CHRISTMAS EVE

The dessert and croutons are made.  The roast is marinating.  The gifts are wrapped.  All the other things are either done or in the works.  Tomorrow is THE day.  Christmas.  The day we celebrate Jesus' birth.  All of you regular blog readers will know that Easter is my favorite "holiday" but what you might not know is that Christmas runs a close second to that.  Of course, my birthday is big to me, too, especially if I'm here to celebrate it!  :)

During the day today I have been thinking a lot of Mary, Jesus' mother.  I went to the scriptures a bit ago....to the wonderful book of Luke, and read a bit.  Sure I know the story.  It's one that is precious to me, but I never tire of reading it.  I encourage you to read it also.  Often.  I encourage you to begin in the beginning of Luke, not in the second chapter as most nativity readings occur.  

I read tonight where the angel visited Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the Son of God.  I found two things that Mary responded.   "How?" was the first question.  Then after the explanation, she simply said, " ..be it unto me according to thy word."  Really?  That was it?  It is my understanding that Mary was very young.  After this revelation and acknowledgement, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and they had one of those "girl" moments.  The scriptures say that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months.  My question is, "Where was Mary's mama during all this?"

I encourage you to read these passages from Luke 1 and 2.  I was especially touched by Luke 1:46-55, subtitled in my Bible "The Song of Mary".  This young girl who was just told she would be the mother of the Son of God via an impossible sounding way was simply praising God.  

And Joseph.....he had a bunch of faith, too.  I see these two youngsters as they head to Bethlehem to be counted in the census, Mary so very pregnant and soon to deliver.  Then in Bethlehem the crowd was so big, all the motel rooms were taken.  It's a good thing that the Lord chose Mary instead of me.  I would have been fussing about all the rooms being taken.  

That Christmas night, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable and she laid him in a manger.  I just can't fathom how she must have felt.  Then when the company started coming to visit....the smelly shepherds welcomed as much as the rich kings.  Isn't that how Jesus is?  His love is open to all who will receive.  

I love the prophetic scripture from Isaiah 9 and encourage you to read it as well.  Then follow up with the passages from Luke 1 and 2.  And that, blog readers, is what Christmas is ALL ABOUT!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Consider.....