by Sharon O | Dec 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
Still thinking about Mary and Joseph.
The time was drawing near for her to deliver and as they entered Bethlehem.
I would imagine Joseph felt the intense pressure to not only get settled
but to get Mary comfortable where she could rest.
Those of us who have every carried a baby knows how uncomfortable one can get in the last few days before delivering.
Joseph came into town and found the first inn he could see and tried to get a room.
Remember this is the time of the census so there were many people and very few rooms available.
Knocking on the door I can just hear and see Joseph pleading his case
to the one who answered the door.
And I can also imagine his disappointment when hearing perhaps more than once.
There is no room.
We are told that finally one of them seeing Joseph’s frustration and seeing Mary uncomfortable on the donkey said ‘I have no room but you can rest in my barn.’
Luke 2:
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and the line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available to them.
The cloths were from what I wonder.
Did Joseph tear part of his ‘robe’ to make a warm ‘blanket for the baby’?
They didn’t have warm sleepers and nice soft diapers.
They didn’t have comfortable furniture to rest and relax in.
This was a barn.
Have you ever been in a barn where animals are kept outside?
It has shelter but not a lot of warmth.
Definitely not a clean baby nursery with stuffed animals and beautiful wall paper.
This was a barn.
A stable where animals were kept along with the smells of hay and other assorted smells.
This was a barn where Jesus was born.
This was a manger where he laid to rest.
This was a very different beginning to the life of a Lord.
I have so many thoughts about Mary and Joseph and their journey.
This was a barn where God changed lives.
Humble. Simple. Rustic.
A barn where the story continues.
by Sharon O | Dec 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
As I continue to think of Mary and Joseph and the journey they were on.
The urgent need to get settled laid heavy on their hearts and minds.
The journey to Bethlehem was not easy.
Remember it was days and it was nights.
Night time brought out night predators and even cooler temperatures.
Were they able to lay down and rest a little bit?
Were they able to feel safe?
I wonder in the dark of the night if they shared with each other
what the next few weeks would mean for them.
So much had changed.
The plans they had made for each other were now different.
As they tried to rest for a while.
What did they think about and experience.
There were no soft pillows or beds for them.
Perhaps Mary rested on the horses blankets.
With all the sweat and smells from the animals journey.
I wonder if she was able to rest.
Not too different than any other expectant mom.
Soon she would deliver a tiny baby.
With no midwife or doctor to help her.
Was Joseph prepared and did he even know what to do in this kind of situation.
Did she whisper to him her worries or did she keep them close to her heart.
So much had changed for them.
In the days ahead so much more will be different and new.
I continue to think of the journey they were on.
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.
by Sharon O | Dec 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
Moving in the direction of Joseph and how he was presented the news about Mary.
Have you ever had one of those dreams that felt real and life changing?
I have and it was powerful.
I think just as Joseph had his dream, he knew in his heart he had to follow through and complete what he was told.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.
And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25
Can you imagine Joseph right now? He had his own life altering moment.
After hearing the news his first reaction was, let Mary go so he could walk out of the situation. I would think that is a pretty normal reaction sometimes when someone hears they will be a dad when they are not ready to be one. His second thought after being told by the angel the news, was to accept the role he would play in this very important time in history. Perhaps even because he loved Mary and wanted the best for her and leaving her would not be in her best interest or protection. We have to give Joseph a lot of credit in this as he married Mary, yet firmly stayed away from her till the time for her to have this new little baby.
I imagine they talked about what was going to take place between the two of them. It had to have been life changing for both of them.
I also imagine their fears as both of them were young and perhaps not even ready to become parents.
Life altering moments don’t always give us a preparation.
Sometimes they just happen and it is our choice as to how we will manage or react to them.
Joseph’s life altering moment would forever change him.
Not too different than you or I in these kinds of situations.
by Sharon O | Dec 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Without wasting a lot of time, Mary went to go see Elizabeth.
We are not told how far away that was or how she got there we just know she rushed to go see her.
Have you ever had that moment when you just had to make that phone call or go see your special friend?
Nothing is more special than spending time with someone you love and share a kindred spirit with.
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| (Not sure of ‘artist’ can’t read the name) |
They shared a miracle together and I can only imagine the wonderful excitement they both had upon seeing each other. The hugs and the joy and the laughter had to have been so tender.
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
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The greeting between them had to have been amazing.
Remember this is an older relative, greeting a teen.
Saying to her, blessed are you above everyone else.
Also notice the babies reaction.
Isn’t that amazing? I don’t ever discount the life and the feelings of the unborn children. Right here, in this verse, it says the child heard and knew the voice and reacted.
How thrilling that must have been for both of them.
It was actually after this ‘shared miracle’ Mary’s magnificat song was sung.
In a posture of prayer.
In a spirit of thankfulness and with an accepting spirit.
It says in the story that Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months until it was time for Elizabeth to deliver.
We don’t know if she was there when Elizabeth gave birth or not.
What we do know is they shared a miracle together.
Both of them were chosen to play a very important role.
The destiny for them and the path ahead would not be easy.
I believe God allowed Elizabeth to be an encouragement to Mary.
In the toughest of times, sometimes a shared miracle is all we need.
