Saturday, December 22, 2012

Day 52

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a baby around Christmas?  While the birthdays of my sons are not around Christmas, one of my good friends actually delivered her son today... and I got to visit them at the hospital.  Their baby was so precious... sleeping soundly as he was passed around to the adoring adults in the room.  The tiny hands... the baby sounds... the cute nose... the toes.  Getting to see a newborn this time of year makes me think about Mary in a new light. 

Have you ever thought about what went through Mary's head as she anticipated the birth of God's own son?  I wonder if she thought he would have a certain glow about Him (like some pictures of the Christ child do).  This was her first child, so I imagine she didn't quite know what to expect.  But after Jesus arrived, I bet she drank in every feature... treasured every coo and sweet sigh as Baby Jesus slept.  I bet it was a magical moment as the reality of Emmanuel (God with us) was cuddled in her arms. 

The song You're Here by Francesca Battistelli touches on some of Mary's potential emotions.  Can you relate to any of them?

Hold on now, I gotta take a deep breath
I don’t know what to say when I look in your eyes
You made the world before I was born
Here I am holding You in my arms tonight

Noel, Noel
Jesus our Emmanuel

You’re here
I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior
King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own
But You’re here

Don’t know how long I’m gonna have You for
But I’ll be watching when You change the world
Look at Your hands, they’re still so small
Someday You’re gonna stretch them out and save us all

Noel, Noel, God with us Emmanuel

You’re here, I’m holding You so near oooh oh
I’m staring into the face of my Savior
King and Creator
You could’ve left us on our own
But you’re here, you’re here

Someday I’m gonna look back on this
The night that God became a baby boy
Someday You’re gonna go home again,
But You leave your spirit and flood the world with joy

You’ll be here, I’m holding You so near
I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator
You could’ve left me on my own, but you’re here… You’re here
Hallelujah, You’re here
Hallelujah, You’re here
http://www.lyrics-celebrities.anekatips.com/youre-here-lyrics-francesca-battistelli

The line "You could’ve left me on my own, but you’re here" really struck me today while I listened to this song.  How true it is!  God didn't have to send Jesus to earth to save us.  He wanted to because of His great love for us.  It just blows my mind how much God loves us and the extreme measures He went through to ensure we could spend eternity in heaven with Him IF we invite Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior. John 3:16 explains why God sent Jesus:

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And 1 John 4:10 shares more on God's love:

This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

This love in action all began on Christmas day 2000 years ago with the birth of Jesus.  How incredible!  Christmas is the beginning of our hope... our joy... our salvation.  A new addition to any family changes things... and Jesus' birth was no different... except His birth changed not only His family, but He also changed the world.  Let's allow the wonder of Jesus transform us this Christmas. 

Tonight, I am thankful for...

1.  Getting my haircut
2.  My hairdresser reminding me that I needed to get stocking stuffers... and having time to get them all today
3.  A much needed Girl's Day Out... and it was all day too!
4.  Seeing God answer prayers over the birth of my friend's son
5.  Getting to meet this precious baby boy
6.  The power of music
7.  Mexican food
8.  Watching my all time favorite Christmas movie today
9.  Watching Christmas specials tonight as a family snuggled up on the couch
10.  God loving us so much to send Jesus to be a living example of God here on earth
11.  The Holy Spirit living in us when we invite Jesus into our hearts
12.  Funny text from my hubby
13.  Daddy fun day with my hubby and sons
14.  New wrapping paper

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 4,278 to go...

10 comments:

  1. Amandal .
    I'm thankful for Dennis and Lynn.
    I'm thankful for making buckeyes,chocolate cherries,peppermint brittle .
    I'm thankful for getting presents bought .
    I'm thankful for stocking stuffers .
    I'm thankful for being busy today.

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  2. I am thakful for
    1.Getiing to sleep in.
    2.Not having to fix breakfast.
    3.Pumpkin muffins.
    4.A day of no plans.
    5.My morning puzzle.
    6.Going to Sams to get the rest of the food for Christmas.
    7.Self checkout at Sams.
    8.Frozen pizza for dinner.
    9.Finishing another Christmas novel.
    10.Sitting and looking at the Christmas lights.
    11.Getting my kitchen cleaned.
    12.Getting the rest I really needed.
    Gina

