Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Pondering....

In the end of Luke's version of Jesus' birth, he says that Mary "treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart."   I have been pondering something in my heart this Christmas too!

Throughout the Advent season leading up to Christmas, I have explored some postures that we take in relating to God concluding on Christmas Sunday with an exploration of the posture that God takes toward us... WITH.!  And challenging us to live fully into God WITH us!  To wrap our minds, hearts, and lives around the reality that no matter what God is WITH us!

On Christmas day, I had a thought that I have been pondering since....

In Luke 1, we read that the angel Gabriel told Mary that she had found favor in God's eyes and because of that she would give birth to a child - God WITH us - Emmanuel.   And then later the Angels proclaim to the shepherds after they told them about the child being born...  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”   

And the thought that I have been pondering is this...

That when we truly realize that God is WITH us, we recognize that we are favored by him and when we figure that out, peace comes as we live our lives WITH God... when we KNOW that no matter what we face (and we WILL face dark and difficult experiences) God is WITH us... it is then that we find PEACE.   Peace because no matter what we face, God is WITH us.  Peace because no matter where we find ourselves, God is WITH us.  Peace because NOTHING is bigger that God who is WITH us!

Ponder that and find real and lasting peace!

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