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A Matter of the Heart!

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“But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

When we open our Bibles to Luke chapter 2, we find the account of the birth of Jesus, the Christmas story.  The chapter opens by explaining that a census was to be taken and so Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be counted in the census.  While they were there, Jesus was born.  They had no comfortable place for this baby to be born so they laid him in a manger. 

Meanwhile, there were shepherds living in the fields nearby and an angel visited them, proclaiming the good news that the Messiah had been born.  The angel told them, “This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  A heavenly host of angels arrived, praising God, and when they left, the shepherds “hurried” to go see this thing that had happened in Bethlehem.  They found Mary and Joseph, and they found the baby lying in a manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what they had been told about the child.  

The Bible says all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said, but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

As a woman, I understand what it means to say “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  As women, our hearts are special.  It is in our hearts that we harbor our deepest emotions.

It is in our hearts that we tuck away our innermost secret thoughts and feelings.  

Sometimes our hearts are so overwhelmed with emotions that words are not sufficient to describe what we are feeling.  I think that is how Mary was feeling as she watched the events unfold.

At this point in scripture Jesus has been born and God is revealing His son to the world through angels, shepherds, and eventually, kings from the east.  Miraculous things are happening all around Mary.  She knows her baby is the Son of God and the hope of Israel.  Instead of boasting about all that is happening, Mary sits quietly, pondering her expressions privately, in the safekeeping place of her heart.

This Christmas season, I hope you are overwhelmed with the joy of the Lord as you prepare to celebrate with those you love.  I pray you purposefully set aside some special time this Christmas season to sit and ponder, in your heart, what this baby means to you. 

I encourage you to find a quiet place to read your Bible, pray and reflect on all Jesus has done for you.  As you celebrate the baby in the manger, I hope you treasure up in your heart what was finished for you on the cross.  The Son of God has come and He is our hope and our salvation! 

Glory to God!
 
Merry Christmas, my friend!
~Joy

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1 Comment

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    Stephanie
    at

    Yes, our heart is a special place. Thank you joy for this post today!

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