You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace.
Join us.
Kids, we get to talk together this morning.
If you'll join me up here on the stairs, we're going to talk for just a couple of minutes.
Good morning.
Is anybody up here excited for Christmas?
Do you like Christmas?
Oh, y'all like Christmas, huh?
Is that fun?
I'm excited for Christmas.
I really like Christmas a lot.
Here's what we're going to do this Christmas, okay?
This is December the 1st.
Every Sunday in December, we're going to come up here on these stairs and talk about Christmas
together, okay?
And we're going to talk especially about one thing each week that kids love about Christmas.
So you're going to have to help me with some things that you love about Christmas.
I really am having a hard time thinking of anything.
But we're going to celebrate Christmas because when we celebrate Christmas, we're celebrating
Jesus' birth, aren't we?
Isn't that?
We're going to talk about how these things that we love about Christmas teach us about
Jesus.
What do you think we might should talk about today?
Hey, James, how are you?
Hey, man, you want to sit with us?
Will you sit with me?
Awesome.
Perfect.
I brought some of these things this year.
Do y'all know what these are?
What are they?
Lights.
Does anybody see any other Christmas lights in this room anywhere?
Yeah, there are some on the trees.
That's good.
There's another kind over there.
You can't see it very well, but do you see the candles?
One of them has a little light at the top of it that Miss Allison lit earlier.
Candles are special kinds of Christmas lights.
There are even some fun Christmas lights on Pastor Will's socks.
That's exciting, huh?
Yeah, yeah.
Christmas lights everywhere.
Are there some up there on the screen?
Yeah.
All over the place, lots of Christmas lights.
Who likes to look at Christmas lights?
Me.
Yeah, me too.
Every year, my family either goes and drives around to look at them or sometimes walks through
to see Christmas lights.
And here's what I want you to think about.
When you see Christmas lights, I want you to remember that Jesus is the light of the world.
Did you hear Miss Lindsay just sing that?
The light of the world, glory to the light of the world.
Why is it so important that Jesus is the light of the world?
Because without light, it's dark.
Dark.
And if it's dark, we can't see anything, can we?
Well, except for very light things.
Well, that's true.
Only if there's light can we see in the dark, right?
Yeah.
And so Jesus comes.
Jesus comes to help us see God.
To help us know what God is like.
To know how much God loves us.
And those are really important things that we need, aren't they?
Isn't it awesome that Jesus comes to give us light so that we can know who God is and
how he loves us?
See, Jesus is a light that never goes out, isn't he?
So that when you trust him, you're never going to be completely in the dark.
You can talk to him anytime.
We call that praying, don't we?
You can ask for his help.
You can trust that he loves you all the time.
So when you see Christmas lights this year, you're going to remember that Jesus is the
light of the world.
Very good.
The light of the world.
Let's pray and then I'll let you go.
Jesus, we are so thankful that you are the light of the world.
We're thankful that you being light, you didn't keep all that light up in heaven with you,
but you came and at Christmas you were born.
You came into this world so that these kids could know light, could know God, and could
know how much you love them.
We're so thankful for that.
And so we pray that this Christmas we would know you more.
We would rejoice in you more and we would love your light.
In Jesus' name, amen.
All right.
Some of you are going to go out the back doors.
You see Miss Katie waving back there to go to kids worship with you, kindergarten and first
grade.
Go with Miss Katie and the rest of you can go back to your seats, okay?
Thank you so much.
Don't trip.
Thank you.
Yeah.
I do especially want to think about Christmas with our kids this year.
I really want for them to be able to understand the good news of Christmas in their own words
that they can follow along with.
But I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that kids are not the only ones here this morning
who get excited about some of these Christmas things like lights.
Anybody else like Christmas lights?
Okay.
See, some of us still love Christmas things.
So we're going to talk a little bit more too about these same themes.
We're actually now, and kids, you can listen along and still learn with us.
We're going to go beginning to end of the Bible's story this morning.
But at the heart of the good news about the light of the world is Isaiah chapter 9.
That's where we're going to start.
We heard part of it read for us earlier.
And one of the reasons it's so helpful to us is that it makes the darkness of this world
very tangible.
And we're going to feel that because then the light's going to shine into that darkness
that we can understand a little bit more.
Follow with me as I read the first five verses of Isaiah 9.
This is God's holy word.
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.
In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.
But in the latter time, he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
You have multiplied the nation.
You have increased its joy.
They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the
spoil for the yoke of his burden and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor.
You have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
Thus far, God's holy word.
