A Wonderful Gift

The story of Jesus’ birth gives me such hope and inspiration! It gives amazing insight into God’s character. It speaks of His promises, His handiwork, and His intentionality amid what may seem like random chaos, confusion, or accidental.

As I read the story of Jesus’ birth, I think of a million ways He could’ve brought forth the Messiah. I have so many questions. God’s ways are so much higher that my mind can’t comprehend His attention to detail and creativity woven throughout this story.

This story shows that He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He knows the time in the waiting and the journey process produces something amazing and special in each of us. As painful and uncomfortable as it is at times it is a gift, a gift we didn’t know we needed. It forces us to walk humbly before our God totally dependent upon Him.

Mary’s story of the birth of the Messiah is so relatable. Every year whatever my current journey or new endeavor I ponder Mary’s story and it speaks to me. How it must have seemed and how she must have felt fully dependent along the way, how it must have looked like chaos to return to Bethlehem for the governor’s census, and how accidental it must have seemed as if they messed up the place of his birth by ending up in a cave not even an inn. C’mon Joseph is what I would have been thinking. LOL! How arduous a journey to Bethlehem for being in the third trimester of pregnancy. It must have appeared as a detour to Egypt for that brief period. How random to then end up in Nazareth. Every detail was perfectly orchestrated and was the hand of God. Can you relate? I know I can. In the moment it looks like I might be screwing it all up only to look back and see God’s plan in it all. Even when I did mess it up God in His faithfulness got me back on track right where I needed to be. He’s so good!

I trust that each of you has been given a gift of promise, a dream, or a desire placed in your heart by God Himself. I hope this story resonates with you as it does with me. Maybe for you, it is motherhood, becoming a wife, starting a business, adopting a child, or getting that house or promotion. Whatever it is I pray that you will submit to the journey and process God has until it comes full term and is delivered to you in its proper time! During this Christmas season let’s reflect on the account of Mary and her journey to bring forth her gift of a promise… the Messiah!

“You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus.” Luke 1:31

1.) Can you imagine everything that went through Mary’s head with this news? Could she even sleep that night? Imagine all the questions roaming through her mind. The how, when, and where of it all?

The dream is given and deposited in your spirit. Something new is born. When the prompting for an idea comes to you write it down and begin praying about it. Don’t talk about it. Maybe don’t tell anyone for a while. Pray and seek God and hear His voice on the matter. Too many voices bring confusion and chaos. If it keeps welling up in your spirit while lying in bed or when you’re at church don’t ignore it, despise it, or get caught in the how. Submit it to God and walk obediently towards it. It may take months or even longer to understand what God is showing you or calling you to. Begin to prepare yourself for this dream or promise. Read, study, research but most of all PRAY!

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:33-32

2.) Why did God so mercifully send Mary this insight into what it would look like or what was to come? Imagine if He didn’t send this angel to tell her this?

He doesn’t have to and yet He speaks to us. The vision or prophecy of what it will look like is produced. He doesn’t give us a vision for it or a prophetic word to frustrate or tease us. For we know “Where there is no vision they perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Jerry Savelle says it this way, “Without a prophetic oracle from God the people cast off restraint or self-control. Without a prophetic oracle that will produce a vision otherwise, you have nothing that keeps you motivated, and you will accept anything that comes your way such as lies, doubt, deceit, and fear. A specific word from God will create a vision on the inside of you. That vision will motivate you to get up and go throughout the day. In time that dream will come to pass.”

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift.” Luke 1:30

3.) “Don’t be afraid.” How loving and kind is our God?

He told Mary so many things that He didn’t have to. He says this to us because He knows we will be afraid at times. God in His loving kindness states 365 times (one for every day of the year) “Do not be afraid.” This command takes us to trust in God. Faith and fear cannot coexist. You must choose faith or fear. Walk in obedience and watch all your dreams come to pass!

