Devotional
from Shenna Cherry
Have you forgotten the center of Christmas?
I turned toward the counter for just a brief moment looking at
a shirt the sales clerk had
retrieved for me. As I opened it up I turned back around to check
on Bradley. He was my toddler...roughly 18 months. Brad
wasn't speaking yet, or at least not clearly enough for others to
understand. He did get around very well for his age.He kept me in
shape :) As I glanced behind me, I didn't see him. I put the
shirt down and continued looking for him. As a matter of fact, I
combed the entire store. It was a men's store at a mall. So it
wasn't a large department store, but certainly was large enough to
get lost in. A few minutes had passed with no Brad in site nor a
peep from his littl mouth. Panic was about to set in ! I asked
everyone to help look for him. I couldn't imagine where he had
gone. We looked in the dressing rooms , in the clothing , under
everything.....thinking he must be hiding. Well....no Brad was
found. By now I really was scared. Fear now had taken over. My
thoughts were running away with me. I had to control them in order
to come to some rational way of locating my son.
By now I was at the front door of the store. I had to decide
what to do. Do I leave here and go to another store . Perhaps he
wondered out into the mall...which store , if any did he go in?
I stepped out into the path of the flow of people coming my way.
There is no telling what they thought as I looked down the mall
walk to see if I could see him.
I was looking for a little green jumper set and blonde hair
walking down that pathway. I moved over to the other side as I
continued my journey. No sign of him. Scared to move, I collected
me a policeman that was patrolling the mall......told him my
story.He immediately agreed to look and ask for help.
As I stood there trying to sort out in my mind; in a quick a
reasonable manner, whether I should move or not, a rush to
judgment just took over. I did move! I started walking down the
mall just looking for that green outfit. I called his name
repeatedly as I hurried on my quest. I think my eyes covered more
at that time than they had seen my entire lifetime. As I looked
and called out his little name, many things went through my mind.
One in particular was what if someone lured him into their
possession? Another was...what if I don't find him at all. There
were so many places for him to go, doors for him to venture out
of, and stores for him to go into! Oh God...please help me find my
son!!!!!!!Over and over again I was saying this !
I was such a protective mother, how could this have happen to me?
I turned away for just a BRIEF moment!
As I looked down the mall.....a rather good distance, I spotted
green. Yes, green! A little green jumper and blonde hair! I
couldn't get there fast enough...and I mean I think my soul got
there faster than my aging body did. I must have ran, I really
don't know how I got there, I just remember moving quickly between
people. Fortunately Bradley wasn't moving. He was standing at the
corner of a store looking at something. When I got to him I had to
recompose myself so that I wouldn't scare him. I didn't want to
alarm him in anyway. See, he wasn't crying or upset because he was
lost or he missed me. On the contrary..he was just fine. I was the
one who was a mess. But God did deliver and I thank him for it
continuously. He took over , when in fact I couldn't think.
Have you ever had this experience? If you have, then you know
the feeling. It will never leave me as long as I have an active
mind, nor will the feeling of complete helplessness.
Bradley is almost 20 years old. He is the youngest of my four
children.He was the only one with me that day... which was
unusual. He is my quiet child...which perhaps is the reason I was
so terrified that day in the mall. Not a sound did he make...not
even when I found him. He was pacified with the surroundings and
wasn't scared at all. God has a way of handling things for all of
us.
What was my lesson from this? Everything is for the moment.
Live in the moment of time. It is fleeting and will be gone in an
instant. Life is fragile...treat it with care...never take
anything for granted ! Life is a gift...it can be taken away in a
breath!
I have no idea what God was really trying to tell me
specifically.....but the fear of the Lord and all of His greatness
, power and
reverence has my attention! ( It did before this happened to )
Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the Lord, to my God I cried for
help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached
his ears.
I tell you these things for several reasons....
Let me begin with this first one....and it is the story of Jesus
in the temple.... Please read below this story.
Luke 2:41-52 (NRSV)
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the
festival of the
Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as
usual for the
festival. When the festival was ended and they started to
return, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not
know it.
Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's
journey. Then
they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
When they did
not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
After three
days they found him in the temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to
them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were
amazed at his
understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they
were
astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why
have you treated us
like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for
you in great
anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching
for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not
understand what he
said to them. Then he went down with them and came to
Nazareth, and was
obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in
her heart. And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and
human favor. _________________________
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My comments....
This is so confusing to me. I have a hard time understanding that
they didn't talk to their son ( Jesus) for a whole day. I do know
that their customs were different back in that day and time,
although I have not studied enough to know what they were.
I am assured that Mary was the perfect mother, so I know this was
just a normal way of doing for them at this time in history.
However, when Jesus was missed they immediately went to find Him.
For three days they looked for Him. Three days! Jesus was not
concerned either about his stay. He didn't acknowledge that it
would have worried them. He was only about His Father's work. Of
course, Mary and Joseph didn't understand this...and I am not sure
that Jesus really did either at that point in time, but was rather
guided by the Holy Spirit to do as God would have him to. Jesus
was content not to be concerned. He just followed his heart and
guided direction.
Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn't
find Jesus..... and then when they found him....at his lack of
concern? Not to be mistaken with his love and respect. As
you note...Jesus went with his mother and father and this did not
happen again. There was a reason for this at this time.
If the Father would allow this frustration to happen to Mary
and Joseph , his beloved perfect couple....then we are no
different. In fact ,we were not near perfect. Nor were they, but
closer to perfect than we! So we can expect the unexpected and
then to call upon God as our helpmeet.
As we travel through time, and most specifically the Holiday
Season, we are so busy that we loose site of the meaning of the
season. Our presents are bought, trees and houses are trimmed, and
food is bought. Is there a spiritual side to your season?
You say yes... of course! We have our church festivities! Well...
that is wonderful, but have you forgotten to make Christ the
center of your Holiday? See...the Christmas season is about the
birth of Christ... but the real meaning of the Holiday is about
what Christ stands for.....and what He came for.
John 3:16 says it for us.....
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
He also says... in John 10:10
...... I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly.
So rejoice this Christmas Season...Let it be a reminder of his
birth and his mission.God himself is with you and wants the best
for you and yours. Just don't leave him out.....he wants to be
visible ! :)
As you entertain each other this Christmas Season...you will be
making Jesus visible to all!
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My other reasons for sharing these stories with you are:
This is the Holiday Season and we get so caught up in what is
pressing at the moment.
We loose track of virtually everything...
1. Be sure to always keep one hand on the kids and never turn away
from them unprotected...or leave them at home in all cases.......
and don't feel guilty ! It is for their protection!
2. Don't ever hesitate to pray....God hears all prayers and
petitions...and at any and all times! Not just in the morning or
at night :)
3. Always listen to your still small voice... God is speaking to
YOU specifically !
4. Act when he instructs you to...time is important. ( Be sure it
is God speaking to you first :) ) ( His voice usually comes
in reference to something you have talked to him about at some
point in time )
5. Never question why when God has spoken. Trust me...there
is a reason...and it will be revealed to you when he thinks it is
time.
6. Be patient with God......He knows all things and when the
time is right. If the answer never comes...then there was a
reason.
7. Remember to praise and thank God at all times. Especially
for answered prayer.
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol,
you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at
the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead
me, and your right hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall
hold me fast.
(Re: Inspirations For Daily Living )
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©sweet2cherrylane
**!~^--Morning Alert--^~!**
<=> Talk to God First ! <=>
sweet2cherrylane@yahoo.com
http://members.tripod.com/Shenna1999/index.html
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