Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Hear the Crying


Imagine if you will, Christmas day, more than 2000 years ago in the village of Bethlehem. Do you feel the crisp early morning air?  Do you smell the animals and the hay?  Listen.  Do you hear the newborn crying?  Can you see Mary, seated on the floor of the stable, holding her tiny son?  Can you see her rock back and forth, back and forth to quiet her tiny babe?
 
Now let your imagination fast-forward thirty years to a barren land.  Do you hear the voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness?  “Make straight the way for the Lord,” he calls to any who will listen.  Now that the crying baby is grown, his cousin John cries for the repentance of his people.
 
Think forward again, three more years.  This time it is the mother of Jesus who cries.  She kneels and weeps at the foot of a rugged Roman cross.  High above her is the broken body of her baby boy.  The tiny babe is grown and men have nailed him on this cross.  She cries for her suffering, dying son.
 
Imagine three days later.  Now those bitter tears and agonizing cries have turned to miraculous cries of joy.  The son who was crucified on a cross is no longer in the tomb.  He is alive!
 
Once again, let your mind move ahead, many years.  Zoom in your imagination the last few weeks.  Think about your preparations for Christmas.  Did you spend many exhausting hours shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, and baking?  Did you cry in anger, frustration, or fatigue? 
 
Remember, the babe who cried in the manger is the same Lord who died on the cross.  He died, was resurrected, and is alive.  He is the same Lord who takes away our sins so that we, too, may live with Him forever in heaven. 
 
Once again, we hear crying, the crying of our hearts.  We cry, remembering our sins.  We cry in repentance, preparing our hearts for His coming in our lives.  We cry in grief, remembering His sacrifice.  We cry in joy, recognizing His resurrected life in us and anticipating eternity.  We cry tears of delight, for we realize that even though all the shopping and wrapping are not yet finished, we are, finally, truly ready for Christmas.
 
Father, may we never overlook the reason for the celebration.  In all the busyness and scurrying, let us remember and reflect on the miracle of our Lord’s birth in a lowly stable.  May we consider our Lord’s sacrifice.  Let us cry tears of repentance and gratefulness, remembering the greatest Christmas gift.  We have worked hard preparing to celebrate Christmas. May we work just as hard to prepare for His birth and life in our hearts.  May this precious new life within us cry out joyfully for all to hear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14 comments:

  1. Looking at the sun like a surprising things you get,its really great to all person thanks for sharing natural blog.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comments, and thanks for reading Looking at the Son.

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  2. Thanks, Nancy, for this perspective ... I need to choose to stop long enough to not only hear the cry of my heart, but to sit with the One who can speak to those deepest groanings.

    And I've missed you! It's so good to read your writings again ...
    ;-}

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  3. Linda, it seems life has been too busy lately. I've missed writing for my blog and reading other posts. I'm hoping to get caught up soon. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a blessed Christmas!

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  4. Dear Nancy
    This is something that has been on my heart so much and I was wondering if we might just have lost the reason of Christmas amongst the glamor, glitz and gifts of Christmas. May we each one search our hearts before our Lord.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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    1. Oh, Mia, even as a believer I sometimes feel lost in the rush of Christmas. May we all make time to cry out to the Lord and worship Him.

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  5. may my ears yet hear
    "prepare ye"
    as we await His return

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  6. May we all hear His cries to our hearts. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Dear Nancy
    One thing that never ceases to amaze me and fill me with unspeakable joy is when I ponder in my heart how this little baby who grew up, died and was resurrected is the same God who lives in me. I sometimes cannot wrap my mind around this incredible wonder!
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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    1. It is truly humbling, isn't it Mia? Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. Have a blessed Christmas!

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  8. What a great exercise, Nancy. I love imagining my Savior meeting with me, but I've never really done this exercise--which is especially meaningful as we celebrate His birth! Also, I love your words, "May we work just as hard to prepare for His birth and life in our hearts." Words I want to live by, my friend!

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    1. Thank you, Beth. I'm glad this is something meaningful for you. I too, love imagining being with our Savior. Thank you for your kind comments.

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  9. Such good thoughts here, Nancy. I'm thinking about things I've cried over the past couple weeks. Some good, some sad. But it's all okay. Thankful our Lord hears all our cries!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. Thankfully, our Father catches all those tears in a bottle. And He forgives and forgets. Have a blessed Christmas, Lisa.

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