Sunday morning retuning: As we continue to walk through our “The Gifts of Christmas” series Pastor Myron Daum challenged us to be different that the man in the video by allowing grace to characterize how people see us. It was a challenging and inspiring reminder of our need to do so. Have you accepted the gift of grace yourself? Are you compelled to keep the gift of grace ever before you? If you are not sure, maybe you can find some inspiration here.
I have often been fond of saying that we celebrate Christmas at the perfect time of year, when the lights are the longest. The long dark only serves to accentuate the coming of the light that we commemorate and this most blessed of seasons. That's probably why the title of an article I saw last week really resonated with me.
I saw an article that listed Youngstown among the bleakest places to live on earth. The Vindy confirms it. We had that feeling when we moved into the Mahoning Valley six years ago. A sense of hopelessness seemed to blanket the entire region. That has been confirmed living here, listening to people talk and observing the average countenance of people who call this valley home.
Now before you begin to think that this is some strange way of putting down this place, let me make the connection. This place is bleak, with the closing of the steel mills and the impact that had on the local economy, the population exodus and ultimately the demeanor of many who live here, but I have a different perspective. Like the world Jesus entered, this place could use some hope, and there is a glimmer of it even in the articles above, but much more so in Him.
It was a humble place Jesus came to be born, and this tells me he's still looking for similar places to enter. So what will our response be? Will we mirror the hopelessness of many of our neighbors, or will we shine with the radiant beauty of Christ in the midst of otherwise bleak surroundings?
When I think of the word bleak, there was always one song that comes to mind. It is a great old, traditional Christmas Carol, "in the bleak midwinter". Here is the text and a video of one of my favorite versions of it. Notice the response in the last stanza and consider your own. Merry Christmas!
Jesus, use us to bring hope into bleak circumstances. We dare not try to do it in our own strength. We look to You and ask for Your power. In Jesus name. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
