Hearing the distant sound of sirens tonight in Merkinch I am reminded of the brokenness of this scheme. There’s so much fear, pain, darkness, sin, and hopelessness.
But I know One who is stronger than this darkness. I know One who came to dwell with us as Emmanuel. I know One who overcame sin and death. I know One who can give life and hope and forgiveness. I know One who is reigning now over all. And I know One who will one day come again. His name is Christ the Lord.
Let all within us praise His holy name! Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim!
It’s pitch black here in Merkinch by about half past three in the afternoon, and I often think of that winter darkness as being a picture of the spiritual darkness here. Yet with a word I know that the Lord can bring life to this place. With a word the Lord can change winter into spring. With a word the Lord can bring the dawn.
A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’.
To close out this remarkably difficult year of 2020, 20schemes music gathered voice recordings from people (including me!) in the 20schemes churches across Scotland and put them together into this beautiful anthem of hope. This is our defiance of the darkness, our remembering of what is truer. Praise be to Jesus!
Please pray for our wee team here in Merkinch that we would proclaim the name of Jesus this Christmas. And pray for our scheme – oh that many would be saved and come to know and worship the Lord. How we need Him!
His power and glory evermore proclaim,
Claire
Claire in Scotland 