When we think of peace,
the first thing that comes to mind is the absence of strife.
It's hard to find peace in our world today.
We talk of peace;
nations want it;
Everyone wants it.
Most of us are looking for something that will bring just a little peace.
There are so many things in our day that can cause us stress and worry.
Our health,
or finances.
Relationships at work;
with parents,
with spouses
with siblings.
they all can rob us of our peace.
This is true, particularly at Christmas.
Just when we should be celebrating The Prince of Peace
we find our own peace gone.
As we travel back to that very first Christmas, we see a scene that could very easily steal peace.
First, an angel appears to Mary,
and informs her that she will have a baby.
The problem is that she was not married.
Yikes!!
This was scandalous!
However, Mary finds peace and says.
"Ok, let's do this,"
(my translation)
Then, at a time when they should have been planning the arrival of a baby;
Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, and there was no free pass;
No highway option, it was the King's orders.
Wow!
That situation would be sure to stress me out.
I’m ready to have a baby, and you want me to make a trip on an animal?
with siblings.
they all can rob us of our peace.
This is true, particularly at Christmas.
Just when we should be celebrating The Prince of Peace
we find our own peace gone.
As we travel back to that very first Christmas, we see a scene that could very easily steal peace.
First, an angel appears to Mary,
and informs her that she will have a baby.
The problem is that she was not married.
Yikes!!
This was scandalous!
However, Mary finds peace and says.
"Ok, let's do this,"
(my translation)
Then, at a time when they should have been planning the arrival of a baby;
Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, and there was no free pass;
No highway option, it was the King's orders.
Wow!
That situation would be sure to stress me out.
I’m ready to have a baby, and you want me to make a trip on an animal?
That was the transportation of the day.
Unless they wanted to walk,
that was the only other option.
Oh yes, let’s add to the stress level;
There were no "Comfort Inns" or "Motel 6's" to leave the light on for them.
So they slept wherever they could find a place.
Most likely, it was on the ground.
Lovely!!
Since they were not the only ones making the voyage
when they got to Bethlehem, the only place for them to stay was a “cave” barn.
That might send most of us “over the proverbial edge.”
Yet they seemed to take it in stride.
How could they handle it so well?
I believe it was because they trusted God to know what he was doing,
even though they didn't understand it.
God gave them peace amid the storm.
It was the same peace that allowed the shepherds to leave their livelihood,
and go see a baby in a manger.
There is another person in this story whose actions showed that he did not have God’s peace.
Enter Herod!
When the wise men came and ask him about a new “king” born in Israel;
we are told “he was troubled”;
“he had a meltdown, ”Elane’s" translation.
Not only did he have a meltdown.
but he shared that meltdown with all of Jerusalem;
go figure!
He did not have the peace of God,
so he did what people who have strife do;
he took it from others also.
At Christmas in all the hustle and bustle of the season,
it is easy to lose our focus;
to forget that God has things in control,
and we can trust him no matter what the world throws at us.
"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Unless they wanted to walk,
that was the only other option.
Oh yes, let’s add to the stress level;
There were no "Comfort Inns" or "Motel 6's" to leave the light on for them.
So they slept wherever they could find a place.
Most likely, it was on the ground.
Lovely!!
Since they were not the only ones making the voyage
when they got to Bethlehem, the only place for them to stay was a “cave” barn.
That might send most of us “over the proverbial edge.”
Yet they seemed to take it in stride.
How could they handle it so well?
I believe it was because they trusted God to know what he was doing,
even though they didn't understand it.
God gave them peace amid the storm.
It was the same peace that allowed the shepherds to leave their livelihood,
and go see a baby in a manger.
There is another person in this story whose actions showed that he did not have God’s peace.
Enter Herod!
When the wise men came and ask him about a new “king” born in Israel;
we are told “he was troubled”;
“he had a meltdown, ”Elane’s" translation.
Not only did he have a meltdown.
but he shared that meltdown with all of Jerusalem;
go figure!
He did not have the peace of God,
so he did what people who have strife do;
he took it from others also.
At Christmas in all the hustle and bustle of the season,
it is easy to lose our focus;
to forget that God has things in control,
and we can trust him no matter what the world throws at us.
"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
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