Tetelestai

This weekend started off with a situation I had never been confronted with before.  My oldest had a soccer tournament three hours away from home.  You see, this time of year is filled with games every weekend….and more times than not they interfere with church on Sunday.  The difference is, in the past, I never even had a second thought.  I always knew where I would be…..I was going to soccer.  So with as active as I have been at church lately, and the path God has placed me on,  it was the first time in my life I had been torn to where I should be.  I struggled all week.  On one hand, I wanted to support my son….but on the other, I knew I needed to be at church.

Well, we made the decision to go to the tournament.  Not an easy choice at all.  Saturday was awesome.  My son’s team, which struggled in the past put together a tie and a blowout win.  It put them in the semi-finals early this morning.  But as we woke up and made our way to the hotel lobby about 7, the days games were cancelled because of the weather.  So what did we do….we quickly packed up and headed home so we could get to the 11:30 service.

We made it home in plenty of time…I got to the church about 10:30 and ended up helping with the 10:00 service; then served at the 11:30 service as well.

Today was also a day the church offered their Connect 101 class…..a class for people interested in becoming members.  We had wanted to go to this class, but due to the tournament we never signed up.  As I got to church this morning I asked if we could still get in but the class was full.

After the 11:30 service, our Executive Pastor asked me if I was attending…..I told him I wanted to but there wasn’t room.  He said, “There is plenty of room, we have had some cancellations.  You are gonna be in there.”  So we got the boys to childcare and went inside.

At the end of the class, my wife filled out her baptism application….to make her public profession of faith……on June 3rd…….in the ocean.  I can’t tell you how I felt…..because I have been praying for her for so long.  Our story over the past year hasn’t been an easy one….we have had many talks….we haven’t always agreed on things….but I only shared what I believed to be true.

I haven’t mentioned my wife’s journey towards Christ on here, because it’s not my story to tell.  But at times it has been a struggle for her because of her background and family upbringing.  But just before Christmas, she prayed to accept Jesus into her life.  It was one of the greatest days of my life when she told me….and ever since, I believe we have only become stronger as a couple.

So once again, God put his plans into work….put us exactly where we were supposed to be, when we were supposed to be there.  On a day I was already struggling with where I should be, the rain came….the games were cancelled…..we made it back to church…..and into a class that was overbooked…..for her to be able to finally make her declaration of faith that I feel she has wanted to do…but not sure of the timing.

God is awesome.  His ways are great.  His plans, not known to us, always work out in His favor.  As it says in Romans, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He knew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:28-30.)”

God didn’t make me choose between my son and attending church today.  He chose for me….long ago….before the choice was even mine.  He allowed me to support my son….and then He allowed me to support my wife.  I have been blessed with a loving Father, who works all His deeds in our lives, for His purpose; for His glory.

So I guess the real question is, “Was it ever really my choice where I was going to be this weekend and what I was going to be doing?”  Or did He just give me the appearance of the “choice” to see where my heart truly was?  Because even on the way up to Columbia this weekend we were already trying to figure out how to get a church service in at Elevation, just another hour away….either Saturday night or Sunday morning.

So I pray that when we face these difficult “choices” in life that we have the faith to know the answers are right there.  God has the answers.  God has the plans.  And when all we see is a weekend of soccer 3 hours away from church….God is just setting us up for something much greater.  Because today, God scored the ultimate goal, in the ultimate game.  He put it in my wife’s heart to make it known to Lowcountry Community Church and the world where her heart is.  And her heart is with Jesus Christ.

 

All day I have been watching on Facebook all of the posts of my friends heading out to or arriving in Dallas.  They are all about to converge on The Star…..the Dallas Cowboys training facility…..for a weekend of Advocare.  This is the time of year when products are introduced, stories are shared and motivation is abound.  6 months ago we bought our tickets to attend…..but oh so much has happened since then.

For many reasons we decided to not attend this year, but the top reason on my list is the only one that matters to me.  I don’t believe God’s plan for my life has anything to do with making a business out of Advocare.  Don’t get me wrong, I swear by the products, and don’t see myself ever stopping using them; but the business…..I don’t think that’s for me.

