Christmas Pondering

A manger was the place God chose to hold His only Son.
Hay was strewn about the floor around the precious One.
Animals breathed their warming breath to keep the Baby warm.
Swaddling clothes was all He wore, from rags that had been torn.

His mother was so very young, yet not so very scared.
She listened to the angel and she knew the Father cared.
She had Joseph by her side, a man of gentle strength.
Dreams would map their journey; he would go to any length.

He was caring for a Baby, his Creator, and his King.
He never knew that saying “yes” would mean so many things.
But the Father, in His perfect plan, had you and I in mind.
He would save the people from their sins, so they would not be left behind.

Our hearts became the manger that would hold his only Son.
He breathed in us His Spirit, to remind us He’s the One.
A crown of thorns the Babe would wear; Child and yet King.
Belief is all He asks of us; joy and peace He brings.

Prepare our hearts, oh precious One, to receive You as our King.
Take our life and let it be our Christmas offering.

_______________________________________________________________________

We don’t ponder enough.
We tend to rush through life…with our schedules and our planners.
We might skip a meal because we are too busy.
We might not get enough sleep because we need to finish one more thing.

My son posted something on Facebook that got me thinking.
just saw the coolest shooting star. reminded me to slow down and not let life pass me by

I smiled when I read my son’s post.
He is right!
I have never seen a shooting star.
I have been with people who have…but by the time they say, Look…it’s gone!

That shooting star was a gift.
He is a junior in college…studying for finals.
The Divine reminder…received.

LOOK!
God gives us glimpses of Himself everyday…in the spectacular…in the ordinary.
LOOK!

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

Sometimes the ordinary ways God reveals Himself astounds me.
Seemingly random…yet Sovereignly planned.
Divine reminders that speak to us…if we have ears to hear.

Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9,10)

What does it mean to ponder Christmas?
We have read the story of the birth of Jesus so many times.
It becomes almost too familiar.

We need to pray for new eyes to SEE THE WONDER!
We need to pray for new ears to HEAR THE ANGEL CHOIR!
We need to pray for our nose to SMELL THE STABLE!
We need to pray for our arms to FEEL THE WARMTH OF THE INFANT BABY JESUS!
We need to TASTE and see that the Lord is Good! (Psalm 34:8)

We need to remember that even Jesus’ name tells us why He came.
You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.
(Matthew 1:21)

Ponder God coming down… in the flesh of a baby.
Ponder Redemption…the Infant Jesus born to die in our place…righteous for unrighteous.
Ponder Emmanuel…God with us!

GOD WITH US!

Ponder Christmas with every one of your senses alive…waiting…anticipating.
LOOK!
Don’t miss it!
He is all around you!

Divine reminders to slow down.
In your busyness…don’t lose sight of Him.
Don’t let the wonder of Christmas pass you by!