Maybe it was Monday. Maybe listening to Christmas music was the trick OR maybe it was watching National Lampoon's Christmas vacation. Whatever the reason day two of Mowinkel ADVENTure went particularly well….especially with Zephyr.
The Birth of Jesus according to Luke 2:15-20.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I was stuck on the two verses Luke 2:19-20 “...all were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart.
It made me wonder all day about the word wonder. Wonder is defined as a verb--the desire to be curious or know something. Or wonder can be defined as a noun--the feeling of surprise mingled with admiration. We first looked at the Advent candles and wondered why the colors pink, purple, and white. I then posed this question to my children: “What is it that you are curious about this season as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus?” I should have prepared myself for the responses:
LOVE is everywhere mom. I wonder, how Zephyr knows such a thing, maybe because his heart is so big, maybe because his mind is so full of imagination, but it probably is because he has childlike faith. A deeper look into the wonder of LOVE during this Advent season tells us LOVE is the essence of God. God surrounds us each and every day with his multiple blessings and His unending LOVE. As we continue to prepare our hearts this ADVENTurous season, open your eyes to the wonders God surrounds us with. Just as Mary did in Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Take time each day to treasure up all of God’s wonders in your heart and surround those around you with LOVE.
The Birth of Jesus according to Luke 2:15-20.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I was stuck on the two verses Luke 2:19-20 “...all were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart.
It made me wonder all day about the word wonder. Wonder is defined as a verb--the desire to be curious or know something. Or wonder can be defined as a noun--the feeling of surprise mingled with admiration. We first looked at the Advent candles and wondered why the colors pink, purple, and white. I then posed this question to my children: “What is it that you are curious about this season as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus?” I should have prepared myself for the responses:
- What is love?
- Why is there a star?
- Why is there Christmas songs?
- Why does Santa say “Ho Ho Ho”?
LOVE is everywhere mom. I wonder, how Zephyr knows such a thing, maybe because his heart is so big, maybe because his mind is so full of imagination, but it probably is because he has childlike faith. A deeper look into the wonder of LOVE during this Advent season tells us LOVE is the essence of God. God surrounds us each and every day with his multiple blessings and His unending LOVE. As we continue to prepare our hearts this ADVENTurous season, open your eyes to the wonders God surrounds us with. Just as Mary did in Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Take time each day to treasure up all of God’s wonders in your heart and surround those around you with LOVE.