Joe’s
wife was pregnant,
he had to give up
work for a while.
The tax office were
trying to sort out
his tax and so he
had to go back to
his home town. A
long journey with a
pregnant wife. I am
sure that it was a
real struggle for
them but there were
people on the way
that helped. When
they arrived at
Joe’s old town all
the hotels and B &
B’s were booked up.
After several failed
attempts one
hotelier offered
them a place at the
back. It was only
fit to keep animals
in. Of course, this
story is familiar to
most people. It is
not just that people
will help those in
genuine need, it is
more importantly
about how God is
willing to get
involved in our
messy lives. Joe and
Mary could have sat
back and given up
but they took the
first steps, they
set off on their
journey. The first
thing they noticed
is that people were
willing to give them
a hand, help them on
their way. When they
arrived in Bethlehem
God delivered to
them a new born baby
boy. Perhaps some
would see this as a
burden on a couple
who had enough to
cope with but God
knew what he was
doing. This son
would bring so much
love and joy into
their lives and into
the world. What
stage are you at in
your journey? Are
you overwhelmed by
problems or life
itself. God wants to
help you start your
journey of
discovery. Are you
setting out on your
journey, God will
send companions.
Have you arrived at
that discouraging
place of rejection,
God will open a
door. Do you feel
burdened by
responsibilities.
Give them to God and
he will bring joy
and laughter into
your life. We can’t
live on credit, we
can’t live on
someone else’s
faith. We need to
start using our
faith, trusting in
God and one day we
will look back, like
Mary and Joseph, and
realise what a
wonderful thing God
has made with our
life. God
Bless
