But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
TO PONDER
"I can't believe we are in December already. This year has just been a whirlwind." So commented a person that I was talking to in the last week. Even as she spoke those words, you could see her mind flipping through the mental photo album of the past year, recalling all the experiences and happenings that had occurred. Sometimes life gets so busy and we are swept along in the flurry of activity that we don't stop to treasure what has happened or think deeply about how all the things connect together like a jigsaw puzzle to form a picture that reveals God's purpose and plan for our lives.
But what strikes me in reading this verse again today is that throughout the whole of Luke chapter 2, Mary doesn't say a word. She treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Mary is silent, reflecting, meditating, pondering the whirlwind she has been caught up in. She takes a deep breath and holds the Christ-child close to her breast, being present in the moment, treasuring the experience, reflecting on the experience and holding the memories deep within her. It's like she is just pressing pause on life for just a minute to gather herself, to prepare herself for when the play button is pressed and life moves on again.
Has your life been a whirlwind this year? One thing after another? Highs, lows, interruptions, blessings and heartache? How does it all fit together? Have you taken the time to ponder the experience: What has God been doing within me? How has God been inviting me to grow? Where is He calling me to repent and change? What gifts is He calling on me to use more fully? Who is He calling me to give myself for? How has he been faithful to me through it all? Would you be willing to press pause for a moment, take a deep breath, say nothing and just treasure up all the things that have happened and think deeply in your heart about what it all means and carry that into your Christmas celebration? It will transform the experience.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, in the whirlwind of life, help me to press pause for a moment, treasure the experience and ponder the incredibly difference your presence makes in my life. Amen,
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
TO PONDER:
"Impossible! "Never happen!" "Not in my lifetime!" Have you ever uttered those words. Thought those words? Will I ever get over this grief? Will things ever change in my marriage? Will we ever become parents? Will we ever get on top of things financially? Can I ever let go of my past? Can I ever find forgiveness to that thing I did? Will the impossible ever become possible? You are not alone if you have ever asked those questions.
Abraham and Sarah said it when they were told they would become parents at an age that is well past retirement. Israel said it collectively when they found themselves between the rock of Pharaoh's armies and the hard place of the Red Sea. King Saul of Israel said it when a giant named Goliath marched up and down in front of the armies of Israel demanding a fight to the death for the right to reign. "Impossible! "Never happen!" "Not in my lifetime!"
Is there any power on earth that can break open such impossibilities?
When the impossible interrupts our lives – the message comes to us, "...nothing shall be impossible with God." Impossible means without power, without the ability to accomplish. Possible comes from the same root word as "power". The angel tells Mary how the impossible becomes possible, by God's power. The Holy Spirit is at work, the full presence and power of God will be on display, God is breaking open the impossible in his holy Son, Jesus. That changes everything. Every 'impossible' thing is now possible when we let God do his thing. Will you trust that? Marvel in that? Believe that in every impossible moment?
PRAYER:
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, when things seem impossible, help me to trust your Word that tells me that nothing is beyond the realms of your possible making power. Amen.
So be prepared because you do not know what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not let his house be broken into. So also, be ready because the Son of Man will come when you do not expect Him
TO PONDER
Be prepared … on returning home one night in winter after being out, I walked through my house, not bothering to turn on the lights. This was my home, my haven, a place of security. And I also knew my son and father were in the house. I got to the kitchen and went to turn on the light and a long blond haired, youngish guy jumped out at me shouting boo and raced for the back door, which he must have opened as soon as he had gained entry through my front bedroom window …. he was prepared. Be prepared …. a hard lesson learnt. Always close and lock things.
Be prepared and ready for what God has for us. Focus our mindset, what is His plan, how does He want to use me, what is His purpose for me? We must be empty of things that are irrelevant in our lives to allow God to come in. Be prepared. If we want to be effective, we need to decrease those things in our lives that are irrelevant, to allow Him to increase in us. Extend your boundaries, otherwise we limit God. We need to increase, stretch our thinking, self-concepts, take opportunities – be they large or small, make mistakes - it is a lesson and we can learn from this.
Remember: You are a a child of God. Be prepared.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for always being there for me, even when I haven’t been prepared in the most difficult and taxing times. Help me to let go of those things I cling to. As your word says, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to be prepared. Amen
Today's devotion written by Noeline, Danny Brock's mum, LifeWay Online
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.”
TO PONDER
As a child I used to love playing 'Hide and Seek' until I was emotionally wounded in a Hide and Seek accident. I Became trapped in a wardrobe which had toppled over, face/doors down on the floor with me hiding inside, just as the seeker cried out ‘Ready or not, here I come!”
