The Stage

Luke 2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was great with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger for there was no room for them at the inn.

Going home for Christmas. A tradition started by the first family. For the first Christmas. Back to the region of his family's birth.

Every detail of Christ's life was planned ahead of time. All persons playing their roles. From Caesar Augustus to Judas. From Mary to Caiphas. From Peter to Pilate. All prophecy must be fulfilled. No coincidence. No incidentals. Every detail planned for. It was too important to leave anything to chance. One time to get it right. For we have a God who is in the details.

Going home for Christmas can be very stressful. Family dynamics. Travel expenses. Long lines. Long waits in traffic. Crying children. Cold weathers. Stressful.

So this year I plan to keep it simple. And I will remember Mary and be comforted. For I do not bear her burdens. She was young. Heavily pregnant. Traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem was a long journey. Not only is she carrying a child but the burden of carrying the Christ child. And how many people believe that virgins conceive? A new husband. And no place to stay. Giving birth in a stable. Stressful.

So just a thought....If you are traveling home for Christmas...Remember Mary and her struggles and be comforted. Also know this. We have a God who is in the details. He sees you. He knows you. And your stresses. Everything that was planned so carefully on that first Christmas... it was all for you. And me. So that we could celebrate this Christmas and remember the struggle that it took to bring us here. And to get us home. For Christmas. For eternity. With our family. In heaven.

Will you make room for Him this Christmas? Will you remember what was done for your soul?

The Man

Matthew 1 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. And her husband Joseph being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, and 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son; and they shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us. When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Why did God choose Joseph? He was not needed for conception. Why not just let Mary raise Jesus alone?

Maybe it was because boys need a father, even a stepfather.

So little is known about Joseph. But what we do know is impressive. He was an honorable man. He took a wife and kept her a virgin until after the delivery of the Child, to fulfill God's word. He was a man of faith. An angel spoke to Him in a dream and he believed and trusted God, even when it seemed impossible. He was a man of integrity. Standing up for what is right even when others do not believe you. He was a protector. Taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt to protect their lives.

Joseph may not have participated in the conception of his Son, but he obviously played a huge role in the life of Jesus; even teaching Him his trade. Joseph fades from the story and gives the Son of God His rightful place. He must increase and I must decrease.

If you are a father, especially a stepfather, look to Joseph for instruction. Be honorable. Be a man of faith. Be a man of integrity. Be a protector. Raise a Godly child, even if they are not really yours.

Father, thank you for godly men, for our heads of house. Men who stand in the gap for their families. Men who look to you for wisdom and instruction. For all those who live a life of integrity and protect their families from harm. I love you Lord and today I am grateful that you call Yourself, Father. Be a father to all of the ones, like me, who have no earthly father. Be near Lord Jesus. I love the thought of Jesus in the manger, Jesus the teacher, Jesus the friend but today Lord I am grateful to call you Father.

The Power

Luke 1 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgins name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!...And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord will give Him the throne of His father, David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, How will this be, since I am a virgin? And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the Child to be born will be called Holy-the Son of God.

Mary must have been an extraordinary lady to be chosen to bear and raise the Christ.

You have found favor with God.

The same Holy Spirit that caused a virgin to conceive the Christ child, lives in every believer. The same power that raised the man, Jesus Christ, from the dead resides in your heart. It is that power that enables us to do "all things".

God has favored us all with His presence. Is He speaking to you? Is He calling to you? To the impossible? The unbelievable? A thought so high and a dream so big that unless He gets involved it will never happen? Then relax. God makes a way for anything that is His will.

A virgin conceives. The dead are raised. A heart is changed. As the world looks on and rejoices.

Do not be afraid...You have found favor with God...How can this be? The Holy Spirit will come upon you...the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

That power lies within you. If you are His. Be of good cheer. Rejoice. Live with abandon. In Him.

Be of good cheer, little flock. It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!!!

Lord, I love you. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us. You are sooo good and we are amazed. To You, Father. All that we have. All that we are. See us Lord and be pleased.

The Child

Isaiah 9 He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide spoil.

For unto us a child is born; to us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

Is there anything that provokes greater tenderness than a newborn child? Completely defenseless. Totally dependent. Little naked feet. Soft downy hair. Wonderful baby smell.

For unto us a Child is born. To us a Son is given.

I want you to get this. Jesus could have come in any form. He could have dropped from heaven as a man. Full grown. A reigning king. A mighty warrior. God wrote this story and He could have written it in any fashion that He chose.

God chose to wrap His heart up in a newborn baby and send it to us.

Unto us a Child is born.

A Son. Given to us. To you. Why?

Consider this....He wanted you to see the depth of His affections for you. Not a conqueror. Not a ruler. Not a dictator. God sent you His heart. His love. His only Son. As a helpless, defenseless infant. Naked feet. Sweet baby smell. Soft downy hair. To us. To humans who would fail Him. Who would misunderstand him. Who would mock Him. Who would torture and finally crucify Him.

It will be different when He comes the next time. But for today...think of how He came the first time. See Him as Immanuel. In a manger. Emptying Himself of all authority. All power. All might. And making Himself vulnerable to win your heart.

It is your heart that He is after.

And what can soften a heart like a newborn child?

Unto you that child was born. Unto you that Son was given.

What will you do with this Child?

Father You are marvelous beyond all comprehension. That you would give Yourself to us is almost impossible to believe. That You would show the depth of Your love to us by sending the most precious thing that You had, Your Son, to us is the greatest testament of Your devotion to us. God soften our hearts. Help us to forget for a moment about presents, dinners, decorations and trees. Lord burn into our hearts the picture of Your love for us, Your sacrifice for us, Your Son....for us. I am amazed. I am humbled. I am captured by that love. Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with YOU.

The Light

Revelation 3 And to the angel of the Church in Sardis write: The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of My God. Remember then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Ephesians 5 Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

For the last week, a Hebrew man in a long white linen shift speaks to me in my dreams. He is quoting Scripture from Revelation. He is preaching. Preaching of the end. What does this mean?

Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.

There has been a recurring theme for me in this season of my life. Awaken. Awaken to a new life. A new lifestyle. A rebirth. In every area of my life. A new fire. A baptism. Life is awakening.

You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

What about you? Is God awakening something for you? Are you experiencing a new, fresh longing for Him? For His Word: For His service? Is HE awakening in you?

Just as we are incapable of producing light in the universe, we are incapable of producing light within ourselves. Only Christ can awaken the light of heaven within our hearts. I never realized how dark I was until He shined His light into my life.

When I was sixteen I failed the eye test to get my drivers license. My mom took me to the eye doctor and I was fitted for glasses for the first time. When my glasses were ready the doctor took me into the outer office and stood me before a large picture window and placed the glasses on my face. It was amazing. I could see!! Perfectly!! I never knew how bad my vision was until I saw clearly for the first time.

We walk in darkness, never realizing how lost and blind we are ,until the light of Christ awakens us and suddenly we see clearly for the first time. Light shines in. Christ awakens in us. Amazing.

Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

My prayer for you this Christmas Season is that the light of Christ will shine in you. Awaken you. Enlighten you. Satisfy you.

Father thank You for bringing the light of Your Son into our world of darkness. Thank You for holding our lives in Christ and allowing us to see what we really were...naked, blind, helpless and alone. Thank You for this season and all that it means.