Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 9: Read Matthew 1:18-21

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18-21 begins to reveal the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Mary, mother of Jesus, was engaged to be married to Joseph, but before she could marry him she found out she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man, he didn't want to damage Mary's reputation, and so he planned on divorcing her secretly. While Joseph is thinking of his plan, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him, "Joseph, descendent of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the baby in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Mary was a virgin when she was engaged to Joseph, which means that her pregnancy was an indication of unfaithfulness on her part. This was an insult to Joseph and something he could have had her punished for, but scripture says that Joseph was a good man. He didn't want anything to happen to Mary or for her to be disgraced by society and so he made up his mind he would divorce her in secret. This seems to be a logical plan to protect both of their reputations within their society, but God intervenes because Mary was a good woman and she was a virgin. In a dream God allows Joseph in on His plan for Mary and her son Jesus. This passage doesn't give Joseph's reaction to the dream, but we know that he goes on to marry Mary and that he is present during Jesus's early childhood.

There will be times when, like Mary, we are faced with a seemingly impossible reality and the outcome of that reality is dependent upon another person. God has made His will clear and so it will be done, but sometimes the outcome of His will directly effects the people in our lives. The people in our lives could react negatively, perhaps even plan on distancing themselves from us, but this passage shows us that God will protect those relationships we need in our lives. God revealed His plan for Mary to Joseph and He can reveal His plan for us to other people too, which in turn results in their support. Mary could have raised Jesus without Joseph, God would have seen her through, but instead He allowed her to keep Joseph's presence in her life. Take heart: An impossible reality is not impossible with God and He is willing to include others in His plan to ensure their continued presence in our lives. 

November Challenge: Day 18

I apologize that this is another late night post. This evening was one of those evenings that I didn't want to deal with a situation and was dreading it all day. Then tonight that situation ended in a huge blow up. The details of what happened are not important, but rather the results. Tonight, I was doing a  favor for my mom ( I'll add a favor I didn't want to do) and helping my sister. I was never asked if I would help, but it was just assumed and I was already very upset about this. I don't think that you should expect more from someone when they have already helped you so much and I definitely think that if you want more that you should ask, not assume. That said I was putting my frustration aside and helping. Then in the moment of trying to help I was insulted and disrespected. In that moment I chose to establish and make clear boundaries. I wouldn't be talked to in that way and that as a result I was not going to help. 

Of course this decision resulted in a blow up, but I held my ground and for that I am grateful. I did what no one else has done and illustrated there are consequences for your actions. As a result, the people around me supported my decision, applauded it, and made clear that they would do the same.  This is something else that has never happened. I am grateful for the support because the night could have been a whole lot worse if they had given in like always. I am mentioning this because as I said before the results are important. I have a tendency to bend over backwards helping someone, to the point of it being an honest sacrifice for me, and people have a tendency to take advantage of me as a result. I try not to let this happen, but I am constantly feeling belittled as a result of helping others. I don't think this is how we should feel and I don't think this is how God envisioned us to live our lives. We are called to be meek like lambs, but shrewed like lions. 

Yes, we should help other people and take care of their needs. That said we are not other people's slaves. Jesus divided the loaves and fishes: He did not allow His disciples to go without. The disciples helped other people, but Jesus didn't require that they did everything everyone asked of them either. There is a line that is to be made and I think it is important that we make that line clear. Otherwise we end up as doormats and our once pure hearts become bitter. I have noticed this in my own heart. My compassion has become less as my heart has hardened, but tonight there was victory. I am aware this is only the beginning, but I know the importance in this victory and I will not allow myself to fail in establishing these necessary boundaries. 

With all of this said, I also need to confess my sin. Tonight, in my anger, I sinned. I didn't guard my tongue and I repeated a fact in a way that was designed to be hurtful. I shouldn't have made my comment because I only said it to make a hurtful point. The truth of the comment isn't as important as the intent behind it. I am not proud that I allowed the comments of another to cause me to sin. I believe my anger tonight would have been considered justified, but my response wasn't. I am not perfect and I still have a long ways to go, but I hope my honesty is encouragement to keep trying to live a life that brings honor to God. 

This is certainly not the grateful post I intended, but I am grateful and I hope everyone sees that in every moment there is an opportunity to be happy and to be grateful. Tonight is not the night I would have sat down to write about when thinking about thankfulness, but being intentionally grateful has made me see the gratitude I can have even in a moment such as tonight. What are you thankful for today? 

Strength In Weakness

Today I had my own thoughts, worries, and concerns. There were issues weighing on my heart and I needed time to process them, but time alluded me. Today, it seemed, my day was about other people: their worries and their concerns. With each new issue, I could feel life energy being drained from me and I wanted to scream out, "Leave me alone!" I wanted to emphatically state they should solve their own problems and stop putting me in the middle. Of course, I didn't and people seek me out because they know I will be there to listen. I don't want to indicate being supportive is a bad thing, but it takes an effect on you. Tonight, I feel myself drained and with more than my own problems to deal with, to think about. I am reminded to lay it all at Jesus' feet and to just find rest, "Come to me all who are weary." We have permission to release our burdens and be weak for a moment. God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Yet even as I rest, I am thinking and boundaries continue to resonate. I might be hurting those I love by not letting them suffer their consequences, something to think about as I rest.