Some may say, “Well, you didn’t try hard enough.  You didn’t work at it.”  That is not the case at all.  But it doesn’t matter how hard you work at something, if it’s not God’s plan….it’s never going to happen.

My wife and I were talking the other night, and what’s funny is that our big “Advocare God moment,” was not an Advocare moment at all.  It was a moment where God told us we were on the right track….with our spiritual lives.  Of the three days of speakers….it was a preacher that fired us up.  It was his “Reach out and give your neighbor a high-five,” a la Steven Furtick, that set us off.  And I was in the car today on the way home thinking that when my wife asked me, in that parking lot, when the rain started to fall, “Are we gonna do this or what” ……..our answer was not about Advocare, which we thought at the time, but about us jumping head-first into God’s plan.

God has a plan for each of us.  God is in charge.  And don’t think for one minute he isn’t.  Just look at King Nebuchadnezzar.  We are in the middle of a series at church on Daniel.  King Nebuchadnezzar valued Daniel’s opinion and advice.  However, he did not value Daniel’s God.  King Nebuchadnezzar thought he had created Babylon himself…..had attained all this greatness himself.  God gave him a chance, but he ignored it.  “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws (Daniel 4:33.)”

It took 7 years for King Nebuchadnezzar to come to God.  But when he did, immediately God restored him.  “At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride (Daniel 36-37.)”

I guess what I’m really trying to say is this…..once we put our hands up and submitted to Almighty God, our world began to change.  The doors began to open.  The boys got in the school we wanted them in. The house appeared. We ended up in our new church. I have begun school towards my calling in the ministry.  Doors are opened when we follow God…when we don’t…..well, life becomes difficult.

I’m not perfect.  I still have my ups and downs daily.  Yesterday for example….what I thought was an opportunity for me came along….so all day I made plans in my head…thinking….this is the perfect place for me….the perfect job for me.  And then last night it hit me…..those were my plans.  Those weren’t God’s plans.  So I prayed that even though I was excited about this opportunity, for God to help me follow His plan for my life….for Him to keep me centered and focused on Him, and everything will fall into place.

I know I am where I am at for a reason.  I am grateful for the season I am in….a season of growth, a season of learning, a season of change.  But what I do know more than ever is that it’s way easier to ride God’s waves than push against them.  Because when those waves break……I’d much rather be on top…..then underneath the wall of water as it comes crashing down.

So I pray that we can all find that path we are supposed to be on.  And trust me, you will know when you get there.  You won’t need a map, you won’t need a Garmin….you won’t need some computer lady telling you to keep turning left.  And like I’ve said before….I don’t know where this path will lead….but I know God will be there with open arms when I get there.

5 minutes on the clock. The pre-service music begins. The concourse is packed. People waiting to get inside. T-minus 3 minutes. The pre-service video begins to play. The video ends. Someone runs inside the auditorium. “There was no sound. Play it again. Hurry!!!”  Reset the video. It plays with sound this time. The doors open.  The praise team begins to play, Here As In Heaven…..my Chariots of Fire running song. The rest is a blur…….

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This whole process began years ago.  God was just so awesome to bless me to be a part of this day.  But my story with opening day began a few days before.

I had served once at Christmas and knew I had to continue to serve.  So the Director of Membership and Volunteers placed me on the team.  Last week I worked my 40 hours in 4 days, at my real job, because of some training I had.  Something told me to email her Thursday night and ask if anyone needed help the next day.  She told me “Sure, come on in.”

I showed up at 9.  No one but construction workers were there.  So I left.  I got a few minutes down the road and she texted, saying she was there.  You see, she was supposed to drive to Florida that day.  With all of the weather problems, shipping of a few things had been delayed so she was going to find stuff elsewhere.

I had asked  myself, “When have I ever given up a day off to volunteer for something?  What am I doing?”  But something told me I would know why….maybe not in a week or a month or in 10 years, but eventually.  It didn’t take long, because when I got back to the church, she was extremely sick.

