Yet they don't ask, "Where is God my
Creator,
the one who gives songs in the night?"
Job 35:10
songs in the night.
songs in the darkness.
songs in the dark night of the soul.
songs that are born
out of seasons and
spaces and places
when night feels so
long and the coming
dawn seems to wait
and creation holds
its breath until the
dark is pushed away
with colors so subtle
at first which grow in
intensity and hue as
His glory is painted
across the skies.
but oh how black is the
darkness right before
that dawn.
and is not singing in the
light of day so much easier?
the notes can be seen
on the staff
and the intricacies
of meter and
harmonies and
chord progressions
just make more
sense when sunlight
streams in.
yet it is in the darkness
that He promises to sing
over us and gives us a
song to sing.
we are never alone even
in the darkest of nights,
whether the darkness
be literal or
figurative,
physical or
spiritual or
emotional or
any type of darkness
to be found in this
broken world.
and no darkness exists
that cannot be pierced
by the light that is Jesus.
songs composed to be played
only on the black keys reveal
beauty in places
least
expected.
and melodies
written
with tears
are often exquisite
in their beauty as they
hang low to the ground in
hushed sorrow, then soar to the
heavens as joy
comes in the morning.
sometimes the morning of joy
takes longer to arrive than we
would like and some nights
last for seasons longer
than we think
we can bear.
a song in the night
is given to see us
through and hope
remembers what
He has done in
the past and looks
to what He is doing
in this moment and
what He is yet to do
tomorrow.
Then he measured another 1,750 feet,
and the river was too deep to walk across.
It was deep enough to swim in,
but too deep to walk through.
Ezekiel 47:5
Jesus plunged into the river
when He quietly slipped into
love's redemption story.
the manger came with
no shallow end.
Jesus became
one of us.
completely.
yet He remained God.
completely.
He knew before His first breath
of air into lungs so human
that the river
would lead to the cross.
and yet He came,
all for love's sake.
love's story began long before
the actual birth of Jesus.
from before time began,
Jesus knew.
He knew salvation's
plan would be
needed to
bring people
like you and me
into the presence
of His Father,
making Him
our Father as well.
He saw the river
before the morning
stars were taught to sing.
Jesus knew that wherever
the water of the river
would touch, new
life would be
born.
the river brought
life all along its
banks as roots
reached down
for its water.
and the river
is Jesus.
as the
river flows
it brings healing
and hope and life.
that is the message
of the manger.
especially hope.
hope seems scarce
as we look around this
Christmas season and if we
go by feelings alone, even sitting
in the quiet by the manger can
leave one feeling
a little
empty.
yet the space of
'feelings alone' is
not where the
follower of Jesus
has to stay.
the manger and the river
hold promises so secure
and hope so relentless.
feeling the joy and wonder
of this season leaves the
heart filled to
overflowing.
and that is a gift
of exquisite beauty.
yet Christmas has
no less meaning
if for some reason
the heart isn't able
to experience that
joy and wonder.
Jesus understands.
allow yourself to fall
into the river which
flows from the manger
to
the
cross,
knowing
that you
will be held tightly
by the One who is hope.
hope has a name and that name
is
Jesus.
Sing a new song to the LORD!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Isaiah 42:10
a stable
a cave.
the only warmth
from animals surrounding.
the only light from a star.
a young girl
giving birth to a son,
straw her bed.
her mother
her grandmother
nowhere near
to offer help,
to offer comfort.
her husband knelt
at her side,
giving all he could.
would Mary have changed
the circumstances if she could?
is it possible to sing a song
of praise even when
darkness falls
and fears
threaten?
a song of praise
need not be sung
in tune
or sung
at all
for that song
is from the heart.
once her precious
baby was safely
in her arms
was her song
able to express the
tangle of emotion
which must have risen in
her
heart?
was she
simply
stunned and
silent as she
held the
King of the universe?
and a song of praise
was piercing the night
as angels by
the tens of
thousands
sang
honor
praise
worship
glory to God
for the baby
in the manger.
shepherds at first
too frightened to sing
came to join the chorus
of songs as they knelt by
the manger.
they left with a new song
in their hearts.
a spontaneous song of praise
which could not be contained.
every single heart ever beating
has a song.
the lyrics
the meter
the tempo
all being
written with each
breath taken.
and each breath taken
a gift from the One
to whom we sing.
perhaps today you find yourself
in a space you'd rather not be
or in a place causing
the heart to ache
and tears to
fall.
songs sung in the dark,
in the dark night of the soul,
rise on the wings of angels and sing
in the heart of Jesus.
and when we sing a new song,
Jesus overcomes the enemy
in our lives.
His power is released
and Christmas sings.
a song of praise was sung
before that first Christmas
as Mary responded
to the angel's news.
an unplanned
unrehearsed
song of praise
rising to heaven as she gave her song
to the One to whom she would
soon sing lullabies.
