For Unto Us a Child is Born

But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian. For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We have chosen Isa. 9:1-6 as our theme for this Christmas season: “For unto us a child is born!”

We declare it knowing well the history of His faithfulness in our lives. The same faithfulness that has, many times, taken us from darkness into great light.

The difficulty with declarations such as this is that they require the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I suppose most of our lives have been lived this way.

Eventually.

Much time is spent settled into our limited perspectives, resigned to the “less-than” of our lives. Each time we have pressed on, in faith, for the more we have seen it come to pass.

The secret is in allowing Him to inspire us with the more and knowing that the source of it comes from Him and not ourselves.

faith, faith, faith

I have been following the advent season with a devotional that I have read every advent season for the past several years. I am reminded today of the opportunity both Mary and Joseph had to trust the Lord with the impossible. I don't believe I am facing our own opportunity with as much grace and beauty, hard as I try. I'd like to think that the history of God's faithfulness in my life had strengthened my own "faith muscle", but instead I am realizing that I must spend some more time in the gym. I can't help but think, "Be careful what you ask for...."