This amazes me every time I read it. Peter was ASLEEP in prison, in chains, and who knows what else was happening below human dignity, but that dear Saint of GOD was asleep! He had certainly given all his cares to the Father. Perhaps that is why he could pen for us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for us.
There’s more to unpack in this verse. What do you see?
The beautiful thought I am here to share with you came yesterday, and today, I typed this message, and now I am posting it here for anyone who has ears to hear — family, friends, acquaintances, and those I’ve yet to meet.
It’s that time again. The Christmas Season. I would like a new name to call this season, but so far, I have not settled on anything.
You see, I am fully confident that JESUS was not laid in that manger in December, late September, or October, maybe. Now, I can believe that around the time of the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) is when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and she received the SEED of GOD within her womb. Luke 1: 26-38
The LIGHT of the WORLD coming to earth (to the womb of Mary) on Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Yep. I can believe that. John 10
But that’s not something to squabble over – HE came!
There is something beautiful that came to me yesterday that I want to share with you.
Mary. We think of her this time of year. Songs are sung, and passages of Scripture tell us what happened about 2000 years ago. But back to what I came to write here.
For nine months, Mary carried the growing, developing body the LORD JESUS lived in for more than 33 ½ earthly years. (Actually, I believe He is still in that body, resurrected and glorified). For nine months, He was close to her heart just like each of us was to our respective mothers’ hearts, and then He came forth from her womb to her arms. She watched him learn to speak, to crawl, to walk, to run, to read, to pray, to worship, all the things good little Jewish boys do, with one exception — 1 Peter 2:22. He didn’t sin like the rest of the family did, like all families do. And she loved Him. More than her next breath, she loved Him.
Then the time came, and He stepped into the mission for which He was born. It was short, just about 3 ½ years, and then they (her own people) killed Him.
She stood, no, I think, collapsed at the cross on which He was crucified. John 19:25-29 When His body was taken down, it was placed in a borrowed tomb. Matthew 27:57-61 Borrowed – He wouldn’t need it for long because in 3 days HE AROSE, Alive again! Never to die again! For the next 40 days, He visited folks, the disciples, people who loved Him, people who needed to see Him alive and well. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
And then just outside Bethany, He ascended into heaven right before their very eyes! Acts 1:6-11 THEN, just 10 days later, HOLY SPIRIT arrived. He was/is the GIFT JESUS had promised, and He came upon and within all those who believed JESUS. Acts 1:1-5 and Acts 2. Now I am getting to the beautiful thought that came to me yesterday (November 30, 2025).
Mary received by faith and carried JESUS in her body for 9 months. Now let’s again advance 33 ½ years (give or take), to the day of Pentecost, when He (that same JESUS she carried in her body) by His Spirit, the HOLY SPIRIT, entered her body again, to never leave her again; to be her Savior, her LORD, her Guide, and her GOD.
Do you believe this?
Likewise, do you believe that you can have JESUS live in you? That we (you and I) can bear/bring JESUS to the world? Is this of any interest to you? Has HOLY SPIRIT confirmed to you that these things are true?
May it be that this December you experience the REAL JESUS.
Romans 8:35.
Okay. What if we considered this verse in this way:
Trouble. Shall we allow happenings and circumstances to cause us to doubt, cause us to pull away from KNOWING we are loved by GOD, always?
Distress. Shall we allow distress over the lack of a desired parking space, or a complete mix-up of our food order, pull us away from praising/fellowshipping with the LORD?
Persecution. Shall we allow the loss of a job or a deserved promotion to bring us to doubt His love and provisions for us?
Famine. Shall we allow being hungry to cause us to become hangry?
Nakedness. Shall we allow the lack of funds to buy that much-desired new outfit to inject feelings in us that we must be a red-haired stepchild to GOD this week?
Danger. Shall we allow being afraid, being in a dark, unfamiliar, precarious place or circumstance to incite fear, disbelief, and panic in us?
Sword. Shall we allow the threat of death by cancer, a blood disorder, or any other horrific happening to cause us to turn our faces from the ONE who provides us with hope and eternal life?
Shall we now compare these aforementioned Western-Life Experiences to the life the Apostle Paul was experiencing when he penned these words?
I’m just telling you what came. It’s not any easier for me to digest than it is for you. 