I spent the day completing projects that needed to be done. That night the boys had a school function. The wife and I went to dinner. When we were finished I said, “Hey, they know me….wanna sneak into the new building?”  We get to the building and find my volunteer “boss.”  My wife asks if she has anything for her to do. We end up at Wal-Mart at 9:30 on a Friday night picking up cleaning supplies for the new “Volunteer Central,” AKA the old Cafe.

So….the next morning my wife and boys are at the church, putting together gifts for new visitors.  The boys never fought.  Fun was had by all.  Both boys completed small project after project.  They never complained.  Finally, late in the afternoon we went home.

Back to Sunday morning.  The preparation had all been completed.  The doors had opened.  Little bits of stress were still felt by the staff, but overall, things were great.

The Pastor told us the building was great…..but the building was just a building.  The new room was just a room.  But if God was not there….then it was nothing.  I listened later to Pastor Steven Furtick’s sermon from the same day.  When referring to the places his satellite campuses meet, he said, “It’s not a church because of the building.  It’s not a church because of the steeple. It’s not a church because it has a sign that says church on it.  It’s a church because God is there with His people.”  For Jesus says in Matthew, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matthew 18:20.)”

You see…..God was at Lowcountry Community Church on Sunday.  Like Pastor Jeff said last week, “God set this land aside for us in the beginning of time.”  That is such a powerful thought.  But it’s the truth.  God has planned out everything.  Your life already has a plan, my life already has a plan.  And when we wake up in the middle of that plan one day…..and actually realize where we are…..it’s so awesome.

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The last song of the last service is playing.  My “boss” walks up and says, “It’s over.  Now it’s time to have fun.”  She starts singing and raising her hands.  I look forward down the aisle until I find my wife, who is now in her second service of the day….this time with the boys.  She is jumping.  She is singing.  And she is “high-fiving” Jesus.

My “boss” is soooo wrong. There is nothing “over” about this.  God is just getting started at LCC.  And like I said before, I am just so blessed to be a part of His plan.

I’m not sure what an average Sunday attendance is for 3 services, but I do know that we had over 3100 people there between the 3 services on Sunday.  Day 1 of God’s new building and we exceeded our seating capacity of 3015.  What a Glorious Day!!!!!

“The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.  I have surely built You a lofty house, A place for Your dwelling forever.”

1 Kings 8:12-13

You ever hear the famous quote, “God works in mysterious ways?”  I’ve heard it all my life….but never experienced the true meaning of it until this last week.  Well, it’s really been a little longer than that, but it hasn’t been until the last week that the big picture is starting to come into focus.  And the most awesome part is that I will never see the entire “focused” picture….so as the days and weeks…..months and years go by….everything will continue to be new and exciting.

The God moments that have taken place in my life since I began writing this blog come more and more frequently lately.  Almost too many to try to write about….because at the time I don’t really see it…..it’s a few events down the road where I really see what is taking place.  But there are big changes occurring on a daily basis.

We have been lead to a new church….Lowcountry Community Church.  Not by accident I now know.  A simple word to my wife from a good friend at soccer practice started this particular chain of events.  We weren’t looking for a new church home…..but God was in the process of moving us to one.  And little did my friend know at the time….or even now….what that simple word about his church would put into motion.

With the changes in habits in my life…from listening to sermons from various preachers all of the time, to reading my Bible, to even singing in church (which by the way I never did before,) I began to grow closer to God than I ever have before.  And about 6 weeks ago I began making a huge change….we will get more into that a little later.

At Christmas I knew I was meant to do more than just “go” to church….so I stepped out of my comfort zone and volunteered as an usher.  And today I became an official member of the usher team.  And after church today I attended a meeting of people who were being called to make a bigger impact, and to step up even more.  God has placed a calling on my life….and I have accepted that call.

About 6 weeks ago I seriously began thinking about going back to school.  A few weeks later an ad on Facebook lead me to send off for information from a college.  I began receiving phone calls three times a day from them.  I ignored them….still not sure I knew what I wanted to do.  Last Tuesday night my oldest son told me I needed to go back to school.  The next night we watched God is Not Dead 2, and this small college a few weeks before I had looked into, a college I had never even heard of before, was the college where the Newsboys were performing in a major scene at the end of the movie.  It was at that moment, laying in bed, in the dark, watching a random movie, that I felt like God said, “It is time.  You are ready my son.  You know what you need to do.”

