God has a plan

Have you ever been in need, but not been able to find a person or place that could help? It feels so discouraging. It makes you feel unseen. It is a scary place when we feel we have no one to help us.

In today's Christmas story, Joseph and Mary have traveled a long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census. It was time for the baby to be born, but there was no place for them to stay. I cannot imagine how scary and lonely that felt even though the heard clearly from God. 

But God was orchestrating His plan. His son would not enter the world in a nice hospital or fancy birthing center. Simplicity started early for the Son of God. 

I don't know about you, but my experience in driving to the hospital was full of great aniticipation and anxiety even though I knew I had a full hospital staff waiting to help with the process. Lol. Greg and I knew where we were going to get help. Mary and Joseph did not. Oh my! Maybe this made it easier for them to keep their trust in God and not people or circumstances.

In the end even though there was no "inn" for baby Jesus to be born in Mary ended up holding all that happened as dear in her heart.

Jesus was born and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and placed Him in a manger. This was a sign declared by the prophets long ago. God was on the move even when people could not see it. 

Some journeys must take us to the place where the only person we can trust to help us is God. We may not feel He is orchestrating His plan, but He is and once we make it through we, too, can be like Mary and hold all things dear in our hearts.

Christmas Story: Baby Jesus is born

In the end even though there was no "inn" for baby Jesus to be born in Mary ended 

Anticipation for Jesus Birth

Anticipation gives me such joy! I love looking forward to something, sometimes I get a ticklish feeling runing up and down my spine as I anticipate something fun. It makes me wiggle and giggle.

Yet, there are times that when I anticipate something that it takes too long and it falls into the category of waiting. I do not like waiting. It makes me feel heavy and sluggish. It feels like a burden. 

I imagine the anticipation and wait for the birth of Jesus brought about both of those feelings. There were those that were so excited that they felt their spine tickle, but the wait was long. You really need to know why you are waiting to get the joy of aniticipation when it is a long wait.

Just before the birth of Jesus there were 400 years of silence from God. There were no prophets giving His messages. They had to focus on what they knew. They knew the Messiah or Savior of the world was coming, but not when. They needed to prepare their hearts to give Him room when He arrived, but didn't know the day or time. 

The last of the birth pangs before Jesus' arrival were long and laborious. The wait was hard.

Today, we start the advent season anticipating the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Christmas is such a happy time because it is when God's presence comes in human form. Christmas is the fulfillment of the Messiah's arrival. 

He came to us as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. Heaven's gift, Emmanuel, which means God with us. We no longer are waiting His first arrival. He has arrived. He has made a way for all men to draw into the presence of God and know the gift of eternal life.

Join me in celebrating the birth of Jesus on this first day of advent. Here is the first story in our series.

The Christmas Story: the Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary

Do you see what I see?

(Light of the world by Mark Missman)

This morning as I sit by my Christmas tree while my pup is curled up on my toes and I sip my cup of tea, I am blessed by a few thoughts as I read the Christmas story yet again.  I ask myself, What patterns do I see in people's behaviors? I love that when people heard about the baby Jesus they wanted to see Him. Curiosity motivated many to go and see. Who is this Christ child? Why is He born in Bethlehem? Why is He lying in a manger? Who gets a star and a host of angels for a birth announcement? I noticed that the people that had to go check things out included the poor shepherds, the rich wise men of the east, and the evil King Herod. Both the good and the bad. The shepherds were emotional and spontaneous! They wanted to go see Him out of curiousity. Curiousity turned to reverence and awe that poured out in celebration and proclamation. The wise men used science to draw them to the historical reference to a king prophesied in the stars. Their journey was logical and calculated with pre-planned extravagant gifts. King Herod's response was passionate and intense spawned in fear and jealousy that led to a manipulative plot to kill the Christ child whose kingdom was prophesied to never end. While the shepherds longed for deliverance and hope, the wise men wanted to see history and science unfold a great mystery. Sadly, King Herod wanted to silence the Breath of Life so he could reign without competition. Isn't it amazing that a little child could evoke such passion from so many! When we reflect on Christmas we must ask ourselves, Why do I run to see the Christ child? What is my motive and reason? Am I spontaneous, logical, or manipulative? Do I come ready to celebrate, proclaim, and give Him good gifts? Or do I manipulate and plot to stay on my personal throne?