One of the things that Tami and I have come to love about life in the Methow Valley is all of the sunshine. In fact, we've become pretty spoiled by the ability to count on the sun shining brightly for at least part of almost every day of the year! Even though it's been cold, there's something that warms me (at least emotionally) when I look out at the beauty of sun reflecting off of the snow.
I have friends and relatives who live in Nome, Alaska, and they're currently experiencing 20 hours of darkness in between their 4-hours of daylight. I'm sure that there are times when the never-ending night must really take it's toll on them! When the darkness goes on and on and on it's hard to keep going.
A little over 2000 years ago the Israelites were deep into one of those never-ending nights. Hundreds of years had passed since the prophets had given them the promise of a Messiah who would bring hope and establish a kingdom that would never end. It was a great promise, but ... how long is someone expected to wait before they understandably give up hope?
It was into that weary, dark world that Jesus appeared - bringing heavenly light and the accompanying hope of God's presence that brings forgiveness and salvation.
But we sometimes feel the darkness is just too much for us to handle. There's no escaping the bad things we experience from living in a fallen, sin-filled world. Whether we're innocent victims or suffering from the results of our own selfish choices, we find ourselves curled up in the corner praying for the light that seems like it will never come.
Hold on! Hope is on the way! The promises of the prophets not only point to Jesus' first incarnation, but they remind us that He is with us in our darkness and that the new and glorious morning will come!
I hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, December 15th, for the 3rd Sunday of Advent and our celebration that the Good News that was proclaimed by the angels is true today!
I have friends and relatives who live in Nome, Alaska, and they're currently experiencing 20 hours of darkness in between their 4-hours of daylight. I'm sure that there are times when the never-ending night must really take it's toll on them! When the darkness goes on and on and on it's hard to keep going.
A little over 2000 years ago the Israelites were deep into one of those never-ending nights. Hundreds of years had passed since the prophets had given them the promise of a Messiah who would bring hope and establish a kingdom that would never end. It was a great promise, but ... how long is someone expected to wait before they understandably give up hope?
It was into that weary, dark world that Jesus appeared - bringing heavenly light and the accompanying hope of God's presence that brings forgiveness and salvation.
But we sometimes feel the darkness is just too much for us to handle. There's no escaping the bad things we experience from living in a fallen, sin-filled world. Whether we're innocent victims or suffering from the results of our own selfish choices, we find ourselves curled up in the corner praying for the light that seems like it will never come.
Hold on! Hope is on the way! The promises of the prophets not only point to Jesus' first incarnation, but they remind us that He is with us in our darkness and that the new and glorious morning will come!
I hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, December 15th, for the 3rd Sunday of Advent and our celebration that the Good News that was proclaimed by the angels is true today!
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows--
light! sunbursts of light!
Isaiah 9:2 (The Message)
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