The next day I go in touch with the University, and 2 days later I am registered and will start back on next Monday…….and I will be pursuing my degree in Theology…..a Bachelor of Christians Arts, with an emphasis in Philosophy.

At this moment I’m not really sure where I will go from here….preaching is not something I’m looking at…..but like Pastor Jeff said this morning in his message from Daniel 3, “We don’t speak our destinies into existence.  We surrender our destinies to our Sovereign Lord, the God of the Universe.”

So back to school I go…..and I’ve never been more excited in my life.  You always hear that to get somewhere in life it may be necessary to take a “Leap of Faith.”  But as I was walking around the pond during lunch on Friday I realized I’m not scared.  I’m not nervous.  I’m ready.  I’m ready to be used by God.  Because I don’t consider this a “Leap of Faith.”  How can it be a “Leap of Faith” when I know exactly where I am going to land.  I may not know the exact destination, but I know God is going to be there to catch me.

I have seen God’s work in so many places recently, some within my own household….some that aren’t my place to share….but I know that He is here, that He has a plan….and that we are all of part of it.  We all have our appointed places to be…..our appointed duties to perform….and I pray daily to continue receiving His guidance….the guidance that is out there for all to receive if we just take a second to listen.

So today I will leave you with this…a few verses from Psalms….and I pray that God will work in you the way He has begun working in me.   I pray that you allow yourselves to accept His guidance and wisdom…..and that you can all find the joy that I have only just began to fully feel.

“Make me know Your ways, O Lord;  Teach me Your paths.  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;  For You I wait all the day.”

Psalms 25:4-5

Today a new year begins….the past is behind us.  I love to look back at what I was and what I have become, but I try not to focus on the past….but what I can do to improve….to become closer to God and to continue to strengthen my relationship with Jesus.  With that being said, I’m going to start a new series that has been on my mind for a few weeks now………..a series that came out of the new Star Wars movie.  Pretty weird place to find God you think?  I agree.  When the boys and I woke up at 8:00am on a Saturday morning and stepped into a movie theater, I didn’t expect to leave so emotional.

So those of you who are Star Wars fans have by now seen the movie, and those of you who aren’t…well, hopefully I can get my point across so you can understand.

Luke was speaking with Rey….trying to teach her about “The Force.”  He had her sit on a rock and explain what she felt…what she saw.  She described many things that were around her…the wind, waves, flowers, all kinds of things that were around her.  Luke proceeds to tell her “The Force” is in everything.  “The Force” is between everything…..it is all around us.  He tells her the Jedi took this power and turned it into a religion….tried to control it….but that they never should have done that.  Because in the end, Luke says the “Force” is for everyone…and shouldn’t be controlled.

At that moment, I saw so clearly that God is the force…..Jesus is the force.  God has always been here…..from the very opening verse of the Bible He has been here. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1.)”  And like God, Jesus has always been here, around us, between us, protecting us, guiding us.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5.)”

God is in everything we do.  He is there is the good times and the not so good times.  He is there when we have great successes, and He is there when we stumble.  He puts us in situations where we can grow out of what we may think are horrible circumstances, and He places us in situations where we are meant to succeed.  “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4 4-6.)”

Jesus is here for all of us.  God is here for all of us.  And once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is here for all of us.  I personally don’t believe you have to be a “member” of a church, even though that’s where true growth can take place among fellow believers.  I believe that it all comes down to a personal relationship with Christ.  One where you can walk and talk with Him all day….one where you can come to Him in your deepest darkest times, and one where you can celebrate with Him during your triumphs.  Because God is for all of us.

Because, even though it was just a movie, Luke’s explanation of “The Force” is similar to our relationship with God and Jesus.  It shouldn’t be controlled by an organization, or a group of individuals…..but it should be built on a personal level…..and I believe that is the way, in the beginning, God intended it to be.  That is the way God set it up in the Garden of Eden.  It was man who broke the rules and ended that personal relationship that God so wanted.  So of course Jesus had to come.  Jesus had to die.  Jesus had to be resurrected to bridge that gap again.

