Focusing on the Star

Sam and I took the kids to see the movie The Star, which was a wonderful movie.  There is nothing that touches my heart more than my kids getting to hear the true message of Christmas. However, it wasn’t just the kids who received a message… I definitely did too!  At one point in the movie, Mary and Joseph are traveling to Bethlehem for the census, and on the trip, they have a broken wheel on their cart.  Out of frustration, Joseph cries out, and asks God, "Why?".  Why all these problems if I’m on a journey for you? Why roadblocks, speedbumps, and busted wheels? 
You know, we’ve experienced the same things with this project.  While we know this is the journey God put before us, it has not come without detours.  When the road gets windy, or I have a broken wheel kind of day, I have to check my focus.  Is it on the problem, or is it on Jesus.  When I see Jesus before the problem, I find peace, optimism, and hope.  When I see the problem before Jesus, I feel defeated and discouraged.  The same is true for all of us.  It’s easy to focus our attention in Josephs case, off the star, and on the broken wheel;  off of Christ, and on broken relationships, hurt feelings, financial woes, busy schedules, and so much more.  It’s this time of year we need to adjust our view finders, and put that Christmas star back in our direct line of sight. 
Psalms 112:7 “They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them”.