ADVENTure: The Loud, Noisy, Roaring, Life Changing, Not So Silent NightShembull

The Adventure:

Sometimes adventures lead to some potholes. Have you ever driven over a pothole? A pothole is a hole in the road that are no fun to drive over. I honestly don’t know how they form. Maybe beavers steal chunks when no one is looking. But adventures have potholes, bumps in the road. Some adventures, like Joseph's, don’t just have bumps in the road they have the car gets four flat tires, then gets stuck in surprise quicksand, and inside the quicksand, there’s an army of upset fire ants who then bite your eyelids. Awful right?

I know that’s silly but that is not too far off to how awful of a life Joseph had. You read that right not day, not week, his life. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold to Egypt, accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and was thrown in jail when he was innocent. But yet at the end of his life the verse above is what he says to his brothers. God has planned it all for good. Because of all of these things that happened, Joseph made a plan for Egypt to be safe when disaster was going to strike. Joseph saved lives by God allowing hard things to happen in his life.

The adventure of following Jesus is not easy. If anyone told you it was going to be easy they owe you an apology for lying. Is following Jesus joyful? Absolutely! Is it the greatest decision you could ever make to follow Jesus? Yes! But it is also the biggest decision you could ever make. Like Abraham, Joseph had to have faith that God has a plan in the middle of the hardest moments. I don’t know your story but I’m guessing you’ve been through some hard stuff. Cross country moves, friendships falling apart, getting cut from your sports team, and the list goes on and on. Hard things are a part of life. But as much as hard things are a part of life so is God’s goodness. God is kind to us and His plan is always for the best. Maybe it’s not our plan but it is always for our good and God’s glory.

The Destination:

Jesus’ birth is no one’s dream option for how to have a baby. Jesus was born after his parents were turned away from any kind of room and he was born in a barn. At first glance, Jesus’ birth feels like it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Except we know God is in control and we know that Jesus was born the way He was to show He is a servant. He did not come as a baby to rule over people but to love people at their lowest. Christmas is a celebration that anyone and everyone can be a part of. Rich or poor because Jesus is for everyone. We see that through God’s plan. Maybe it’s not our plan but it is the best plan.

Songs For The Journey:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing by Rend Collective