LINGER LONGER IN THE QUIET

In all the rushing of this season to find treasures by the 25th of December, all I really want to do is to sit quiet.  How about you?

LET’S BE STILL FOR A MOMENT.

Could it be that it truly is JESUS calling us to stop?  Stop and consider……..why and how HE came. 

LUKE 1: 76-77 “AND YOU, CHILD WILL BE CALLED THE PROPHET OF THE MOST HIGH; FOR YOU WILL GO BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS, TO GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION TO HIS PEOPLE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS, BECAUSE OF THE TENDER MERCY OF GOD.”

When we read the Christmas Story, let’s imagine the quiet of that night…….

MATTHEW 2: 9-10 “…….THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY.  AND THERE IT WAS – THE STAR THEY HAD SEEN AT IT’S RISING.  IT LED THEM UNTIL IT CAME AND STOPPED ABOVE THE PLACE WHERE THE CHILD WAS.  WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR, THEY WERE OVERWHELMED WITH JOY.”

Who doesn’t know the quiet of a starry night…….who doesn’t feel the peace looking into the heavens……..who doesn’t realize the Creator and the created world around them!

STAY IN THE QUIET……..LINGER THERE.

Who doesn’t look at the lights in the heavens or on their tree and wonder?  Early mornings while it is still dark do that to a soul…….linger and feel HIS coming near……..bringing you peace.

IMMANUEL……..GOD WITH US.

Isn’t there a peace that only CHRIST can give us? It is a peace beyond our understanding, but it is usually found in the quiet of the night.  And it was in the quiet of the night that the wise men found the Baby JESUS.

Our Savior began HIS life in a humble stable, because there was no room for HIM.  And I will bet in spite of those sounds of the animals around them, that Joseph and Mary felt peace that only they could physically hold in their arms.  It was a peace and a baby that was beyond their understanding, but they still held HIM…….a GOD with them……..IMMANUEL.

OH HOW THEY MUST HAVE LINGERED IN THE QUIET THAT NIGHT!

And maybe the only sound heard was the cry of that sweet BABE called JESUS.  HE cried because HE wants us to come near, into relationship with HIM. 

BECAUSE HE CAME DOWN FOR US.

Mary and Joseph were in awe of a GOD who does that, the Wise Men glorified HIM on their knees and we should too…….in the quiet one morning do just that!

Mary, being chosen and highly favored by GOD, treasured all these things and we should too.

LUKE 2: 19 ” BUT MARY TREASURED UP ALL THESE THINGS, PONDERING THEM IN HER HEART.”

Oh we should treasure JESUS who came……..treasure HIM only in our hearts.  Let us linger a little longer this CHRISTMAS with JESUS.  HE came for you and for me.  Linger long in the quiet and JESUS comes into clear focus.  May you feel HIS presence this year, because HE lives right there in your sweet heart!

LUKE 2: 14 ” GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED.”