If you’ve ever watched a kitten or a puppy, seeing their new environment through a window or door, or simply out of the house and about for the first time, you’ve seen wonder.
Of course, if you’ve had babies, I’m sure you can relate this comment I’m sharing that’s from my perspective (as a “pet parent”) as well.
But then – we’ve all been children. So, we have experienced wonder firsthand.
But, do you still wonder? Do you look at the amazing aspects of nature – the works of God‘s hands, the paintings he still creates in the sky every day with wonder?
”Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”“
Bible.com
Luke 2:13-14 NIVop
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.2.13-14.NIV
I can’t even begin to imagine what this sight was on that first Christmas night. The experience is obviously unexplainable.
The wonder that engulfed all who saw this event! Can you fathom it? Who could? I mean – even those who were there has to have been stopped in their tracks, mouths agape, full of praise for God – can you picture it? Scripture says earlier in Luke they were terrified. Duh (of course! I mean no disrespect for scripture, but that would be me – at least!)
”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.“
Bible.com
Luke 2:8-9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.2.8-9.NIV
One of the beautiful aspects of taking the time to reflect on Advent is realizing we have already been born on the other side of this event, as I’ve shared in a previous post. But imagine being alive & present on this night and experiencing it firsthand. Wow!!
Friends, the reason we can have hope is because God fulfills his promises. Jesus was born, as was fortold. And 33 years later he died, and rose again (as witnessed by several hundred people) as was all part of God’s restoration plan.
We can have hope because He came and fulfilled what needed to be fulfilled so that we can have relationship again with our Creator, our Heavenly Father; the relationship that was severed back in the Garden.
Hey – it’s OK that this is probably incredibly hard to fathom. That’s definitely some awe and wonder part. That’s also the “by faith” part. And how can it be that God loves us so much? How is it that this grand plan had to happen for us to be restored to the relationship we were created to have with God?
How is it we have been given such an important and incredible gift – THE GIFT – and certainly we didn’t deserve it…not can we earn it. How can it be free just for the receiving?
How can we not be an awe of that? Of Him?
This Christmas, in whatever way you celebrate – with gifts, with friends and family, recovery and/or church family, with serving others – I hope you don’t lose your wonder or appreciation for the mystery of God’s unending, incredible love; to be in absolute awe that He is more than capable of doing what we can’t even begin to ask or imagine.
And I hope you follow Mary’s example and treasure – deeply keep all that God has said, done for you (and me) and still promises, stored in your heart as well. Ponder them, and sit in wonder daily, thanking God for simply Who He Is.
Never lose that awe & wonder. Never lose that hope.
Advent says, “He is coming, keep the faith!”
Christmas says, “He is here – the best news ever has come!”
And you know what? It’s only the beginning 🤍.
Journal of a Warrior's Journey 