Where Does Peace Begin??

                      
The phrase "May Peace Be More than a Season", has moved me to consider Peace and what it looks like in ordinary lives.

Peace in our hearts
Peace in our homes
Peace in our neighborhoods
Peace in our world

Peace is more than the absence of noise or confusion.  Peace is more than serenity on the face of a sleeping babe or an engrossed 5 year old.

Peace is more than safe streets, productive families, and countries laying down weapons of destruction.

Where does Peace begin?

Today I leave you with the one visual that changed the world  and how we view it forever -

...Bethlehem .... numbers and numbers of people coming to register for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus..including Joseph and his betrothed, Mary, who was great with child.  While there, her time to give birth would wait no longer.....no matter the surroundings (a smelly stall) nor the events of the day.

Can you sense the activity? Suddenly a cry and then sweet silence? Mary wrapped her infant son in long strips of cloth according to the culture of the day.  These cloths were believed to give his limbs strength and protection.  In today's culture wrapping an infant securely in a thin blanket is believed to give comfort and warmth.  I imagine a glow filling that place...and peace...unprecedented permeating the hearts of Mary and Joseph.  God had kept His promise.

 "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth PEACE among men with whom He is pleased."
Luke 2:8 -14

Then as now there were those who fell at His feet in awe and belief and  many others who turned away.

His life on earth  was just beginning .... Peace had entered the world and life as it was known until that moment was now "turned upside down".

What would it mean to Mary and Joseph...their friends.their family?

.....To be continued.....................................
..........................as we spend time with Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John....

This is second in a four part series from last year.