Pondering Jesus

My wife and I have a "baby book" for each of our three children. Those books are filled with dates, hospital mementos, and early photographs. Paging through those books triggers all kinds of special memories.

Mary didn't have a "baby book" like that to remember the birth of her son. But she spent more time thinking about the birth of her son than my wife and I spend thinking about the births of our three children. And what Mary thought about were not just memories common to motherhood but especially the scandalous happenings that were unique to her son's story.

The words of the prophets in the Old Testament helped make sense of what she had seen and heard. And making sense of these things probably took Mary a lifetime. Some things became clear when her son began his public ministry. Other events came into clarity on the terrible Friday afternoon when she watched her son die. Other events made sense only when she stood face to face with her son after his resurrection.

Pondering Jesus was Mary's task. It's our task too. Thinking long and hard about Jesus is at the heart of Christian meditation. Thinking about our own lives in the light of Christ's story brings our own purposes into focus. Take time today to ponder Jesus. You will be different for it.

Lord, help us to take Christmas with us into our tomorrows. Illumine the meaning of our own lives as we think about the Christmas grace that reconciles u 

( Credit:Dr. Robert Heerspink 6 Christmas Devotions for Women)

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Yesterday, (Sunday December 8)  I felt pretty lousy. I had one of those 24 hour stomach bugs that hits us every now and then. I didn't go to church of course and had stayed in bed most of the day. 

Staying in bed can sometimes have it's advantages. However, staying in bed can also have it's disadvantages as even while not feeling well, we can get bored.

And so I turned on the tv to pass the time. 

What I found on Youtube was all the videos that have to do with the "pagan" celebrations of Christmas. 

And there were many.

Friends, leaving out the things that go with it, such as gifts, decorations and the tree-so many don't even touch on the fact that Jesus was born. He did grow up. He did die for our sins. He did rise from His grave. He did all of this to save us from our sin.

I can't say that they all have left this out in their videos, because I have not watched many and do not intend to.

However, they want to jump on the fact that our celebrations are pagan without even mentioning the birth of Jesus and why we celebrate Him.

It is true. Mary pondered the birth of her Son in her heart. What a confusing time it must have been for her. At least at first. 

Isn't it more important for us to do the same instead of worrying about why we shouldn't celebrate this as a pagan holiday? 

I do not put down those that do not celebrate it because of the gifts and trees etc. But when do they ever mention the birth of Jesus for what it was and is still today?

I have mentioned before that I used to go to a church that taught that we were not to celebrate Christmas. I attended there for at least two years and never once did they include the birth of Jesus in their sermons. At any time of the year.

Oh, they believed in Him. They believed all the rest of it. That He died for our sins and now sits at the right hand of the Father. 

But so far as teaching about His birth and even his resurrection, I don't believe I ever heard about these things. Why? 

But they did teach against Christmas and Easter as being pagan holidays.

 

And you couldn't celebrate in them to be able to attend there, or face being called out from the pulpit.  

When I finally left there, it was with the realization that by bringing a tree into my home once a year and decorating it did not mean that I  bowed down to it or worshipped it. 

And what is so wrong about giving gifts?

Didn't the wisemen take gifts to Jesus? And what about Mathew 7:11 that tells us that even the Father in Heaven gives good things to those that He loves.

To me and my family, it is just a time to bring us together to enjoy the day. 

But at the same time, we understand it to be a day to ponder the things that Mary went through back in her day. To ponder His birth but not only that, to ponder why He even came.

Although sure, we can do that any day of the year. And we should.

For those that do not agree, that is ok. That is their choice. 

I however, will celebrate His birth in the ways that I choose. For that is my right. 

And might I add that within our society where there are groups of people that want to get rid of anything and everything having to do with God and Jesus, I would wonder just how many of those that do these Youtube videos about the pagan celebrations, are truly Christians? Or are they among those that would just be trying to wipe it out altogether?

Because there are quite a few of these there for all to "ponder" on, instead of the things that Mary did. 

I don't know. What do you think?

Friends, I do pray that this Christmas will not be just a holiday for you. But that you will enjoy it with your friends and family.

 And above all, you will "ponder" Christ whose birth we can celebrate not only this day of the year, but every day of the year.

Thanks for coming by. God bless you!