The theme of the year is-unexpected…..

2020~A year to remember, though less than ideal. We began the year with our familiar routine of work, school, planning birthday celebrations, family gatherings, meetings, conferences, field trips, vacations, dinner with friends, weddings, medical procedures and much more. Suddenly, something unexpected changed the landscape of daily living, threatened or canceled our plans, hindered our access to what we desired or needed and ushered in a season of tension, sadness, anger and anxiety. Life became unfamiliar, uncertain and seemed forever changed.

That sounds familiar…..

"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.

The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 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.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her." "Luke 1:26-38

Mary was greatly troubled or afraid at the angel's words. Life was about to change forever. Engaged to Joseph, her plans were at risk. God was gracious to send an angel to help Joseph know what was true in a story that seemed ludicrous. He chose to believe. Though we do not know much about what young Mary imagined as her pregnancy advanced and she pondered giving birth to God’s Son, it is not likely her plans involved a manger scene.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:1-7

As Mary and Joseph obediently complied with the census requirements to go to Bethlehem, they were not home when Mary went into labor.

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt when 'the time came' for the Son of God to be born and there was no guest room for them in town?

Did she feel afraid? Was Joseph anxious about how to help her or what to do?

Mary and Joseph continued to face the unexpected by believing what God said.

God keeps His promises in His time.

Perhaps in that moment, time stood still for their weary bodies as they looked into the eyes of the Christ child. His life, now a gift from God given through her to the world, was lying in a lowly manger. It seems their entire perspective on life would have changed by their unexpected year.

Has your perspective on life shifted in this unexpected year of 2020?

God's Word guided their perspective to live in truth as they knew it.

The first people to visit the newborn baby were strangers to Mary and Joseph, invited by God's angels to seek and find him.

We are invited to seek God's Son, Jesus.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” "Luke 2:8-14

God is committed to helping people with fear when life is scary or uncertain.

The first description of Jesus after his birth in a seemingly less than ideal way, is

good news that will cause great joy…

a Savior has been Born…

the Messiah, the Lord…

You will find him lying in a manger

What an unexpected way for a royal to be born-no place was open for this special day.

The people were afraid, so God spoke to them.

Though not what they would have planned for the birth of God's Son....

it was glorious and forever changed the world.

I hope this unexpected year will open your heart and mind to

the good news Isaiah, a prophet of God, promised would come….

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

Mary and Joseph’s year was was full of emotional chaos, questions, concerns and few guarantees. And yet, in the unexpected...

the gift of Hope arrived. The promise of God came true~ a Savior was born.

Long ago, love came in an unexpected, complicated and humble way- so that we can now live with peace that surpasses understanding, hope as an anchor for our soul and love that lasts forever from the Prince of Peace, Mighty God and Everlasting Father.

Merry Christmas and Hope for the New Year!