I was reminded of these lyrics recently when I heard a sermon about how frequently ancient Israel fell into idol worship.

It would be nice if we could look back on the Israelites with a superior smile and say, "Oh, we don't that." As most mature Christians know, however, idols are not limited to the "graven images" forbidden by the Ten Commandments. An idol is anything that we pay more attention to than we do to God. We usually think of tempting vices like taking drugs or overeating, or sometimes even good things like family and hobbies. Whatever they may be, we love them more than God.

But surely, anything that takes our full concentration away from God is an idol. If that is so, what about things that we hate: past hurts that we dwell on every chance that we get, prayers that have not been answered the way that we want, or personal trials that inspire paralyzing fear, capturing and poisoning our minds? These things blind our thoughts to God's love and will. Have we made a friend of our darkness?

I complain that I don't have the true and lasting peace that Christ promised. But how can I receive that peace when I spend more time worrying about failure, deadlines, and what's for supper than I do reading God's Word? When my mind is taken over by resentment of the smallest obstacles and impatience with myself and others, instead of praise to the Lord, anxiety and anger become my gods. My old friend, darkness, descends on me, and I talk to it at length.

John 1:4-5 – The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT)

John 8:12 – Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (NLT)

Jesus is the light. If we have Jesus, we have light. Even when we ignore it, the light of Jesus, our true friend, is there for us always. We need never lose our way. When our idols of darkness trouble us, let us talk to Him, the light. He is always with us. He can never be extinguished.

Prayer: God of light, who is light, shine on us and erase the shadows of fear, anger, and doubt. May Your presence be our comfort, Your joy our strength, and Your unfailing love our support, as we seek to love and serve You first and foremost. In the name of Your ever-present Son Jesus, we pray. Amen.

I had been working at the computer all day, finishing up a writing assignment. My eyes were tired and dry, but I had an important evening appointment. Since I live in LA — Los Angeles, California, USA — there was only one way to get there: on the freeway (or the expressway, as they say back east).

Now, there are two things that freeway drivers can't abide: traffic jams and big trucks. Both slow you down, and no LA driver puts up easily with that.

But I had to get there, so I used some eyedrops and set out to brave the infamous Golden State Freeway 5. Halfway there, I realized that I'd forgotten to bring my eyedrops. Blinking and peering resolutely out of the top of my bifocals, I made it to my appointment. But then, I had to get home. My eyes continued painful and dry until just as I hit the onramp, when my vision went blurry.

In front of me was a large truck. As long as I stayed behind that truck, I could see to keep in my lane, if he didn't go too fast. And what should we encounter at that very moment but a traffic jam! All the way home, I drove slowly, staying behind one truck or another, keeping my car in line with its tail lights. When I finally turned safely onto my street, I breathed a sigh of relief and a prayer: "Lord, I have never said this before and probably never will again, but thank You for traffic jams and big trucks!"

Most of us are familiar with the many verses that tell us to give thanks, but we're not sure that God really means it. Always giving thanks for everything? Really? Even amid things that bring us pain and frustration? Yes. God wants us to be thankful through trials, big and small, to teach us patience, to stop us grumbling, and even to keep us safe on the freeway. When we give thanks, we show how much we trust Him.

So, keep in mind today that God may be using the very circumstances that annoy you to do you good. And give thanks!

Prayer: Dear Lord, we give thinks for the things that frustrate us, for the circumstances that slow us down, and for the people who try our patience. We thank You for the growth and the good that You will bring from our trials if we do not lose heart. In the name of Jesus, we thankfully pray. Amen.

The second I started singing "O, come, O come, Emmanuel," I knew that I was in trouble. It was going to be difficult, of course, but this soon? The first hymn of the first Sunday in Advent, 2015, and already I was crying. How was I, a widow of only five months, supposed to get through the Christmas season without my beloved companion?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)

Paul has the answer: the church. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, a family. Very few blood-related families have within their circle every experience of life, joyful or sorrowful. But the church family does. There are mothers, fathers, single people, those who have struggled with every temptation, those who have lost husbands, wives, and children. No matter what our struggle, there is someone in the church who has gone through what we are going through.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a – Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. (ESV)

So I talked to a few of the widowed church people. All I had to say was, "How do you get through Christmas?" and the light of recognition lit up every face. Advice varied.

