"she pondered them in her heart"

This CHRISTmas season has been a great one! God has given me so many reminders of what really matters this CHRISTmas. It's not what I can get, what I can buy, who is getting the most, Santa coming.........it's about CHRIST! It's the time of year we celebrate the coming of our Saviour and Messiah. 

In reading the CHRISTmas story, I stopped to reflect on one passage in particular in the scripture. "but Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19

I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder how she heard Messiah was coming? That she would be his mother? How it could happen? How kind the shepherds were? What a big star? I wonder what she pondered that wonderful, holy night.

When Jesus was 33 He was beaten beyond recognition, mocked, cursed, spit on,....and died. I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderful, holy night? Did she know this was God's perfect plan? Did she believe he would live again?

3 days later....Jesus Arose! I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderful, holy night? Did she wonder if she was imagining things? Did she know He had redeemed her? Did she know this was God's perfect plan?

Jesus ascended to the Father. I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderul, holy night? Did she wonder if she would see Him again? Did she know this was God's perfect plan?

I wonder what Mary pondered? 

Are we pondering on CHRIST this CHRISTmas?

I encourage you to take a few moments and reflect on the amazing love of God. The I AM, the Ancient of Days left beauty we can't imagine to come here to die! Why? For us! 

Imagine the King of Kings came here and laid His holy, beautiful head in a feeding trough for animals! Why? For us because He loves us more than we can understand! 

Reflect on CHRIST this CHRISTmas! 

Marveling at God

What do we find ourselves marveling at? I marveled at the ability of Michael Phelps in the Olympics, I marvel at how smart my children are, I marvel at the process of child birth, I marvel at the AWESOME voice of Neil Diamond (yes, shocking as it seems, I am a fan of the jazz singer). These people have all in some way caused me to sit back and say WOW! I can openly, as well as many others, express my "marvel" at these people. How many times do we sit and marvel at the Father? How many times do we openly display that "marvel"? 

In the past three days, I have had the privilege of marveling at my Father. Two times through His amazing creation. Friday evening, I went outside and the moon was so close to the earth you could almost touch it. It gave off the brightest light! It was an awesome sight. Then Saturday evening, the moon had a ring around it! It was amazing just to look at the moon as see a perfect ring around it! Who else but the Powerful Creator could do something like that!?!

I was led to the creation story. What a wonderful account of how God put everything in motion, set up perfect for human's to inhabit, created life, and the most important.....knowing man would fall and the perfect sacrifice would have to be made......and He did it anyway! 

The son was there during creation. He knew too that He would be the sacrifice.....and He did it anyway! 

How unworthy I am of this sacrifice!

During this season that we celebrate the event of the Messiah coming, I have to pause and marvel at what a loving, unselfish, sacrificial, perfect Father I love and serve! I also marvel at the grace and mercy freely shown to me!   

In Revelation 15:3 the Word says "Great and Marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations!" 

Wonderful Father, thank you for the ability to see and marvel at Your creation. Thank you for looking through time and knowing I need You. Thank You for coming. Thank You for being willing to die. Thank You for living. Thank You for loving. Thank You for Salvation. Thank You for rescueing me! Thank You that You are coming again!!

What Matters

It has been quiet a while since I did any blogging. My excuse.............just lazy!!

Over the last few days I have spent some time, to much time, feeling down over life issues. Then my Father in his loving way guides me back to what really matters. I have been reflecting on "what matters". 3 different ways God has spoken on this in just the last 3 days showing me "what matters".

Way 1- The question was asked to me "do you really think God wants His children to struggle"
Answer- Count it pure joy when you face trials of many kind, they are a perfecting of your faith!

Way 2- In talking with my son, I was reminded of just how personal and important a relationship with God is.
Answer- Keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking!

Way 3- In reading a fellow bloggers post, I was reminded of being Mary in a Martha world.
Answer- Sit at the most beautiful, worthy feet EVER. Sit and rest, learn, and be loved!

I feel so unworthy to be called His. I struggle and continue to fail and He continues to love me. I am so very unworthy of that love and so very thankful for that love. My Father bent down low, whispered sweet, raised me up, restored me, forgave me, and loves me! How awesome is He!
In reflecting on "what matters" I was led to the scripture in Matthew 6:33. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be provided for you". This tells me clearly SEEK my Father. Seek His guidance in every circumstance. Stop looking at the waves and just look to Him to keep walking on the water!!! My prayer is that I will do this. That I will seek Him. That I will not look at the waves.

During this season, I tend to focus on what gifts to buy. What gifts I haven't bought. More commercial that Christ! I am thankful today for God's wonderful reminders to me of "what matters". His will matters, His direction matters, His love matters, His deliverance matters, His forgiveness matters, His teaching matters, His speaking matters, telling others about Him matters.......................HE MATTERS!!!!


God forgive me for focusing on the things that matter least and not focusing on what matters most! Thank you for meeting me where I am and teaching me. Thank you for reminders!! Thank you for being Jehovah Jireh! Thank you.......................