"but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often" (Luke 2:19, NLT) All truly born again christian have this same testimony: they have all encountered God at one point in their lives. It was that encounter that made them accept the gospel, reject the lures and pleasures of sins, and embrace the life of Christ. If you are like me that day was simply glorious, just heavenly. It is hard to describe the feeling of peace and joy and clarity all mixed into one that surged into your mind. If you remained steadfast with God and held on to your faith and experience, you have also encountered God many more times after that day, and chances are God has told you certain things, promised you certain things, assured you of certain things. Things that you cannot even wrap your head around. Things that seem impossible compared to where you are now. Things that will take a lot more energy, more connections, more wisdom, more money, etc than you have now to accomplish. And naturally you are beginning to let those things fade into oblivion and disbelief. God just asked me to tel you one thing this morning, "Keep those things in mind. Don't forget them"..
We often concentrate so much on the joy and miracle of the birth of Jesus that we fail to give adequate consideration to how that birth and event had drastically altered the lives of two other people - His parents: Joseph and Mary.
These were two persons who grew up quietly in their neighbourhood. Prior to this event we never heard about either of them. They stayed out of trouble as much as they could; and like every other young person they fell in love. They were both happy and delighted as they started to make plans to get married, spend their lives together, have children, grow old together and probably retire to Bethlehem in their old age and own a little farm house and sheep pen where their grand children will come visit with them. But their story changed, their plans shattered and everthing they knew about themselves came to an end that day Jesus was born. All of a sudden shepherds were coming to visit them, wise men were coming from the East to give them gifts, angels were appearing to them in dreams and telling them about the things that will happen with Jesus. Mary had no idea how possible these things would be, but she kept them in her heart, and kept her eyes open. I don't know the things God has promised you about 2018 and it seems impossible, and you have no idea how they are going to happen. Just keep them in your heart, trust God and watch!
God bless you.