Mary Did You Know?
Has anyone started listening to continuous Christmas music on 99.9 KEZ? It does seem a little soon to convert to Christmas but I've been listening anyway. I've heard Clay Aiken's version of "Mary Did You Know" several times now and it's really quite stirring. I think it's so cool that a secular radio station has so much religious music. Makes you wonder when someone is going to put a stop to that. Anyway, Kim Shoup has written the following devotional to go along with that song. If you haven't heard it yet this season, tune in to 99.9 and you might get lucky.
Text: Read Luke 2:8-35
One by one they brought her their stories. Words of revelation and guidance, events and signs, all of which led each one of them to the same place – bowing before the Child, her Child. Each story was a single thread which she began to weave into a mantle of covering and comfort for her heart during the hard times. And she pondered what it all meant.
Stories from the shepherds with their amazing description of the angel and the heavenly host, that spectacular choir praising God for the glory of this moment. Stories from the Magi bearing their gifts, telling of a journey which had culminated from centuries of waiting. Stories from all the people who wanted to see for themselves what the shepherds had proclaimed about this Child and those angels. She even had her own story – of that appointment with Gabriel when he told her that God Himself would express His favor in choosing her as His mother. Even when they presented themselves to the temple at the appointed time, there was old Simeon, waiting not only with his story of the Holy Spirit’s revelation to his heart but also weaving a golden thread of prophecy into Mary’s mantle. Revealing to her what the Baby in her arms would be for Israel, for the world and even for her own soul. So many things to ponder.
Did she know what it all meant? Probably not in detail. But as Mary treasured up all the stories, all the revelations, she, better than anyone, knew her sleeping Son, this Baby, would change the world, both now and forever.
Food for Thought
1. Reading the following verses, what promises do we receive when we ponder the things of God?
Jeremiah 24:7
Jeremiah 33:3
John 3:11
John 13:17
John 21:24
1 Corinthians 13:12
Ephesians 1:17-19
2. What words and actions has the Lord given to you to ponder this holiday season? Are you weaving your own mantle of blessing for your heart?
Copyright (c) 1999 by Kimberly Hannay Shoup
All Rights Reserved
Text: Read Luke 2:8-35
One by one they brought her their stories. Words of revelation and guidance, events and signs, all of which led each one of them to the same place – bowing before the Child, her Child. Each story was a single thread which she began to weave into a mantle of covering and comfort for her heart during the hard times. And she pondered what it all meant.
Stories from the shepherds with their amazing description of the angel and the heavenly host, that spectacular choir praising God for the glory of this moment. Stories from the Magi bearing their gifts, telling of a journey which had culminated from centuries of waiting. Stories from all the people who wanted to see for themselves what the shepherds had proclaimed about this Child and those angels. She even had her own story – of that appointment with Gabriel when he told her that God Himself would express His favor in choosing her as His mother. Even when they presented themselves to the temple at the appointed time, there was old Simeon, waiting not only with his story of the Holy Spirit’s revelation to his heart but also weaving a golden thread of prophecy into Mary’s mantle. Revealing to her what the Baby in her arms would be for Israel, for the world and even for her own soul. So many things to ponder.
Did she know what it all meant? Probably not in detail. But as Mary treasured up all the stories, all the revelations, she, better than anyone, knew her sleeping Son, this Baby, would change the world, both now and forever.
Food for Thought
1. Reading the following verses, what promises do we receive when we ponder the things of God?
Jeremiah 24:7
Jeremiah 33:3
John 3:11
John 13:17
John 21:24
1 Corinthians 13:12
Ephesians 1:17-19
2. What words and actions has the Lord given to you to ponder this holiday season? Are you weaving your own mantle of blessing for your heart?
Copyright (c) 1999 by Kimberly Hannay Shoup
All Rights Reserved
posted by Tammy at 7:06 AM
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