Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

    Come, Thou long expected Jesus 
    Born to set Thy people free; 
    From our fears and sins release us, 
    Let us find our rest in Thee. 
    Israel’s Strength and Consolation, 
    Hope of all the earth Thou art; 
    Dear Desire of every nation, 
    Joy of every longing heart. 


    Born Thy people to deliver, 
    Born a child and yet a King, 
    Born to reign in us forever, 
    Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 
    By Thine own eternal Spirit 
    Rule in all our hearts alone; 
    By Thine all sufficient merit, 
    Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

I felt little in my heart as I went to our Christmas Eve service last night. Feeling disconnected is not something new to me these days; my life feels full of fears, restlessness and sinful responses. The uncertainty of my future economically and physically seems doomed, but as we sang this Christmas song last night I struck by the lines "Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee." What wonderful words of sweet comfort. My future is secure. The best is yet to come!

    
    MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS

The Darkest Hour vs. The Light of the World

I just saw a trailer for a movie that is coming out on Christmas Day that is called The Darkest Hour. It is the story of five young people fighting against an alien race who have attacked Earth. They attack using our power supply so that eventually the earth will go completely dark.

I was immediately struck by the oddity of such a movie coming out on Christmas Day. Is it appropriate to have a movie about darkness coming out on the day when we celebrate the arrival of true light into our world or does it actually contrast the idea and highlight our desperate need for light?

In the movie, all hope is put in these five people to save the world from the darkness. This is portrayed as physical darkness, but I wonder if there isn't a connection between physical darkness and spiritual darkness.

We know that only the birth and death of Jesus can save us from any threatening darkness. It is our only hope for salvation. He is our only true source of light.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful that what I so often feel day-to-day isn't truth. the truth is that I was created for a better place.

Dawn's Psalm 3

PSALM 3
My heart has grown weary,
  Of fighting this fight;
My soul has grown tired of the path
  You are asking me to walk.

I am such a greedy glutton,
  Taking what I think
Is mine to take;
  Taking what I think I deserve.

But there is little satisfaction
  In the taking right now;
Leaving me stuck in the swirling mire
  Of my perceived failures.

Nothing works anymore.
  I can see only failure after failure:
I can no longer make any good choice
  Without your merciful help.

Nothing seems to break through the lies,
  Even compliments become quickly
Twisted into words of condemnation.
  My soul feels worthless.

Why aren’t you giving me
  The good things I want?
Why aren’t you letting me
  Have the things I so rightly desire?

When will this struggle ever end?
  Will you ever choose to relieve me
Of my painful circumstances?
  I don’t know what to do.

I want to get up and flee this place.
  Tell me what direction should I to go in;
Tell me you have a better plan.
  I can only plead for you to save me

You open my eyes to truth.
  You bring peace to my soul.
You see past the lies in my head,
  To the deeper parts within me.

When I least expect it,
  You come and surprise me.
You show up to answer
  The truest prayers of my heart:

You ask me to stay the course;
  And to live despite my pain;
You ask me to carry others
  And to love despite my struggle.

You are a merciful, loving God.
  You soften my hardened heart.
You look on me with great tenderness
  And point me in the right direction.

A friend challenged me to write a Psalm last week as a way in which to record an event where God recently showed up. I am grateful to have had a chance to write a few words to describe it.

In a World With No Shame?

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalm 34:4-5 (NIV)

My Newest Family Members

Jeff Comstock, his daughters Oasha and Sydney.
Chris Comstock, his wife Mandy and son Blue.

I recently met my two half-brothers for the first time. I am glad we made the effort to get together and talk. It was good to get to know them better, even though it stirred up many strong emotions for me.

This life is some ride, you never know which path you are going down next. Maybe next time I will get a chance to meet their families.

Responsive Obedience

--continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)