December 16, Third Advent Sunday

Luke 2:1-7

        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 his 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 room for them in the inn.

Devotion

        Imagine the difficulty of this young couple.  Having traveled over a great distance they find themselves out on the street.  
        Exhausted, discouraged, nerves on edge, and hope running thin - were they wondering if God was going to pull them through this?  But God does, doesn't he, and probably in a way they never expected - perhaps God will do this for you this Christmas - pull you through that hard time in a way you never expected.

Prayer

     Lord God, you know it is hard for us to imagine Mary and Joseph as discouraged parents, but you know discouragement follows us all.  We ask, that this Christmas, you give us a full blessing of the hope that Jesus Christ promised us - Amen.

by Pastor Jim Visbeek

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