In the time between Adam and Eve and the cross, God never left us.  He was still always there, always in control…..but he allowed us to do our own thing.  To run our own lives.  And we sure did a great job with that didn’t we?  That’s ultimately why Jesus had to die.  But don’t for one second think that in that “between time” God wasn’t still there in everything and between everything.

So as we all start this new year, know that nothing has changed since Adam and Eve.  God hasn’t “left us or forsaken us.”  He never abandoned us.  He was just setting us up for the ultimate victory that comes through the blood of Jesus Christ.  So in this new year, I pray that we can all find God’s love.  That we can all begin building or continuing building on our relationship with Christ…..and most of all I pray everyday that God will strengthen me when it comes to sharing Jesus with all.  Because in the end, it really comes down to a quote I heard in a sermon just a few days ago in my car as I came home from work…”Each one of us is responsible for either increasing the population of Hell or increasing the population of Heaven.”

Part 4  The Gifts of the Wise Men

Christmas is over in our house….the tree is away, the decorations taken down.  I’m sure the celebration of Jesus’s birth went on for a few days longer than ours, with the shepherds sharing the word of Jesus’ arrival all around town.  I’m sure many came to visit, if not just to catch a glimpse of the possibility of a Savior.  And like most parents, after a while I’m sure Mary and Joseph became annoyed with all of the attention and just wanted to get back to a normal life.

But not so fast……God had placed a star in the sky….a star that brought more visitors…this time visitors from the far east.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’  After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

What courage these 3 wise men must have possessed to follow a star for no telling how long, just to find this so-called “King of the Jews.”  They were stopped and questioned by King Herod, but didn’t let that get in the way of their mission….to find this child….to present their gifts…to worship Him.

I recently learned the significance of their gifts……Gold represented royalty….that gift is pretty self-explanatory considering who they were going to see.  Frankincense was a symbol of Jesus’s divinity.  It was used in the Old Testament in ceremonial sacrifice to God.  Myrrh was used in the burial process.  The body was often wrapped in cloth soaked in aloe and myrrh….a perfume or sorts.

So these wise men from afar…..followed a star….and presented gifts to Jesus that represented royalty, divinity, and death.  I’m sure these wise men knew what they were bringing….but I’m not sure they knew why.  They had no idea that Jesus would be crucified, buried, and would rise three days later……these three men knew what had been said about Him, but they couldn’t possibly have known who Jesus was going to become.

As the Christmas season comes to an end and the new year begins, let’s not forget what we have celebrated for the past month.  Let us continue using our generous hearts to help others….to make a difference in the life of someone who may need that helping hand.

The wise men threw the ultimate baby shower for the ultimate baby…..and not only that, but for a baby they didn’t even know.  He wasn’t their family…..He wasn’t even their neighbor or live in the same town as they did.  But they took the time to show Him how important that they thought He was.  And not only that, but I’m sure Mary and Joseph were pretty pumped up and feeling good knowing that there were others out there who knew how special that their son was.

So looking to the New Year and beyond, I have asked for God to open my heart, to get me out of wanting “stuff” and instead wanting to help others.  I have grown to realize that collecting things that end up in a closet or garage mean nothing and we can’t take them with us when we die anyways.  But we can have an impact of the lives of others who do need things…..not just to fill up a house….but to survive.

So I pray that we can all find it in our hearts in the new beginning to open up our hearts and allow God to use us in ways that will provide for others….to make a difference in someone else’s life….not for our own glory and recognition….and not so we feel good….but so God’s light can shine, and God can receive the glory…..and maybe by our efforts we can help someone form their own new relationship with God.  Because in the end….that’s what is important.

 

Part 2 The First Birth Announcement

The birth of Christ was the beginning of God’s salvation plan for us…..but what I find fascinating is that in all the Gospels, the majority of the writing of those life changing events was not about Jesus Himself, but about the shepherds in the field.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them;  and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The shepherd’s went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:8-20

Christ’s coming had been prophesied throughout the Old Testament, but on the evening of His birth, it was another group of people who were there to begin spreading Christ’s arrival throughout the land.