On the way out, it was terrible, terrible.
I screamed.
I just wanted to get out to see the light.
That's the way Mario Sepulveda described enduring darkness for 10 weeks as one of 33 Chilean miners
trapped 2,000 feet underground back in 2010.
You probably remember the news coverage.
Those 33 miners had emergency rations.
They had battery-operated headlamps.
But many were convinced they would never survive the darkness long enough to be rescued.
Thankfully, with the help of some experts from around the world, including many from NASA,
some of you may have helped, they were rescued.
Finally, light broke in to the darkness of the collapsed mine.
One by one, the miners were pulled up to safety,
to the cheers of family and people watching around the world at that point.
When you have been in darkness so complete and so oppressive for so long,
terrible, terrible,
you long for the light to break in.
And you rejoice when it does.
That's the story of Advent.
That's what we're celebrating in this season.
It's the story of Isaiah chapter 9.
And what we can't afford to do at Christmastime or any other time
is to underestimate the darkness.
And therefore, as a result of underestimating the darkness,
not rejoice the way we should in the light.
Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light,
Madeline Lingle once wrote.
I think we have a tendency, most of us,
to ignore our need, our weakness, our darkness,
to focus on our strengths, on our resources,
on the great things about ourselves.
Notice how for God's people, they have to face darkness,
even as light is promised.
In several different ways, they have to deal with it.
The most prominent aspect of darkness for them and for us,
we have to acknowledge this.
It's our sin.
The context here in Isaiah 9 is that God's people have turned away from Him.
They have bowed down to idols.
They have looked for life in their own pursuits,
in their own priorities.
They have forsaken the Lord, Isaiah says.
They've rebelled against Him.
They are utterly estranged.
Those are Isaiah's words, kids.
That means they were far away from God.
Far, far away.
Now, there's two different ways to get far away from God,
at least two general ways.
Some of them have gotten far from God just by trusting themselves.
I mean, they were doing pretty well.
They looked pretty good.
They're very moral.
They're quite humanly successful.
Many of them probably would have been in church.
All the while disregarding God's laws.
Neglecting the poor, for example.
Worshiping their own power.
Others of them were also far from God,
but they've gotten there a different way.
They've gotten there by just running as fast as they could away from God.
Turning their backs on God.
Calling everything He said was good, evil.
Calling everything He said was evil, good.
And just mocking those who loved Yahweh and loved His Word.
Like their brothers and sisters, their hope was in man,
in their internal wisdom and resources.
It wasn't in God.
But at the end of the day, both kinds of sinners end up far from God,
don't they?
And don't we?
As a result, all around, Isaiah says,
as he concludes this right up to the verses we just read,
he says they're going to find distress and darkness,
the gloom of anguish.
They'll be thrust into thick darkness.
You understand why.
God is light.
In Him, there's no darkness at all.
So darkness is distance from God.
And so when you run far away from God,
sin separates us from God.
I really want us to face up to this reality.
Y'all, there is enough darkness in each of us
to keep us far, far away from God,
trapped deep underground forever.
There is plenty of that in each of us.
We're going to see that the story of the Bible
is not one of problem outside of me,
solution inside of me.
That's not the story of the Bible.
That's the good news of modern America.
That's what we like to think.
No, the story of the Bible,
the gospel of Jesus,
is problem inside of me,
solution from outside of me.
It is light breaking into darkness.
The Advent longing that we're feeling this morning,
that we're living in as we sing,
come, come, Emmanuel.
It's felt most by those who are most desperate
to be rescued.
People like me.
People like me who get to pick the people
that they'll love best
and still let them down
and hurt them
because I love myself better.
People who do things that look good
but do them just because they want to look good.
Who pridefully think that the best path forward
is typically,
and if I'm honest,
always,
for everyone just to listen to me
and do what I say,
wouldn't it all be better?
The darkness of our sin,
that I would think that's true.
That has me far from God, right?
The most terrible reality possible,
that I would be far from Him.
Don't overlook that darkness
in your own heart.
Don't try to pretend it's okay
or you're actually a lot better than Will.
I know you are,
but it doesn't actually make you perfect either.
It's important to acknowledge, though,
that sometimes darkness is not from our sin,
but it's from our suffering,
perhaps from the sin of others,
maybe from injustice,
from the attacks of the powers of darkness
in this world.
Look at verse 4.
They're dealing with this.
For the yoke of His burden,
the staff for His shoulder,
the rod of His oppressor,
you have broken.
This is true of every single person
in this room.
You're a sinner.
