Silent Night

There is still that kid inside of me that dreams of a white Christmas. The Pacific Northwest usually sees snow one or two times a year and it only lasts a day or two. And every year, the snow comes either before or after Christmas, but never on Christmas. That is why we are famous for the Christmas song, Christmas in the Northwest:

The wind may not blow

Might not even snow

But there's nothing like Christmas

Right here at home

It may not be white

Might be a rainy night

But there's nothing like sharing

The sounds and the sights of ...

Christmas in the Northwest

Is a gift that we can share

Christmas in the Northwest

Is a child's answered prayer

Take away the presents

And they still will have a dream

For Christmas in the Northwest

Is a gift God wrapped in green

Well, this year God wrapped it in white. That song that the kid inside of me has been singing all these years, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, came true and then some. It snowed off and on for two weeks before Christmas. And the snow did not go away. It just kept piling up. Missed schools days, trapped at home, icy and snow roads, cars stuck. And on Christmas day we woke to the biggest fluffiest flakes we had seen yet.

The down part was that we had to cancel almost everything on the calendar. We missed church for 3 weeks in a row. That is why it was pretty special to finally make it to the Christmas eve service. We went to first one that was the day before on the 23rd. I guess that makes it the Christmas eve eve service.

Once again, I was touched when the congregation sang Silent Night with the lights dimmed as we lit candles. I don't know what is about that song. It is such a simple song. Not as theologically rich like O Holy Night or some of the other Christmas hymns. Yet in multiple occassions, I find myself teary-eyed when I hear its soft refrain. Perhaps it is the innocent, child-like feel that it has. After all, Scripture tells us that we are to enter the Kingdom of heaven as children, humble and trusting. Or maybe it is the 3rd verse:

Silent Night, Holy Night

Son of God, loves pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

It must the pure and holy love of Christ, coming first in the form of an innocent and pure child, unblemished with the original sin that affects even the most beautiful, precious newborns of men. And the love that grew into a man and touched the blind beggars, accepted the outcasts of society, restored the lonely and hopeless, healed the sick and raised the dead. And the pure light of love that left the glories of heaven, came to earth as a son of man, and gave his innocent live for the guilty to earn them the peace of innocence returned, and the hope of eternal love and joy.

Merry Christmas!

John

It is so right to give honor to the God who made all things and who provides all things for us. Above all else, we are to honor our great heavenly Father and Lord. Here are some devotional verses that I am using in my time of worship:

Acts 17: 24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

Acts 17:28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Act 14:17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

1Timoth 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord, how gracious you are. Your honor is precious. I acknowledge that all goodness comes from you. Words can not express how my heart is touched as you have revealed your kindness and grace.