MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

“...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

Christmas Greetings:

It seems that every year God shows me something new in the very familiar Christmas story. This year I've identified so much with Joseph. There was nothing really special about Joseph. He was a simple carpenter from Nazareth, a lowly town that religious people of the time looked down upon. Yet it is just like God to choose insignificant people and despised things of the world to reveal His special glory.

What made Joseph's life significant was that God chose him and gave him a dream, a dream to be the adoptive father of the “Son of the Most High” and that Joseph “obeyed”. Through obedience and faith, he chose to marry the woman he was engaged to and who was already with child. He could have had her stoned as was custom. He could have committed to his “own” plan to send her away in secrecy. Instead through faith, he obeyed God's will and stood beside her sharing the condemnation, shame and ridicule from the surrounding Jewish community and most likely from his own family too.

I've found in my own life journey, answering God's call is only the first step of obedience and trust. Saying “Yes” to God, is a continuous journey of trust. Likewise, things didn't get any easier for Joseph. He had to take a very pregnant wife on a laborious journey to Bethlehem, help her give birth in a dirty stable, and then flee to live in a foreign land so he could protect his adopted son from the murderous King Herod. It was Joseph's obligation to raise his son according to God's law. Scripture credits Joseph as being a righteous man. He carried out all the customs of the law for his adopted son and made the annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feasts. From his earthly father's spiritual leadership, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God. God rewards those who follow in obedience. I don't know all the ways Joseph was blessed for his faith but I do know that he spoke to angels three different times and had the privilege of walking hand in hand with the Living God. To walk hand in hand with Jesus, what could be better than that!

There is nothing significant about our family either. Like Joseph, God gave us a dream to be adoptive parents and has led us down paths that we never would have walked down on our own, paths that we never dreamed would be so amazing. Last December, we traveled to Ethiopia, leaving the old behind to venture outside our comfort zone to a new and exciting family life. We picked our girls up in February and from the first time they called us mommy and daddy, our heart and life have never been the same. On the other hand, this new life has been a big adjustment, required many sacrifices of self and at times has been overwhelming. Like Joseph, we've had to die to self and our own abilities and depend on God to carry us through each day. This year has been a continual walk of trust and dependency as we try to balance all our responsibilities.

I don't know if Joseph ever stumbled along the way but many times my own humanness has shown as I have taken my eyes off of the Lord, wasted the journey on grumbling when I am tired, or I have mindlessly gone through the motions of life instead of embracing each moment. While my journey has had more emotional ups and downs, David has been our stable backbone holding things together and bearing the yoke when I am at the end of my strength regardless of how tired he has become. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with such a wonderful partner in life. We've also been so blessed that the girls have fit and transitioned so beautifully into our family and lives. Truly, the real joy of our adoption journey was not just God making the dream for us come true but experiencing Him throughout all the phases of faith. He has been so faithful and blessed us beyond measure. I imagine it was that way for Joseph too.

Betty and Jeri had a wonderful first "American" Christmas and it was even white!  They have been so keyed up and excited for weeks.  They have loved the lights (but were disappointed we did not put any up on our house), Christmas music, caroling, parties, goodies, buying gifts and the Advent preparation.  This morning, they were up in the early hours checking out their stockings.  Thankfully they did not wake us up until around 6 a.m.  Jeri received a doll that walks, a fuzzy blanket and a blue thin-line Bible (I think she was disappointed it was not pink though).  Betty received a scooter and helmet, a fuzzy blanket and a purple thin-line Bible.  The kids also drew names and got each other gifts.  Their excitement and thankful hearts made this a very special Christmas.  We look forward to celebrating Christmas the Ethiopian way on January 5th at a nearby Ethiopian church.  It is in January because the Ethiopian calendar differs from our Western calendar.     

Bringing home our girls into our family was the best part of our year.  It has been a year of many firsts for them and us.  My greatest treasure was to see tears of pride well up in my father's eyes as he presented our new family to his Sunday school class. Our real dream for ourselves and our children is that we can stand before our heavenly Father, see those same tears of pride in His eyes and look back on our walk with Him with no regrets.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men with whom He is well pleased.