GOD Morning! March 31 / Boot Camp Day 25 Treasure Chest

GOD Morning!  March 31

Boot Camp Day 25

Treasure Chest

Luke 2:1-20   AMP

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be registered [in a census]. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,  in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.  While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah). And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.” Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest [heaven],
And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger. And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

 “But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart.” (verse 19)

In my past life, I talked everything to death. Literally. I couldn’t seem to stop talking. Now, with everything that has happened in my almost 57 years, I find myself treasuring and pondering more often than yakking.

Mary was a ponderer.

“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51

Hey, let’s take a day and follow Mary’s lead. Let’s treasure and ponder everything that God has done in each of us. Maybe we should make treasure chest list of everything that God has laid on our hearts that we have held dear, plus everything that God has done in our lives. We could save it in our Bible or in our prayer journal. A list of things to be grateful for. Just thinking about this pondering action in my own life right now brings tears to my eyes and a Holy Presence of God all around me.

 “Dear Jesus, this morning I am pondering and treasuring You. Without You, where would I be? Lost and undone. In a pit of depression. Thanks for every single blessing that You have given to me. Thanks for choosing me to be a vessel of Your Holy Spirit. Thanks for choosing me to birth a burden for hurting humanity. Thanks for choosing me to shine Your light on everyone! I do not take this lightly, dear Jesus. I am, like Mary, pondering these things in my heart! How I love You, my Jesus. AMEN.”