i need thee, oh i need thee, every hour i need thee

this evening i purused some of my favorite bloggers (i might do this a little too often?) and was struck and encouraged by their thoughts on the first day of advent. unfortunately the santa barbara, san francisco, and boston logan airports were the most sacred grounds i stepped on today so i didn't get to hear about advent from the pulpit...but their reflections were powerful.

i haven't always been a big fan of liturgy, but these prayers were deep and at the same time simple and resonated with me:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which the Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility...

-Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Tradition 1979 edition

i really need Christ's help to "cast away the works of darkness and put upon the armor of light." i need a savior.

Lord, just as your love knows no bounds and finds endless ways to reveal itself, so help us to express a gratitude too deep for words. Help us to reveal our thanksgiving in the countless ways there are to love others, to provide for those in need, to serve where service is rare. Amen.

-Book of Common Prayer (prayer for others)

i really need Christ's help to "express gratitude too deep for words" (do i even have gratitude too deep for words??) i need a savior.

perhaps my favorite part about the daily book of common prayer (here online!!) is the concluding lines at the end of each prayer - they go like this:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

May he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

May he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

maybe i am taking this a part too much, but it says "may he bring you home rejoicing" twice. and if i was in my AP lit class, when you see repetition, that has to mean something: and i think that it really does here: REJOICE. REJOICE in what God has done, rejoice in what he has taught, rejoice in how he has shown his faithfulness, goodness, love, care & provision. regardless of the circumstances, REJOICE!

i want to rejoice

i want to "cast away the works of darkness and put upon the armor of light"

i want to "express gratitude too deep for words"

i want to "reveal thanksgiving in the countless ways there are to love others, to provide for those in need, to serve where service is rare."

but i can't do any of that. i need help. a lot of help.

right now it is november 29th and i am grateful to be in the advent season with an awareness (however not nearly great enough) that i need a savior. desperately and completely. i need a savior to save me from myself, my selfishness, my sin, my disappointment, my failure. i hope that this advent season i learn more about my need for Jesus, but that i would REJOICE in his abundance, and not wollow in sorrow over sin, but REJOICE in the truth that he has come and he is coming again.

that is reason for celebration!