Wonder & Worship

We saw his star when it rose

and have come to worship him.

Matthew 2:2

The following poem offers a glimpse of the intrinsic beauty regarding light. Relax a little, as you enjoy an excerpt from the Christmas Eve services at Mission Church in Roselle, IL, in 2017.

A Light Has Come

by Jon Jorgenson

Star Light, Star Bright

First Star I see tonight

Deep in the Dark, creation is humming

A light has come, light is coming.

A light has come. A light is coming.

At 299,792,458 meters per second, a light is coming.

Light is energy. Its rays and waves greeting us with a bright, sunny face.

Light speeds and it spreads, covering everything it touches.

It breaks, it illuminates, and it captivates.

It stimulates the senses and eliminates the dark.

It fascinates the children and generates a spark.

It shines. And without it, we’re blind. Literally.

It is only when light enters our eye that we are finally able to see.

You see, we as a people living in darkness need a great, great light.

So, it’s no wonder then that out of all the things that he could have chosen to create first, God said “Let there be light”.

How beautiful. We are indeed in need of a great, great light. This side of heaven, we’ll never be able wrap our minds around the magnificence that God gave us in “light”.

As 1 John 1:5 wonderfully proclaims,

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

And as we approach Christmas, may we intentionally center our hearts on Christ. In doing do, I invite you to take a step closer to the wonder and the worship inside God’s great gift, that came wrapped gloriously in light.

The Wonder of Christmas

Christmas and lights go together like the moon and the stars. As a little girl one of my favorite memories at Christmastime were the early mornings. Quietly, I would get up before anyone else, walk softly to the living room, turn on the lights of the Christmas tree, and sit close by, just the lights and me. There was a hushed, hidden treasure, snug within the solitude of those sweet mornings, as if the rest of the world had stopped.

On the night of the birth of our Saviour, perhaps that’s how the wise men felt – as if the rest of the world had stopped.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9

And there will always be infinite beauty and wonder in the truth of Christmas – the Virgin Birth, the Star of Bethlehem, God’s grace, and the indescribable light of Christ.

Let me ask you, how often do you stop to wonder about God’s love? How often do you allow space to be curious about what your loving Father in heaven has done and is doing? You’re just busy, (trust me, I know) – busy with kids, busy with housework, busy with jobs, busy with the to-do lists (that are growing and unending, and always will be). “Mom life” is certainly a juggling act. To top off my business, I often have a busy mind (we’ll just call those thoughts that dance, sometimes all over the place). Through the years I’ve learned that I often need a quiet place, to pray, to listen, and let God take up more room in my heart. It’s then that I can step back into a place of trust and wonder. For he’s always at work, brightening my faith and adding a deeper sense of wonder – for his glory and for my soul.

May this Christmas season you search a little more for the beautiful things that light up your heart, and then you give yourself permission to stop and to wonder. Perhaps it’s the festive sea of lights, sprinkled throughout the world on Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s way that the cookie scented Christmas candle dances in the night, or a winter sunset’s orange bid farewell. Or maybe for you, it’s the soft moonlight that rests sweetly on your child’s face before you whisper goodnight. Or even the light of a memory from a past Christmas, one that you’ll always cherish. And more than anything may you allow the wonder of Jesus, the Light of the world, to always light your way.

The Worship of Christmas

My first attempt at snorkeling was off the North Shore of St. John in the Virgin Islands. Glittering shades of turquoise popped against the white sand, as the ocean breeze played with my hair. It sounds blissful, even romantic. Except I was 22 years old and uneasy because of my lack of confidence in this saltwater venture. And once you threw in a mask with a breathing tube and flippers, any remaining elegance, or certainty went out the door.

As others gracefully floated, I floundered around the warm waters, eventually cutting my finger on the coral reef. I was so embarrassed. But after a little pressure, a bandage, and a laugh, I was fine. But timidly I admit that for years until it faded, I enjoyed having the scar down the side of my finger. It was a good memory, rich with electric blues, and an array of yellows, peaches and pinks. The ocean life swayed and swirled, optimally and beautifully. And the best part was the light. It was the way that the light bent, slowing down as it shined blissfully through the water.

Don’t you just love God and all of his beauty and mystery? It’s true in the spiritual realm and the physical realm, all things really are possible with God.

It’s amazing that light bends, causing it to travel at a different angle – science refers to this process as refraction. It’s when light passes from a less dense substance to a denser substance, and therefore refracted (bent).

Light bends and shines beautifully through the water, because that’s God’s plan for light. And if we give God our hearts, making his plans our plans, we too must bend. We bend our lives to align with his will, trusting him more. We bend our plans and actions to move with him. We bend our agendas, making time for his word and refreshing wisdom. And we bend in humble reverence to pray, to listen, and to worship.

C.S. Lewis understood the power and psychology of bending toward God in worship. He once said, “God does not command worship for himself because of neediness, but rather is providing us with a means toward our own great joy in him.”

A Wish

Past the holly jolly and beneath the melody your favorite Christmas song lies the true wonders of his love. God is asking you to push back the unending distractions this Christmas, giving him your whole heart. And when you do so, the sweet eternal love of Jesus will lead you to a bright place of wonder and worship, allowing you softly whisper back, I’m all yours.

Then merrily go about your way…quietly carrying a deeply felt “Happy Birthday wish” in your heart.

Happy Birthday to our magnificent Creator of light. Happy Birthday to the light that has come, and the light that is coming.

3-2-1

3 Scripture Verses, 2 Quotes,

& 1 Question to Consider

3 Scripture Verses:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis: 1 1-4

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

2 Quotes:

“God’s light not only exposes deep things in our souls, but it also can produce the assurance of warmth. It can illuminate our surroundings, bring clarity to our path, and instill confidence in God’s direction.” – Gary Rohrmayer

“The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love – whether we call it friendship or family or romance – is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light.” – James Baldwin

1 Question:

Will you seek to put all your trust in Christ, “the Light of world”?