Imagine standing in that field that night….just another night of watching your sheep….another night of no sleep….But on this night, from out of nowhere a visitor appears.  Not just a passerby, but an angel of the Lord.  Luke says the shepherds were frightened….and I can imagine why.  Because these angels aren’t your cute little Hallmark angels….but God’s warriors.  The sight of these beings would make anyone drop to their knees.

But the angel told them not to be afraid, that this was a time for joy.  For Christ was born, and they were the first to know….and were told to go spread the news.  They received the first birth announcement of our Savior.  But why?  Why these shepherds in the field that night, and not the Jewish Priests?  Or Why not King Herod?  No royalty visited Jesus in his crib, just some lowly, stinky, working class shepherds.

As I’ve been thinking about this series I’m writing around Christmas I had a theory on why the shepherds were the ones told.  I could be way off base, and there are much greater men of theology out there than me…..but I wonder……

Jesus Himself is our shepherd.  We are all his flock…..he keeps of from danger, He provides for us, He walks with us daily.  We have a dependence on Him, like those sheep had to their shepherd.  And not only that, but Jesus was the lamb of the Old Testament.

I don’t believe it was pure coincidence that they were the ones the angels came to that night.  I believe these men would have understood more than anyone else the significance of what had taken place…..that a new Shepherd had been born.

I still can’t imagine how they felt or what was going through their minds, when on a cool night, in the middle of a field, all alone, a group of heavenly hosts came down, started praising and glorifying God…..on their land…..What a sight to behold.

These shepherds were special….they didn’t just receive the word…..and go on with their evening.   They found baby Jesus…..they praised Him…..and they spread the good news throughout the land.  They did as they were told…..the first true Christ followers.  I think we can learn so much from these lowly shepherds.

We are never too “lowly” for God to come to us with good news.  We should all expect it, because on that night, God built the bridge….God established the road for us to have a relationship with Him……not through the laws and not through the priests, but through Jesus Christ.

And like those shepherds…..we should be running through the streets telling one and all what we have heard…..what we have seen…..what we have found.  So during this holiday season……I pray we don’t all get caught up in our own daily lives…..but to get caught up in the lives of others……to do what those shepherds did on that cool night so long ago…..and spread the “Good News!!!”

Part 1 Mary and Joseph’s Family Vacation

On a dusty road, in Northern Israel is where the greatest story of all time takes place.  The story of our Savior’s birth.

A census had been ordered, and Mary and Joseph were about to begin their trip to Bethlehem.  Now this wasn’t any ordinary trip…..and they weren’t just a couple of ordinary people….for Mary was with child.  And not just any child…..but the Child of God.  For the angel Gabriel had visited Mary and told 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 name Him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;  and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:30-33.)”

So nine months later when Joseph said, “Hey, pack your stuff and let’s go,” I’m sure that Mary said with great enthusiasm, “Let’s do this.”  When in fact I’m sure Mary said heck no we aren’t going.  I’m about to have a baby you…….well, you can fill in the blank.  But for whatever reason, she decided to go.  God’s plan was always in place.  But like so many of us, Mary wasn’t privy to all of the details.

Now I know from experience how trips are with a pregnant women…..I once visited the top of a volcano in Hawaii with my wife when she was about 6 months pregnant….so I could only imagine what went on in that household.

The road from Nazareth to Bethlehem wasn’t paved…..it wasn’t a nice walking trail that they could stroll down with water fountains and gift shops along the way.  There weren’t gas stations and IHOP’s for a good breakfast.  Everything they needed they had to carry…..food, water, clothing.  The journey is roughly 80 miles long and in certain spots climbs of 3500 feet weren’t unexpected.  How hard must that have been for Mary?  Where did they stay at night?  I don’t know, but I’m sure there weren’t Hilton Garden Inns spread out amongst the hills.  I’m sure they spread out an old rough blanket and slept on the rocky ground.  I’m sure they were absolutely miserable….uncomfortable….unhappy…..moody.

