Heavenly Messengers

 

Animal voices echoed throughout the cave. Rustling as they moved closer to see the surprise guests. An exhausted Mary tossed and turned to ease her pain. Nothing helped. 

 

            Joseph covered her with another cloak and rested near her for warmth. She stifled a groan. Then a scream bounced off the stone walls. 

 

            “If only we were home, mother could help,” she said. 

 “Why did the government force us to leave home now?”

 

            Joseph had no answers. Helplessly, he stared at Mary but could not ease her pain.

 

            “Help! Joseph, the baby is coming.”

 

            Together, the inexperienced couple delivered the precious baby. Joseph caught the babe as he entered the cold, dark world. When he handed Jesus to Mary, she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and they stared in awe at the tiny baby in her arms. They truly witnessed a miracle on that long ago night. 

 

            The father placed clean, hay in a stone feeding trough, a crude bed for a king. As the new mother laid the baby in his bed, voices interrupted the calmness. 

 

            Firelight illuminated shining, expectant faces at the mouth of the cave. The couple looked at each other and then motioned for the shepherds to enter. At once, the visitors bowed before the makeshift bed. Reverently, they gazed longingly at Jesus. A heavenly silence filled the cave. 

 

            “Why did you come here?” Joseph asked. 

 

            Excited voices overtook each other. Finally, one man spoke for the group. “We were on the hills outside of the village watching our sheep. All at once, we heard a voice from the sky. Everyone fell to the ground. We were terrified. A light filled the night. An angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am telling you joyful news for everyone. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.’

 

            “We tried to understand the news. Then we had more surprises. The whole area was filled with heavenly singers. The angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

 

            “We didn’t know what to do. It all seemed so strange like a dream but we all saw it. We didn’t want to leave our sheep unprotected but knew we had to follow the heavenly instructions. We kept walking and wondering where to find the baby. Finally, we found you.”

 

            Unlikely messengers followed the star to Jesus. They continued praising God and repeating the Good News. The shepherds gave Mary and Joseph another confirmation from God about the baby. 

 

            As we wait for Jesus in our unsettled world, we must be open to His message even when delivered by unexpected people in surprising places. If God decided to use despised, dirty shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth, He can surprise the world now. Perhaps He will occasionally even use us as messengers.

 

Nearby, in the fields outside Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light-the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified! 

 

Messenger: Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect people everywhere. Today in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough. 

 

At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers-a vast heavenly choir. They praised God. 

 

Heavenly Choir: ‘ To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God! And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!’

 

As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation. 

 

Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about. (Luke 2:8-15 The Voice)

 

Father, thank you for the wonderful gift of Jesus. Help us to listen to your messengers and follow Jesus in what we do. Amen

 

 

 

              

 

       

No Room

 

Cold gripped me when I pulled back the covers in my unheated bedroom. Before I went to bed, I turned off the heat and snuggled under a comforter. The nippy morning air reminded me of a long, cold journey over 2,000 years ago. 

 

            Mile after mile on rocky roads of Israel, a pregnant girl and her husband traveled from the small village of Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south. 

 

            Every bump in the road and sway of the donkey jolted Mary and made her more uncomfortable. The treacherous journey was hard for anyone but especially for someone in her condition. 

 

            Caesar Augustus decreed a census be taken of the entire Roman Empire. Everyone had to go to his own town and, not where he was presently living, to be registered. Joseph was of the lineage of David so he and Mary went to Bethlehem.   

 

            Finally, twinkling lights of Bethlehem beckoned to the exhausted couple. 

 

            “I will find a warm place for you to rest, Mary,” Joseph said. 

 

            She could barely smile. Her aching body longed for a warm, soft bed. Her stomach growled. She waited expectantly for Joseph. 

 

            “No room,” he said when he returned. Although the narrow streets were crowded, he knew he would soon find a place for the night. 

 

            At the second stop, there was no room. Mary nodded at the news but knew the next place would accommodate them. 

 

            The third inn also had no vacancy. By then the weary couple began to worry. Mary desperately needed a place to rest. Pain contorted her young face. Joseph agonized over the situation. 

 

            Both Mary and Joseph believed the baby she carried was from God. Surely, he would provide a safe haven for His coming Son. 

 

            Joseph trudged into another crowded inn. “Sorry, no room,” the innkeeper said. When he saw Joseph’s dejected face, he continued. “There is a small cave in back where animals stay. At least, it would be a spot to lie down and be out of the cold.”

 

            Joseph attempted a smile when he returned to Mary. “There is no room at the inn but the innkeeper is allowing us to stay in a cave with his animals.”

 

            With no other choice, Mary agreed. Joseph helped her get off the donkey and guided her into the dim, smelly stable. Cattle mooed. Sheep rustled. 

 

            The doting husband threw a cloak on the floor and helped Mary settle down. Through her pain, she smiled. 

 

            “Thank you, Joseph.”

