Lakemount Blog

“Tis the Season”

We’re in the season of experiences which seem to be in conflict with prevalent glittering images all around us. Home comings, celebrations, giving, receiving, and births seem to be marred by deaths, heartaches and disappointments . Having come to the stage in life when there have beene “quite a few” Christmas seasons, the search through the “memory bank” rapidly produces images which fit into each of these words. There’s not enough space to paint a word picture of each one. For this BLOG I’ve chosen to think about what’s being stored in the “memory bank” for 2009.

I have just had the privelege of participating in the annual “Christmas Hamper Distribution”. Each year Lakemount Worship Centre joins the local food bank in delivering significant food and gift hampers to those in need. For those of us who have the joy of delivering these hampers there is often a keen awareness of the difficult journey of the recipient. Our prayer is that in the giving and receiving there will be a “connection” with the One who came to meet each one of us at our point of greatest need. In the midst of all that you and I experience we must never forget the reason for Jesus coming.

This brings me to the scripture which came to the foreground the other day as I was “surfing Facebook”. The post/link by my sister stood out above the others. To confirm it’s significance our worship leader on Sunday lead us in the song based on Isa. 40 – “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord”.

So here it is … “the reason for the season – memory for 2009” -
.28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

John Hiebert – Pastoral Care LWC

One of the joys of Christmas is the saturation of the air waves with the music of the season. I have found myself humming along as I have picked up the extra milk at the grocery store, waited in the line at the check-out for the great pre-Christmas sales and walked through the mall looking for the kiosk where I might purchase a gift card.

 I love the bouncy rhythms of the Caribbean style carols and the winter songs but yesterday, as I sat for a coffee in the Food Court, I began to sense afresh the nearness of the one whose birth we are celebrating. The old, familiar, repeatedly dramatized words of Away in a Manger, originally published in 1885, came tumbling from my lips.

 Hidden amidst the din of frantic shoppers and tired pre-schoolers, I began to sing

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky                            
And stay by my side,
Until morning is nigh.

 Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

 Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the thought of what it would be like if HE were not near. How could I ever face a day without knowing His awesome presence? I remembered the call of James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  I recalled that just last week I had seen, in the 73^rd Psalm, how being in the presence of God helps us to bring our struggles into perspective. The psalmist discovers that nearness with God is his strength. He writes, “…I am continually with You … You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth … God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vv. 23-26).

 Francis Frangipane, in a recent email release says this ‘…the strength of our walk does not originate from within ourselves; rather it comes from our relationship with Christ. Our virtue, if it can be defined as such, is that we have learned to prioritize seeking God; our character is the offspring of our oneness with Jesus. By this I mean, Jesus is not only first on our list of priorities; His influence rules over all our priorities. He inspires love in our relationships; His voice becomes the conviction in our integrity. God has made “Christ Jesus” to be to us “wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).’

 Lord, this day I acknowledge my most amazing times are those spent near to You. When my heart is near to You, I am partaking of the nectar of life. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay….

Ruth Teakle