"Do something different instead of trying to recreate the usual traditions."

"Surround yourself with people and activity."

"Sing."

"Don't force yourself to participate in everything."

"Don't pretend to be cheerful when you're not."

"Cry whenever you need to."

Some of the advice I took, and some I didn't. But the point was not so much what was said as the outpouring of understanding and love that came from each person. Whichever advice I followed, I knew that I was not alone.

When we have received help and blessing, we are able to pass it on to others, so that they will not be alone. This is how the church is strengthened.

Prayer: Father God, Helper of the helpless, keep us alert to those who need encouragement. May our words and deeds be rays of light to shine on hearts in sorrow and darkness. Whether we give or receive the blessings of community, may Your church be strengthened in its mission to show Christ to the world. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

I was visiting my brother and his wife in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, USA. Los Angeles, California, where I live, has been in the grip of drought for five years, so you can imagine my measureless delight in the seemingly endless lakes, channels, and rivers overseen by stately trees.

Several times, we went out on the lake in Dan's boat. I noticed two rows of pylons extending out of the water. Dan was careful to stay between those rows as we travelled. The lake was so wide and the marked path was so narrow that I wondered why he stayed in that restricted space.

"Between the pylons is the only place where the water is deep enough to navigate," he explained. "Closer to the shore, the boat would get stuck in the mud."

The analogy to the Christian life was too obvious to miss. Some people look at life as a big, calm lake, imagining that the whole expanse of water is theirs to explore without limitation, neither knowing nor caring what lies under the surface. They ignore the guidance provided for them, believing themselves to be free. God? He's just a spoilsport Who wants to keep us from having fun.

Christians must be wiser than that. God knows the lake better than we do. He knows where the glassy surface hides dangers and where we are likely to run aground.

First and foremost among the "pylons" that God gives us to guide us is His Word, which is like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness. The psalmist called God's Word "a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105 KJV). If we study it diligently, it will permeate our lives to such an extent that we will not even want to stray from its beautiful precepts.

But sometimes, we can't see the way. Our vision is limited by grief, frustration, or hopelessness. Even then, He is with us. He will send a "pillar of cloud", a friend, a circumstance, the thought of a Bible verse, or the memory of a song to bring us back to the centre — Himself.

Boating on the lake gave me a great sense of freedom. But without guidance, that freedom would quickly have ended, stuck in the mud. We must keep our spiritual eyes open so that we do not miss His path for us.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for the sure and certain guidance that You gave to Israel and that You give to us. Forgive us, we pray, for thinking that we know best and straying. Protect us from crippling doubt in times of trouble. Keep our eyes, minds, and hearts focused on the One Who is the Way, Jesus Christ our Lord, in Whose name we pray. Amen.

I was delighted to discover that an obscure cable television channel is showing reruns of one of my favorite old shows, Mission: Impossible. From the unique theme song to the plan and the payoff, I was always on the edge of my seat.

Jim Phelps, the master strategist, would receive an assignment by tape recording in some oddball location ("Good luck, Jim!"), then gather his brilliant team (the beauty, the actor, the strongman, and the genius), display the nifty gadgets (a lipstick that detonates an explosion, a table that "reads" the playing cards placed on it), and reveal some of the plan, but not all.

As the show progressed, the viewer's question was always, "Is what just happened part of the plan or not?" Oh, no! The bad guys have seen through Rollin's disguise! Not to worry, they were supposed to find him out. The identity he's assumed now is the important one. Uh-oh, someone's going to shoot Jim. Whew! Barney has replaced the bullets with blanks.

But sometimes, the intrepid team ran into a glitch that was unexpected. Occasionally, the solution was as simple as putting on an accent, picking up a broom, and pretending to be the janitor. But more often, the plan had to be completely reworked on the spot, as group members improvised a rescue, a romance, or a repair. Of course, they still accomplished their mission. Fiction granted them the ability to do the impossible.

