A Party For A King
I have always loved the time of year from November 1, all the way through to January. I love times of gathering, fellowshipping, and most of all loving one another. This year, I will admit to the truth of the difficulty of these events. We have been extremely busy, and the thoughts of my sister, Wanda stays in the heart of my mind.
Planning what we’re going to prepare to take to mother’s house was always top discussion between Wanda, Aimee and myself. We’d call each other every day to see if who had come up with some new fangled recipe. —To delight the others.
God is all about delighting us. I love what Beth Moore said in her study, 90 Days with the One and Only, “In the Jewish calendar, the fourteenth day of the first month is called the day of conception. If our God of perfect planning and gloriously significant order happened to overshadow Mary on the fourteenth day of the first month of His calendar, our Savior would have been born toward the end of our December. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not He did, but I would not be the least bit surprised for God to have sparked His Son’s human life on one Passover and ended it on another.”
Me either Beth. Aren’t we planners as well? When planning a celebration, don’t we try to work it out so that “everyone” can attend? I don’t know about you…but I like to think that the “taking names” (for tax purposes!), was something that God used as well.
Joseph and Mary had to travel back to Joseph’s home town. I kind of imagine that he had a few friends there. Perhaps some relatives. Just for my own contemplative thinking, I like to imagine that he couldn’t go to them at the late hour for a bed for his bride because maybe he wasn’t sure of where they lived now…maybe he didn’t know if he had anyone left in town…one thing is for sure….there was no room for them in the Inn. But God provided.
By the time the wise men arrived on the scene, they were in a house (Matthew 2:11). Perhaps of a relative? I don’t know…but I do know…..God provided.
This is something I read while searching out more on Mary. What her life may have been like up to the point of leaving home and going with Joseph.
“Mary had up to this time been living at the wrong place for Messiah’s birth. A little longer stay at Nazareth, and the prophecy would have failed. But lo! with no intention certainly on her part, much less of Caesar Augustus, to fulfil the prophecy, she is brought from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and at that nick of time her time arrives, and her Babe is born.”¹
The plans God has for you and me are just as detailed. When we leave the plans and directions to HIM, the Master Creator…we will find that it all works out. When we give our lives to Jesus Christ–and submit to His authority for all the details…the pieces of the puzzle all fit together with a click, as they snap in place.
The job.
The marriage.
The finances.
Even down to the decision of where to go to church. None of these are beyond His expertise or His planning!
When I read the page for day 5 of the 90 Days with Jesus Study, I immediately thought “party”.
I smiled thinking that we (or at least in our area), will turn any event into a party.
- Hurricane coming? Gather everyone in a safe place and let’s eat! Let’s play some games! What is that, if not a party?
- Bible Study time? Gather them all together in the living room, get out some cups, plates, forks, napkins, make some coffee, have some juice or iced tea ready, plead with Jeff to make a cake with extra thick icing….and you have a Bible Study Party! You learn from the very heart of GOD, and you have you some rejoicing in the kitchen with cake!
- Baby about to be born? The waiting room is OURS! When waiting on that new arrival—there is MUCH prayer—some eating if he/she takes a while getting here…and then once that lusty cry is heard—it is all out party-time!
Christ’s birth is a day to celebrate! While we don’t know the exact day, we do KNOW
He CAME.
He lived.
He died.
He was resurrected.
He lives TODAY! I think that is worthy of a celebration EVERY DAY of the year!
This is the LORD’S doing; it [is] marvellous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23 KJV
Father God…thank you for tending to each and every detail of my life. All the way from the difficult ones I can see…to the miniscule ones I might not notice. I praise You, for even in the difficult days, I feel Your presence. I KNOW You have me in Your sight. Nothing escapes Your notice. Thank You for following so closely my heart. Take tomorrow and make it YOURS. For Your glory. Not mine. I love and praise You forever. In the precious name above every name…Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ~ Amen.
© Angie Knight-The Knightly News. All rights reserved.
Previously posted on The Knightly News, December 15, 2008. Pictured, grandson, Jake.
¹Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The Gospel According to Luke.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 4 Sep 2008.
Awesome post sis.
Amen to that prayer Angie.
Praying that thoughts of Wanda brings smiles as you and Aimee now come up with new recipes to delight the family this Christmas.