Day 46

My new favorite Christmas song is Middle of a Miracle by Francesca Battistelli from her 2012 Christmas CD.  It tells the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, from a perspective that had never crossed my mind.  See for yourself:

Pain ran through her body
Questions filled her head
All her fears were whispering
Will this manger be His bed
An unexpected ending to a trip so long and hard
As she looked around the stable in the dark

Mary couldn't hear the angels saying
Peace on earth, good will to men
or the Shepherds running breathless
Let us go to Bethlehem,
But there was a perfect plan in motion
As there is for each of us
Sometimes we can't see that we might be
In the middle of a miracle

This life we live's a journey and a Faithful Father leads
And the only guarantee's uncertainty
It takes patience
It takes faith
For we never know what God has on the way

Joseph didn't know about the wise men who'd soon be at his door
Or the Star that they were following that
Led them to their Lord
But there was a perfect plan in motion
As there is for each of us
Sometimes we can't see that we might be
In the middle of a miracle

There's a perfect plan in motion
We've just got to trust
There's a perfect plan in motion
For each of us
Sometimes we can't see that we might be
In the middle of a miracle (1)

Did you catch how Mary was dealing with the reality that her baby boy was being born in a barn with a feeding trough for His bed?  And how she couldn't see that God was announcing the birth of Baby Jesus with multitudes of angels to shepherds in the pasture?  Everything about Jesus' birth was completely unexpected... but while it was unexpected to Mary, it was all part of God's divine, perfect plan. 

Can you relate to Mary?  I know I can.  I've experienced how God's plans can go completely against my own plans.  I've been devastated over the circumstances that came my way.  I've struggled, wondered, wrestled, settled... and then, after 5 years, God showed me that I was in the middle of a miracle.  And the situation that was once so devastating to me was transformed into a blessing that He has used to for good.  God truly did immeasurably more with my circumstances than I could ever ask or imagine... and now I can honestly thank Him for the circumstance that I never thought I could. 

Maybe you're in the midst of circumstances that you can't possibly imagine good coming from.  Please don't lose hope.  I've experienced the miracle God can bring... just trust and ask God to open your eyes to the miracle.  And realize that the reveal may be down the road... it took 5 years for me.  Cling to God's promises, believe with all that you've got, choose thankfulness moment by moment, and watch God work out His plans for your life in ways that you never thought possible.  We are all in the middle of a miracle... I wonder what yours is?

Tonight, I'm thankful for...

1.  Having little elves help me make cookies last night
2.  Hearing Middle of a Miracle sung live at my church this morning... it was so beautiful!
3.  Receiving a surprise card and gift card - what a blessing!
4.  Watching my seven year old sing "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys and play air guitar with passion
5.  Impromptu lunch with friends from church arranged by my two boys
6.  Getting to rest this afternoon
7.  Father/son building project
8.  Starting to address Christmas cards with help from my seven year old
9.  Upcoming movie night with my hubby tonight to watch our first Christmas movie of the season
10.  My hubby

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 5,068 to go...

(1) Middle of a Miracle by Francesca Battistelli/Ian Eskelin/Tony Wood;  2012 Word Music, LLC, Francesca Music (ASCAP) (All rights on behalf of itself and Francesca Music adm. by Word Music, LLC)