The Shepherds Tell

Scripture             Luke 2:8-20   
Focus Verse        Luke 2:17b
The Shepherds made known what had been told them about this child.

The Shepherds may not have been regarded highly by their neighbors but that didn’t stop them.  They were evangelists!  The word evangelism has a lot of baggage to carry but the word simply means, “to tell the story.”  Although we may be tempted to use a hard-sell tactic to “get” people to convert to Jesus, simply telling THE story and telling our story within THE story is so much more effective.   

Even Mary, who was living the Nativity right then and there as it unfolded, listened to the shepherds tell their story and she “treasured all their words and pondered them in her heart.”  Perhaps she remembered their words in her darkest moments with Jesus in his suffering.

Reflection: What is your story within THE story?  How does the Nativity inspire you to grow deeper in your trust of God?  Who do you need to share your story with?

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, take this link to "Mary, Did You Know" a song that illuminates the unknown future of Mary's son, Jesus. Even though we know, she didn't know when she said, "yes" nor when she gave birth ... listen to the amazing a cappella group, Pentatonix, who come from Arlington, TX. 

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...