Episode #13 The Right Kind of Noise – Hard and Holy Christmas

Hi friends! I'm glad you're here! With Christmas fast approaching, I especially appreciate you taking the time to listen in and connect with God through this podcast. I hope it continues to be of benefit to you as we progress through our Hard and Holy Christmas series. Today's focus is on the noise of the holiday season, and more specifically, giving our attention to the right kind of commotion.

Let me start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of loud rackets. And I'm a mom of two young high energy sons, so our home is loud and I love it, because I love them. And I'm learning to give myself quiet space when I need it. My husband Jared is extroverted, outgoing, high energy and always ready to get together with friends. You may have heard the saying that introverted people don't become outgoing, they just get adopted by an extrovert? Well, he adopted me.

I love people. And I recharge in quiet time by myself. So I get to be intentional in finding ways to recharge during the high-volume excitement of the month of December. AND, I've started asking God to show me the beauty in the noise. Because not all loud exclamations are created equal. See, one of my favorite Christmas songs is "Silent Night." But the story goes that it was created by a pastor overlooking his snow-covered town one night a few evenings before Christmas. Which makes sense to me, because I've had newborns at home twice now, and they're not often silent.

In fact, let's take a look at Luke 2 at some of the noise made after Christ was born. All the people are traveling to their hometowns for the census. And there's so many people in the little town of Bethlehem that there wasn't room for Mary and Joseph in typical lodging. They're out there with the animals as Jesus is born, probably not quiet there either, in the buzz of a bursting city. With this in mind, I'll read from Luke 2:8-20: "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

Not much of a silent night. We have multitudes of angels, surprise visitors from the fields, them telling everyone, and praising God. Jesus was still in the manger when they got there. Have you ever wondered before if Mary wished they could have visited on another day? That the multitude could have announced his 1st month birthday or something? Or told the shepherds to send a congratulations letter instead of immediately coming to see? But this was news worth celebrating. This was a joyous noise proclaiming the Savior of the World. And Mary treasured it.

Sometimes the kind of silence we need isn't truly the absence of noise. It's giving attention to the right kind of sounds, and silencing the others. On this first Christmas, God sent good news of great joy and proclaimed it loudly. He said this is the news you need to hear. I wonder what good news he wants to share with each of us today. Let's ask him.

Here's today's question: God, what loud exclamations are you sharing with me today? What do you want me to hear? If this idea of paying attention hits home, you may also want to ask God if there are less-worthy noises that you've been giving attention to, and what to do instead. How can you give more attention to the right kind of holy noise? Have a good talk!

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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