Austin Stone Institute

The most ironic thing about being a writer is how easy it is to avoid writing! Over the weekend, we asked writers to step away from the demands of everyday life and to dive into their work. It was a sweet time of community, focused writing time, and communion with God. If you know a writer, ask them how the retreat went!

Welcome to our first post! In the spirit of the Christmas season, our team is sharing their family traditions with you. We’re kicking off this series with John, Val, and Greg!

John and his family open a “pocket per day” leading up to Christmas. Each pocket includes a wooden piece of the nativity, a picture of the Bible story that will be read that night, and a surprise activity for that day (like “look at lights,” “get a Christmas drink,” or “sing a Christmas song together at bedtime”.) John also likes to take his time getting the living room ready on Christmas morning, joking with his kids, “It’s not quite ready yet!”

Val and her family embark on a “jammie decoration night.” They get in their pajamas and drive around to look at Christmas lights while drinking hot cocoa. They also like to watch Christmas movies leading up to Christmas!

Greg and his family open one gift on Christmas Eve. He and his boys wake up super early on Christmas morning to open a case of baseball cards (it contains 7,000 cards!) and sort through them throughout the day while cooking their Christmas meal. They end the festivities by watching a movie at the theaters.

When we listen to a story, it stays with us. At Live Lit! on Tuesday evening, our writers shared beautiful stories of people, places, and things lost and found. We couldn’t help being reminded of our own experiences, and how God has used them to grow us and build up His kingdom. The theme of this event might have been “Lost and Found”, but now these stories are yours too.

We’re sharing another liturgy from our podcast, More To It: Reframing Emotions, in hopes that you are encouraged to embrace God’s design for your emotions. Today’s writing is about depression.
Here’s to another !

When Darkness Looms
By Justin Dunton

The darkness looms again.
The sun’s light unforgivingly descends.
Waves and breakers crash in,
And I am lost.

I cry out, but the void empties my voice.
Without power to breathe, to hope, stripped of this choice,
I lie stranded in a prison of despair,
Blind and mute, without communion.

Speak to me, God.

In the silence, another voice looms.
The shadow whispers failure and screams defeat,
Wrapping its lies around my head.
O, where is the Rock to keep me from sinking?

Speak truth.

I feel no rest. No rescue.
Only the weight of the waves crushing me.
Only the depleting struggle to remain afloat.
When will this dawn break?
When will the rescue come?

Speak peace.

I believe. Help my unbelief.
Even here, in the pressing, in the crushing, lead me to trust You.
I cannot see You, I cannot feel You,
Hold me to the Rock of Your grace.

Speak freedom.

In despairing, despair has not won.
Fill my lungs to speak like the Son.
Though dying, He lives. His Spirit now sent.
Into Your hands I commit my spirit.