Bethlehem

3rd Shift Shepherds

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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2:8

It seems unlikely that even one of the shepherds was laying awake thinking of God’s promised messiah that night. Instead these men were likely the third shift workers who were sent out to watch the flock after the main shepherds had gone to bed for the evening. In the small village of Bethlehem only its history held importance. No one thought much of its military or commercial value.

In the darkness of that night the unnamed and unimportant shepherds were about to become the first people on earth to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. God had remembered His people. God had remembered Bethlehem. Most astonishing of all God had remembered some shepherds whom everyone else had forgotten.

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Did you know that God has also remembered you? Have you heard that He is not satisfied to visit only the better homes in the better neighborhoods with the biggest churches with their beautiful appearances? Just as the shepherds were watching their flocks at night so God watches over us when we are going through the darkest moments of our lives. He has not forgotten. He knows right where we are. He hears us and He still sends His message of good news. There is no better place on earth to discover again the greatest news of all. Jesus Christ is born to bring light and hope and salvation to all of us who are out in our fields by night!

Joseph’s Faith

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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. Luke 2:4 ESV

Often I lie awake the night before a trip turning over in my mind whether we have enough food, clothing, and money for the days ahead.

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Amazingly in spite of so many things Joseph and Mary could have worried about, we don’t hear one single complaint from either one of them.  The Bible is quite clear that they were not  super-heroes, just ordinary people who put their trust in God. We often hear about Mary’s faith as she accepted God’s call, but Joseph had his own questions which he chose to answer by faith. Joseph had to decide if Mary was the right woman to marry. Later as he and Mary gathered their belongings for Bethlehem, he also had practical concerns to deal with. How would they safely bring their tax money along roadways where thieves laid in wait? Who would give them a place to stay? Should they return to Nazareth or make a new life in Bethlehem? Yet as they traveled together on a difficult road he went in faith because he had taken his questions and fears to God.

In what ways are you fearful about your future today? Do you wrestle with some doubts about God’s plan for your life? If you long to travel boldly on first bring God all your questions and then trust His answers. God knows the why and where of the road ahead. Trust Him with your doubts and run to Him with your fears. God has not chosen you because you are a super hero but because you are ordinary and God loves plain ordinary people!

A Child’s Christmas

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Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,  “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.   Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

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As a part of focusing on the birth of Jesus at Christmas I have left one of the nativity scenes in a place where our grandchildren could reach it.  My theory was that they would understand Christmas better if they knew what a manger was and what shepherds might have looked like. So I carefully set up my old and semi-unbreakable manger scene so they could see all the characters.

Last week our home was filled with the activity of seven grandchildren, their parents and one family friend. The youngest had to be chased down two or three times to retrieve ornaments which he had stolen off the Christmas tree. Food, games and fun filled our day and we retired properly blessed and exhausted as they finally all drove off in the early evening.

A few days later when I was in my office I noticed that the children had indeed seen the nativity and had rearranged the figures. As I looked closer I realized that they understood the birth of Jesus in a way a bit different than we adults do. There gathered closely around the manger were Mary, Joseph, wise men and shepherds pressing in closely to see Jesus! Maybe it would be better if we adults turned our own backs to the many activities surrounding the celebration of the Christ child and instead pressed in closely to see Jesus!20171130_054228