And others have sinned against you.
Those are true for every one of us.
You may feel darkness in this world
like Job.
Not because you're horrible,
but because you're human.
Satan and his minions
and other sinners
fight against you.
And the darkness of confusion
and depression
and despair
is real.
It's terrible.
And you long for the light.
Finally,
there's a third category of darkness.
I think it's the darkness of death.
Verse 5.
For every boot of the tramping warrior
in battle tumult,
every garment rolled in blood
will be burned.
God's people have faced here
the trauma of war.
It's awful.
Terrible.
As a result,
the fear of death,
the grief of loved ones lost,
as Assyrians have carried them
into exile.
There's not much in this world
that feels darker,
more terrible,
is there?
Some of us feel that
especially right now.
Especially around the holidays.
We know that darkness.
I hope that you're starting
to identify
some of the ways
that you personally
are presently
experiencing darkness.
darkness.
But I thought it'd be helpful
as we struggle to do that
to take a step back,
look from 30,000 feet
at the story
of light and darkness
in the Bible.
We're just going to hit
a few highlights.
But it's one of the best lenses
through which to read
the Christmas story
is this lens of darkness
and light.
You know plenty of books
and movies
that develop this theme
as the centerpiece
of great masterpieces.
But the reason
that darkness and light,
good and evil,
resonate so deeply with us
is that it is
the great story
of all of history.
Notice some important patterns
from the very beginning
of the Bible story.
First, that light
must break through
into the darkness.
It's always that way.
Darkness was over
the face of the deep
when God said what?
Let there be light.
Light breaking into the darkness
as God speaks
His perfect world
into existence.
Of course, it's not long
into the story
till the powers
of darkness invade.
Our rebellion against God
breaks His perfect creation.
Sin starts to cast
its shadow over this world.
Darkness is palpable.
It's spreading
as we are driven out where?
From God's presence
far from Him
into the darkness
away from the one
who's light.
I want you to see something
in Exodus 10
because I want you to know
that God knows
how awful darkness is.
He sends darkness
as one of the plagues
on Egypt
over the whole land
while He spares
His beloved people
from a darkness
that He calls
a darkness
to be felt.
Some of you know
that weight,
that discouragement,
the chains
of emotional darkness,
felt,
heavy,
overwhelming
darkness.
Some of you,
we've talked about
this together.
You've told me
you liken yourself
in many ways
to Job.
If you had to guess
the book in the Bible
where the word dark
appears the most times,
would you have guessed
the book of Job?
Over 40 times.
It's often the darkness
of suffering,
evil happening
to you,
that confusion
part of darkness
where there's a sovereign God
that you love,
but you don't understand Him.
You can't figure Him out.
I don't know
what He's doing.
That darkness
just keeps getting worse.
It grows through the story
as Proverbs highlights
the darkness
that the wicked experience
because they stumble
and don't even know
what tripped them.
That's how dark it is.
They couldn't even see
what they're falling over.
It's deep darkness.
That's where sinners live
apart from God, right?
Without His light.
So dark we can't even see
what we're tripping on.
It's where God's people are,
far from Him
in the darkness of exile
for years and years.
Oh come,
oh come Emmanuel,
disperse the gloomy
clouds of night
and death's dark shadows
put to flight.
That's where they are.
That's the longing
that they have
when God sends
prophet
after prophet
to tell them what?
to tell them
where to look for light.
They are 2,000 feet
underground
so to speak.
But He wants them
to see glimmers
of hope
to know light
is coming.
He wants to say to them
don't be foolish
and just settle
for darkness.
Just give up
and decide
there's no hope
and just settle
for the darkness.
But He also doesn't
want them to look
for light
from their own
battery operated headlamps.
He knows they won't
give you life
for long
if you just look
to yourself
and what you have
there underground
in your darkness
and it won't last.
It might look like light
for a few moments
or days
but you need
real light
He says.
Isaiah chapter 60
darkness shall cover
the earth
thick darkness
to peoples
where's the hope?
But the Lord
Yahweh
will arise
upon you.
His glory
will be seen
upon you.
That's the hope
isn't it?
It's rooted
in what God
is like.
The prophet Ezekiel
compares Him
to a shepherd.
Look at this.
As a shepherd
seeks out his flock
when he's among
his sheep
that have been scattered
so will I
seek out my sheep
and I will
rescue them
from all the places
where they've been scattered
on a day of clouds
and thick darkness.
You notice
this side of the stage
for today
is far from God.
Okay?
Far from God.
