Treasuring and Making Jesus Famous

We all knew from social media that Anastasia, my friends' baby girl, made her debut Friday morning. I love her name because my Staci's name is a derivative of Anastasia, which means "resurrected life"! My thoughts went to Mary and how she "treasured these things in her heart", unlike how descriptive we are about our children and their lives. I'm guilty, as charged. Back in my day, it was word-of-mouth to alert our friends and family that our baby had arrived. Today, we even know the gestation periods of moms as they show photos of their growing tummies at 12 - 16 - 28 weeks and more. We wore full tops that kept our expanding waistlines from showing. Now it’s tight-fitting outfits that let it show, let the whole world know as the baby grows! And, the latest trends are showing photos of babies bearing a sign "One Week Old", then at one month, two months, etc. We are our babies and families' "publicity managers"! The world of social media certainly is different than Mary's “treasuring those things in her heart".

Mary shared very little about her baby, the Son of God. Dr. Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke, must have interviewed Mary because she was the only surviving eye-witness of those events. Only do his writings explain the miracle birth. And, very little "detail" did she give us, unlike my "many words" daily posts. I reflected on Mary’s brief explanation of her miracle pregnancy and the wonders of her baby’s birth – the angels, the shepherds, the star. I marvel at her quiet demeanor and her ability to “treasure” these things in her heart. “Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” Luke 2:19 \

We know little of keeping things to ourselves these days – with social media that keeps us well aware of what’s going on in our lives. I know I'm not measuring up to Mary's "treasuring in her heart", especially when I post about where I am and what I’m doing and what my family is doing almost daily. Obviously, my "treasuring" is bold and in technicolor to the world.

But, in reality, how can we make Jesus famous if we simply sit and treasure Him -- keeping Him all to ourselves? Unlike Mary, who had the benefit of a host of angels and a star, we have so many extraordinary, available ways to broadcast the GOOD NEWS of Jesus. Oh yes, there are times to sit in His holy presence and treasure Him and adore Him and honor Him. But, if we don't get out of our comfortable places of "Silent Night. Holy Night" to "Go Tell It On the Mountain" -- who will be the bearers of "Joy to the World. The Lord Has Come. Let Earth Receive Her King. Let every heart prepare Him Room" to our world?

If ever a mother could exploit the exploits of her Son, Mary could have, but she chose to treasure those things in her heart. As I treasured Mary's "Yes" yesterday, I realized God was inspiring me to use whatever platforms I’m given to be Mary’s mouthpiece. She treasured in her heart because that was God's best plan for her. Now, her heart is revealed in how I can help her make her Son famous and help people fall in love with Him as I did.

I’m inspired by Mary’s quiet “treasuring-in-her-heart” ways, but in John 14:12, Jesus said "Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, the one who believes in Me will also do what I’m doing. He will do even greater things than these because I’m going to the Father." Why then, would we NOT use every means possible like books, churches, missions teams, movies, television, social media, and word-of-mouth to get the word out to make Him famous?

I hope to live my life with the same willingness of Mary. What if she had said no? What if she had rejected the opportunity to be the Mother of the Lord? But, she would have missed out on being a crucial part of the greatest story ever told! Millions of people throughout time wouldn’t look back at her life in gratitude, understanding that their salvation was made possible because she was a willing servant of the Lord. No matter the cost. Like Mary, I want to treasure each moment as Mary did, choosing to trust in God’s sovereignty, but I want to get out there in every way possible to shine the spotlight on Him and help make my Lord famous. Will you join me?

Heaven Sent and Heaven's Scent

I have several friends who have recently welcomed new babies into their homes Oh, how they must relate to the Baby Boy born in Bethlehem at this time of the year. I sure did, when my baby girl was born on December 8th. I’ve told each of those friends how much I want to get my hands on their angels. Most of all – to smell their “heaven’s scent”. Don’t you love that smell? After all, that's where those precious little angels came from, so of course, they still carry the scent of heaven on them. And, how I love kissing those "heavenly" little faces. I just can't help myself. There is something indescribable in the face of a baby -- that subconscious awareness of the heart and face of God.

Don’t you know how astounded Mary must have been to hold her newborn baby and when it came to “heaven’s scent” – that was an understatement. Mark Lowery’s song, “Mary Did You Know” asked the question “Mary did you know that when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God?”

Morgan Weistling, the artist of this amazing painting of Mary and Baby Jesus said: “I started to contemplate the awesome privilege that Mary was given, being able to hold God in her arms, but also keeping in mind that He was still her baby. This cute little child whom she bore was also God in the flesh. And yet, she cuddled and kissed Him, just as all mothers do with their babies. This thought propelled me right into this painting which I wanted to be a very human representation of divinity. My prayer is that the viewer will be struck, as I am, with the amazing way that God chose to send His Son into this world — in pure humility.”

As precious as little babies are, especially Baby Jesus, anyone who carries God's light within them, also has the "face of God", and especially those who let that LIGHT shine through them to others. Nothing explains that better than when I saw the incredible volunteers at Operation Care’s Birthday Party for Jesus on December 15th.

