An early Advent morning

        My favorite time of day...the wee early morning hours.  The house is still (well, except for Bingley roaming around and eventually settling down at my feet).  The darkness outside a peaceful prelude to a busy day.  Quiet, so blessedly quiet.  We forget the lovely, calming sound of true silence in our ever noisy world.  In the silence, you can feel your soul breathe deeply and fill with the Spirit's fullness.  Our Christmas tree stands proudly in the corner--unadorned as we just got it last night, but beautiful, deep green, and smelling of childhood Christmases and joy.  And I must say, I'm loving the simplicity of the pure evergreen.  After all, Jesus' birth was in a simple, unadorned stable.

 
        The warmth and light of the fireplace beside me remind me of the true Light of the World whose birth we prepare to celebrate anew this Advent.  I keep coming back to John's remarkable words: "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....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth." (John 1:4-5,14)
        The Word became flesh, and as one translation puts it, "moved into our neighborhood."  Don't you love that?  The Almighty, eternal, glorious Lord became flesh and blood and moved right into our neighborhood--yours and mine.
       And He is the Light.  He is our Light...His Light obliterates the darkness.  The darkness of our fears, our addictions, our sorrows, our failures.  When light comes, darkness flees.  If even one tiny, weak candle can dispel the dark around you, can you imagine what the omnipotent Light of the World can do?
        And here's the thing--He is with me right this moment.  As I sit here typing, the Light of the World sits beside me, shining and spilling out His grace, His love, His powerful yet peaceful presence all over me.  As you are reading these words, He is right there with you.  The Light of the World, the Savior, the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counselor, Emmanuel is with you, right this moment. How incredible is that?   How dare we take we take that lightly!  
       Oh Lord Jesus, forgive us for all too often forgetting who is with us.  Who is in us.  Who is for us.  Who fights for us.  Who empowers us.  Who forgives us.  Who loves us.   And Whose coming we now prepare to celebrate in this season of Advent.  
       Don't know what you might have going on right now--what losses you grieve, what challenges you face, what happinesses you celebrate, what chores you dread, what worries you carry--but can I remind you Who is with you right now?  His Light will overcome all darkness.  His love will conquer all fear.  His grace will overwhelm all weakness.  His joy will overpower all sorrow.
         He has come.  He is here.  He is able.  And He is with you. 
        Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus.  Fill us afresh this day.  Fill us to overflowing that we might spill over into a lost and lonely world, shining Your Light into the darkness.
        To God--who came, who moved into our neighborhood and who promises to never, ever leave us--be all the glory.