He's over there
somewhere
just for the purpose
of this sermon.
There ain't no darkness
strong enough
God is saying
that could tear you
out from my heart.
That's our hope
that He would insist
that He breaks
into our darkness.
The prophet Micah
reminds us
that when I fall
I shall rise.
When I sit
in darkness
the Lord
Yahweh
will be a light
to me.
Light
breaking in
because the shepherd
plunges into the darkness
to rescue His sheep
because the glory
of the Lord
is coming
because God is light
and in Him
is no darkness
at all
and He will not
have us stay
far from Him
will He?
He
and His glory
are coming
and they are coming
how?
In a child
Isaiah 9 says.
They're coming
in a child.
Are you feeling
at this point
in the story
the back and forth
battle between
darkness and light
in the Bible story?
You see how that
unfolds?
Darkness lands
some punches early
looking strong
but then something
happens
right in the middle
of the story
right at the heart
of it
what we're celebrating
in this season
the light shines
in the darkness
and the darkness
has not overcome it.
That's Christmas
that in the dark streets
of the little town
of Bethlehem
shines what?
The everlasting light
amen
that keeps shining
light really breaks
through in the person
of the Christ child
in the manger
and His light
will not be snuffed out.
That's what it means
the darkness
will not overcome it
it will not be snuffed out
not even
when the sun
stops shining
in the middle
of the day
while Jesus
hangs on the cross
when for all the world
it appears
that darkness
has finally won
no
the light
still shines again
because the darker
the night gets
the brighter
the light shines
don't forget that
especially those of you
who are feeling
dark right now
the light is
especially coming
it will be
especially bright
He is coming
to rescue
and that
in many ways
that's for all of us
because see
the Bible says
we love darkness
not maybe all the time
maybe it's scary to us
but we love darkness
because we love our sin
and we love ourselves
it's rebels like us
who love darkness
who need rescuing
and what does Jesus
say to people
like that
I am
the light
of the world
He explains
what that means
He's saying
He's going to
forgive the sins
of desperate
sin addicts
like you
and me
He'll show the way
to God
for lost
confused
hurting
wanderers
in the dark
He'll even bring
life in the face
of death
for the fearfully
hopelessly condemned
glory
to the light
of the world
we should sing that
over and over
Jesus comes
and delivers us
from the domain
of darkness
the dark world
in which we live
that's Colossians 1
and brings us where
into
His
kingdom
and so we are
to declare
the praises
of Him
who called us
out of darkness
into His
marvelous light
breaking into
our darkness
so no more
hiding in the dark
as Derek reminded us
that's from 1 John
live in the light
that is broken in
to rescue you
reflect it
shine it
live honestly
hopefully
because the light
has come
and the light
will never leave
Jesus the judge
in Revelation
sets all things
right
all the unjust
oppression
and suffering
that are a part
of the darkness
of this world
will somehow
be corrected
once and for all
as He makes
all things new
glory comes
and death
will be no more
as everlasting life
reigns
glory comes
and God Himself
will be the light
of the heavenly city
forever
so that darkness
is banished
to hell forever
and we are always
near the light
of life forever
glory
to the light
of the world
He does that
He makes that reality
something that we know
and look forward to
that's the Cliff Notes
version
of the battle
of darkness
and light
I hope it gets you
excited for Christmas
I hope you see
in that
the hope
that we celebrate
at least
get you excited
for seeing Christmas
lights sometime soon
and realizing
that they are
piercing
the darkness
of your neighborhood
or your city
the way that
Jesus in this story
pierces the darkness
of this world
as the light
of the world
His breaking in
as the light
of the world
is the highlight
of that story
so let's finish
by going back
to Isaiah 9
we stopped
just short
of the best part
hang with me
and follow
the line of thought
for just a minute
what he's saying
is that light
is going to break
into darkness
joy is coming
in the place
of anguish
and now he's going
to say why
that's what starts
at verse 4
for
first reason
the unjust
suffering
and oppression
will be over
yay
for
war and death
will be defeated
finally
yay
and then this
is the way
the Hebrew works
it builds
to a third
four
that is at
the foundation
of those
first two
all of those
things ultimately
happen
for
enlightened
people
will finally
figure out
how to build
an economically
sustainable