My screams, I’m sure, echoed throughout the neighbourhood and were sure to have drowned out the usual protestations of “Not fair I’m not ready!” given in answer to the seekers announcement (don’t worry I did survive…physically at least).
Today’s verses remind us to always be ready for when God shows up, to always keep the lights on in preparation for the “un”-expected arrival of Jesus.
The reason for saying “un”-expected is that even though we expect Jesus to be at our worship (Matthew 18:29) and expect his Second Coming, God always shows up when we don’t expect it… even though we should expect it… um… unexpectedly.
I don’t want to get go too deep theologically here; only to say that God “finds” us, we don’t “find” him. After all, when we were still God's enemies, hiding from Him, he found us (Romans 5:10) but being a follower of Jesus is not passive, faith is not a spectator sport, grace demands a response.
Are we playing a game of “Hide and Seek” with our lives trapped within a wardrobe called Church, called belief, called religion?
Today’s reading tells us that God has called out “Ready or not, Here I come!”.
PRAYER: Almighty Saviour, I thank you that you found me, even when I was hiding as deep, as far as I could to get away, you still removed the wardrobe I was trapped in. Mighty God help me respond to the amazing grace you show me daily and share it with the world around me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock (Hide and Seek survivor), LifeWay Westside.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
TO PONDER
We mostly live in an age and place of abundance in Australia, and yet mental health is in crisis.
In 2021, it was reported that 19% of Australians had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or another serious mental illness, epidemiologic evidence suggests that these mental health issues have risen dramatically over the past century.
A consensus for why this is the case has been difficult. Many experts attributing the rise in mental health issues to our modern lifestyle, including things like social media, the “need” to always be “connected”, competing for the curated “instalife” (Instagram), and “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out), all adding to a performance culture.
In today’s verses we read a story of juxtaposition between two sisters, two friends of Jesus, Mary and Martha. Martha had invited Jesus into their home and then got busy preparing for guests while Mary sat at Jesus feet listening to what he said. When Martha realised she alone was doing all the preparation she became angry and demanded that Jesus tell Mary to get up and do something of value, to perform to at least help with the preparations.The answer Jesus gave probably surprised Martha when he said Mary was doing exactly what she should be doing, she was doing what was important.
Martha was too busy preparing for hospitality to actually be hospitable, she was too busy preparing for life instead of maybe living life.
This story reminds me of some of our Christmas experiences, when we spend so much time preparing for the perfect Christmas that we forget sharing the Christmas story is not a performance but rather an experience to take time out to enjoy with others.
This Christmas hear the reply Jesus gave to Martha, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (MSG) - The main course is to experience the true Christmas story.
PRAYER: Loving God, I say sorry for when I have turned Christmas into a performance, when I have stressed about making it happen instead of experiencing Christmas as a celebration of life, and grace. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
TO PONDER
I remember when I realised, as a child, that if I went to bed early on Christmas Eve, Christmas would come faster. However, there was a floor with my brilliant plan, how to actually sleep with the thoughts of presents floating through my young, over active mind, imagining what they were going to be.
In today’s verses James (the brother of Jesus) tells us to be patient, not to be in a hurry for the conclusion of the Christmas story, for the ultimate promised Christmas gift.
James was specifically talking about being patient in difficult times, he even brings in Job, the archetype for human suffering, as an example of endurance. Job had lost everything, family, health, riches, and even his faith until he realized he needed to trust God regardless.
Job apologised to God, apologised for his lack of faith, for his lack of trust and he was remembered, finally, as an example of endurance (verse 11).
While James is addressing patience through difficult times his advice is not negated in good times where we can grow complacent in our salvation/baptism, forgetting we have a role to play in the harvest. Patiently waiting is not a complacent act; its an active faith, a belief with action, a responsive waiting. The farmer doesn’t sow his crop and sit back and wait for the harvest, the farmer watches and responds to the circumstances and cares for the crop through every season.
As a child, Christmas was not a time for sleep, especially as the day drew closer and closer. Christmas was a time for excited expectation, a time for dreams, a time to imagine, a time to share the Christmas experience with anticipation and joy.
PRAYER: Amazing God, I give you thanks through every season of life, I give you my trust in the good times and I give you my trust in hard times, help me patiently wait on you. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
TO PONDER
At the time of writing this post, my amazing wife is away for a work trip in 'always sunny' England. She has already been gone for over a week and won’t be back for 4 more days… the pause was for my sobbing.
Right now we are not prepared for her to come home.
