Scrapbooking is popular ““ and fun. Pictures are chosen, cropped and placed with pleasing colored papers, then adhered to a page in an album. Names, dates, places and events are noted somewhere on the page to be able to recall at a later date why those pictures were chosen. Meaningful times and events are captured to refresh the memory at a later time in life. Sometimes those pictures and memories will cause new thoughts and insights into life.

This is what Mary did with specific situations that concerned her family. She had treasured specific events that had happened concerning Jesus as a baby, as a child and as He grew into the teen-age years. She probably didn”™t have a Scrapbook or picture album, but she had her mind and heart from where she pulled memories that were joyful, painful, and even frightening.

(NASB) Luke 2:51b “and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

Mary must have thought about the various events that had happened in connection with Jesus, before He was born, His birth, the fleeing to Egypt, the day to day happenings at home and then that time in Jerusalem, when Jesus had “˜disappeared”™.

Mary must have thought about these circumstances, tucking them away and pulling them out to think about through the years. How these times of bewilderment must have made sense after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

We can take various events in our lives and remember them from time to time, like pulling out a scrapbook and looking at the pictures. Many times, by looking back, we are given insight and understanding about God at work in our lives.

You and I need to remember that Jesus was fully God and He was fully man.

(NASB) Luke 2:52 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Jesus continued to increase in wisdom.

You and I also need to continue to increase in wisdom, no matter our age. We are to continue to gain prudence and understanding, knowing when to speak and when to keep our mouths shut tight. (See Proverbs 8 as one example.)

Jesus continued to grow physically into manhood.

Jesus”™ demeanor and choices gave Him favor with God and with people.

When we are right with God, those who love Him will have favor toward us. Take out your mental scrapbook and consider how God has worked in your life and then trust Him to be working in your life today.