Light 'Em Up!
Here is the introduction to my newly released Advent Devotional book, “The Lights of Christmas.” It is available on Kindle through Amazon here.
The mountain was covered in darkness. The winding roads, covered in snow, made for a treacherous drive. Exhausted as we were from a fifteen hour flight and a three hour drive, we were wide awake with both excitement and just a little bit of fear.
No one else was on the road. Why would they be? It was Christmas Eve. Midnight was just a couple of hours away. But it had been a year since we’d seen our children, a year since our whole family had been together. Seoul, Korea is a long way from Beech Mountain, North Carolina.
As we turned onto the side road that led to our mountain home, we saw the lights. Not only was our little cabin lit up with the lights of Christmas, but all our children were waiting outside in the cold, holding lights of their own as they waited for Mom and Dad.
Fear and fatigue turned to excitement and joy as we hugged our kids in the falling snow. We were complete, together with the ones we loved.
That’s what I love most about the Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Matthew, quoting the prophet, Isaiah, describes it like this - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
Jesus is the light of Christmas, but he, who is the light of the world, calls us to let our lights shine as well. Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many, but it is also a difficult time for others. A time when the darkness of loved ones lost, or any number of painful experiences and memories can turn every day of this special season into a painful struggle.
For those of you joyfully anticipating this Advent season, I want to challenge you to seek out others whose loneliness and pain is especially acute in these days. Visit them in their homes. Invite them to Christmas dinner. Share a Communion service with them. Let your light shine on those living in darkness.
And for all, whoever you are and wherever life has led, I offer these devotionals to help you experience the light of Christ this Christmas season.
The four weekly candles of hope, peace, joy, and love point us to the Christ candle we light on Christmas Day. Each candle is part of the Advent journey, which leads us to Christmas Day and the lighting of the Christ candle. And as we light each candle, and turn our thoughts and prayers to Christ Jesus, our Lord, the light of his life, shines in our hearts and lives.
In Christ,
Dan
Church on the Edge and Embrace Church continue to challenge the church in our day to stay in step with the Spirit, making the Good News of Jesus attractive to ALL people.