Luke 2:19

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

This is my favorite verse in the entire Christmas story.  After all that had happened, after all that Mary had seen and experienced, she treasured this journey in her heart.

As a mother, I can so relate to this.  There is a bond, a connection that a mother and child share that is unique and different from all others.  Everyone has a mother.  Think about that.  Everyone!  The quality of the mother and child relationship can vary dramatically, but everyone has a mother.  Every year on my birthday, my mother calls me and says the very same thing.  She’ll say, “40 years ago, (or however old I am) my life became even more special.  I became a mom and you became my daughter.”  Every year, she gives me that beautiful gift in words.  She is saying to me—“I treasure you, my child.  I have seen your life blossom from childhood to womanhood and I am so proud!”

I have started a similar tradition with my own children.  It begins about a week before their birthday.  I will begin by saying, “12 years ago, (or however old they are) I was experiencing this or that.”  And on their birthday, I tell them the story of their birth, what they looked and sounded like when they saw the world for the first time.  How I felt when I held them for the first time.  How I loved them then and how I love them now…and I treasure these things in my heart.

Matthew 2:10-12

“….and when they saw the star, they were overjoyed…they bowed down and worshipped him…and presented him with gifts…”

At the end of the wise men’s journey, they met Jesus.  It was he they sought and it was he they found.  They were overcome with joy and they knelt down and worshiped him.  Then, they offered him gifts.

Have you ever been so overcome with joy about some blessing you have received that you just had to do something?  Sing a song, jump for joy, give someone a hug, laugh or cry, or maybe all of the above.

I imagine God giving us blessings like parents give Christmas presents.  As parents, we plan, we plot, we surprise, we delight, and then we watch as the gifts are discovered.  We see the joy on our children’s faces.  We hear the squeals of laughter, and we are pleased.  It is music to our ears.  How much more does God delight in blessing His children?  He loves to surprise us and see the joy on our face.  It is music to His heart.

Matthew 2:12

“And having been warned in a dream…”

These wise men were attuned to God at work all around them.  They listened to God in His creation as they followed the star, and they listened to that still, small voice (in a dream) that directed their path.

God is always at work in wonderful, mysterious, and marvelous ways.  We so often complain that God is not at work.  I offer this thought—God is always at work, it is us who are not listening.  To quote my friend, Max Lucado, “We are looking for the bonfire and miss the candle.  We listen for the roar and miss His whisper.”

Matthew 2:1-2

“Magi-Wise Men-from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ ”

Wise men, intellectuals, philosophers, learned men from the EAST!  Red flag!  Eastern religious men—This can’t be—Eastern astrologers as central characters in the story of Jesus’ birth.  What is up with that?  This would completely freak out the “church” today.  So…what do we do with this info?

I love the authenticity of this.  Matthew reported the events as they happened.  What I love about these wise men is that wherever they came from, they were obviously seekers of truth, as any wise person would be.  As we diligently seek God’s truth, it will always lead us to Jesus.

Luke 2:15

“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the angel has told us about.”

Once again, we have people, going about their everyday.  The Lord reveals Himself and makes a great announcement.  The shepherds heard Him and moved into action.

What a challenge, once again, these words are to me.  To hear a word from the Lord, and then move out!!!  Start walkin’!!!  Put your feet to your faith.  The greater news is that He moves with us.  He goes before us, behind us, and walks beside us.

The shepherds couldn’t contain their joy as they began to share the good news with those they met.