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The Wolf
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 strips of cloth
and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in
the inn. Luke 2:4-7 NIV
Recently we have had a wolf in our area. One of our friends' dogs
was attacked, killed and eaten one morning last week. The other
night around 1 am another of our neighbour's dogs roused me from
sleep by coming and barking frantically under my bedroom window.
Knowing Skye and Mocha's bark, I realized immediately that something
was very wrong. Literally leaping from bed I tore down the stairs,
hopped into my boots, and raced from the house as I jerked on my
jacket and grabbed the whip from the front porch.
Together Skye, Mocha and I made a bee line for the corral where the
animals were milling but safe. After an hour and a half of standing
guard outside in frigid temperatures, waving a lantern about in the
dark, the dogs let me know by their behaviour that it was safe.
Shortly afterwards our neighbour behind us let us know that they had
actually seen the wolf that same morning when it came after their
dogs.
Since then all the goats as well as both ponies have been hustled
into the stable and the door locked tight behind them every evening.
Neither Frankie or Jenny, our horses, though obedient, are happy
about this situation. They would much rather be out in the corral.
But I know something that they don't. I know that my actions are
necessary for their wellbeing. I know the whole plan, they only know
a small part of it.
Similarly God knew the whole plan concerning the conception, birth
and life of His Son Jesus. He knew it was necessary to fulfill
prophecy that Jesus be born in the town of Bethlehem and in a stable
to boot.
How difficult it must have been for Mary to make such a long and
difficult trip so late in her pregnancy and how much more difficult
to discover that her first born child was going to be born in a
stable! Yet how obedient and faithful was Mary amidst it all. She
may not have liked the fact that she didn't understand God's plan,
but she did know that He was trustworthy which made accepting the
situation doable.
This Christmas Season and in the New Year ahead, like my horses, and
like Mary the mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, we too might
find that God is requiring things of us which we don't much like or
understand. When such times occur let us remember the plan. Let us
remember that we only know a very small part it, but God knows the
whole. By so remembering and placing our trust in His trustworthy,
like Mary we too will discover that accepting the situation with
obedience and faith is indeed very doable!
Prayer: Father God thank you for the plan. Thank you that you know
what we don't and that we can count on you to guide us according to
your wisdom and goodness. Bless us with faith in your
trustworthiness that we might be obedient servants of Christ now and
throughout the coming year, no matter what the coming year brings.
In Christ's name we ask. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
lynnephipps@PROTECTED
Atlin, BC |
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On Christmas day 2000 years ago, Jesus gave us the most precious
gift ever: Himself. What will be your gift to thank Him this
year? In His love,
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