Treasures of the Heart

Dear Readers,

            Welcome to Week 5 of our 6-week slow stroll through the events leading up to the birth of Christ and the few days following. We will not cover every aspect of the Advent Story, but rather we will take time to read carefully and perhaps notice a few new things along the way. Our goal is deep thought, reflection, and introspection of our lives as a result of the wondrous birth of our Lord.

            Each day we will look at only a few verses, or some days only a single verse. Notice the Who? What? Where? When? and How? that might apply to each passage. You might ask yourself why the text was important then? and why it is important now? My commentary will be noticeably brief; the goal, as noted above, is personal thought, reflection and introspection. Blessings to you as we journey through the Advent Season together.

Week 5/Day 2, Tuesday

Luke 2:19  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

            A Mother’s heart treasures many things. From the earliest days she prays for health and safety for her child. To grow up strong and possess not only knowledge, but the wisdom to use that knowledge correctly. To be an honest and trustworthy person with high work ethics. To be highly respected among family, friends, and community. To have the courage and strength to resist any and all forms of evil or wrong.

            Moms hope for all the best for their children but Christian Moms treasure additional prayers. They never give up hope that their children will make personal decisions to accept Christ as their Savior. Moms never give up and neither does our Heavenly Father.

Prayer Suggestion:  If you are a Mom, or for that matter if you are a Dad, thank God for the children in your life—sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc. Pray for those who have wandered from the path of salvation in Christ asking God to send encouraging people into their lives to guide them back to faith in Him.  Also pray for those who have not yet made personal decisions that they would accept Christ as Savior and Lord of their life.

 

The devotional Treasures of the Heart appeared first on Write From My Heart at 

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Just As They Had Been Told

Dear Readers,

            Welcome to Week 5 of our 6-week slow stroll through the events leading up to the birth of Christ and the few days following. We will not cover every aspect of the Advent Story, but rather we will take time to read carefully and perhaps notice a few new things along the way. Our goal is deep thought, reflection, and introspection of our lives as a result of the wondrous birth of our Lord.

            Each day we will look at only a few verses, or some days only a single verse. Notice the Who? What? Where? When? and How? that might apply to each passage. You might ask yourself why the text was important then? and why it is important now? My commentary will be noticeably brief; the goal, as noted above, is personal thought, reflection and introspection. Blessings to you as we journey through the Advent Season together.

Week 5/Day 1, Monday

Luke 2:16-18, 20  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. … The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

            Can you imagine the shepherds clustered around meager campfires on a typical night telling each other stories fostered by the sights and sounds on eerie dark nights? Yet this was different. For now they had a real story to tell. Would people believe them? After all, they were only shepherds and not respected nor considered worthy enough for public interactions.

            This story needed to be told; it could not be ignored, and the shepherds were chosen for the job of spreading the wonderful news. They returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. Do not miss the last phrase: which were just as they had been told. God’s plan was carried out down to the smallest detail. What the shepherds heard and saw was exactly what they had been prepared for.

Prayer Suggestion:  Thank God that you can fully rely on his Word. What he says he will do; he will do. You can trust Him. Ask God to help remove your temptation to organize plans for him, asking for strength to fully trust His ways.

 

The devotional Just As They Had Been Told appeared first on Write From My Heart at  

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

The Courage of Shepherds

Dear Readers,

            Welcome to Week 4 of our 6-week slow stroll through the events leading up to the birth of Christ and the few days following. We will not cover every aspect of the Advent Story, but rather we will take time to read carefully and perhaps notice a few new things along the way. Our goal is deep thought, reflection, and introspection of our lives as a result of the wondrous birth of our Lord.

            Each day we will look at only a few verses, or some days only a single verse. Notice the Who? What? Where? When? and How? that might apply to each passage. You might ask yourself why the text was important then? and why it is important now? My commentary will be noticeably brief; the goal, as noted above, is personal thought, reflection and introspection. Blessings to you as we journey through the Advent Season together.

Week 4/Day 5, Friday

Luke 2:15-16a  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off…

             This is the part of the shepherds’ story that leaves me amazed. Their entire livelihood, meager existence though it was, depended upon the constant care of timid woolly creatures with no sense or ability to care for themselves. What courage it must have taken to risk everything and leave the sheep behind. And no where do we find record of doubts, questions, or even a moment’s hesitation for what they were about to do—so they hurried off.

            The lesson for today and my simple question is this: When God provides an opportunity, how long does it take us to respond?

Prayer Suggestion:  Thank God for the example of courage from the shepherds. Thank him for the opportunities he gives us to show love and kindness and teach us to respond with courage.

 

The devotional The Courage of Shepherds appeared first on Write From My Heart at 

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com