Anyone who stops to give a hug or a loving touch to someone that is hurting has the face of God. I believe it's in the one who serves at a food pantry or homeless shelter or hospital or nursery worker, church leader and caregivers of every kind -- anyone who volunteers their time and reaches out and touches someone less fortunate. Those are the ones who are obviously the face of God in our world. Mother Teresa had more wrinkles than anyone I've ever seen, but she had more love in her, and had the most beautiful face of God, giving His love as she touched so many.

Especially at this special time of year, isn't it time, we put on our "Game Face" -- our "God Face" that others see Him in us? They recognize "God's Face" on us. Isn't it time we lived on purpose to be "His face" to a dying, hurting world and show them LOVE in ACTION -- after all, we were all made in HIS IMAGE -- and that image is what this world needs so much? Indeed, "To love others, is to see the FACE OF GOD".

Greater Things Shall You Do

I walked in the door of the Wuerch's home and there came my youngest grandson to me -- not running -- but riding (standing up) on his hoverboard -- with perfect balance and agility. I remembered the one he had a couple of years ago -- more of a starter version. This one has lights, off road wheels, bluetooth that provides music, is weatherproof and there is no weight restriction.

Older brother, Brennan, was sporting his high tech camera that gets crystal clear, high definition shots with a flip video screen. Larry gave Staci a sweet gift of taking all her music from her five CDs and getting them all listed on iTunes and Spotify. (Check it out if you get a chance.)

And my oldest grandson received a "vlogging" camera, stablizer and headset with retractable earbuds. All the kids received iPhone cords in their stockings. Bear got an Apple watch. Ryan got an Echo-Plus and Dots which all synchronize in room to room or different, which also serves as an intercom system.

All this technology -- wonder if that was what Jesus had in mind when He said, "And greater things than what I do, you will do." John 14:12. Goodness gracious -- Jesus walked everywhere, he was so in touch with others that He knew what they were thinking, his eyes were looking to see what He could do or help someone in need. He was multi-tasking all the time. Yes, we are in the age of the greatest advancements in technology and it is moving at warp speed. What a day it is to be alive to experience so much innovation, witness brilliant minds coming up with such creativity (I love "Shark Tank" where week after week people are coming up with innovative ways ways to do things.)

We heard the song, "Mary, Did You Know?" so many times, by so many different artists, over the Christmas season, and I think about all the Mamas out there who could have been asked similar questions "Mrs. Ford, DID YOU KNOW that your son would invent the car?" "Mrs Wright, DID YOU KNOW your boys would invent the first airplane?" "Mrs. Gates, DID YOU KNOW your son, Bill, would be a world leader and innovator in computer technology?" Mrs. Zuckerberg, DID YOU KNOW your son, Mark, would create Facebook?"

Sincerely, we are the only one who can put limits to what we can achieve. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said "I am telling you the truth: It's good for you that I'm going away. If I don't go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) won't come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you." John 16:7. How awesome is that? He is in us, and greater things and greater results and greater accomplishments we can achieve because our CREATOR, came to us as the Baby in the Manger. Oh, but He grew up and opened the door for our creativity and our freedom of being and doing anything we set our minds to do. After all, He Who knows everything about everything lives BIG in us! EMMANUEL -- God with us!

Every Place We Live Can Be Bethlehem

 My post today was inspired by a dear friend and wonderful encourager, Carolyn Cline Boyle. She is radiant, joy-filled and exudes the love of Christ every time I see her. She is also one of my followers on Facebook. Her comments after my post, yesterday, were especially meaningful to me. My post was entitled "Mary, Did You Know?" This was Carolyn's comment to that post:

"Every morning your words bring me back to the meaning of this beautiful season. Life is moving so quickly, the world is so full of conflict and struggle and I need to realign my reason for being, when all this is swirling around. We have a manger scene in almost every room and I am going to take a deep breath and take time at each one with a special prayer each day. I am so blessed to have this world of faith “cocooning” me and I am so blessed to read your words, dear Donna!"

I shared those words with you not to impress you, but to impress upon you what I heard. Carolyn said she was going to take a deep breath at her manger scenes and offer a special prayer. I, too, have many nativity/manger scenes that I strategically place in my living, dining and kitchen area, but I moved them about my home to the bedrooms, office and even my bathrooms after I read her comments. I want my own journey to Bethlehem and the manger to inspire me and my visitors in every room.

When my now 16-year old granddaughter, was about 4 years old, she loved playing with all the characters in my larger nativity set. One day she started to play and baby Jesus was missing. She went into panic mode "Baby Jesus is gone. Where is Baby Jesus?" she cried. We later realized her big brother (age 5 years old at the time) had hidden baby Jesus from her. It was finally a "Silent Night, Holy Night" when Jesus was returned to His manger.

The Christmas Story is much more than a nativity set. It is a picture of how close Christ will come to us. The first stop on His itinerary was Mary's womb. Christ grew in Mary until He came out. And, Jesus gives us the same offer. "If you'll let Me, I'll move into you." He is IN us and I pray He will come out in our speech, in our actions, in our decisions. Then, not just in the manger scenes, but Bethlehem will be in every place we live, and every day we live will be a Christmas when you and I, like Mary, will deliver Christ to our world.

"Christ in YOU, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Let every heart prepare Him room.