God Causes All Things to Grow

I have to say it has been quite a last six months. And its now Christmas time...

Its a fabulous time here in Nongkhai again! First, I'm totally grateful for the weather - its brilliant! A cool 12 degrees right now. What a contrast from the hot, mind-numbing mugginess previously. Then, there are the friends... lovely folk who will do amazing stuff for the gospel and for friends. For good humor and patience, hope and love. Humility and servanthood. Mattiu and Tahlan who will grow up loving the Lord more and serving Him wholeheartedly; challenging normal mindsets and my lack of faith. Background stories (ask me about the Laos incident). Believers who wait and pray and bide their time for a regime change.

Just as the ancients watched for the long expected messiah, so we whisper the sacred syllables - utterance made possible for each man because of the price he had to pay. O come O come Emmanuel! Come, and release us from our chains. Come again Lord, God Almighty, riding on a cloud, shining as the sun! Arise Sun of righteousness, with healing in your wings! Delight of the nations, Lily of the valley, the bright morning star. Son of david, bud of Jesse, Beloved! Come, Lord Jesus come!

God causes all things to grow,
walks with us, so that we know .
He is right here beside us
even when we've missed our bus.

You spring up on us unawares,
through each season we sow,
only to reap the fruits of Your scars
and drink from the River we go

Here I stand, simply,
wholely thine,
in awe of your grace,
time after time.
So hold me close;
warm me in your embrace

You surprise me around the corner
and in the middle of the night
giving me songs for the fight,
strenght to do what's right;
when I no longer bother

Sit, quake, wait, grate
balk at the path before me,
a walk on the water
in the dark of night.
Weep, wail, sulk and grouch
toss and scatter, sit and gather
wake to the sound of thunder
and listless waiting for the Whisper.

Come, long-awaited One, Come!