 

            After hearing the messages from the angels, they accepted the vast change in their lives but knew it would not be easy. Mary’s pregnancy shocked the community. Joseph’s reaction brought more questions. 

 

            Because Mary carried the Son of God, they thought He would provide for them. But they soon discovered one obstacle after another. Lonely, tired, rejected again and again. They wondered at the circumstances and waited. 

 

            Like Mary and Joseph that long ago night, we wait as we long for normalcy. We can look ahead with expectancy for how God will work or we can feel despair with all that has happened and imagine more disasters to come. 

 

            During Advent, like Mary and Joseph, we anticipate the coming of Jesus. Problems should not overtake joy and peace now or in the future. 

 

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means “God with us.’” (Matthew 2:23 NIV)

 

Caring Father, thank you for providing for us even in hard times and when we are tired of waiting. Amen

The Pink Gift

 

A pink glow covered the trees, grass, lake and sky like a filmy scarf in a fanciful dream. Nothing looked real as I gazed at the lake behind my home. 

 

            For several minutes, I enjoyed the pink world around me and marveled at the unusual beauty. A sense of peace, joy and expectation filled me. A balm in the uncommon year and gift during Advent. 

 

            But within a short time, the sun rose higher and swept away the extraordinary phenomenon. Normalcy returned with green grass, a few lingering orange and white flowers, and trees changing from green to gold. 

 

            A white egret ascended from the shore and sailed above the lake. Four stately sand hill cranes strode across my yard. A pair of ducks formed a wake on the still water. 

 

            Although a missed the spectacular pink gift, I enjoyed the beauty of my normal lake view too. Whether sunny, rainy or cloudy, my special retreat gives me peace and contentment. 

 

            Frequently, we expect to see God in the spectacular but he more often appears in the ordinary. A child’s laugh and exuberance. A needed hug. A smile in hard times. A special song. The smell of a favorite meal. A dependable car. Food in the refrigerator. Countless other gifts. 

 

            In the busyness of ordinary lives, it is easy to overlook God’s blessings in the mundane. Every day, He shows up so we must look for the gifts.

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning. (James 1:17 Darby)

 

 

 Loving Father, what wonderful surprises you give to your children. Many times we are so busy that we overlook and don’t open the gifts. During Advent help us learn to look for You each day. As that becomes a habit, we will see you more clearly and appreciate your love for us. Amen

Where is Baby Jesus?

 

“Grandma, I can’t find baby Jesus,” Emily said.

 

       When my three granddaughters came to help me decorate for Christmas, Ashlyn worked on the tree. Molly decorated outside and Emily displayed nativity sets. 

 

       Eight shelves in my entertainment center held my large collection of nativity sets and angels from here and around the world. It is a perfect place to showcase the scenes where I can gaze at them every day. 

 

       They include a ceramic one with small figures I got from my parents’ home after they passed away. Alan and I bought two olive wood sets on our pilgrimages to Israel. He bought a white stone one in Africa during a mission trip there. On one mission trip to Peru, we bought a large church with a nativity around it. Ashlyn’s painting of the holy couple and baby Jesus added to the display. Every one is special to me because the focus on the baby Jesus. 

 

       Besides all the nativity sets, a wide variety of angels graced the shelves. Small, large, glass, cloth, wooden …all added to the Christmas spirit. 

 

       Most nativities were set up when I heard the disturbing announcement that baby Jesus was lost. I picked up all of the papers that I had so carefully surrounded every piece of the white stone figures. No baby Jesus. We knew we couldn’t display the nativity without Jesus but were stymied. 

 

       Emily held up a larger, white cherub. “We can use this for when the wise men arrived.”  We laughed but knew that wouldn’t work. 

 

       Then I glanced at the shelf. “There is baby Jesus.” 

 

       Emily couldn’t believe it. She had placed one of the sheep and the baby on the shelf. "I thought that was a sheep," she said. 

 

    All of us laughed at the confusion. That set always gave me trouble too because the stone figures were not distinct in who they represented. I wasn’t sure which ones were shepherds, wise men or Joseph.  

 

     I had never mistaken Jesus for a sheep but it was a rather strange piece. There was a flat piece with a head similar to a man’s instead of a child's. But thinking baby Jesus was a sheep is biblical. He was sent as a sheep to be sacrificed for our sins. 

 

       We often overlook Jesus too and think He is missing. When life doesn’t go the way we think it should, we assume He doesn’t care and has deserted us. 

 

       When we stop whining and complaining, we can see Him in His creation, His Word, friends, family, and even in difficult situations. 

 

       During Advent, we look forward to His coming just as Mary, Joseph and the wise men did so long ago. My array of nativities reminds me to constantly look for Jesus. He hasn’t gotten lost but often I do. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. (Matthew 1:20-23 KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1 KJV)

Father, thank you for reminding us that Jesus isn’t lost. He continues to work in our lives but we need to be open to seeing Him. Amen