Merry Christmas

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Mid'ian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.--Isaiah 9: 2-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.--Titus 3: 4-7

On this day, I am hopeful. Because as I ponder the amazing feat that occured in Bethlehem so many thousands of years ago, I am thinking about the will of God, and how will-filled God is. It had to be shear will and determination to be in relationship with all of creation (especially us humans) that led to the act of God being born into the world amidst a bunch of barn animals.

And how 'bout the ones he chose to be the human parents to God's self made manifest in the form of the baby Jesus? When Joseph learned of the pregnancy of his wife-to-be, it was probably shocking, possibly quite hurtful if he realized there was no way he was the father. And Mary? A teenager trusted to bring forth the savior? And yet, like so many others before her who seem like the most unlikely candidates to do something great in the name of God, she said, "Here I am" and not "I'm outta here!"

So rather than go on and on....I ask that we all just take a moment to reflect on the amazing will of God, and to always remember that his journey toward redeeming all of us began with being born as a baby. Blessed be and Merry Christmas.