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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.”

Excitement and wonder

by | Dec 8, 2011 | Uncategorized

In Luke the story is told how Mary after hearing from the angel hurried to see her cousin Elizabeth.
(as soon as the angel left her presence)
Isn’t is like two expectant mom’s sharing tea and each others joy
as they reflect on the new babies to come?
Only this time it would be different.
This time it was not just a cousin to a cousin
it was a moment in time
a moment of awareness
where Elizabeth knew there was something very special in Mary
and where Mary became aware
that her life would be different from then on.
Luke 1:39
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” 
Isn’t it awesome that God would use two precious babies
to declare truth to two women?
Isn’t it awesome that God would do something so exciting
like a fresh new birth
to help us see and feel and experience
his love for us?
I really find it fascinating that upon hearing Mary’s greeting
the baby inside Elizabeth reacted to the holy ‘voice’.
Isn’t it wonderful that God in his word declares
a baby in the womb has value and importance?
When I was expecting our little ones I talked to them, and I know they knew
the feel of my hand and my husbands hand as it rested upon my ’round tummy.’
Perhaps they know and hear the voice of others too?
Why would God not use the symbol of a baby to reach us.
Everyone loves a newborn.
Everyone loves to look upon and gaze into their precious eyes of innocence.
Everyone loves the soft tender skin that smells so pure.
God sent his son in a form that we could accept with
open arms and open hearts
so that we could be like Elizabeth and be excited for his coming.
Mary was chosen among all women
to be a part of the wonderful Christmas story.
A baby would come to save us from ourselves.
Are we ready to receive him?

I have wondered

by | Dec 6, 2011 | Uncategorized

I have wondered about Joseph.
How he responded to the angels news and how
he reacted towards Mary and her new baby coming.
He thought about it I am sure.
We aren’t told about his feelings or how many sleepless nights he had.
Don’t you wonder what he was thinking when Mary told him,
“Joseph an angel came to me and told me I am expecting a baby and the father is the Holy Spirit.”
Do you wonder how he felt or what he would have said to her?
Did he sit up late in the night trying to decide what he should do?
Did he tell her, “Wow I have to think about this one for a few days.”
This was his fiancee who he was going to marry.
The plans they were making to be a family were not supposed to start so soon.
Was he wondering how he could break it off with her?
Is that when an angel came to talk to him and tell him to marry her?
How life changing it would be for him to be with Mary but not ‘with her’ as a husband and wife.
He was told to take her as his wife even though she was already expecting a new baby.
It was a choice he had to make. 
He could have said no but he didn’t.
He chose intimacy not abandonment perhaps even as protection for her.
If he were to marry her
no one would have to know the baby was not his.
Except for the angel who brought the news to both of them
perhaps Joseph and Mary and later Elizabeth were the only ones who knew
the real truth surrounding this special child.
If he were to expose her
the rule of the day was for her to not just be stoned
but stoned in the doorway of her fathers home.
Which also would include her immediate family ‘stoning’ her.
The rule was anyone who was a relative could throw the stones until she died.
Joseph couldn’t let that happen in good conscience.
Perhaps he really loved her?
Not understanding and not knowing how it would affect him for the rest of his life
Joseph obeyed the angel.
He chose obedience not entitlement.
He could have said ‘my first born son will have my family name’.
He didn’t.
The angel said, “you will call him Jesus.”
So many choices within this story.
It is a love story on many levels.
Isn’t that like God to give us many things to think about?

We forget

by | Dec 3, 2011 | Uncategorized

Can you imagine the feelings Mary had when the Angel appeared to her?
I often talk about life altering moments. 
When our world changes in a split second and it is no longer
what we we are familiar with or knew.
I imagine that would be what Mary experienced
when her heart would receive this ‘special child’.
A mother is a mother always and she would be taken to her deepest level of love and loss.
Can you even imagine her fear or her questions
wanting to be obedient
but realizing what it would cost her?
In that culture if she was known to be with child and not married
her destiny would be death by stoning.
Stoning
where one is placed in a pit and killed slowly as rocks are thrown
to break the body down till death takes place.
Perhaps that is why Joseph was told by the Angel to take her as his wife and love her as a husband would love.
Through his obedience he would save her life.
I suppose he could have said no.
The story began when two people said yes I will obey.
It is a love story on many levels.
We forget she was young 
scholars have said she was around age 14 just a teenager.
Can you imagine the responsibility for her and the intensity of the call on her life?
In this life altering moment
she was to have a child
he was to be called Jesus
he would deeply change her and also change the hearts of others.
   
This was indeed one of those moments I think
when we forget the heaviness of her heart where Mary had to make a choice.
God found favor with her and chose her to be the mother of the Christ Child.
We forget who she was before that happened.
Would we be so willing to do something so profound
if we were asked?

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