Love's Pure Light

Silent Night

The above link is to a video by Sixpence None the Richer (as well as Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay).

I think it is a very cool video for one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I like this song because the song was written and intended for guitar.  I also like it for the beautiful harmonies that can be found.  But ultimately, I love the words.  I especially love the 3rd verse.

Silent Night, Holy Night
Son of God, Love's pure light. 
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. 

I Love it..."Love's pure light."  I love thinking about the light that Jesus brings to the world.  I love thinking about the light that Jesus brings to ME! 

I love the part of the Christmas Eve services, when we all lift our candles high, belting out the 3rd verse of "Silent Night."

I love the peacefulness of that moment.  I love the reverence of that moment.

I don't know if it is the "Calm before the storm" or what, but I just love that moment.  I always feel the presence of God in a very strong way in that part of the service. 

However, what I feel stronger than anything else, is the calling to take that light out unto the world.  The message of the Gospel is clear and it is clear that we as Christians are given the task of sharing the light of Christ. 

As our campus Pastor, Andrea Smith, said at the Christmas Eve Eve service...The manger has a mission. 

We have a mission. 

We celebrate Christmas with our families tomorrow, but our mission for the year also starts tomorrow.

Christmas doesn't end tomorrow, it just begins.

It begins with us sharing the light of Christ with others.
It begins with us being the hands and feet of Christ.
It begins with dropping the label of "Christian" and we start "Being" a Christian.
It begins when we stop just going to church and we start Being the church.

It begins with You. 

Love's pure light comes tonight for YOU!
Are you going to hide that light? 
Are you going to let it fade and just go back to "life as normal" next week?

Love's pure light comes tonight for You!

What are you going to do with that gift?