Christmas and babies just seem to go together--and that's fine when you've got the dream baby and dream family you've always wanted. Real life doesn't always cooperate with our dreams, and many infertile couples struggle, especially at Christmas, but all-year long with an unfulfilled, seemingly impossible dream. If you're in that category, as Abraham and Sarah once were - or as I once was - or if you know someone hurting this season, please pass on this devotional and know that God STILL is in the miracle-working business, even at Christmas!!
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"No more babies!" Middle age--or OLD age--as my young adults sons would perceive--brings with it that unalterable fact (or fiction, in the case of some real surprise packages!), and we women, with a sigh of relief or a sense of sadness, know that our reproductive days are over! Now I realize this isn't a topic we easily talk about in polite company...but at Peggie's Place, anything goes...so hold on, come along with me for a lesson we can all learn!
You see, they were OLD, and to anyone with any sense at all, it LOOKED like there would be NO BABY! As month after month after month appeared and disappeared, as Abraham rehearsed and re-rehearsed the promise of the Lord that his seed would someday be as the stars of the heavens, he DID believe God! But let's face it...he was human too! He--and Sarah--MUST have had shaken moments when they shrugged their shoulders and said--as WE would-- "So, Lord, where's the baby?" Where's the promise?"
In any event, she was 90; he was 99--and there WAS no baby. It got to the point of being ridiculous - of COURSE, there would be no baby! "Look--once we were young, now we are OLD--A BABY? You've got to be KIDDING!" Sarah laughed--wouldn't you??!! But God--who DOESN'T kid (an unintentional pun!)--who remains GOD and in control, knew exactly what He was doing. In HIS time and in HIS way, a cry was heard--not from the delivery room of the Israeli General Hospital - no, from a tent in the middle of the Israeli desert....for the GOD of the desert had kept His promise...the GOD of the desert had come to the hearts of the desert people...he brought laughter, joy and the fulfilment of His Word.
"So, Lord, where's the promise?" Hear the Lord of the desert say to YOU in your desert today, "It's in MY hands, for MY time, in MY way...it WILL come to pass. What I declare, happens. It is DONE!" And now, go on your way rejoicing. Unlike Sarah and Abraham, you may not need to stop at Walmart for Pampers, or at Walgreen's for formula--or you MAY, if it's a baby He has promised--but why not at least stop pacing the floor and begin praising the Lord--for the answer that is ON the way!
The answer He gives WILL be in the "good, acceptable and perfect Will"--and TIMING of the Lord! Now believe it, go on your way rejoicing--a "BABY"--HIS PROMISE--is on the way! Stop laughing in your disbelief; begin laughing in His joy--and you will have a great, choco-rich day!
Prayer: "Lord, I'm not a good "sit-still-and-waiter"--I've waited so long to see Your promises fulfilled in my life...I still wait, but now help me wait with gladness and joy--for Your promises are true and faithful; You WILL perform what You have promised; may I simply rest in the promise You've given and wait with joy for the answer that is on the way, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
...Love God's Word? Love Chocolate? Come On In!...
