Select Page

In a town

by | Dec 22, 2012 | Uncategorized

When it came time for Mary to deliver I wonder what she felt like.
Not knowing what to expect and not having a doctor to discuss with her how it all would take place.
I wonder how did she know what to do?
She might have been told by Elizabeth but she had never had a child either.
Joseph most likely was no help other than to support her in the best way he could.
His experience was as minimal as hers.
How would they deliver a little baby in a stable filled with animal smells and perhaps nothing clean to lay down on?
There might have been the blanket that was on the donkey covered in donkey hair and matted smells after the long journey.
Perhaps Joseph tore his robe and made a comfortable bed of cloth for her.
I don’t imagine they packed much on the donkey as they began their journey.
This stable or barn or whatever it was had no comforts of home for her.
There are so many questions and we have no answers.
Mary was to deliver her baby without pain medications and without family support.
Could God have eased her pain miraculously?
Perhaps the innkeepers wife came and helped out.
We are not told of the details.
We don’t even know if there was fresh water to wash the baby off with after the birthing process.
Or a light of some sort to even see the newly born baby.
So much is not shared.
So much we have to guess and fill in our own blanks.
So much is prophetic yet so much is so normal.
Just like the young mom who had no choice but to stop and lay down and deliver
the baby who was to be born.
In a town called Bethlehem life took place and hope came into the world.
In a town called Bethlehem the cries of a young family took place.
The wonder. The majesty. The fulfillment of all they had been told.
A new baby was to be born.
Their baby.
Would change the world.

The journey

by | Dec 20, 2012 | Uncategorized

The journey to Bethlehem was not an easy one.
Walking for miles and riding on a donkey.
Can you even imagine being round with child and riding a donkey?
It could not have been easy for Mary.
It was a long journey and for many miles they walked together.
Can you imagine Joseph leading as turmoil took place in the land?
It was not a quiet time.
There was a census being taken with much chaos and also
a baby ready to be born.
I imagine Joseph felt the pressure to find a place of comfort for them to sleep and rest and wait.
Not too different than any other expectant father who wants to take care of his family.
He tried to find a place but there was very little opportunity.
I wonder how desperate he began to feel.
I even read a blog one time about the the role of the donkey.
Jesus rode a donkey into a town before his crucifixion.
We have read the story as it was days before his death.
Mary rode a donkey days before his birth.
What a journey.
What a life.
What a Savior.
So many never knew or realized the prophecies fulfilled concerning his birth.
Even the closest to them never knew the significance of the moments.
Can you imagine the innkeeper who later realized after he said,
“I have no room for you” that the baby was born in his stable?
The journey was anticipated yet hardly understood.
Even now we sometimes fail to understand.  

Comfort us

by | Dec 17, 2012 | Uncategorized

Our hearts are weeping
the darkness is dark
the sorrow is heavy and
we don’t know how to pray.
We cannot understand so much pain and
we cannot understand so much brokenness.
Senseless tragedy
without a reason
deep hurt.
Lord hear the cries of your people and
comfort us.

Joining Deidra on jumping tandem and the Sunday community
(original photographers unknown)

A shared miracle

by | Dec 14, 2012 | Uncategorized

The relationship between Mary and Elizabeth was very special.
They were cousins with a wide age range between them.
They were two women sharing the same experience.
Elizabeth was past the child bearing years and miraculously expecting a son she would name John.
Mary still in her youth and a virgin miraculously expecting a son she would name Jesus.
They both shared a miracle and they both knew how miraculous each of those were for each other.
I am sure upon her visit with Elizabeth she wanted to talk and share and tell everything about
the story of the angel and what was said between them. I am also sure she was encouraged and affirmed through ‘this sharing’.
Elizabeth believed her story and believed the call on her life and affirmed her by saying “my baby leaped upon hearing you.”
How could she not believe for she was carrying a child and that certainly was not possible had it not been for a miracle given to herself.
Elizabeth ministered to Mary in such a way that I don’t believe we can realize.
She confirmed in her heart she was special.
I believe because of their age difference Elizabeth understood the important role that Mary would play in becoming the mother of Jesus. I even wonder can you imagine the hugs between them.
It would be a sister to sister hug no one would understand shared only between the two of them.
At first when Joseph heard about the baby he wanted to quietly send Mary away to protect her and her family from shame.
For to be with child and not married was a tremendous shame in that culture and Joseph knew that it would be hurtful to her.
Through his obedience he showed Mary love and compassion by taking her to be his wife.
That is what happens when we care for someone when we want the best for them.
Each person in the story were a part of the miracle.
The miracle of birth and life and peace and hope.
The story of their shared miracles continues through out history.
We are still reading the story of the baby born in a city called Bethlehem.
We still sing about the wise men who came from a far to see him.
Each of them were a part of a miracle and a story of love and redemption too.
If we opened our hearts and understand there was a reason for this ‘miracle’.
This shared miracle … of a baby born in a little town of Bethlehem.

As we remember

by | Dec 10, 2012 | Uncategorized

The Christmas story is the reason for the season.
In our hustling around and shopping for many assorted treasures.
Let us remember what Joseph and Mary were ‘treasuring’ in their hearts.
Let us remember
the importance of the moments.
Let us remember
the significance of each prophecy.
As we remember
the story that has affected so many and has been told for so many years.
Let us remember the journey.
 
Joining Deidra on jumping tandem with the Sunday community.
photo source unknown
 
Secret Link