In the silence, a babe was born.
Stars winked and the moon lit the way one night several thousand years ago.
In the silence, a babe was born.
The lowly landscape was dotted with sheep and cows.
In the silence, a babe was born.
Humble beginnings produced a Savior.
From a stable the world was blessed with royalty.
Humble beginnings, a manger, a night ushered in without any hoopla brought us the gift of love that night many years ago. Nothing about this night was one that anyone would remember, but it has become one that we will never forget.
The angels spread the word to the local shepherds. They in turn shared the miracle after visiting the newborn son. The greatest gift became the greatest story ever told. One in which our lives will blend beautifully, when we choose to step into the story God has laid out for us.
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
This is how the story began. This is the story that we have the choice to make our own, for it is only in stepping into this story that we are saved from our sins. It is only in receiving this gift for ourselves that we become one with the Lord. It is only through the unwrapping of the greatest gift that we let our stories enter God’s story.
The day love came down is one that is ours to discover. The gift came to us in a manger in Bethlehem. No fancy birth announcements were sent out, but the world, in the silence of one night, tilted just a little more and spun a little faster to catch the breath of this newborn Savior.
That one night beckons us to “Come to Him”. His unassuming entrance into the world is our gentle call to love. His manner of grace and peace envelop us in His story. This Christmas wrap yourself in the gift of Jesus. Let His love and peace become the foundation of your own story.
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I want to take this time to wish everyone a beautiful Christmas spent unwrapping the gift of Jesus. May you find His peace, love and grace and receive them as your own this Christmas and everyday throughout the year.
If I may be so humble, I would cherish your prayers for my son, Daniel and his soon to be wife, Kayla, as they begin their own story together on December 27th.
Please come join me in the New Year right here, where I will continue to share God’s ordinary stories in my own life lavished with His amazing grace.
Christmas blessings!
Mary
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Congratulations to Daniel & Kayla, and to YOU, Mary! What a wonderful time of year for a wedding. . . when love came down. Blessings on your week, my friend. Looking forward to continuing our friendship in 2016! Happy New Year.
Thank you sweet friend! It was a beautiful wedding full of the presence of God. All the prayers along the way were so appreciated. I am looking forward to see what 2016 will bring and continuing our friendship too. Happy New Year!
This is a beautiful time to get married. Praying for your son and his soon-to-be bride. Loved the tenderness of this post!
Thank you Dianne! Your prayers are felt and I love how this community comes around to join in prayer. It is a beautiful blessing.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! See you in 2016!
One silent night that brought a loud change in the world.
Happy Christmas! 🙂
Silence many times is followed by loudness but on Christmas is was announcing the glory of our newborn Savior. Merry Christmas, Lux! Thank you for being such a faithful reader.
“Let His love and peace become the foundation of your own story.” What a story of grace it is when His love and peace are our foundation! I pray this also for Daniel and Kayla as they begin their together-story. May you and your family have a wonder-filled and peace-filled Christmas and wedding!
Amen to love and peace as well as the beginning of a together-story. Your prayers are cherished and your kind words are treasured. Wishing you a Marry Christmas and a New Year of peace and love.
“His unassuming entrance into the world is our gentle call to love.” Amen, Mary! Wrapping you, Daniel and Kayla in prayer. May you sense the call of love bidding you to come to Him for quietness, calm, rest and refreshment in the busyness of the days ahead. Blessings of joy and peace to you and yours! See you in 2016, my friend. 🙂 <3
Thank you for the beautiful, prayerful words! I sensed them wrapping around me as I read them. Your prayers mean everything and your friendship even more.
I pray that as we celebrate Christmas and move into a new year that we hold onto Jesus as our greatest gift. It is from Him that we are endlessly loved, wrapped in peace and blessed with a grace that goes beyond our understanding. Blessings and hugs!
Continuing to pray for your son Daniel and his soon to be wife Kayla. One of my fave things about being on the prairies of ND is the silence that can be felt and heard. When I am on our family’s farm this time of the year, I always think about the shepherds watching over their flock by night. Blessings friend! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And see you back here in the new year!
I cherish your praying heart friend and the prayers are being felt. I imagine I would love the ND prairies. Being outside in almost any setting brings me closer to God. You’ll have to share some pictures with me sometime.
Merry Christmas blessings to you! Meet you back here in the New Year!
Prayers for you and for the lovely couple! Blessings to you during this busy but heartwarming days ahead!
Thank you Michele! Praying ou and your family have a wonderful Christmas! See you in 2016!
I just now bowed my head and lifted D & K and you to the King of Glory. Blessings to you, my new friend. See you in 2016!
Thank you for the prayers. They are certainly needed and felt in a very deep way. So glad I can call you friend! Merry Christmas and see you in 2016!!!
Mary, I’m lifting a prayer for Daniel and Kayla now. May God give you all the grace you need for the next busy days, friend!
Thanks for your quiet words this morning. I want to wrap myself in the gift of Jesus. Plan on reading this again later in the day. Humming, “Oh come let us adore Him” now. 🙂
Your prayers mean so much. Daniel and Kayla are so excited for the big day.
Your encouraging words always lift me up and affirm that this is truly God’s work. I pray you and your family have a Christmas filled with the presence of Jesus. May His love and peace fill every moment. Hugs friend!