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  3. I am thankful for...
    1. Hearing Christmas songs in a new way this year
    2. Being moved to tears because of God's goodness and faithfulness
    3. Seeing friends that got the best Christmas gift ever
    4. God's miracles
    5. A beautiful and healthy newborn baby
    6. Birthday gifts that mean so much
    7. Time with dear friends
    8. The smell of fresh baked breakfast breads
    9. Sugar plum spice tea
    10. Getting things crossed off my to-do list
    11. Watching a movie with my husband
    12. Laughing with my husband
    13. Praising God for His goodness and faithfulness
    14. Family sing-a-long after dinner to "10,000 Reasons"
    15. My incredible husband who is truly a blessing to me from God

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  4. I am thankful for:
    1. All the unexpected ways God tugs on my heart.
    2. All the unexpected ways God shows me he loves me.
    3. All the unexpected ways God brings healing.
    4. All the unexpected ways God blesses me thru friendships
    5. the joy in my heart at Christmastime that I was certain would never again be possible.

    Bonnie Lawrence

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  5. I am thankful:
    1. for safe travels.
    2. for a large family.
    3. for white chocolate fudge.
    4. for the church I grew up in that my Mom still attends.
    5. for Christmas lights.
    Karen

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  6. I am thankful for:
    1. the sweet gift from my workplace.
    2. getting the last of my shopping done.
    3. having a gift on hand with no one's name on it that I could give to someone who needed it.
    4. having a fun Christmas pancake dinner with fab friends.
    5. enjoying inside jokes with friends.
    6. spray snow...I've always wanted some and got to use it!
    7. extension cords.
    8. Christmas get-togethers with families of my husband's men's group.
    9. an impromptu manicure.
    10. warmer weather.
    11. an awesome visit with a grade school friend.
    12. taking my friend to a restaurant she'd never visited.
    13. hearing about a healthy birth of a new baby boy.
    14. a hair cut squeezed in before Christmas.
    15. off loading homemade goodies so I don't have to eat them. (I enjoy them, but the new calories don't look as good on me as a new pair of jeans.)
    16. not having to pack lunches and iron uniforms until next year. That is worth 10,000 reasons right there.
    17. the anticipation of the season.
    18. a Christmas Eve tradition with friends who, like us, don't have family in town.
    19. meeting new people.
    20. my bed after a long day of festivities.
    21. my RLS medicine.
    22. kleenexes.
    23. hand sanitizer.
    24. orange juice...a theme continues.
    25. real maple syrup.
    26. a new recipe to try and some place to take it so I don't have to have too much of it left over sitting around the house.
    27. an unexpected treat to lunch from my workplace.
    28. a new book to read.
    29. a new puzzle book to work.
    30. figuring out just the right way to wrap/unveil a gift.
    31. a teacher/friend who is pursuing a calling God laid on her heart...such courage.
    32. sleeping in.
    33. snuggling with my sweet babies.
    34. knowing I'm the luckiest Mom in the world...ever!
    35. beginning to plan summer vacation...no I'm not wishing my life away...just thinking of the big picture:)

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  7. AmandaL .
    I'm thankful for two great sermons today.
    I'm thankful for God forgiven my sins.
    I'm thankful for hope.
    I'm thankful for my friend getting better.
    I'm thankful for to have all my Christmas. shopping done.

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  8. 1. For all the presents being wrapped, finally
    2. For learning that a friend had her baby boy
    3. For baking day with my sister's family
    4. For the long walk my sister and I took together
    5. For my Great God who left His glory in Heaven to come and live the life of a man and then die on a cross a rise again because He loves us and wants to be with us
    6. New PJ's on Chritmas Eve
    7. For ACC's Christmas Eve Eve service
    8. For a friend who got to eat with us and attend church with us
    For the anticipation of what God is going to do with me and my life
    10. For my sweet dogs
    11. For. Staying up late and sleeping in
    For the Bible
    13. For the hope of snow for Chrustmas
    14. Anticipating watching the kids on Christmas morning
    15. For one more day to get a few things done

    LisaD

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  9. I am thankful ...
    1) to be with my family in Owensboro to celebrate Christmas together
    2) that all the Christmas gifts I ordered online came in on time.
    3) to spend some time together shopping with my husband and kids.
    4) for my sweet friend, Donna, whose birthday is today.
    5) to feel God's love for me.

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  10. I am thankful for:
    1. Ritchie - the most amazing NASA docent
    2. double fried fries at In and Out Burgers
    3. a mad dash for the movie theatre and getting there in time for the movie
    4. the imagination of Tolkien
    5. finishing that puzzel!

    ReplyDelete