As a temporary single parent, I have perhaps neglected some of my parental duties, dropped the ball on a few household chores but you better believe the house will be spotless upon her return, spick and span, floors clean enough to eat off, children dressed adequately smelling like the cherubs they are.
The past few days we have talked about John the Baptist whose role it was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus the saviour of the World, and today’s verse tells us how that coming prepared the way for our redemption and our participation in the ongoing Christmas story.
The coming of the Messiah changed the way we relate to God, changing our status from enemy to friend, from spectators to participators. Through Christ’s sacrifice we joined the Christmas story. Our call/role in the ongoing Christmas story is to partner with the Holy Spirit to prepare our temporary/alien home for Christ’s return, sharing and inviting others into the ongoing Christmas story.
But unlike my preparation for my amazing wife’s planned and scheduled return on Sunday, preparing for Christ’s return shouldn’t be left to the unknown last few hours.
“He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (MSG)
PRAYER: Almighty saviour Jesus, I give you thanks and praise for your incredible act of sacrifice, for your death on the cross so I could become your family and join you in the work you have already prepared for me to participate with you in. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
TO PONDER
I guess it was around 17 years ago when we found out we would be first time parents. While we were overjoyed, the pregnancy was a huge surprise. It was our first year of marriage, with no family living in the same hemisphere, most of our friends being young, international University Students, so to say we had no idea what to do or how to prepare was a bit of an understatement.
The book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” became part of our EDC (every day carry), reading and re-reading at every chance to try to learn how to prepare.
Yesterday’s verses were about the Angelic visitation to Zechariah the priest to announce the future birth of his son John (the Baptist) and today’s verses are quoting the actual call of that son, prophesied some 700 years before his actual birth… that’s a long preparation period. But I guarantee his parents were still not prepared and that’s even with John’s father, the priest, being somewhat of an expert in all the scriptures talking about the messenger who was to prepare the way for the promised Messiah.
We don’t hear anything about John’s life, his birth, childhood, schooling until we finally meet him as a, somewhat, crazy man living in a desert, dressed in clothes made from camel hair, eating locusts, holding up a sign saying “The Kingdom is nigh!”, as he baptised crowds of people in the desert.
One can only imagine what John’s parents were thinking when they saw John in his full camel fur wearing splendour, with bits of locust stuck in his teeth…
Again, we don’t know but I would expect they were proud of their role in preparing the one who was promised to be the one who was preparing the way for the saviour of the World.
As the church, we also have a calling; a preordained role to prepare for Christmas, just like John the Baptist. We probably feel unprepared, unsure, ready to flee to the desert with trepidation but we have the ultimate “What To Expect When You’re Expecting Christmas” book in the Bible telling us to love God and love others, sacrificially and wholeheartedly to prepare the way for the Christmas story.
PRAYER: God, I thank you for Christmas, the story of you, the Almighty, coming as a servant, becoming human, surrendering yourself to die an excruciating criminals death for the chance to call me your child. I ask you to help me step into my role as one called to prepare the way for Christmas to everyone I come in contact with. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
TO PONDER
This is the last daily devotion for 2024 before we hit the church season of Advent, a time of reflecting and preparing to receive the best gift ever given; God giving himself to us to, offering himself for us, in order to save and redeem us from our own foolish choices.
One of the best things about this gift is that it does not change. It does not wear out over time, or need new batteries every couple of weeks, or fall out of fashion like last years summer collection. God's love is an enduring love. God's grace and mercy is eternal. God's power and might are unfathomable. These things do not change.
In a world that seems to be experiencing significant change in various realms (political, economical, social, etc) a constant can be a really comforting thing.
I remember when I first moved out of home in country Victoria and headed for the big city (Canberra, not Melbourne). One of the you can see from anywhere in Canberra is black mountain and the 'Telstra Tower' at its peak. As I learned from one of my local Canberra friends while trying to find my way around this new city, if the tower was on my left, I was probably headed North, if it was on my right, I was probably headed south, and if I couldn't see it, I was probably closer to either to Goulburn or Gundagai and should probably turn around.
God's faithfulness and consistency is something I have learned to give thanks for regularly. When everything around me is changing and life seems all topsy turvy, It is a wonderful gift to know that my Heavenly Father is always ready and willing to sit with me and listen, to love me even when I know I have stuffed something up. Canberra's Telstra Tower, I know I can pull over for a second, look for God and he will get me on the right path again. That's a comforting thought and one I am very thankful for.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that no matter what my life may look like or what challenges or changes I may be facing, I can have confidence that you will be there. That your love for me and your forgiveness and mercy toward me will never change or fail. Help me to live each day confident in your love and in your promises. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle