Merry Christmas to one and all.
It still seems unreal to me that today is Christmas day, nevertheless I have been reflecting the whole month of Decemeber upon The Christmas Story.
Here I find myself at the doorstep of the stable in Bethlehem, peering in from the side lines.
Although, this year it has been different.
This year I have allowed myself to enter the story...flaws, failures, fears and all.
I have entered regardless of any of these things that try to hold me back.
It feels as though The Christmas Story is actually real to me this year. Ok, yes I've always known the truth but I've never experienced the truth. Not fully.
This month my eyes have been revealed to the wonders and depths of The Christmas Story. No longer do I look at it as a child's nativity story but a true and living event that did actually unfold in history.
But the birth of Jesus is not how the nativity plays imagine it or how some old time carols (some of which I love) paint it. A song that was introduced to me last year was 'Labor of Love' by Andrew Peterson and the lyrics have lingered in my heart throughout the year. The lyrics of this song is the most honest, realistic and humbling description of Jesus' birth I've ever come across.
It was a labor of pain
It still seems unreal to me that today is Christmas day, nevertheless I have been reflecting the whole month of Decemeber upon The Christmas Story.
Here I find myself at the doorstep of the stable in Bethlehem, peering in from the side lines.
Although, this year it has been different.
This year I have allowed myself to enter the story...flaws, failures, fears and all.
I have entered regardless of any of these things that try to hold me back.
It feels as though The Christmas Story is actually real to me this year. Ok, yes I've always known the truth but I've never experienced the truth. Not fully.
This month my eyes have been revealed to the wonders and depths of The Christmas Story. No longer do I look at it as a child's nativity story but a true and living event that did actually unfold in history.
But the birth of Jesus is not how the nativity plays imagine it or how some old time carols (some of which I love) paint it. A song that was introduced to me last year was 'Labor of Love' by Andrew Peterson and the lyrics have lingered in my heart throughout the year. The lyrics of this song is the most honest, realistic and humbling description of Jesus' birth I've ever come across.
Labor of Love lyrics:
There was blood on the ground
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town
And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold
It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night
So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move
It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love
It was a labor of love. Love that Mary and Joseph had for their creator. Along the journey of discovering the deeper meaning of the Christmas Story I have come to understand and get to know the people of Mary and Joseph (Mary more so this year!)
Mary.
Mary was probably not much older than me. So around 19. And she was told she would have a baby. An unmarried teenage girl would give birth to a Saviour. WOW! So an Angel of the Lord shows up and tells her she will bear the Son of God and His name will be Jesus.
An angel shows up, that in itself is enough to send me over the edge. At the start Mary is hesitant, unsure of what this greeting means. Once Mary has got all the facts straight.
She says "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38
Her response has lead my mind to wonder over and over what my response be?!
Could I trust my God that much?
I would be terrified, I would feel unworthy for the task at hand, and ultimately I think, I'd like to runaway rather than have to tell my fiance (or family) I'm knocked up before the wedding.
Later in this same chapter we hear of Mary's song, and my prayer would be that no matter what God brings before me that I can celebrate and be joyful in that. I desire God to put the passion in my heart to trust Him to the ends of the earth. Not just trusting Him with my life, but what is even harder...my heart.
Mary's Song
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
Luke 1:46-55
I want to be a Mary, not just at Christmas time but my whole life through.
~ ~ ~
Ultimately this year I have seen The Christmas story unfold in a bigger way. From experiencing The Story of God (taking the whole Bible and revealing and highlighting Gods redemptive arc across history) I can see clearer how the Christmas Story fits in with the rest of scripture. I have found the Andrew Peterson album 'Behold the Lamb' such a blessing to my heart this month. I adore how Peterson begins the album with preparing (and foretelling) us for the The Christmas story to unravel across Old Testament history right up to the birth of Jesus. It feels as though Jesus' birth story is just being sung to you and I have found joy, comfort and sorrow in these songs. I have found myself (especially in Labor of love) going through the emotions of Mary and Joesph. (So if you don't have it...buy it!)
I want to finish with two of my favourite prophecies from the Old Testament about the birth of Jesus:
Isaiah 9 v6,7:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Micah 5 v 2:
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The verse from Micah has especially touched me this season. I put myself in the place of Bethlehem. Though I am small, weak and at most times feel insignificant in God's huge story...I am still a part of it and great things can happen if I let Him use me.
So that is the end of my rambles for this evening, here are a few photos from my Christmas day. I hope and pray you all had an amazing day celebrating our Saviour's humble (and humbling) birth.
The bells are ringing out for Christmas day
My beautiful mother
Gosh I just love him so much!
Bells two.
Light of the World
Star of Bethlehem
Angel of good news
My beautiful nephew Corey
(He seemed to like my nose!)
What can I say? Its Christmas and at Christmas you can do silly things
and get away with it :)
May you know His love and peace this Christmas season.
I love this post Rachel. You're such thinker and I love the way you write your thoughts out of your head.
Even though I know the Christmas Story it gets me every time I hear or read about it. Thank you for reminding me of the precious gift we got 2009 years ago that still lives in us!
I love you and think the last picture is hilarious!
Petra
I love your thoughts Rach. I love your heart. Christmas is surely a fearsome thing to behold when you really delve into it's meaning, into it's context (like you were saying about the Story of God) and into the way it effects us here and now in the present and in the future. Christmas is not about those fuzzy feelings I used to have as a kid...those started going away a few years ago and I was like "WHAT IS HAPPENING!" I thought something was wrong... but now as Christ has been revealing himself more and more to me those feeling have turned into worship, awe and utter gratitude, that King Jesus (Jehovah who saves) would become Immanuel (God with us) (Matt 1:21-23) to reach the shepherds of this world...people like you and me. I'm so thankful Rach. Thanks again for your thought! I love your blog and I'm excited for future posts! Love you dearly my friend
~Lauren
P.S. Fantastic shots. Loving the photo skills girl!
Your photography is beautiful.