Glory to God in the Highest!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

I have noticed something this year about Christmas and that is Jesus is being almost totally left out of it. The Christmas movies on television are basically about Santa. He has an extended family this year. Even people become Santa this year. I think Tim Allen did that a couple of years ago.

We do need to be careful teaching our children about Santa because my theory is if they learn the story of Santa is not true, then will they not question the story of Jesus? We need to be sure and teach our children strongly about Jesus.

The Christmas story continues in Luke 2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is call Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

So few words to say so much. It does not say how hard it was for Mary to travel by donkey at 9 months pregnant that long ways. Can you imagine? In those last few months now doctors do not recommend long trips in a car even.

I remember when Delightful was pregnant with her first child and the last month she went on a trip out of town, I almost fainted because what if she started having the baby and she was out of town.

There were not even hospitals in those days. And to travel by donkey!

It would be a difficult thing anyways. The crowds would probably be equivalent to our Christmas rush crowds as all the house and lineage of David had come to pay their taxes.

All the rooms were taken up at the hotel. There was not a place for Mary to even rest after the long journey, and to top it all off, she went into labor. What a nightmare! Two young people in quite a dilemma.

Imagine the suggestion - you can go out in the back where the animals are kept - maybe she can rest there. That was actually better than no place at all. But the smell - if you can imagine. Remember, Mary was a very young woman.

In the barn with the animals, with the smell, with the hay, with the hay smell, that is where she went through her labor with only Joseph to deliver her baby.

Child bearing can be a fearful thing. Things are happening in your body that you have no control over. Changing your mind in the middle of having a baby is quite a common thought in a woman's mind during childbirth. Things get out of control.

You've got to remember also that Mary was a virgin. She could have had a very difficult birth.

We always see the calm, quiet, peaceful pictures of Joseph and Mary, but I wonder if that was the scene in the middle of having Jesus. The after is always peaceful - after the little bundle of joy shows up and has ten fingers and ten toes and all is well.

Swaddling clothes were actually like the blankets they wrap around babies at the hospitals now. They swaddle them at the hospital...to where they look like a mummy so to speak.

How young they were! But God was with them, even in the midst of them. They were alone there in that stable in Bethlehem except for the angels. Could they see the angels??????? Could they hear heavenly hosts there in that stable????? We can't. Could they?

The shepherds did hear the heavenly host. Luke 2 continues And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made know unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Even as I write this I cannot help but shed tears of joy. Writing it make it even more wonderful than just reading it.

What a joyful event! And to be shared with not governors, not wealthy people, not people in the town that could take them in, not with people with titles, but with lowly shepherd - smelly folks - probably poor folks - that were taking care of their sheep. David was a shepherd - there must be something special about people that keep sheep. Maybe they have time out on the hillsides to take time with God. They are out of the hustle and bustle and maybe they are more lowly in heart - like David.

A Saviour has been born! Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, good will toward men! What a salutation! He came to bring peace - that peace is in the heart of the people who believe in Him and have accepted his wonderful gift of salvation. It certainly is not in this world.

Do you realize that John the Baptist and Mary and Joseph was under the law. The song 'Mary did you know' says that 'this child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.' That is what that means. John died without the salvation that Jesus brought, even though the job he came for he did - being the forerunner of Christ - preparing the people for Jesus to come. But there was no salvation at that time. They were under the law.

Mary and Joseph were under the law. That day they delivered the person who would deliver us all into grace - salvation - that was the purpose of it all - to provide us a better way. A gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Oh, Jesus, what a wonder you are! Thank you!

Have a blessed Christmas Eve and remember Jesus is reason for the season!

Charlotte