Mary rode a donkey…..a stinky, dirty animal.  Joseph walked beside her.  The average winter temperatures weren’t what I would call bad…..high 60’s during the day, low 50’s at night……but the inconvenience of a census at this time in their lives made things interesting I’m sure.

I’ve watched enough Amazing Race to see the most loving of couples wanting to rip each other’s head off….and that’s with modern-day transportation and the knowledge of a shower at the end of the day would eventually come.

I’m sure they travelled with friends and family, though it isn’t said, but I’m not sure that made it much better.

The two of them, Mary and Joseph, for all intents and purposes were alone….on a dirt road, travelling up and down hills, to a stable that they had no idea they were heading towards.  They had no idea what they were in for….what Mary was bringing into the world…..they were just heading to a census.

The normal journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have taken about 4 days….but with Mary as pregnant as she was I’m sure it would have taken longer.  Longer than either Joseph or Mary would want to spend away from home in Mary’s condition.  Longer that either one of them would probably want to journey on a good day.  But like most of God’s great revelations, they begin with the first step of a long journey……and they took that step together.

The Savior of Mankind was slowly being brought to His earthly birthplace on a donkey…to Bethlehem……the irony of it all is that only 33 years later He would once again be brought into Jerusalem, only a few miles away on a donkey….eventually leading to the place of his earthly death.

So Mary and Joseph’s journey of just a few miles, on this dusty, dirty, hilly, uncomfortable road was just the beginning of the greatest story ever told…..the story of salvation, the story of redemption….the story of a loving God who sent his only Son to die for all of us.  Jesus could have been sent down from the clouds…..but he started his life like us……in miserable conditions…..on a messy journey………to a stable on the outskirts of town.

We have lived in our apartment for about a month now, and I would say the task I look forward to the least is walking the dogs.  I’m used to being able to come home and let them run in the backyard, but now we have to go for walks….many times a day.

We have one of those cool retractable leashes….one they can get about 20 feet out on before they stop and have to let me catch up to reel it back in.  They started out extremely well with it, but as of recently they hit the end and just pull harder.  Today our bulldog hit the end, kept pulling, and broke it.  So we had to go back to the old boring, short leash.

It was in that moment when the leash pulled out of the handle that I had this thought…..we are a lot like those dogs on their leash.  God is awesome.  He created us with free will.  He created us to be able to make our own choices….he gave us a leash to run free….but like the dogs….we get comfortable with the distance.  We skip one Sunday of church….move out a few more feet.  We don’t read our Bible….run a few more feet further away.  We don’t pray….still further we go.  And before we realize it, we turn around and God isn’t there anymore.

God never leaves us….but sometimes we may feel like he isn’t there.  Paul speaks on free will when he writes to the church in Galatia.  “For you were called to freedom brethren;  only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13.)”  God gives us the opportunities to be close to Him.  He wants us to be near, but He is never going to force Himself upon you.  Joshua also gives a strong statement on whom you decide to serve.  “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:  whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living;  but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15.)”

Sometimes that freedom may feel good.  Not worrying about anything but ourselves.  But that’s not the way we are supposed to live.  And the good news is that when you get too far away….when the leash breaks and you are out there alone, all you have to do is turn around and go back.  Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8.)”

And no sooner had I come back inside to get the short leash did that statement hit home. Now our bulldog wouldn’t go more than a few feet at a time.  She would stop, turn around, and make sure I was still there.  At some points she wouldn’t leave my side.  She would wrap herself around my legs.  Now, I realize she was just scared…..but isn’t that what we do when we get scared.  We turn around and look for help.  And Jesus is the place we should turn to in these situations.  “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9.)”

So when we start to feel like we are getting too far away….too far out there and we are starting to feel alone….just stop.  Turn around and follow the leash back.  The farther away we get, the harder it may be to return….but if you just keep reeling that leash up, you will make it back.  And Jesus will be standing there with open arms.

So I pray that we don’t get too far away.  That we know when that leash is coming to an end.  That we don’t pull too hard.  And that if we happen to find ourselves in those situations that we know where to turn.