by Sharon O | Dec 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
There are so many parts of the story of Jesus and his beginning moments on earth.
God orchestrated so many key characters to be a part of this miraculous birth.
We have Mary, and Joseph and Elizabeth and Zechariah and John.
At least two angels perhaps a few more.
As they play their ‘roles’ in the story.
God orchestrated other players we see enter later in the next scene of the story.
There are the shepherds out in the field and the wisemen.
Then there is the innkeeper and others who might have been nearby to notice.
There was Caesar Augustus who issued the decree for the census.
Then we have later on Simeon and Anna.
Everyone of these players were needed and a vital part of the story of Jesus.
It was all orchestrated by God.
Written and prophesied long before Jesus was even ‘here’.
It is amazing to me that it was not just a ‘thought’ of God.
It was a plan.
The plan that would save the world.
The chance for many to see and believe.
I can’t even imagine what Mary felt like knowing that her baby
HER BABY
Was the chosen one.
Forever in time the one that would save so many including her.
So many details God did not forget.
Just as He does not forget details of our lives.
Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that God loves you so much
to send His son…
HIS SON
so you and so I can have hope and life and eternal safety.
So many details… to continue the story.
by Sharon O | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
I can’t begin to imagine the journey for Mary and Joseph.
They are in a new relationship which is both challenging and full of many changes and responsibilities.
They are journeying towards a town of great activity and many things had to take place.
A census was very important and Joseph knew he had to get there.
In order for the official count to be made known all citizens had to register themselves and their property for proper taxation.
It might not have been what they wanted to do but Joseph knew there was no choice.
They rode or walked as the days moved into nights.
I think of Mary round with child and her exhaustion not being able to fully rest.
Where would they lay down for comfort?
Were they even safe to stop and sit for awhile?
There is so much I wonder about in this Christmas story.
I wonder if they were able to stay strong and full of hope.
I wonder did God provide some sort of heavenly food
like he did so many years before.
I wonder if they found fresh water and did God provide that along the way too?
I also wondered what they thought about as they walked in the quiet.
Was there a silence between them that was deep and heavy
or did they talk and share about this experience with each other.
There is so much about this journey we don’t know about.
What we do know is a very special baby was coming and God was preparing the way.
by Sharon O | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
We are not really told when Mary and Joseph actually got married.
We do know that after Mary heard from the angel she went immediately to see Elizabeth and then stay with her for three months.
Perhaps that is when Joseph had his struggle and his ‘conflicting’ thoughts about the news he had heard.
And maybe that is when the angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to marry her.
Three months is a long time and when someone is dealing with something very major it is helpful to have that much time to think.
We can guess that when she returned they married and became a ‘family’.
There was a census in Bethlehem and Joseph had to make the distance to go so he could be counted.
The journey was long and very challenging.
They didn’t have any easy transportation in those days.
The choices were few, one could ride a camel, a donkey or walk.
I would imagine it took them a few months as Mary had to transition from an early pregnancy stage to a point of delivery.
The journey for them had to have been horrible walking among rough terrain and rocky hills.
It might have been hot and humid.
Even though they knew each other the walking and the riding
could have been exhausting to a relationship.
We are not told how long it took them to get there.
But we do know she was expecting and soon to deliver a very special baby.
There are many things we don’t know about the story.
What we do know is this: A baby was to be born and his parents were chosen to be a part of this very special story.
by Sharon O | Dec 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
The excitement in the air must have been contagious.
Can you imagine what Joseph and Mary were talking about with each other?
I wonder what the conversation sounded like.
Did they share the angels words with each other or did they share what they saw?
They both heard life changing words.
“Mary you are favored among all”
“Joseph, don’t be afraid to take her as your wife.”
Life changing words always affect us.
The doctor appointment says: You have a serious disorder.
The boss tells you: Your job is ending.
The marriage is not working this time and you can’t fix it.
The unexpected baby to be that you are now responsible for.
The car accident that you just happened to be in.
All of these are life changing.
Joseph and Mary had a journey ahead of them.
They had no idea what that would mean or what was even being asked of them.
To raise a son who was ‘God’ in flesh.
To teach him and encourage him and love him deeply.
I can’t imagine what that must have been like.
To hold him and realize ‘you are holding’ a very special son.
That out of many others you were chosen and hand picked to do the honor of loving another until the appointed time to let him go
‘back to the father’.
My other thought was both sets of their parents must have been very understanding.
It was a very special time for Joseph and Mary and many things we are not told.
We all have life changing or life altering moments.
We can allow them to heal us or to hurt us.
The way we receive the news or the words spoken is a choice.
by Sharon O | Dec 9, 2013 | Uncategorized
Have you ever had something weigh so heavy on your heart
that in the darkness of the night you wrestle with the heaviness?
In your worry and anxiety you struggle to make sense of it all and it is hard to find the reason to move forward and face what is ahead.
I would imagine Joseph had that happen to him upon hearing the news of Mary and her baby to be and the responsibility he would be facing.
Matthew 1: 20
{But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.}
Just at the right moment, God provides a way of understanding and a deep peace within us so we can move forward in a posture of trust.
After… the struggle there is peace given.
Just as God gave Joseph time to wrestle with integrity issues and character issues and what he stood for as a man.
He does the same for us.
I think it is good to remember this part of the story.
