Select Page

Can you imagine

by | Dec 20, 2011 | Uncategorized

Can you even imagine what it was like for Mary
to touch his soft face and to feel his soft hair and
know that HE was one of the most important things that ever happened to her.
Can you even imagine holding him and looking into his deep intense eyes
perhaps eyes that had wisdom far beyond the newborn baby she was admiring.
Can you even imagine kissing her baby and realizing that you are really kissing
the cheeks of God.
Could she know or even realize what his life would mean for her and
the heart ache she would have during his lifetime.
So much to know and learn about this ‘son’ of hers.
So much to experience and let go of.
Can you even imagine being chosen to be his mother.

I breathe in your love

by | Dec 18, 2011 | Uncategorized

Breath of Heaven
Light in my darkness
Hold me together
pour over me your Holiness
for you are Holy
Breath of Heaven 
I traveled so long
and became so weary
wondering about you and wondering how
we would experience your birth
breath of Heaven
you are light in my darkness
I kiss you
and I kiss God
your breath is life to me.

This baby

by | Dec 17, 2011 | Uncategorized

The birth of a baby is always so miraculous
then to add the reality that this baby truly was a miracle.
Chosen by God and announced through the angels.

Can you even imagine holding him
touching his hair and
feeling his warm breath sleeping soundly after nursing.
I imagine he was wrapped in the strips of cloth Joseph had ripped
from parts of his own clothing.
Mary swaddling and holding this precious baby as he slept.
Could she keep him safe and warm.
Could she know the life he would live.
Could she love him then let him go.
The long journey was over and
A baby was born
Her baby.
His baby.
God’s baby.
Did Joseph see in his eyes something deep and inviting.
Could he tell this baby
was so very different from others he might have held.
So much of the birth story we are not told.
So much of it we have to wonder about.
When the sky lit up and the host of angels sang to the shepherds
“Glory to God in the highest”
they knew and had been told
this baby would be chosen
just as they had been chosen
to be a part of the birth story.

A precious baby was born in the city called Bethlehem
and the world would never be the same.

The call to go see

by | Dec 16, 2011 | Uncategorized

Isn’t it fascinating that when the shepherds heard the Angels say to them,
“Go find the baby who was born this night.”
They left.
Reminding me so much of the story of Peter and Paul and the other fishermen
who left their boats in the same way later on in Jesus life.
Remember when he walked along the shore and called out to them,
“Come follow me, I will make you fishers of men” and they left.
They literally left.
They dropped everything and left with no hesitation.
No looking back
they wanted to follow the voice of a man who spoke with authority.
They left their boats, their jobs, their families if they had any.
Everything was left so they could go follow in a new direction.

The shepherds did the same thing against the oath of a shepherd.
They were never to leave their herds and never abandon them
to face adversities or enemies alone.
Their job was to protect and serve them at all costs.
Isn’t it interesting that the call to go see
was stronger than the need to stay.

I wonder if we would do the same.
Is the call to go see and know
stronger in our hearts
than the comfort in staying and not knowing?
The call towards a Savior
who came to us in a humble way
to show us love
to give us hope
to provide a 
powerful and life changing reason
 to believe.
If we allow it.

No room

by | Dec 15, 2011 | Uncategorized

The journey to Bethlehem
meant many days and nights of traveling for them and as any expectant mom
I am sure the urgent need to get settled before delivery laid heavy on Mary’s heart.
I wonder if she whispered as they walked along the gravel road
“Joseph I need to rest, I need to lay down.”
Where would she get her rest in the middle of no where.
There was no soft bed or pillows.
Warm comforting blankets or peaceful music.
Perhaps the donkey had a blanket with matted fur mixed with animal sweat she could rest on.
There was no place of comfort or even family to care for her.
She was alone to deliver her first born baby with no experience and no one to help her.
As they entered the city Joseph found an inn and asked the keeper
if they could stay as Mary was soon to deliver and needed to rest. 

