Beauty in the Midst of the Mess!

On December 8th, 2011 at 5:09am God showed up in a hospital delivery room to bring Sara Maxine Penrod into this world.  I am extremely blessed as this is now our third grandchild.

At this time of the year, I could not help but think of another young couple having their first child.  There were many similarities.  Both young couples looked at their beautiful child with amazement at what God has done.  They all wondered at what the future will hold.  I would imagine that they all have great dreams and expectations of what their new little baby would be.

But there are also so many differences in the birth of these babies.  

• One was born in a delivery room.  
• The other was born in a manger.  
• One baby was delivered by a very skilled and trained physician.  
• The other was delivered by The Great Physician.
• One was born in a sterile environment with the latest air filtration system available.  
• The other was born in the mess of a barn filled with the stench of animals. 

We see the nativity scenes with everything in place.  It looks so peaceful and calm.  Everyone gathered around singing silent night.....  But if you have ever been involved in the birth of a child, you know there is NOTHING calm and peaceful about the experience!

The birth of Jesus was no exception.  A young couple in a strange place with strange people.  Not certain of the future.  No hospitals, no 911, no epidurals, not even a clean place to stay.  They are forced to bring their new baby into this world in the stink and mess of a stable.

But this is just like God isn't it?  The perfect world he had created was such a different place.  Yet he shows up in the mess of it all.  The people he created had become self centered and sinful.  Yet he shows up time and time again in the mess of it all.  The only thing that could make the people right again was for him to send his perfect son to a cruel and very messy cross.  And once again he showed up in the mess of it all.

I am so glad that this is the God I serve.  He doesn't wait for us to become perfect, or for us to get everything right before he comes to us.  His desire is to come to us just as we are . . . in the mess of it all.  When we make mistakes . . . he is there.  When we fail . . .he is there.  When we hurt others . . . he is there. When we are hurt by others . . . he is there.  When we are lonely. . . he is there.  Even when we turn our back on him . . . he is there.

So, for this Christmas season . . . remember Emmanuel . . . which means "God is with us" . . . .even in the mess of it all!

Just a thought...

Bro. D