Inner Life

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    As I read the story of Mary and the announcement of the virgin birth in Luke I am continually struck by Mary’s inner life. Repeatedly in the first chapters of Luke the gospel writer says that she treasured and pondered the words and works of God in her heart.

    I want to be one who attends to God, hears Him and treasures what He says and ponders it. In order to be that a few things need to take place:

Slowing down
Quiet
Paying attention
Listening
Waiting
Trusting

    How about you? Can you hear what God is saying?

    If so, do you treasure his words or are they equal with all other voices?
    Do you meditate on those treasured words and let them sink deep?

    As I seek to, I invite you to as well.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Your Song of Faithfulness

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    In the Bible, Mary, the mother of Jesus responds with a beautiful song of praise to God. (Luke 1:46-56) As I read her song, I am encouraged. Throughout she remembers God's faithfulness. Mary's song challenges me to consider my own song of praise to God. What stories of faithfulness would I include, what stories would you include?

    Spend some time today in praying and asking God to remind you of stories of His faithfulness in your life, in the lives of others and throughout history. If you have time, take it one step further and write out your own "song". May it be a song you return to again and again as God calls you to step out in faith.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

He Knows Your Name

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

“But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (which means, Teacher). John 20:11-16

    Some of us wonder if Jesus knows our name. Even in our pursuit of Him, for whatever reason, sometimes we cannot see Him.    

    I love this story of Jesus and Mary. I love her vulnerability and her pursuit of Jesus. I love Mary’s desperation to find Jesus. Yet in her great desperation she did not recognize Jesus. I do not know why she did not recognize Him. Maybe she was blinded by her pain, focused on her pursuit of Him, still reeling from the empty tomb. I do not know. What we do see is that she recognizes Him the moment Jesus says her name, “Mary”.

    Jesus knows our names as well. We cannot see Him but He sees us. You may be in a time of life where you cannot hear Jesus say your name. You may not be able to hear or feel anything. Consider Mary and remember that Jesus does know your name. He has not forgotten and He is with you.

**Sit in silence again for as long as is available to you.**

Redefining Beauty

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    The theme of beauty has been on my mind and heart the past week. I have been challenged because I often equate beauty with function and usefulness. Something is beautiful because it offers me something. I have such a shallow view of beauty and am often too lazy or busy to look deeper. The disciples even considered Mary’s expensive sacrifice as a waste. Jesus called it beautiful. (Matthew 26:6-13)

    I have also been reminded of the beauty of God, the beauty of resurrection and the beauty of new life.

    God’s eyes that see to the deepest parts of creation and sees something for all the richness, glory and beauty it has been created with. The beauty of God stands in stark contrast to my idea of beauty.

    I need a reformation, a redefinition and new understanding of beauty; beauty that begins and ends in God Himself. I need a beauty that is not calculated by usefulness but understood through the eyes of God - beauty that is true, rich and never-ending.

    How do you see beauty? How might Jesus change the way you define beauty?

Have more than two minutes? Spend some time in the story of Mary of Bethany and Jesus respond to her in Matthew 26:6-13.

**Sit in silence again for as long as is available to you.**

Personal Response

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    Personal Response. God is a personal God, responding to us exactly how we need it in the moment. He meets us in our tears, He meets us in our joy, He meets us in our questions. He responds to us how we need Him in the moment.
    In the story of Mary, Martha and the death of their brother Lazarus Jesus responds to both women differently. Both run to Jesus and make the same statement of reality - if Jesus had been there their brother would not have died. In her personal interaction with Jesus Martha makes a statement of belief and Jesus responds to her with a dialogue. He doesn’t question Martha and why she isn’t crying. In Mary's personal interaction with Jesus she is weeping and Jesus joins her in her tears. He doesn’t question Mary and why she is crying.
     Can you recall a time that God has personally met you exactly how you needed it? How can you respond to others how they need it?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Have more than two minutes? Read the story mentioned above in John 11:1-35