The answer was no and they were turned away.
I am sure their spirits were low as the fatigue set in
and desperation was high as they were tired and
weary from the long journey to Bethlehem.
 Joseph wondering what to do next had to find something
for Mary and the baby.
 Walking a bit further they came upon a stable
I wonder if he thought ‘this would be a safe place’.
We have a little children’s book of the nativity story and
 in an effort to make the story simple and easy for a little one to understand
 I have interpreted it this way.
When Joseph asked the innkeeper if there was any room for them
the innkeeper said,
“No there is no room for you in the inn” so they walked away and
as Joseph found a stable filled with animals he asked Mary
 if they could sleep in the barn with them and she said, ‘Yes it is ok ‘
so Joseph took Mary and helped her to lay down in some soft hay and soon it was time for her to have her baby.
He cleaned out a manger which normally was for feeding the animals
 and found fresh hay so 
he could place the new baby in there to sleep.
A baby was born in the city of Bethlehem
and it would change the world forever.  

Ordinary people

by | Dec 13, 2011 | Uncategorized

The shepherds were a rough bunch of men guarding their flocks of sheep.
Most of the time they were not noticed or even liked by those around them.
Every night they were out in the dark and every night the routine would be the same for them as they watched for wild animals or other things that could bring harm to the herds.
Just as God used Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth to fulfill the story of Jesus and his birth.
I found it interesting that God would use this rough and worn group of men.
That particular night they were looking up at the sky
and noticing how bright it was
how amazing it looked
how peaceful and
yet so different than any night they had ever experienced.
They knew what the skies looked like
one would imagine they had the stars memorized.
This night was very different for them.
For some reason God chose them to be a part of the story.
Perhaps it was because they were so normal and so ordinary
not too different than a young pheasant girl and a young carpenter.
Ordinary simple people.
Called out to tell the Christmas story for every one to hear.

The angel appeared to them and said, “fear not” as the dark night lit up radiantly.
A holy fear gripped them. How could one not fear?
These men who fought wild animals and feared nothing
shook to their knees as they listened to the voice of an angel
telling them, “A baby is to be born.”
The silence of the night was rattled by angels singing.
Luke 2:8
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I imagine

by | Dec 12, 2011 | Uncategorized

When Mary went to Elizabeth’s house she stayed with her for nearly three months and we are not told how she was when she returned home to Joseph.
She would be nearing her fourth month or so and round enough
that others would take notice that she was expecting a child.
Like other women who just spent time with a friend or cousin
her mind would be full of stories and conversations shared and treasured between Elizabeth and herself.
I imagine she would have told Joseph about the many things she discovered about Elizabeth’s story and her own for they were very similar in miraculous ways.
I am also imagining that they would have to start their journey to Bethlehem soon

since Joseph had to register Mary in the census and only had a certain amount of time to get that done.
The journey had to have been a difficult one for both of them.
I can’t imagine the fatigue they would experience along the way.
Did Joseph wear out the leather in his sandals from walking so much?
They would get tired as the days moved into nights
where would they have rested and how would she get comfortable?
I wonder what did they eat and how would they find water
was that miraculously provided like the manna from long ago and
were there streams along the way for refreshment?
I wonder what the weather was like for them.
I also wonder in those long hours as they listened to the clomping of the donkeys hooves did they talk and share with each other or was there a silence so intense words could not break the thoughts held inside of them.
So much is not shared with us as we read about the journey of Mary and Joseph.
So much to wonder and ask questions about
the wonderful story of a baby who would be born in a most symbolic way.
It’s a story of a savior who would come to us and a God
who did what he needed to do to reach out to a fallen world so we could have a chance.
I imagine it was the most miraculous gift given.
The greatest love story we will ever experience if we open our hearts to it.
The question is: Are we open? 

A prayer

by | Dec 9, 2011 | Uncategorized

After Elizabeth had spoken to Mary the book of Luke
shares with us her response. Luke 1: 46-55
It is called Mary’s Song

And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me ~
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham
and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

A beautiful prayer from someone so young
A prayer of acceptance
A prayer of obedience
A prayer of deep love
A prayer of trust
In the quiet of the night as she put her hand upon her round frame
did she question
did she wonder 
did she pray
did she cry
So much of the story we are not told
but one would imagine through this life altering experience
Mary would have
many quiet moments to think and
to remember
the voice of the angel who said to her
“do not be afraid.”