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel. The angel answered “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Luke 1:35-34

4.) How will this be? She didn’t ask how it would happen with a heart of unbelief as was the case with Zechariah. She asked fully believing it would come to pass.

Your promise and your dream will happen the same way. It will happen as the Holy Spirit is with you and inside of you. The Holy Spirit is a great teacher. The Holy Spirit will give wisdom and protect you through the process.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” Luke 2:1

5.) How great is God to use the world’s system and government to get Mary & Joseph to Bethlehem at the perfect time for the birth of Jesus?

Did it seem accidental in the moment? Did the timing of traveling that far being that pregnant seem confusing? Did they question the difficult climb uphill to Bethlehem or God’s provision when there was no room for them in the inn?

God made sure they did not miss a single detail. Every dream and journey has its challenges. When the means seem insufficient, wrong, confusing, inadequate, or not how we would plan or think best do we doubt God’s plan? It was God’s exact plan and exact place—lowly and humble and full of purpose. Will we accept and walk in His Ways and not our own thinking of how it should look along the way? Going to Bethlehem was no accident. This process had such purpose and intentionality in it all.

Side note: Why Bethlehem? Why a cave and not a palace? Bethlehem was where the temple sacrificial lambs were bread and born. Shepherds under rabbinical care would care for and inspect these lambs ensuring they were “perfect” or blemish-free. They would take the newborn lambs and wrap them in protective cloth, sheltered from outside elements inside the cave-like room. In this way, there was no way that Jesus could go unnoticed (even at birth) that He would be the sacrificial lamb for us all. This attention to detailed orchestration blows my mind. He is the great orchestrator! What is He orchestrating in your life right now?

“…they saw the young child with Mary his mother and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

6.) Was this an answer to Mary and Joseph’s prayers? Maybe. Did God in His goodness go above and beyond what they could imagine in showering them with blessings?

Provision and resources were brought so they had no lack. This is so encouraging that God will bring the right people at the right time. He will bring the resources you need. He is Jehovah Jireh, my provider. Talent, wisdom, and resources will be attracted to you. He’s that good of a father to us. He won’t leave us on our own.

“… the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matthew 2:13

7.) How much did their trust in God increase along this journey? How important was it for them to hear His voice and walk in obedience? How much did their faith increase as they saw each step navigated by God? When you look back through your life can you see that He has never failed you?

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy your dream. Our duty and responsibility are to be on guard and keen to enemy tactics and schemes to kill the dream God placed inside of us. The Holy Spirit’s discernment and wisdom will be our best friend. God’s word declares “Guard your heart.” We get to choose the people we’re around. We get to choose what we put before our eyes and ears. Choose wisely. The enemy may attempt to kill or threaten our dream but with God, ours will live on. Ours will be unharmed.

“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

8.) Was Mary amazed at the detailed hand of God? Did she ponder the faithfulness of God? Did she keep the cloths she first wrapped baby Jesus in?

Do you take time to ponder? Do spend time in His presence thankful for the journey. Do you recognize God’s details in your life? Is God’s faithfulness undeniable? Do your journal and give thanks along the way? Do not despise how God works it all out. Do not despise the small beginning. Don’t complain. Fight to find the silver lining in every season.

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:20

9.) Why did God have witnesses? Why these shepherds and not Rabbi’s or family members? Can we be trusted to bring Glory to God?

There was such purpose in every detail orchestrated and every person God handpicked. These shepherds were told “You will know it’s Him because He will be wrapped in the same cloths you normally use for a newborn lamb. This is a sign especially for you. He was going to look like one of the little sacrificial lambs for which they had been caring. C’mon God! God could trust the shepherds to understand the significance of this undeniable detail to bring Glory to God. God gets the glory! Our dream is too big to be accomplished without Him! Our mission is for our lives to Glorify God. May those who witness our journey to our wonderful gift have to say, “Only God could’ve done that!”

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men!”

Merry Christmas!

I Love you!

Janelle