world
to live in
no
for
a strong
leader
will arise
to set things
straight for a few
years with all the
right policies
no
not really
don't forget
as
as our hearts
do go in those
directions
that those are
human options
they're
they're like
battery operated
headlamps
to those
in underground
darkness
those are the
things we're
drawn to
and you can
understand it
can't you
because it's
really really
dark over here
and when we get
any glimmer
we think
that's the thing
that's what I
need
that's going
to give me
life
that's going
to rescue
me
and it
won't
the light
has to break
in from
outside
darkness
can't drive
out darkness
only light
can do that
Martin Luther
King Jr
side note
on that
as we think
about sitting
over here
in the
darkness
as you
think about
talking to
your friends
and your
neighbors
because we
all feel
this darkness
at some
level
and in
different
ways
we realize
that our
lights
that we're
attracted to
have batteries
that are
going to run
out
that are
already
maybe running
dim
or flickering
a little
bit
and we
all know
that
so do
our friends
and our
neighbors
so it's
actually a
great way
in conversation
into the
hope
of the
light
of the
world
to be
honest
to ask
where do
you feel
darkness
despair
discouragement
if you're
willing to
get honest
maybe then
the two
of you
can be
honest
enough
with one
another
that it
gets dark
enough
that you'll
both long
for the
real light
for the
light of
the world
together
what a
beautiful
opportunity
anyway
back to the
last four
and the real
thing that it
says in
verse six
four
at the root
of all of
it
where's the
light coming
from
a child
is born
a son
is given
this is the
part you
know there's
a reason
it's memorable
the ruler
of all
the light
of the
world
that's where
the light's
coming from
see he is
the wonderful
counselor
I hope these
names will make
sense to you
now
that you'll
understand
who Jesus
is being
identified as
in this
story of
light and
dark
literally
he's a
wonder
of a
counselor
full of
supernatural
wisdom
so when we
feel that
we're wandering
in the
darkness
groping around
for the best
path forward
where we're
confused
we're searching
desperately for
hope
the child
king breaks
in as a
brilliant light
and what does
he say
he says
follow me
trust me
order your
entire life
to know me
to know my
way of life
when you know
so little else
for sure
I will bring
you home to
God
you just have
to know me
and he's
also
the mighty
God
it's a title
used for
Yahweh himself
even in the
next chapter
it's perhaps
the clearest
of these four
titles in
highlighting
the divinity
of this
promised
child
king
he's doing
God stuff
isn't he
what's the
God stuff
that he's
doing in
our story
light
powerfully
breaking
into darkness
that's what
God does
he doesn't
just have
wise plans
he can make
them happen
he can deliver
the weak
and the
oppressed
he can break
our bonds
of sin
and addiction
and self
obsession
in fact
his strength
never wearies
so nothing
is impossible
for him
the darkness
will not
overcome
the mighty
God
and he's
the everlasting
father
a name
speaking to
his kind
protection
of his
people
maybe you
don't think
of light
that way
but this
is what
light
is
all of us
who've been
entrusted
to his
faithful
care
all of a
sudden
those of
us who
maybe your
darkness
feels like
no one
ever stands
up for
you
speaks up
to defend
you
argues
your cause
against
the bully
ever brings
relief
in the attack
that you're
facing
maybe you
feel that
way
listen
this child
king
most certainly
will do
those things
he is the
everlasting
father
who holds
you in
his arms
and never
lets you
go
who defeats
all of
his and
our enemies
including
the powers
of darkness
that you don't
even know
or understand
that he drives
out by his
light
and he welcomes
you home
again
when you've
sinned
again
when you've
gone away
from God
because his
love and
commitment to
you never
fail and
never end
he's your
everlasting
father
finally he's
the prince
of peace
he makes
wars cease
to the ends
of the earth
he breaks
the bow
and shatters
the spear
death
himself
our
last
enemy
is defeated
as his
light
shines
into our
world
and in the
place
of the
darkness
the reign
of this
child
king
brings
a restoration
of life
the way
that it
was meant
to be
in God's
good creation
wrongs
are now
made right
sad things
come untrue
hope
springing
eternal
when the
prince
of peace
is on
the throne
that's
the light
of the world
that's
who he
is
Jesus
the light
of the world
come
so that we
will not
walk
in
terrible
darkness
that
will not
remain
in bondage
to our
sin
far
from
God
that's
why he
came
so that
we will
not
remain
hopeless
and discouraged
in our
suffering
and warfare
against evil
