It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming! When I was little, I couldn’t’ wait for my birthday to arrive!  It was a special time where I was “queen for a day” (in a modest way), could choose what we had for dinner, enjoyed cake and ice cream, and always received many gifts.  Yea, God!  Thank you for birthdays!!

It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming!

As a child, my mother always had Advent calendars – those colorful pictures with little windows marked 1 through 25, each of which was opened on an advancing day towards Christmas.  Each morning, we would run to our calendars and lift open the flap from the new day and uncover the special picture or gift that was underneath.  It was fun!  Thank you, God, for Jesus’ birthday!!

It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming!

One year, my girlfriend Nancy came over on her bike and invited me to ride over to her house.  We laughed and talked on the way, as we always did, but little did I dream that when we arrived, I would be greeted by ten more girls yelling “Happy Birthday, Lisa!”  Thank you, Jesus, for surprise parties and good friends!

It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming!

What memories do you have of birthdays?  Do you still feel that sense of excitement and anticipation for the big day?  Or has the coming years, and unwelcome wrinkles along the way, stolen the luster from the moment? 

Were you made to feel special as a child, or perhaps forgotten, or made to feel like a burden on your birthday?  Perhaps birthdays were once special, but now you have a spouse or children who have denigrated it to a lesser status.  That’s sad, and it’s not right.  Birthdays should be a cause for joy and celebration!

It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming!

As Jesus’ birthday approached, more than 2,000 years ago, there were many special “behind-the-scenes” plans and preparation made.  If you re-read the first few chapters of the Gospel of Luke, you will be reminded of the entire story.  Over the next couple days, try to read it in one or several translations.  Open your heart up to seeing or experiencing new things in the reading that, perhaps, you have never thought of before.

Then, over the next four weeks, take these preparations and the responses of those who encountered the Baby-King, and meditate (think hard and long) about them.  Here are some ideas about what to concentrate on:

First Week – Long before Jesus was even born, God stirred the hearts of “wise men” to seek him out and find him.  In reading their story again, notice the obstacles they encountered, the satanic plan that God thwarted, the persistence they demonstrated, and the length of time they journeyed (approximately two years) steadfastly.  When they finally arrived at their goal (meeting Jesus), how did they respond to him?  In what ways should our lives mirror the wise men?

Second Week – Think again about Mary.  What must it have been like to be 13 or 14 (or so) and find out you were pregnant – without even having sexual relations!  Do you think your parents would have believed you?  Do you imagine your boyfriend or fiancé would have bought your “Holy-Ghost-in-the-night” story?  How did Mary’s humble response to this phenomenal and miraculous event compare to Jesus’ obedience to the Father, as outlined in Philippians chapter 2?  What can we learn from these passages about trusting God through uncertain times?

Third Week –

Have you ever wondered how Jesus’ friends and family might have perceived his unusual life?  He came, he taught, he made big waves, and then he died.  In some ways, it seemed as if he was born just to die.  And what a horrific death he endured!  I imagine some of them saying, “Such a shame.  Such a wasted young life.”

When someone we love dies prematurely (that is, before we think they’ve lived a good long life), we consider it tragic.  We wonder why God might have taken them before “their time.”  Yet, Jesus only lived to be 33 and apparently accomplished everything he and his Father planned on.  Despite the fact that he is Lord of All, and Highly Exalted in Heaven, I’m not at all sure I would want to change lives with him.   I’m convinced I want to serve and please God with my entire life.  But would I really want to (as Jesus did) “have no place to lay my head”; endure 40 days of harsh fasting and temptation; be hated and ridiculed by all of the leaders and prominent people of my day; and then be crucified for hours on a cross?  Even if it meant saving the world?  Or would I prefer to live a nice, long, healthy, happy life in a nice safe home with people who love and cherish me?   Serving God looks pretty different in that light, doesn’t it.

But Jesus chose the more difficult way to provide us with the only possible way back home to our Heavenly Father.  Choose one verse from the Bible about God’s love, mercy, sacrifice, or perfect plan, and memorize it this week.  Keep praying that you would understand more deeply the tremendous price Jesus paid for our souls.  It’s a heck of a birthday gift.

Fourth Week – When Jesus was finally born, the news was first announced to … big corporate moguls?  Famous Hollywood stars?  The worldwide media?  Political leaders and powerbrokers?

Actually, no.  It was harmoniously proclaimed by angels singing to … shepherds, who were pretty much the lowlifes of society.  The Bible says, “God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise.”  I think this is a good example of that.  Instead of making a big splash, Jesus came humbly in a stable, to a middle class carpenter and his young wife, while they were not even in their hometown.  And the only way most people found out about it was by following a curiously bright start in the sky or hearing the news word-of-mouth.  Weird.  I think I would have tooted more horns or something.  Maybe had dancing girls and costumed bears.  Lavish decorations and scrumptious foods.  I might have even waited until the 21^st century, so that cool special FX and the Internet could be utilized.  And I definitely would have had an important and glamorous guest list.

But Jesus chose a different way.  His birth seemed to most as common as the dirty food trough in which he was laid; as quiet as a typical still night in the middle of winter.  With little fanfare, he came for all people – from the bottom all the way to the top of the human food chain of importance.  Through his life, he showed us how to value every person, regardless of race, physical appearance, status, or net worth.   And in a most unique way, he continues to invite the whole world to his birthday party, and is not deterred when some of the big shots don’t show up.  He just continues to love them and invite them to come.

In the midst of your final holiday preparations, shopping, wrapping, or cooking – take time to celebrate this amazing Savior.  Sing Christmas songs with renewed vigor.  Smile at a weary department store clerk.  Remember the reason for the season.  And emulate the love that was born that first Christmas night.  Allow his birthday to give you goose bumps again.

It’s coming!  It’s coming!  It’s coming!

I pray you have a spectacular Christmas!  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Love,
Lisa Kinakin