Daily Treasure

Mary’s Thoughts

Luke 2:19

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

The pain of birth is past and gone,

As I behold my firstborn Son

So small He is, and yet so dear,

I wipe away a joyful tear.

He sleeps: His tiny fists enclose

A tattered edge of swaddling clothes.

The manger filled with pungent hay,

The slight smell of cattle drifts slowly away.

A miracle, this Son of mine

So human: and yet so clearly divine:

Begotten of God to become a man,

The culmination of God’s great plan.

But to me, He is just a baby boy,

A mother’s pride; a mother’s joy.

He’s restless in his makeshift nest,

So I clasp Him snugly to my breast.

And as the hours move swiftly past,

I cherish each moment, to make it last,

Knowing that soon my helpless Son

Will face His task that must be done.

“His name will be Jesus,” the angel said.

A Savior, the word fills me with dread.

For I know there must be a terrible cost

Involved in saving people who are lost.

The shepherds come from nearby hills,

Their simple story is full of thrills,

The angel of the Lord appeared,

Instilling trust, eschewing fear.

To tell good tidings of greatest joy

About my Son, my baby boy.

Savior was the angel’s word.

“A Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

He makes no sound as they come near,

Just stretches and yawns in lack of fear.

I watch them worship at His feet,

And ponder the mysteries of God so deep.

A God that could send His only Son,

Born of a woman: a lowly one.

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

My spirit rejoices in His word.

As I look down on His angelic face,

I’m thankful for God’s great mercy and grace.

And whatever shadows tomorrow may come,

Today I rejoice in the birth of my Son.

Joan Warren

Oklahoma

Chariot of Salvation

Acts 8:29

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot.

During my study in Acts 8:26-41 about the Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip, I was also reading in Habakkuk and ran across this term “chariots of salvation.” Habakkuk 3:8 uses the term “chariots of salvation” referring to God’s symbolic instruments of victory, help, and strength.

Certainly, the Ethiopian Eunuch was riding in a chariot that was his “chariot of salvation.” For in that place there was help for his soul from God’s Word!

It made all the difference for him! It changed him! He went on his way rejoicing (v. 39)

Likewise, when we sit with God’s Word open and our hearts in faith seek to know the truth, we are figuratively sitting in a “chariot of salvation.” For in that place, God dispenses help through His quick and powerful Word for whatever our need. As a bonus, joy, a fruit of the Spirit, comes.

Rebecca Pugh

Tennessee

STAND AND SEE

Exodus 14:13

“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show (accomplish for) you today.”

Do we see what God is doing? Are we aware of His magnificent glory in our lives? Are we bowed down in adoration or just bowed down in self-pity?

The songwriter’s words are “I’m rejoicing night and day, as I walk the pilgrim way, for the hand of God in all my life I see!”

Why should I be discouraged? Why should the shadows stay?

God’s Word is alive; it is real; it is truth.

God speaks to us saying not to be afraid.

He is busy on our behalf. Are we looking? Are we seeing? Are we watching?

Rebecca Pugh

Tennessee

UNWRAP THE GIFT

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was not room for them in the inn.

When God gave His gift to Mary, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes.

Shepherds came from the field and found the stable just as the angels had told them. And Mary surely unwrapped God’s gift so they might look upon the infant child.

No doubt, Mary unwrapped her gift for the wise men who’d traveled from distant lands. When they saw the Christ child, this gift of God’s love, they changed their plans and took a new way.

As Simeon took the babe in his arms to bless Him at the Temple, this gift was unwrapped again. Mary shared her gift with others.

Some years later, Herod and his men of war wrapped this same gift in a gorgeous robe as they mocked and persecuted Jesus at His trial. Solders then unwrapped the gift and placed HIm on a cross, lifted up before the world.

The gift was wrapped again by Joseph of Arimathea, who laid the crucified Christ in his own tomb. When Mary and other women came to unwrap the gift, to prepare Him for burial, they found the wrappings. The gift was not there.

God gave His Son so we could receive the gift of eternal life. Have you received this gift and unwrapped it? What are you doing with this gift? Has the gift been placed on the shelf of your life? Was it scattered among the wrappings and tossed aside? Or is it still as precious as the day you received it?

Unwrap the gift. Share Christ this Christmas.

adapted from an article by

Gladys Tonkin

Virginia

WHERE ARE WE?

Jeremiah 7:13

I spoke to you rising up early, and speaking, but you did not hear.

I called, but you did not answer.

God is there.

Where are we? Are we in His presence enjoying His peace?

His Word is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.

Have we availed ourselves of its authority?

The meal is prepared.

Are we sitting down to enjoy it?

SLOSHY FOOTPRINTS

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glority your Father which is in heaven.”

Several Christmases ago, my in-laws gave the kids a playhouse. They pulled up, in the yard, with a truckload of lumber and said, “Where do you want it?”
I said, “Uhh…uhh…I think over there would be a nice spot.” Well, in my “over there” moment, I failed to remember that the water faucet is also “over there.”
My kids love it. They can dig ponds and fill them with water. They build sand castles outside the sandboxj and spray them down with the water hose. However, when the kids take a break from playing and come inside, they track sandy, sloshy footprints through the house.
When I look at those sloshy footprints on the tloor, I remind myself of God’s wonderful love. God’s love overflowing in us should spill out onto others. As Christians we can also leave footprints, not so others may follow us, but so they can find God.

—–Jeanice Moore
Arkansas

The High Road

Just a few weeks before, I had made a personal commitment to God. I wanted to begin using my talents in church, but I was scared to get up in front of people. I prayed that people would see Jesus through me no matter what.
We were on our way home from a convention when a tornado warning came over the radio. Concerned about the two boys my in-laws were watching, I decided to call to see how they were doing.
My father-in-law answered the phone. “I was just calling to see how everything is going.” I began…”
“Well, we’ve had an accident.”
Thinking it was a little bump on the head, a bruise on an arm or something of that nature, I half-heartedly asked, “Oh, yeah? What’s happened?”
He went on to explain that when they were going out to feed the animals, Josiah, our 3 year old, had been run over by their old farm pick-up. In an instant, his left arm, hip, and leg were in the way of the tires.
I was breathless. Absolutely speechless. The next hour to the hospital was the longest one of my life. Incredibly, Josiah hobbled away with a broken arm, a broken ankle, and a few bruises. No internal damage, no anticipated surgeries, just a few uncomfortable weeks off his feet.
After that long night in the hospital, we finally headed toward home. We decided to stop by my in-law’s house to pick up the last of the boys’ things they had left there. My husband Brian ran in and I stayed in the van with the children. My mother-in-law came out to see me. She had obviously been crying, and later I learned that she had been having nightmares about the accident. She had seen the whole thing and she couldn’t get that image out of her mind.
I told her that she needed to forgive herself. We certainly didn’t blame them for the accident. It could have happened at any time to any of us. I shared that we believe God has a purpose for everything. We’d forgiven her, so she needed to forgive herself.
The dark cloud that seemed to engulf her suddenly began to lift. In the midst of everything, I had overlooked
how devastating this was for her—to not only witness the accident, but to know she was the responsible party.
The next day, I got a phone call from my sister-in-law. She said her mom was relieved to know I’d forgiven her. “I appreciate you taking the high road of forgiveness,” she stated. “I honestly don’t know if I could do that if it were my child.”
It was at that moment I realized what God had done in me. He had answered my prayers and I hadn’t even noticed. He let others see Him through me.

—Tammi Brinkhoff
Missouri