by Sharon O | Dec 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Shepherd’s were not the typical visitors one would expect when a baby was born.
They were a rough bunch of men not necessarily welcomed by the towns people.
They were seldom noticed and often not liked by those around them.
Their role was to protect and keep from harm the herds of sheep.
If you can imagine their rough appearances and even perhaps smells.
Just as God used Joseph, and Mary and the others in the ‘nativity story’ we cannot forget the role of the shepherds and their experience.
I find it interesting that God would use these men.
They were not royalty or noted as special.
They were simple shepherd’s doing the job they always did.
If we can imagine that night.
The holy night where the darkness of the sky looked even amazing.
Looking up they realized this was a very different look for the stars.
I wonder if they brought it to each other’s attention.
I wonder also if it was a distraction to see this glorious sky forming above them.
Perhaps because these men were normal and ordinary just as Mary and Joseph were
God saw that it was good to allow them to be a part of this very special story.
Wouldn’t they be credible witnesses for others them?
Simple people bringing to life a very special story that would change everything for everyone.
As they watched the night sky an angel appeared to them and tells them to not be afraid.
Now you have to remember these men were not afraid of anything.
They were used to fighting off wild animals.
When they saw the angel they shook in fear and listened as the angel said to them, “fear not”.
Luke 2:8
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by 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.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
God chooses simple people to share a profound story.
Just as He chose Mary and Joseph and all the others.
Does it make you wonder if He could choose ‘us’ too?
by Sharon O | Dec 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
Thinking of Mary.
I often wonder how was it for her to be in a barn for long hours as she waited for her baby to deliver?
Can we even imagine her pain or her fears or maybe even her loneliness?
If we can imagine each contraction she held her round frame and breathed in the surroundings around her.
Remember she was very young and still in her teens.
Without a mom or midwife or doctor or maybe even fresh water to help her thirst.
She labored in agony not really knowing what to expect.
Not having a labor coach or soft music to soothe and distract her.
I don’t suppose just because he was ‘God’ in flesh her labor was any easier than anyone else who has delivered a baby.
We are not told it was easy and I wonder what did Joseph do during this time of waiting.
Maybe if we stretch our imagination there might have been the innkeepers wife nearby to help her.
Maybe if we stretch it even more there was tea or even a mild ‘sort of medicine’ the town ladies knew to use to make it more comfortable for her.
We are not really told about the delivery.
We know the baby came and he was wrapped in cloths and he was placed in a manger.
She didn’t have nurses who would come check on her or help her nurse him.
She had Joseph and we don’t know what kind of help he was to her.
In the middle of a barn.
In the quiet of the moment.
Mary delivered her baby.
A son was born.
Her son
and I think of Mary alone in the barn remembering the angels words.
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
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.
