I was downtown yesterday and took a picture of the nativity scene in the town square. It been a part of Christmas for years but it has taken a life of its own the past few years. I could sworn there was no camel at the scene the day before. If it was there not sure how I could of missed it. However I had added a star to the pic on the web pic I post on the front page. This camel had two humps not one. As I looked at the town square I began to wonder if the Wise Men would be put in the manger this year. The answer is only God knows. There is only twelve more days before Christmas eve. And the journey the wise men would of taken no one knows when it started, but we know Joseph journey began nine months before Jesus was born at the least. Yet the events of courtship would of begun perhaps before the time of Joseph dream, but how far in advance and whether Mary and Joseph marriage was arranged by their families is a mystery. We do know it was arranged by God. In fact God told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary has his spouse when he found she was pregnant with a child by the Holy Spirit. I can not help but think what went through Joseph mind as he study the prophesy about the Messiah. Did he count the days and time period from the prophesy.

The journey one take to meet their potential savior whether it is at the time of death or long before begins with spiritual birth through faith in Jesus.. It is a journey not decided by others but by one’s own freewill. It often seems Joseph had no freewill in the decision to marry Mary. Yet we must remember the marriage plans was long in effect before she became pregnant. In fact he had to decide whether to have her stone for adultery or to have her put away quietly for her error by becoming pregnant. Then he learned she was the woman chosen o carry Emmanuel. Joseph was just man and had chosen to put her away quietly and not as a spectacle in the crowd. Now she was spectacle for she was carrying a child by the Holy Spirit. Yet even with knowledge of Elizabeth Mary cousin and the kin’s people in the next town, it would have been a story hard to keep quiet. Yet Joseph would not return to his town after Mary gave birth. Joseph would take her down to Egypt and no doubt the story became hushed to a degree except among those that knew Mary and Joseph personally.

Joseph journey and decision to take Mary as wife would have not been a choice after the pregnancy it would have been a command of God. Yet it was more like approval from God because his hand was in this marriage. His word was in this marriage. It was a marriage designed by God. Yet it would take faith to deal with the knowledge God was with them. Holy Spirit word had conceived this child in Mary. The angel that spoke to Joseph encouraged him to take her as a wife but to wait till she delivered to make her his wife. In fact Mary would have more children other then just Jesus. But Mary first born was Emmanuel meaning God with us. There would be child support from God, in the form of wise men from the east. God got the world involved in this birth.

God’s plan did not stop Joseph from being a carpenter by trade, only stopped him from making Mary his wife by union until Jesus was born. God’s plan only disrupted Joseph life by him having to go to Egypt and later to Nazareth. God’s plan gave Joseph an adventure when it might not have been. Joseph life just began to take shape by the hand of God with his marriage to Mary. If one decides to follow Jesus I guarantee the journey God plans for you it will be an adventure of a life time, but remember that old devil going to chase you, but eventually you will land up in Nazareth. A place of doing it God’s way among the Gentiles. Nazarene to be called to be separate. Joseph journey began when God called him to be separate from the world. Yet his call and his walk of faith came with obedience to God.

Joseph would rise from sleep and obey the Lord by taking Mary to be his wife. Yet this dream would have been so convincing he probably took no time to think about the reaction of the world around him or what would happen if the king of the land found out. If God ever gave us time to think, then perhaps no one would follow, the answer is no, because everyone would follow. The fact is obeying God everything works out for his glory and honor. Journey with God and he lead one right into victory and not in disgrace. Mary’s pregnancy was not a disgrace, it was divine. It was God’s will to be among his people as a baby. To teach the people how to live and walk.

Will you follow Jesus and receive Him as Lord knowing the things of your life will work out for His glory and honor? Will you receive Him today in your heart knowing the journey with God is for a life time? Your journey with God can be as divine as Joseph’s, and Mary’s was, but it does not mean you will mean you will necessarily loose your day job.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for the most wonderful journey I could ever have in life because I am your child. Help me to be in submission to your will and not my own. In Jesus precious name, Amen.