Christmas is...

A real story. 
Looking at a manger scene it is easy to forget: This actually happened. 
Mary was a very young woman, who was very pregnant a long way from home.  And she went into labor alone.  No friends.  No mother and no midwife.  I wonder if between the pains she ever looked up to heaven and asked God, “Are you going to keep Your word?”
She was scared and Joseph was worried.  He was in a town of strangers, with little money (and no cell phone), just trying to just get a roof over their heads.  It was dark.  Maybe cold.  Maybe windy.  And, I have to think, that barn looked amazing.  Though they must have pondered, “Could this really be God’s plan for His Son?”
A pitch-black outbuilding filled with animals, no doubt the stable was dirty and stank.  But, by God’s design, there weren’t many options.  Maybe Joseph even delivered Jesus himself.  And as Jesus cried His first night here, his parents probably did too with joy and relief.  Looking into those misty new eyes, at least one must have shuddered in their heart: “Don’t I need more information or training or something?”
Enter: the shepherds.  Their divine invitation and their obedience must have spoken volumes to Mary and Joseph.  God had kept His word and He was going to continue to keep His word.  Yes, this was all in His plan and His hand.  And yes, rest assured you have everything you need to play your part in God’s plans.
God says those same things to His children today.
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” – Matthew 6:30

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