Monday, December 23, 2013

Sit and Remember by-@emilylaney


Nativity Images
Sit and Remember

 

Christmas is almost here. The day we commemorate and remember the coming of our Lord is just a couple short days away. It’s impossible to miss it around here. Music, decorations, ads for last minute sales, presents, parties, and busyness- just a few words to describe the American Christmas experience. We spend quality time with family and the people we care about. We buy gifts for people we love. There’s baking, entertaining, caroling, and a myriad of traditions. It’s a beautiful time of year, but it’s also a hectic time of year.  

Your to-do list may be a mile long today, but I want to challenge you to do something with me. Take a few minutes today, two days before Christmas, to be still and remember. Think about this time years ago. Think about what Mary must have felt as she and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem. Think about that holy night, when a tiny baby came into the world.  

Think about what Christmas means for the Christian. Jesus came, he lived, he died. He was born in a dirty stable. He wasn’t ‘too good’ for anything. He came as a servant to save us. Just sit in that for a few minutes today. 

Read the scriptures that foretold the coming of his birth. Read the account of his coming:  

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.- Luke 2:2-20
 

Sit and remember my friends. For a few moments, forget about the presents, the to-do list, the baking, and the entertaining. Sit and think about HIM. Think about our Jesus, the savior, the spotless lamb. There is so much beauty in His coming and in the events we commemorate at Christmas.  


Merry Christmas! Jesus has come! Rejoice!


Emily Laney is a social worker, educator and justice seeker. She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals. She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.  She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit. Sunsets and Sushi make her happy. 

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

 
 
 

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