, we can tend to resist it.

 

The prophet Jeremiah refers to storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes, contrasting their wise behaviors with the foolishness of people who have turned away from the Lord: Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration (Jeremiah 8:7). Jeremiah laments the thick-skulled attitudes of the people around him, who lack wisdom because “they have rejected the word of the Lord.” The prophet is saying, in effect, “Even the birds know what needs to be done, but these people are so stubborn!” There is a season for everything, and it’s our task to recognize what season it is.

 

The invitation here is to consider what season it is for each of us. The wisdom of Solomon says:

 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 ESV).

 

What season are you now in… rest in the knowledge that this is God’s best for your good!

 

Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan!

 

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. (2 Samuel 7:18–21 ESV).

 

Thanksgiving Day! I pray each of you who are reading this day’s devotional will have used the previous days to reflect on our wonderful, gracious Father in heaven who has given us so much. I’m returning one more time to Faith and Logan, as this is their birthday and they have been such an inspiration to me personally. You can see from the two pictures I’ve included a bit of the growth and development in their lives.

From young children to young adults they have given me so much to be thankful for; however, my ultimate gratitude must be centered in the work of grace in their lives.

 

Yes, they are Aggies through and through. Some might say they really didn’t have a lot of choice in that. I would say it a bit differently. They became what they saw modeled and heard taught. This is also true of their faith. They are Aggies; however, more importantly they are believers. That was also modeled and taught.

 

I am so thankful that their Mom and Dad were so intentional about that. I celebrate their accomplishments academically; and, I rejoice greatly in their journey of faith! Like King David in our reading today I echo his words: O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. (v. 21). Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan! Thank God for His faithfulness in all things!

 

Have you learned to be thankful in all times… if not, begin today!

 

 

Giving Thanks in All Times - Pt. 6

 

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–24 ESV).

 

This day before Thanksgiving I want us to fast-forward to 2025. For those of you who are not familiar with Aggie Tradition, a little background might be helpful. Aggie Rings are one of the most important traditions we have. It is a celebration of an achievement that we pride ourselves in earning. In fact, one of the statements heard at the ring ceremony is that they are earned not given. The picture today was taken on Kyle Field of our three generations of Aggies. Faith and Logan earned their rings this year just as their parents and grandparents did many years ago. It was a wonderful moment. It was very easy to be thankful.

 

These are times when it is easy to be thankful. The other times, when it is more difficult, we often turn our attention to “being patient.” However, as the apostle Paul summarizes our attitude, he says it is God's will for us to be thankful "in all circumstances." It may help to note that Paul is not saying we should be thankful for all circumstances but in them. When things seem to go against us, I think God expects us to be grateful that his hand holds us and helps us to endure under the strain. That's a big challenge, to look for reasons to be thankful when the going is tough.

 

Sometimes it can be equally difficult for us to be thankful when things are going well. We might not think it would be that way. After all, when things go well, we have so much to be grateful for. But the very nature of human beings, even if we are Christian, is to overlook the multitude of God's good gifts to us every day. Let me suggest that today you sit still where you are and exercise the gift of noticing. Notice what you see, what you have, and who is with you. Notice the color, beauty, and variety around you. Keep noticing, and make a list of the gifts you notice. Then give thanks to God, the great giver!

 

Giving Thanks at All Times - Pt. 5

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4–9 ESV).

 

For today’s devotional thought I need to take you back with me to 1971, long before Faith and Logan were born. Though they have a role to play in the recognition of how God was faithfully leading me into His provision of good for our lives all along. I began my Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist theological Seminary in January of 1971 immediately following my graduation from Texas A&M. Those were very difficult years with lengthy stories that I cannot share with more than bullet points in the space available through this medium. Before my graduation from A&M Mary and I needed to reveal to my parents the change from Catholicism to Southern Baptist and my call into vocational ministry as a pastor. That did not go well. We were literally banned from their presence and told never to return home again. Hurt is much too small a word to describe the pain of that experience.

 

Over the coming months we honored their demand, though I called each week to check in, often receiving a cold or indifferent response. At the same time Mary and I began to pray for the Lord to grant us peace and calling to what we believed was the best possible place of service. We dreamed of serving somewhere in Middle Tennessee (close to our beloved Smokie Mountains) where I could pastor a small rural church and practice pastoral care and counseling full time. Over the next three years we were able to restore some relationship with my parents as they began to see the joy God had given us in preparing to serve in this calling. I graduated in December 1973. Two weeks before graduation I had not received any invitation to interview for any position. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. It was at that time that I recognized that perhaps I simply didn’t trust the will of God working in my life. Mary and I determined that we would go wherever and whenever God deemed good. I applied for further studies in the doctoral program and was content to prepare more while we waited on the Lord. Just days later I received a call from the Texas Baptist Student Division to interview for a position as a college student minister. That was certainly never on our radar!

 

However, it was the first step God needed us to take in the journey that would take until March, 2011 for us to receive what we asked God to do forty years earlier. We went to Tyler Junior College as the BSU Director, which led to associate pastor at FBC, Tyler. There I came under the guidance of one of my three mentors, Bill Samburger, who was a great friend and mentor. Two years later I went to University Heights Baptist Church as pastor; then to FBC, Mt. Pleasant; then to Southern Oaks Baptist Church, Tyler, then finally to North Side Baptist Church, Weatherford. All of these were large churches in Texas. None of them matched our prayers of seminary days, though each played a significant role in God’s granting of my heart’s desire.

 

Health issues resulted in my resignation from North Side Baptist and a year of recuperation. Needing to stay in Weatherford so that our youngest son could finish high school where he started, I took a job offered by the owner of a large auto group. I still preached often in other churches and across many denominational lines, while at the same time learning much more about those things that would be essential for the next steps in our journey. When Faith and Logan were born these steps made it possible to make the move to North Carolina.

 

It still was not a “small rural church in Middle Tennessee with a full-time counseling ministry”; but, it was full of joy and purpose. A few years passed and Kyle made the decision to move to a position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Of course, we followed. That led to the formal development of Grace Restoration Ministries and a call to Santa Fe Baptist Church in a small community just east of Columbia, Tennessee. God had answered our prayer of forty years past! You can see from the Easter Sunday picture I’ve attached with the church in the background that church I Mary and I prayed for all those years ago. God was working that good in His time all along. All of the places I served were great places, but this church became our last church and the fulfillment of our heart’s desire.

 

This journey was not without pain and difficulty; however, it was also full of grace. If grace reveals that joy is a gift, then prayer is the Lord’s gracious means through which he daily sustains that joy. We sometimes believe we are independent, self-sufficient people. Our tired minds, aching backs, and callous hands that produced a successful career and a comfortable home seem to affirm that myth. But what if corporate restructuring takes away the paycheck, or terminal illness robs our strength and vitality? Anxiety, worry, and fear set in, taking the place of our pride.

 

Life comes from the Lord, and so does daily help. We come to the Lord through prayer, and the fruit of prayer is peace. Yet prayer is not a mantra, and we can’t use it to try to manipulate God. Prayer is a divine gift to strengthen the bonds of love between us and God. The act of prayer itself affirms our dependence on him for peace and joy. That’s the prompt for Thanksgiving. Rest in the assurance that God is working His best good in your life, no matter how strange each turn looks like! Listen to the Apostle Paul again:

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (v. 8).