One year ago on Christmas morning, I was worshipping with David Omoti and Emmanuel Anderson and we were given a great gift: “For the Nations”.
Last Year in The Gambia
I had been in the smallest nation in Africa just over a month when I was called to gather intercessors and worship each morning with our first fruits. In addition to the incredible worship, many prophetic words were released from this most unassuming Church. While the Lord was speaking throughout these forty days of prayer and fasting, one morning was especially special.
CHRISTMAS MORNING came on the 8th day of our prayer and fasting and—honestly—I thought I might be alone. When I stepped into the sanctuary at 7:45 for our 8am gathering, however, David was already on the keys. Shortly after, Emmanuel joined us, and a song was birthed that shaped my travels for the next year.
I assumed in the moment that this was a song they sang regularly because both David and Emmanuel seemed to know all the words. After a two-hour worship set focused solely on this one song, we were all three drunk in the Spirit.
When I asked about the song “For the Nations”, I learned that God gave it to David that very morning.
I decided the song needed to be recorded! Professionally.
Thanks to generous support from readers like you, we met with swarms of hungry mosquitos in the small bedroom studio of a Nigerian producer named Pricha and recorded a series of David’s worship songs.
The songs recorded with David, Emmanuel and Pricha have lived on my phone for the past year serving as a daily soundtrack for my travels throughout the nations. David is one of the more humble humans on the planet (you can read more about his story here), and these songs belong to him. So… they will be released when he feels called to share them.
If you believe this is the time for David to share his songs with the nations, please leave him a comment and encourage him.
Ultimately, these songs belong to the Lord. They are in His hands and will be released in God’s divine timing.
Back in Texas
Reverse culture shock is always a doozy, especially after thirteen months abroad. During the last year I traveled through nine nations: Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Northern Macedonia and Greece.
The stark contrast between these nations and the consumerism of the United States cannot be overstated. We are truly being distracted by December.
Not everything is amiss.
I returned to learn that the famous Austin City Limits music hall in downtown Austin was hosting my dear friend, Kira Fontana, and a 30-piece orchestra for a candlelight Christmas concert. Hosting high worship in the center of downtown Austin at one of the most iconic Austin music venues is a momentary foreshadowing of what is to come: Austin will be the “Live Worship Capital of the World.”
The following week I found myself dancing in the aisle at another candlelight Christmas concert produced by another dear friend, Elizabeth Rose. The more remote setting in the Texas Hill Country was a pleasant reminder of why Texas has been set apart.
The Reason for the Season
For the first time in my life, I’ve taken time to really sit with Christmas and Hanukkah side-by-side and contemplate their meaning.
Perhaps it’s because these two holi-days are on the same day this year, or perhaps it’s because I cannot help but continue seeking truth. For whatever reason, my eyes were opened this year as to how these two winter festivals both point to Yeshua.
Of these two—Christmas and Hanukkah—you might suspect that Christmas is the easiest celebration to tie to Jesus. After all, He was born on this holy night, right?
No. For years, I’ve been the one lambasting others for celebrating the birth of Jesus on a day when He clearly wasn’t born. I refuse to teach people that this is the time of year when Jesus was born, because that’s simply NOT TRUE.
This year, I’ve seen the Light.
The true Light of Christmas came to me when investigating the other winter-time festival, Hanukkah.
Many of you know that I’m closely involved with Simka Foundation, a learning hub that is giving thousands of Christians a plan to deepen their relationship with the Lord and learn about His calendar, His people and His word.
While working alongside a first-century biblical scholar, it was brought to my attention that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah! WHAT?! I felt jipped.
Why had I never been taught this at Church or at any of the countless Christmas parties I’ve attended throughout my life. If this simple fact is indeed true, why had it been systematically skipped over my entire life?
Truth be told, I was skeptical at first. Sure, Jesus was Jewish, but did He really celebrate Hanukkah? How can we know for sure?
Turns out, the answer is in the Bible.
John 10 (one of my favorite chapters) records a simple statement that changed everything for me. We know that Jesus was in Jerusalem during the winter at the Festival of Dedication (John 10:22-23). So what?
I’ve skimmed over this verse so many times before. This year—on Christmas Day— when gathered around a table with five other believers, I learned that HaNukkah means “The Dedication”.
My mind was blown, but it doesn’t stop there. I’ve always been taught that the 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament were called “the silent years” because God wasn’t speaking. Hogwash.
The plight of the Jewish people was in full swing during this time. The story of Maccabees is a well documented historical account that was so meaningful that John mentions the festival that Jesus was celebrating.
My own speculation
Recently, I was reading through a book called The Quantum Case for God. Great book. As I was reading, I realized that God is light and Hanukkah is also often called the Festival of Lights.
We know that at the moment of conception, there is an actual spark of light. Perhaps, Yeshua was conceived during the Festival of Lights? This realization filled me with new joy for the season when the world is celebrating the birth of Jesus. His birth was possible because of the miracle of light that took place during this time of year!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!
I’m Gr8ful.
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