Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Into the silent land Friday, December 12, 2014 Zechariah 2:14-17 Sing and rejoice, o daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord ... Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling. My grandson Jack calls me "Grouchy Bear" at 7 a.m. when he is tempted to run into my bedroom and shout, "Good morning!" Actually, I really like it when he does that. Usually. But he is encouraged to be silent until I stir forth on my own. That takes all his concentration, and he usually loses the battle. There is just too much excitement in the early morning, too much energy bursting forth. Altogether too much joy to keep it to himself. I wonder if God wants silence from his people. Why would he? He loves worship as much as we do. More than we do. Let the songs ring and the bells peal and the drums beat and the trumpets blare: God stirs forth! The story of Jesus' birth blends silence and song. The shepherds are jolted awake by angels singing glorias in what had been the still of the night. Suddenly the whole world is new, and there is no time now for sleep. No time either for silence. Come and worship. O come let us adore him. But in the presence of Jesus, words fail. Fall on my knees. Holy night. Silent night. All is calm. God stirs forth. We watch in awe, Lord. And we hear a loud voice in heaven say, "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Anointed." You touch the earth and make it new. And me, new too. Your blessing, and your presence, change everything. "; Add      Edit    Delete