Dear Readers,

Tonight (actually, this very, very early morning), I sit at my computer desk thawing out, as our power has been out for 2 hours and the heat just returned along with the lights and everything else that runs on electricity. I am one that truly dislikes darkness or even dim lights (hence the meaning of my name: “glittering, bright, white, light, glowing”, which I think is really kind of neat ), so though I did lie in bed trying to drift off to sleep, I really couldn’t until I heard the comforting sound of the Old Dominion Power truck leave our street, and in moments, saw light! Praise the Lord! It is also very strange being in a dark, cold house without a man. Even though my dad was unable to physically protect us when he was here at home, it just felt “safer” with him here. Nevertheless, God is so faithful to remind us that He is our Husband, our Father, our Shield, our Tower, our Protector. Our all.

Mother and I had some errands to do this morning which carried on until the afternoon. She actually just went along for the ride. Around 3:00, it began sleeting and soon it turned into a pouring, heavy snow. The flakes were as big as half dollars! I stood in the middle of them with a dripping wet coat at the cemetery where I had placed poinsettias on my dad’s grave, and just thanked God for the beauty and awe of His gorgeous snow! I also began to pray for those traveling, as I headed home. The forecast called for up to 20 inches! Not long after arriving home, we got word that they had closed a couple of nearby highways due to numerous wrecks. Many people never attempted to go home after leaving work, but spent the night in the nearest hotel. My dear friend’s husband spent the night on a train! His job is with our local railroad company.

Christmas at our house has been sad without my dad, as it is a first, and I hear they are the saddest. But God has been so sweet to keep me very busy with wonderful things that I enjoy and give Him glory. To mention one, I had a fun night of crafts and celebration with some of the home-schoolers I baby-sit for last week. I also like to reach out to those in need in the Name of the Lord around this time of year. God has provided ample opportunity and it has been a joy. If the snow stops and the roads are well scraped, Mother and I are supposed to head to Fall Branch tomorrow to see a Victorian musical about the “Legend of the Candy Cane”. So, it has been a joyful time, really, and when I expressed to the Lord one evening that I just really missed my dad that particular night, He reminded me that this year, I had a gift I had not ever had before. It was the gift of knowing my dad was with Him! That he was okay, and had finally made it home! Last year, I didn’t know that he would be with the Lord if he died suddenly, but oh the mercy of our God! What a priceless gift, Father! Thank You so much! I will joy in it every day.

The Lord has really emphasised a theme to me this Christmas season. It is “The Silent Years”.  The silent years were known as the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, and the period that the people of Israel spent waiting, watching, praying for their Savior. The promise had been given. They knew He was coming. They didn’t know exactly how or when, just that He had to come. They hoped it was in their lifetime, but some died and never saw the Promise. But, finally… when the fullness of time had come, God broke the silence. How did He break it? The most beautiful, yet humble thing. A baby’s cry! First, came John the Baptist, full of the Holy Spirit before he was even delivered! He came to prepare the way for the Savior. Then, in a lowly little town, with no good expectations, a man betrothed to a maiden pregnant with GOD, and a young maiden literally full of the LIFE of our Savior, and perhaps a donkey settled into a stable because no one had any room for them. And once there…HE CAME. The Promise fulfilled! The Hope for the world! The silence finally broken! With the sound of a just-born baby, Who was perfectly God and perfectly man. Wow! How can our human minds grasp that miracle?! How can we ever thank Him enough for coming, and breaking the silent years and providing hope, life, and salvation for all who come to Him with repentant heart?

Have you, dear friend, experienced a season of silence? Does it seem dry, quiet, and still in your world, and as if the God who loves you has sealed His lips? I would encourage you to remember that His very best gifts come with waiting…gifts so precious that having them instantly would almost seem to take away from their worth. He has promised to fulfill His plan “when the fullness of time has come”, and as you wait on Him faithfully and expectantly, please remember that He does have a “fullness of time” for you. It may not be how you planned it, or in your time frame. In fact, you may think that its all just so far away that the very dream feels dead within you at times. But take heart, dear one. Hold tightly to the One who is forever faithful and eternally perfect-loving.  He will break the silence in the most perfect way and time. Maybe it will be through the meeting of your husband, or a heartbeat on an ultrasound for those married sisters, or maybe a phone call with the news you’ve been waiting to hear, or maybe a faint “yes” when you ask your daddy if he loves Jesus (as it was with me). But, be confident in this: He who began a good work in you is able to complete it!

I pray you are blessed during this season of celebration, dear sisters! Enjoy your family! Serve them with a cheerful heart. Reach out to the broken and hurting.  Share the Good News with the lost.  Sit at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to pour His oil of gladness upon you when you are discouraged. Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Make Him your true Groom. If He’s not today, ask Him to change your heart and become your All. You’ll never regret it. When you have a moment to sit back and sip hot tea or cocoa, do reflect upon ALL the blessings God has poured out upon you all year long, even if He has seemed “silent”. Ask Him to show you how you can make the most of your “silent years”. Don’t waste one moment. There’s a priceless lesson in the silent years. It is the season that great patience and trust in the Lord is worked in us and we are polished as a mighty arrow in our Father’s hand.

May you never despise the silent years in your life, as one day, if not today, you will cherish them as gold.

I’ll leave you with some lyrics to a most beautiful song (“Winter Snow” by Audrey Assad)  I heard this year….

You could’ve come like a mighty storm

With all the strength of a hurricane

You could’ve come like a forest fire

With the power of Heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow

Quiet, soft, and slow…

Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below

You could’ve swept in like a tidal wave

Or an ocean to ravish our hearts

You could’ve come through like a roaring flood

To wipe away the things we’ve scarred

But You came like a winter snow

You were quiet. You were soft and slow.

Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below.

No, Your voice wasn’t in a bush burning

Your voice wasn’t in a rushing wind

It was still. It was small. It was hidden…

You came like a winter snow.

Oh, my precious Savior! How I praise you this morning for WHO You are and ALL You’ve done, and even for the beautiful, soft way that You chose to come to earth to save me! So gentle and meek. A pure, white lamb Whose blood would be poured out as the final sacrifice to take away the sins of the world! Oh, may we never forget what You’ve done or how You came to us! May we be daily overwhelmed by ALL that You are! I love you, Jesus! May I love you with my life! I celebrate YOU today and every day. YOU ARE FOREVER WORTHY! Hallelujah!