so that
we will
not remain
fearful
of death
darkness
is driven
out
because
light
breaks in
and shines
and keeps
shining
so listen
don't
look
for that
light
anywhere
else
don't
think
this
Christmas
light
will come
from
just some
good
holiday
feelings
it doesn't
last
you know
that
don't
think
Christmas
light
is going
to come
when you
get the
gift
that you've
been asking
for
and it's
finally
the thing
you wanted
under the
tree
and if you
just could
have afforded
to make
it a little
bit bigger
or better
it would
have been
an even
brighter
light
and that
would have
satisfied
you
don't
think it's
going to
come
when world
leaders
finally get
it together
sort out
their differences
stop fighting
for global
supremacy
and decide
to have
peace on
earth
that way
don't
think it's
going to
come
when your
family
is finally
Christmas
miracle
completely
kind to
one another
for an
entire
day
no
those are
glimmers
of light
the light
of the
world
is the
light
that we
need
the light
we need
because it's
still pretty
dark down
here isn't
it
right
it's easy
to get
discouraged
to give
up hope
as we wait
for the light
God's people
did it
often
sometimes they
gave up
waiting
that's where
some of you
are living
right now
I get
that
it's so
hard
it can
feel
so dark
and
what I
want you
to do
is to
imagine
for me
being one
of those
last
33
miners
to be
rescued
especially
if you're
feeling
darkness
heavy
this morning
can you
put
yourself
in their
shoes
you're
one of
the last
ones
being
rescued
you're
there
underground
in the
dark
see
they had
to wait
a while
they could
only
bring up
the miners
in this
rescue
capsule
one man
at a
time
very slowly
and very
carefully
and there
were 33
of them
this was
a multi
day
operation
it wasn't
an immediate
rescue
what gave
them hope
think about
that
what would
give you
hope
as you
waited
you're
number
32
waiting
underground
what gives
you hope
well
the light
had broken
in once
which meant
it could
do so
again
it was
no longer
utter
darkness
around
them
now
shafts
of light
could
break
in
here
and there
and they
were confident
that that
rescue
capsule
that came
once
would come
again
for every
one of
them
because
they knew
there were
people up
there
that were
going to
say
we're
not
leaving
him
down
there
you
can't
leave
him
I
love
him
I'm
coming
back
for him
that
rescue
capsule
was
going
to come
back
till
every
last
one
of them
had
right
listen
friends
especially
friends
feeling
the
darkness
the
light
of the
world
has
broken
into
this
dark
world
once
and we
can
still
see
some
of the
shafts
of light
breaking
in
bits
of his
glory
some
of them
in you
and me
in this
glorious
creation
as we
reflect
his
image
in this
world
bits
of his
love
and
righteousness
and grace
let your
life
shine
his
light
but
mostly
we see
it in
glimpses
of his
restoration
of our
relationship
with him
moments
that he
comforts
us with
the presence
of his
spirit
moments
he lifts
our heart
and worship
together
moments
he shines
the good
news
of the
gospel
into
our
lives
and
through
our lips
to
others
see
the
light
of the
world
has
come
and
has
left
us
with
so
many
reasons
to
believe
that
he
will
break
in
again
for
every
single
one
of
us
to
rescue
us
to
bring
us
home
if
you
can't
see
any
of
those
lights
even
as
I
talk
about
them
it
still
feels
dark
to
you
see
a
Christmas
light
there
will
be
a lot
of
them
this
year
you
won't
be
able
to
miss
them
they're
brightest
at
night
when
it's
dark
when
you
see
a
Christmas
light
this
year
kids
what
are
we
remembering
when
we
see
a
Christmas
light
Jesus
is
the
light
of
the
world
very
good
it's
harder
to
say
out
there
remember
that
the
light
of
the
world
came
and
so
is
coming
back
thank
him
for
that
hope
even
if
it's
all
you've
got
reset
your
heart
to
find
light
and
life
there
in
Jesus
the
wonderful
counselor
the
mighty
God
the
everlasting
father
the
prince
of
peace
the
light
of
the
world
let's
pray
Jesus
forgive
us
for
preferring
our
darkness
to
your
light
for
thinking
the
things
that
we
could
grasp
onto
and
find
hope
in
we're
going
to
satisfy
us
and
show
us
the
way
home
forever
thank
you
that
you
do
forgive
us
thank
you
that
your
light
continues
to
shine
thank
you
that
we
can
celebrate
that
your
advent
once
assures
us
that
your
advent
will
happen
again
and
so
we
wait
and
we
pray
come
Lord
Jesus
come
quickly
that
we'll
live
in
your
light
perfectly
and
fully
forever
we
long
to
see
darkness
destroyed
and
light
to
shine
and
we
thank
you
that
we
find
that
hope
in
you
in
Jesus
name
amen
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more
information
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us
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