In the Silence

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
Luke 2:8 ESV

Have you ever wondered why God sometimes requires our silence? When I was small, my parents had a dinner table rule, “Children were to be seen and not heard!” Today, I realize that it was because they needed time to talk with each other after a busy day, but at the time I hated it! It felt like my mom and stepdad were only interested in themselves, and that we kids were second class citizens. So, when God asks for our silence, we might feel the same way, but it isn’t true. God is looking for us to be quiet so that He can tell us what is on His heart.

In fat, it was on that first Christmas, that God came in a moment of quietness to shepherds, who were watching their sheep. When God broke their silence, it was with the message of “Good news of great joy, that will be for all people!” In the darkness and the silence, God came to show us all, that He: the Good Shepherd, was watching over us, His sleeping sheep. Today, He invites us to come into His presence, in Heaven, where we will never be silent again, but there we will worship Him with shouts of praise for all eternity!

“In the holy hush of dawn – I hear a voice
I am with you all the day – Rejoice! Rejoice!”
L. B. Cowman - Streams in the Desert November 28

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Just a bit of quiet to share in the press of Christmas preparations. “Are you ready for Christmas?” is the question we either ask or receive daily in a light-hearted way. What they really want to know is, “Have you finished shopping?” While usually I would respond saying, “Not really!” or “I haven’t even started.” But lately I listened to my own words and decided I would change them. Jesus is not so interested if I have finished shopping for things. Jesus is interested if my heart is prepared to remember His simple birth. God knows I am no more ready than the sleeping shepherds who God sent His angels to awaken, but in a strange sort of way they were prepared. They were ready to leave their sleep. They were ready to leave their sheep. They were ready to see what they had never seem before – God With Us- who came not for people who were ready but to ready a people to become His! Are you ready for Christmas?  Christmas peace and blessings to you all!!