Advent Devotional Resource - San Francisco Theological Seminary

Psalm 119:41-72Wednesday, December 16“May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord.Your salvation according to your promise” Psalm 119:41“My comfort in my suffering is this:Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50A friend of mine loaned me a Christmas cd recently and I popped it in the player as I reviewed andedited Advent devotionals. Probably my favorite Christmas song, “Mary Did You Know,” came onand stole my thoughts away.I remember when it first came out while I was in college. The imagery of the thoughts that may ormay not have gone through this young woman’s mind was haunting. Somehow, Mary digested thereality of the angel’s announcement. She dealt with public scrutiny and opinions. She dealt withscary changes to her body. She had approximately nine months to contemplate that she was entrustedwith and was carrying the most precious gift to mankind. Could she feel God’s presence envelop herthroughout this time? Could she feel God’s presence in her very womb? And once Jesus was born,what could have gone through her mind? We get a glimpse, but did she, could she fully know? Didshe know “that this child that she delivered would soon deliver her?” Did she know “that when shekissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God?” WOW!When you get caught up in the “Christmas spirit” this year, may it be an all encompassing awe of themiracle, the gift, the promise, the presence.Ms. Tina KollmannSFTS staffDirector, Raceway Ministries of California, Bay Area