"While they were there"

  My cell phone just beeped with some hot late-breaking news.  Whew, what a picture of the world we live in--busy, noisy, crazy.  Relentless and graceless.  No wonder so many folks walk around exhausted, overwhelmed, discouraged.  It's too much of too much!
          How thankful I am to put away the phone and pick up the Word--the life-giving, perspective-restoring, truth-telling, joy-filling words of Almighty God.  Oh my how we all need His words and His wisdom.
          Luke 2:6: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth."  (Luke 2:6)
          "And while they were there."  Consider where they (Mary and Joseph) were--in a dirty, smelly, unsanitary stable.  Far from home.  Far from every single family member and friend.  Far from comfort and help.  Mary and Joseph surely never imagined, and most certainly never desired, to be "there" and to give birth to the Messiah "there" in that distant, inhospitable place.
          And yet, by God's sovereign, mysterious plan, that's where they were.  And so "while they were there" in this imperfect, unplanned (from their human standpoint) place, Mary and Joseph simply walked with God and allowed His plan of redemption to unfold.  No fussing.  No complaining.  No handwringing...though surely they must have felt like it!   Accepting where they were, faithfully obeying, and in the process revealing the glory of God.
         Where are you right now?  What place has called you to today?  And how are you responding "while you are there?"
          My husband and I are in the stage of life where our children are leaving home and setting out on their own.  I love seeing them grow into the men and women God's called them to be, but this growing up, emptying the nest, and heading out into the wide world is tough on mama and daddy!  We miss them and want them close.  It's easy to pine for those days when our home was filled with happy, noisy littles.  Our little children...little needs...little worries. 
          But that's not where we are today, and if we long for the good old days, we miss the wonder and joy in this present stage of life.  And there's so much good, so much delight to be enjoyed right here, right in this place and stage where we are!  We don't want to miss it...or miss how God plans to use us--and bless us--"while we are here." 
        This place, this stage, this time of life, wherever each of us finds ourselves today, is the place the Lord calls us to obey, to love, to share His greatness and glory with others around us.  "While we are here"--no matter where "here" is--God can use us, bless us, speak to us, encourage us, strengthen us.  But we must choose to be thankful and faithful--while we are here--in this day, this place, this season, this moment.
 Father, help us this day--in whatever place, whatever circumstances You have placed us--to be thankful and faithful.  As we go about our daily activities, might we be fully present, awake, and alive to Your Spirit and Your leading.  Thank You for Mary's and Joseph's example of walking with You in obedience and faith, even in a hard, perplexing place.  "While they were there"--You came...the greatest Gift ever bestowed upon the world.  Who knows how You are working and moving in myriad marvelous and glorious ways even in our challenging, or confusing, or exhausting, or discouraging moments.
        "While they were there," You brought the Messiah out of a smelly, messy manger, so we can trust You "to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" according to Your power that is at work within us in our lives as well. (Eph.3:20)
        To God be the glory.