Taking Things To Heart

I was privileged to hear the Christmas Gospel across the course of four services which I served as organist for over the last few days.


Two verses struck me each time I heard them:


The first, from Luke 2:10- "Do not be afraid..."

The second, from Luke 2:19- "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart..."


I felt more and more at peace each time I heard the words of the angels... The echo still resounds in my heart, "Do not be afraid..."

There is something about the words that the angels spoke so many years ago that still comfort our hearts today.

Imagine, for a second, what it must have been like to be shepherds out in the field that night. 

They were probably cold, tired, worn out, confused, weary, uncertain, anxious,.....


And sometimes, that's what life leaves us feeling like too. Sometimes life gets hard. Things, people, circumstances get in our way of a view of a "perfect life".


Broken promises leave us weary. Relationships that don't seem to mend leave us uncertain and anxious. The trials, hardships, and demands of our daily tasks leave us worn out, cold, and tired.


But listen! "Do not be afraid, for I bring good news of a great joy..."


For the hearts of the shepherds, and for our lonely, sad, and uncertain hearts, God sends a message through the Christmas angels: "Do not be afraid! For there is good news of great joy..."


Isn't there something just awe-inspiring about those words? Something that just blankets our hearts with a security of hope. A hope that will not let us down.


The angels bring this good news because of what had just happened... a Savior had been born.


A Savior had been born to Mary. God made an ordinary night in Bethlehem to be absolutely extraordinary.  And Mary took that Christmas to heart.


Hearing the words of the angels over and over again made me take Christmas to heart.


I'm not saying I never have before. I'm saying this year, I really took Christmas to heart. After hearing the words about pondering, I put this as my Facebook status Christmas morning:
Ponder the cradle and the cross and Christ's empty tomb. Ponder them and know, no matter what your worry, your concern, your sin, God loves you enough to have sent His Son to save you, to be with you, to bless you, to restore you. Ponder and treasure these things. Ponder and treasure the truth wherein a cradle, a cross, and an empty tomb can make things, can make you better. Ponder: Jesus Christ is God's Christmas Present to you. 


Take Christmas to heart. The Christmas "date" has passed, but if your heart is open, Christ still lives inside.


I was really having a rough night last night, a depressive episode if you will. It had been a good day, but I just had a lapse and and episode right about the time I went to bed.

It was severe enough that I took some anxiety medications, and then I laid down on my pillow. I asked to hear those Christmas words and promises again. I visioned the manger scene.

I visioned myself standing at the manger scene. There sat Mary, with a tiny sleeping baby in her arms. I saw Joseph wave me over. I saw the shepherds staring in awe, and the animals all making their noises and being sound asleep.

I visioned myself approaching the manger, and Mary outstretched her arms. She let me hold the baby. I could hear her saying, "This is God's gift to you." I held the baby Jesus, I rocked Him back and forth.

The peace I felt imagining that event is indescribable. All my worries, fears, regrets, anxiety, shame were put to rest and hushed.

While it was simply an "image" in my mind, that is what happened. As I prayed, God sent the peace of His Son to surround my heart. As I took God's Word -and Christmas- to heart, I found what I needed.

My friends, you can say the same. What are you hoping for?

Let me tell you- there is one hope, a certain hope, a subjective reality: God sent His Son to be a gift for you. The God of hope can fill you with joy and peace. He is the one who gives hope. 

When we are filled with this hope, we become a joy to others- not a burden! We long to live at peace with one another! Hope overflows. Look in the manger- hope is ours.