Don’t Be Afraid #adventbookclub – Day 26
Luke 2:10-12 (CEV)
10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”
“Don’t be afraid” the angel says to the shepherds.
Don’t be afraid that I’ve broken right into your life.
Don’t be afraid that there is light all around.
Don’t be afraid that I am speaking to you.
Don’t be afraid God is here.
Where you are.
In the reality of your life.
Coming to bring
Life
and Light
and Hope
Our idea of ‘holy’ is to protect God from anything unpleasant and unmentionable, yet Jesus’ idea of ‘holy’ is to bring the fresh air of heaven right into the dirtiest and messiest corners of our world (p119)
Nothing sums this up better than Maggi’s own words in this song:
Into the darkness of this world;
Into the shadows of the night;
Into this loveless place You came,
Lightened our burdens, eased our pain
And made these hearts Your home.
Into the darkness once again,
Oh come, Lord Jesus, come
Come with Your love
To make us whole.
Come with Your light
To lead us on.
Driving the darkness
Far from our souls.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
Into the longing of our souls;
Into these heavy hearts of stone;
Shine on us now Your piercing light,
Order our lives and souls aright
By grace and love unknown.
Until in You our hearts unite,
Oh come, Lord Jesus, come.
Come with Your love…etc
O Holy Child, Emmanuel;
Hope of the ages, God with us,
Visit again this broken place,
Till all the earth declares Your praise,
And Your great mercies own.
Now let Your love be born in us,
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
Come with Your love…etc.
Come in Your glory
Take Your place.
Jesus, the Name above all names.
We long to see You face to face,
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
Words and Music by Maggi Dawn
Copyright 1993 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
Or a more traditional offering
This year, several of us are reading Beginnings and Endings by Maggi Dawn and joining together to comment on it. Do join us at the Adventbookclub Facebook page, follow #adventbookclub on Twitter or comment below. If you are also reading and blogging on this book, let me know and I will link to your blog.
Pam's Perambulation 
around Christmas I’ve been subduing immense chaos and bringing light into deep darkness… it’s only reading this post and the one by Graham Hartland that I now realise that what I have been doing has been far more holy than all the church services…God in Christ shows us what it means to be fully human – it means being fully engaged in life and by His grace being the means by which His kingdom comes and His will is done. And that kingdom is of peace and order and light, not of discord and chaos and darkness. So we enter the latter in His name and bring the former.