Every year when it tax time I make annual trip to pay taxes, no reason why, because mailing a check electronically would be much simpler. Yet is a journey I have taken since i been married before electronic banking had come to our county. Taxes are always due in my area at Christmas, not sure if they decide to be the Grinch or remind people of the taxes that Joseph had. I can only imagine the reason government likes to be the Grinch. Even the Federal Senate claiming our nation is one of the riches and yet they still considering only a 600 dollars stimulus check only per citizen or something like that. Yet people are desperate and the weather in America grows cold and I suspect in other places across the globe, not sure where summer actually begins overseas this time of year. Be nice to be in continual Spring time to me, except for the rain. There is a point to my madness this morning, Think what was it like for the decree to come to Joseph after hearing his wife to be was pregnant. What was his thoughts, what do you think you would have thought. Preparation for God's Son and now taxes. First born of his wife Mary was coming, a place to be born without questions are you sure it is God's baby Mary. After all that baby is suppose to be born in Bethlehem. Most of us can imagine the ideas flowing through the community as rumors began, and then the convince of the tax by the government. Had a trip been planned, probably not, but now the story of Emmanuel, the Christ child was coming together. Imagine having to take it on faith. Imagine the fear with the knowledge of the scribes and priest of the location of this birth, as Mary time to give birth came to be near.

With God's plan to take Joseph and Mary from Galilee to Bethlehem at the convince of a taxation that had to have representation present to pay it. The reality of who Mary was really carrying was more then the angel's announcement as location of how to get there came to light. Something man could not do, and operation of God, through the government. The greedy government played a part in the story unknown to them. Yet God in his wisdom used what was common to the people of Israel to get his baby to the special place to be born. It was his time to be born, as Mary probably feeling uncomfortable to a point at this time, and yet excited nearing her due date.

God in his wisdom and knowledge took his foresight, his all knowing ability to plan the birth of His Son and to share it with the prophets and people of the world for many centuries before the birth of His Son. The uniqueness to the location becoming more real as our hearts soar with joy understanding God's purpose for the journey that Mary and Joseph had to make. If God was sending them to Bethlehem do not think Joseph could pay his taxes. Of course as he traveled he did so with gladness in heart knowing his wife would have Emmanuel in the city of his birth and the prophetic town of Bethlehem where kings were born.

The miracle of God can not come without his preparation. The Miracle of God can not come without God's timing and his plan. The other day on a video a man sat in a wheel chair as a man prayed for him to have the ability to walk. No he did not get up and walk, though he claim to have some feeling in his legs. Now is the man walking no, was it his time for a miracle no, was those men even ministers of God, no clue. There is a point I want to make, every miracle Christ did on earth was for purpose and the will of God for that moment in time. Would any of us been obedient and pack to go to Bethlehem without having a reason of taxes? I think God used the taxes to get Joseph and Mary to the place of his Son's birth. They probably were not even thinking on the issue because of just the shock of it alone of being chosen to be the earthly parents of Emmanuel. It the fact miracles of any kind is more then faith, it takes an act of God sometimes to get us moving to the place we need to be for the miracle to occur.

Example Noah had to build the ark, perhaps it became a type of hobbie, but he was compelled enough to build the ark, and then the animals began to board the ark, along with Noah family and then the ark door shut and it could not be reopened, until after the flood. Are we compelled by faith alone, or does God use signs in our life. No matter when Mary and Joseph realized the prophetic birthplace was Joseph place to pay taxes we do not know. Yet we can see God's working out the miracle to hold true to the story, not by humankind compelling it, but the power of God compelling it to be. God compelled those animals into that ark. If we think for a moment how many miracles have we received in our life time, by location alone. The person that misses a wreck because of delay going to work. The story of a person seeing the wreck behind them as they were a minute faster on their schedule. Disaster or God deliverance. For a believer it is God's deliverance.

The good miracle of the birth of Jesus was coming with a purpose of world wide importance by decree by the governor called taxes. Can you not imagine as the word spread where Jesus would be born, people would travel in that direction if they could, and those that could not would shortly come after. How long was Mary and Joseph in a House in Bethlehem we do not know. This was sight to behold, but we got to get to the manger and we will before Christmas this year, which means the whole story this year will be wrapped up before Christmas, but the story will be able to be meditated on Christmas day. It is a lot to think on, and to remember why we celebrate Jesus birth.

Dear Heavenly Father, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the manger scene, let us hold to the story of the Christ child and your compelling plan to get Him to the place of His birth. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Ezekiel 12:25 KJV
25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.