we are exactly what He came for.

It almost always makes me cry at some point or another, O Holy Night, every year, every time.

But last night, girls in their bunk beds in the dark, all haphazardly wrapped in a long strand of Christmas lights, Matt playing the guitar and the chorus of Ayars girls singing, snuggling fever-y Nora, a very snotty Ben stumbling around below his sisters, all jibber jabber joy...it was a new place, a new way.

The weary world has never felt so weary. Just admitting it weary touched my weary heart.

The weary world rejoices.

For yonder breaks has never felt so broken.

It never resounded to me before that the new and glorious morn breaks.

That new and glorious morn, it comes, and it breaks through.

That thrill of hope, it comes through broken.  It comes through weary.  

In all our trials, born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness He is no stranger. 

However you're fairing this Christmas, I want to tell you that it is ok to be crying out from a dark and weary place. It is ok to be in trial, to be in need, to be breaking.

I am surrounded by the very best of the breaking, and we are exactly what He came for.

Weary and breaking and falling on our knees...these are the vehicles through which He came...though which Christ COMES.

He has come every day since, not bringing any of us this far, this far, only to abandon us now, and I promise you, I promise you, from a dark and weary island this Christmas, He COMES.

Cry on out.  Cry out for your children. Cry out for your country. Cry out for your marriage, for your church, for your neighbor. Cry out for the broken and the orphan and the widow. Cry out for the weary and the trials and from all the most needy places....and He comes. 

Oh, friend, He is no stranger. 

A small spark of hope, a dark sky suddenly luminescent with angels, a weary world, rejoicing, just yonder, just yonder breaks a new, and glorious morn.

Rest in the birth of our much-needed Savior with us this week, Christmas!