Sometimes, it seems as if God has given us a "Mission: Impossible": restoring a failed relationship, finding a new job, dealing with a sudden decline in health or fortune. We may ask, "Is what just happened a part of God's plan? Or have I messed it up so badly that I'll never get back on track? Is God really in charge here, or do I have to improvise?"

No, we don't have to improvise. We have to search the Scriptures diligently, pray in utmost humility, and seek the company and advice of mature Christians. But God never leaves us to make it up as we go along. We may not accomplish our mission in the way we thought was best, but we can be sure that He will be glorified and we will be sanctified. God has granted us the ability to do His will, even when it seems impossible.

While we can never truly understand how God works in our imperfect, disobedient lives, we can be sure of one thing: with Him, all things are possible.

Prayer: Omnipotent, omniscient God, how we praise You that Your plan for the world and for our lives can never be changed or spoiled. We yield to You our fears, doubts, and rebellious thoughts, so that we may accomplish those great and good missions that are possible only with You. In the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Every now and again, for no particular reason, as I'm doing some ordinary task such as putting away leftovers or getting into the car — snap! Suddenly I'm in debilitating pain, and I can't straighten up. It's my back again. First, I whine a bit. (Doesn't God know that I need to exercise for my health, to care for my family, to be invincible?) Then I take some medicine and wait for the pain to go away.

Last week, it happened as I was pushing off on my bicycle. I had hoped to start pedaling to work to save gas. Grumble, grumble: "Why me?"

Then, during my devotional time, I read Psalm 104. One would think that at such a time, God would show me a passage about His healing power or His help in troubled times. But that was not what I needed. Psalm 104 talks about His works — the heavens, the earth, mountains, animals, plants, sea creatures — and how they show His unimaginable glory. Here we see God's plan laid out. Everything from animals' homes through man's labour and the four seasons — all are knit together as one in what C.S. Lewis called "The Great Dance".

Through this soul-stirring song, God brought me out of my self-pity. This God, this all-encompassing Creator, by His grace calls puny little me His own, His child. My pain was not eliminated, but overwhelmed by this thought.

Psalm 64:9 – All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. (NIV)

Psalm 107:22 – Let them sacrifice thank-offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. (NIV)

Acts 2:11b – We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! (NIV)

All through the Scriptures, we are told to speak of God's wonderful works. But how often do we do it? How can we neglect to speak of what is all around us — His glorious creation? Let us read Psalm 104 again, and be inspired to proclaim His works!

Prayer: Almighty Creator, we give You thanks for Your awe-inspiring works that so encourage and inspire us. Open our eyes to Your wonders that we may meditate on them and proclaim them to the world. In the name of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

The church choir in which I sing has been practicing a new setting for the hymn "Higher Ground", a very strong and rhythmic tune. I have found myself singing this song quite a lot in the last week or two. The words are by Charles H. Gabriel, who also gave us "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?"

I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

At first, I sang it rather absent-mindedly, but then I started thinking: am I really "pressing on" and gaining "new heights"? Not really. After twenty years or so of almost constant health and financial crises, my family has achieved, by God's grace, relative stability. I would rather sit back and enjoy it, thank you very much. New heights sound like a lot of work, maybe more pain and loss. I work from home. I'm fifty-plus, happily settled into a comfortable, slightly overweight middle age. What would I want with higher ground?

Then I thought again. My father and mother are both still living at eighty-nine and ninety respectively. Does God want me sitting at my computer, never looking up, for the next thirty-plus years? Has He given up on me, released me from His will and plan just because, in my opinion, I've already suffered enough?

He hasn't. It was I who gave up, so gradually that I hardly noticed until I contrasted my attitude with the stirring lyrics to "Higher Ground":

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on heaven's tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

As Paul says in our text today, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." (Philippians 3:15a NIV)

Prayer: Lord, draw our attention to our backsliding ways. Wake us up, and lead us on to new heights for our eternal benefit and Your endless glory. In Jesus' powerful name, we pray. Amen.