Treasure and Ponder

Why this name for my blog?

The name of my blog comes from Luke 2:19, which says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” I could just stop with that simple explanation. But that would defeat the whole purpose of my blog. So I will elaborate.

In Luke 1:28-45 it says, The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Continuing in Luke 2:8-12; 16-19, And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”...So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Mary was a young girl, a virgin. She was pledged to be married. Then, to be young, unmarried and pregnant was not desirable. You might even be stoned for such a thing. She could very easily have been overcome with those voices from the world. She didn't argue with the angel. Instead, she asked how will this happen? She didn't panic. What was she thinking when she was told all those things about this child? How would you respond when someone...an angel tells you that you are the vessel that the Son of God is to be brought into the world? She simply stated, “I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Then to hear all the things Elizabeth said upon entering her home. To be called the mother of my Lord. Then to have the shepherds come and hear what was being proclaimed about this child she has given birth to. But Mary treasure up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Like many others, I have traveled down some rough terrain in my life. I have been through things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy, if I even had one. During a crisis in my life the world around me told me to take revenge, hate, slander, gossip, not to forgive, get even, etc. Other voices told me that I was an ugly person, undesirable, not worthy of being loved, not worth fighting for, going to be left with nothing, etc.

As a result of my deep hurt and feelings of abandonment, I cried out to the Lord. I devoured His Word. I claimed and clung to His promises. I read His Word like He was speaking directly to me. The result was a calm and peace; a quiet confidence; a resolve to obey His Word, not the world's advice; a joy in the midst of pain.

During this time in my life, I learned to treasure and ponder His Word. The more time I spent treasuring and pondering His Word, the more peace and joy I experienced. God did not tell me He would change my circumstances. But, He did tell me that...

He has plans for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

and that...

In ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

When the world says one thing to me, I treasure and ponder on what God says to me in His Word!

My desire in blogging is to share with others the direction and hope that I have found in His Word. My desire is to share with others the things that I have learned about who God is and who He says I am. My desire is to get others to open their Bible and read it as the Lord intended, as a means to develop a close intimate relationship with the One who created all things, ordains all things, and sustains all things.

This blog is birthed out of my passion for Jesus Christ and what He has done in my life! To Him be ALL the glory!!!!