I love it when a plan comes together!

Luke 2:1-7

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I love it when a plan comes together! My dad always says that when something he wasn't sure was going to happen, happens, and happens in a bigger and better way. Like the time he planned to renew wedding vows with mom. It was early June and there were parties going on at the Flarida's who live across the street from the church. Mom saw all the cars parked in the church lot and said, "Oh they must be at the graduation party."

Dad perked up and said, "Yeah, that must be it!" LOL. Mom didn't have a clue until later, during our evening service when Dad called her up to the front. He loves it when it all comes together.

I think God does too. He knew that His son had to be sent to earth to die and he knew all the details. So when it all happened just the way he intended, I think he said, "I love it when a plan comes together!" The plan plan to have Mary and Joseph as Jesus' earthly parents weren't too hard. Getting them to Bethlehem? That is another story. How do you get two people, one of them being pregnant, from point A to point B in time to deliver a baby? Hmm, vacation time? No, that doesn't happen much. Who would want to go to Bethlehem for fun? How about a census? Quirinus must have thought it a good idea, he even told everyone you have to go back to your family's hometown. And it just so happened that Joseph was a decendent of King David. And that makes Jesus a decendent of King David too!

Next, make sure that they have the the worst place to have a baby. All the inns were crowded, there was not immediate family, how about in the nasty barn with all the farm animals. Could you think of worse conditions? Well, yeah, it could have been outside in the elements, but no child should be born like that. Maybe a car would be worse, but they didn't have cars back then. Jesus slept in the manger where the animals fed! Eww! All that animal saliva and droppings everywhere.

But, with all the people in Bethlehem, God knew what he was doing. It makes you feel something for that poor child. Whether you believe in Christ or not, hearing about a poor innocent infant being born under these conditions tugs at your heart. You just want to help the family out. So, help out another family. Give to a charity, buy gifts for a family in need, bring food for the church pantry or a freestore in your community. Then God will again say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"