“Most of us, most of the time, feel left out – misfits. We don’t belong. Others seem to be so confident, so sure of themselves, … Luke is a most vigorous champion of the outsider. An outsider himself, the only Gentile in an all-Jewish cast of New Testament writers, he shows how Jesus includes those who typically were treated as outsiders by the religious establishment of the day: women, common laborers (sheepherders), the racially different (Samaritans), the poor….” The Message Introduction to Luke

We finished playing for worship and I went to the lobby for a cup of coffee. I got up at 3:30 a.m. to write my post before church. I had breakfast at five and I was hungry!

Someone brought cookies and the tray was empty. But – Kyle, the bass player, brought Victoria’s cinnamon rolls!

I don’t know her secret. I think she simmers vanilla and cinnamon overnight and then pours it over the rolls. Pulling back the foil from the pan is better than a diffuser! And they are so moist – like banana bread.

I was in the coat room – shoving the cinnamon roll in as fast as I could. I heard the sermon begin. I put the last piece in my mouth and turned to go wash my hands.

My oldest son, Luke, walked in. He saw my stuffed cheeks and said, “Busted.”

I couldn’t say a word! Sometimes God shuts my mouth on purpose.

Luke 1:20, “But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time – God’s time.” The Message

Musicians are a lonely lot. We practice before the service and afterwards, we have to pack the equipment up for storage.

We don’t get to talk with people before church. When we finish our work – everyone is gone!

Thankfully, our family had the Christmas Eve service off. It was great! David sat between Derek and I. He sang lead, Derek sang tenor, and I sang alto. I love hearing my family harmonize!

But, when the service was over, everyone got in groups to greet their friends. Derek and Rachel are youth leaders and have close friends in that group.

David and I do not. The couples we are close to were not there. David went to the restroom and I sat back down. I looked around at the familiar faces. I’ve played here for several years and I don’t know their names.

Being on the worship team looks so glamorous. It’s really lonely and a lot of hard work. I’m a witness. I do this every week.

You don’t believe me? I’m not surprised. The Jews didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah either. Several witnessed everything. They told everyone. They wrote books about it – Matthew, Mark, John.

Finally, Luke, who was a Gentile doctor, started gathering evidence. He listened to the story from all sources. He took meticulous notes. Each witness told the same stories!  When Theophilus started to doubt, Luke wrote it all down in a book.

Luke 1:1-4, “So many others have tried…putting together a story…(2) using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. (3) Since I have investigated all the reports…from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out… (4) So you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.” The Message

Maybe you are like Theophilus. You know the truth about Christmas but sometimes you doubt it can all be real.

Mary had doubts. She didn’t see how God could fulfill the promise He gave her. She chose to believe anyway.

“There are many things Mary didn’t understand about God’s will, but she accepted and obeyed it. And that’s what God is asking of you too.” The Word for You Today, 12-24-18

It’s impossible! Believe anyway.

I don’t understand! Believe anyway.

It can’t be true! Believe anyway.

Luke 1:45, “Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true.” The Message

Believe! Today! Right now! Click on the “Save me, Jesus, Prayer” in the menu above. Pray the prayer out loud. Then tell someone.

Today is now your birthday! Your spiritual birthday! You are born again after praying that prayer. Don’t be surprised if you act like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning!

Did you pray that prayer?

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