Christmas Lights

Christmas. The song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” The trees, the decorations, the music, the parties, the excitement on precious little faces, and the presents!

For many, the anticipation of the end of the season is more exciting. The season instead brings times of sadness, loneliness, hurt, or painful memories. Or maybe it’s the hustle and bustle, the busyness.

Normally, I’m not one that really gets into the Christmas season. But this season has actually not been so bad.

This Christmas season, I get to witness spectacular extravagance in our sweet little community. So many coming together to bring joy to one another and our larger community by building our first town of lights.

The result? Amazement and wonder fill us as the number of cars slowly enter just to see the lights, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, or take advantage of our beautifully decorated photo opportunity.

It’s been a season of joy, the internal satisfaction of the giving of one’s self to bring delight to someone else.

The reason for bringing lights to the community is also to bring hope. Our year is definitely not “normal.” Yet, in the middle of it all, there is a glimmer. A sparkle. Something more.

What happens to darkness when light appears? The darkness goes away. The brightness of the light takes over so there is no longer darkness.

Our Connections Challenge: This Christmas season, we celebrate the lighting of the trees, the lighting outside our homes and marketplace. We celebrate with joy that the Light of the world was born over 2,000 years ago. Immanuel, “God with us.” He is our Light. He is our Hope.

This week, I have to share two special songs that beautifully speak of the Light, the Hope. If you feel a weight of darkness, Immanuel brings the Light of life to you freely. He is the joy that came to bring you the delight of His Presence. Our God is with us.

Please listen to the words, and enjoy these songs of the season. We can Sing Hallelujah to the Light of the World because Hope Has a Name, and His Name is Immanuel!

Merry Christmas!