Understanding and Applying Luke 2 in 2008 soon to be 2009.
I think most people read Luke 2 around Christmas time and hopefully at other times. Pretty much every church in North America teaches on Luke 2 in December, families read it before opening presents, programs on television from Charlie Brown to who knows what else share it as well. I appreciate all of the above. But I wonder, can we really, truly get our heads around how it happened?

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased," when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger." Luke 2:1-16 I could seriously type out the whole chapter but you may read it yourself and mull over it. (realizing that some of my friends reading this may not have a Bible I encourage you to go out and get one, or call me I will bring you one--for real!)

On to my musings. . .
I watched a movie tonight "The Nativity" I think it's a year old or so but I hadn't seen it. I was surprised at my reaction to it. I was distracted while watching it; only passing in and out of the room where it was being played. I sat down at one point and found myself teary watching it. The thought that God, the creator of the universe, I mean the One who literally SPOKE the WORLD into existence, God, GOD chose to bring His ONE and ONLY son into this world through a woman, a meek, unmarried, pure, young woman. He was born in a stable, a STABLE folks! Stables or barns house animals, dirty animals, surrounded at best with straw and manure. He was wrapped in swaddlings (cloths) laid in a manger, a feeding troth. He was placed in the care of a young engaged couple (engaged then was all but married not quiet the same as today's engagements). I continue to be amazed, knowing that I don't fully grasp it and won't this side of heaven. I heard a song on the way home from my friends house where I saw this movie-the chorus goes something like this "He made the lame walk and the dumb talk and He opened blinded eyes to see..."

Jesus, after He "grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man" Luke 2:52 started healing blind people, lame people, demon possessed people, bleeding people and crippled people. He literally hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors-ok today tax collectors aren't all bad but back then man alive! They were corrupt as all get out back then. And come on, prostitutes, when was the last time you hung out with a prostitute? anyone? or better yet a pedophile? Would Jesus hang out with him? Remind me -who did Jesus come for? The healthy? Matthew 9:12 says "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This God, this Jesus, this Messiah came to save us, but not only to save us, to love us; to love us deeply, intimately, unconditionally. He drew the weak, the weary, the sinful and the lonely to Himself. So many things to get my head around here--
1. that God chose to bring His one beloved Son into a world that rejected Him ages ago, in the lowest of means; in a stable.
2. that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man and yet hung out with the (in our eyes) ugliest people, the outcasts, the bottom feeders---that's who He came for --just a reminder--that's you and me. should be sobering.
3. what would His birth look like today?
4. what would He look like today

I read a great book a few years ago by Bill Myers called Eli. It's fictional but amazing--its basically Luke 2 modern day. Worth reading for the sake of understanding and applying Luke 2 today.

Why would such a great God love such a person like me? Psalm 139 has a bit to say about this. He created me in the secret place, knows me, knows my days before one of them begins. I am His and He is mine. I love Him and He loves me. He allows me to struggle, to suffer, to cry and even flounder a bit, but HE never changes in the midst of it, He is constant and His love for me is constant. Humbling.

His grace is sufficient. His love overwhelms. He embraces me and comforts me.

I find myself continually amazed and struck, humbled and awed by His love and mercy, by His grace and compassion, by His forgiveness of all my sins and His making me righteous, me of all people!!!! He redeemed me, redeemed my soul! He gave me new life! When I was 19 He gave me new life! He sought me, pursued me, drew my heart toward Himself, covered me in His love, healed me with His Word, with His grace, His mercy and compassion. Has He done something similar for you? Do you long for Him to? Call out to Jesus. Do you know Him already? Have you told anyone? Folks you work with, live near, walk by in the store, drive by, and yes those that live in Africa (those that have my heart) need you, they need you to talk to them, to love them. Yet another thing I don't understand but creates a sense of urgency in me--He uses us to speak of His love to others! My sweet friend often tells her two year old little girl to "use your words" come on folks use your words, use His Word, yes use your life most definitely along with words!! :) We are not promised tomorrow. Enjoy Him, enjoy the life He's given you- by all means have fun doing it (my personal philosophy) and open your heart-open your mouth-LIVE OUT LOUD!

I'm starting to get excited about this next chapter in my life. Why wouldn't I be ready and willing for what God has for me? I want to be "all in", not wasting a second . . . yet making sure I take the time to listen to Him to "be still and know that I am God" I want to enjoy this time with family and friends . . . don't know if I'll head to another field oversees in 6 months or 2 years or longer . . . ? I'm going to live life to the fullest and enjoy fellowship in the body of Christ while I have the opportunity. When I was in Cameroon one of the things I missed the most was corporate worship and just good ole fellowship, hang out time; laughing and enjoying friends and family. I want to store it up if you will and go out again full; I believe Paul did that on his journeys serving the LORD.
The picture is of Rives Martin (family friends) and myself taken the night before I left for Cameroon

Having spent most of November traveling I am looking forward to spending Christmas in Jacksonville, Fl. I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Fort Walton Beach, Fl, drove back to Jax for a day then headed up to North Carolina for a couple of weeks. I was at CIT which is a training center for missionaries; I did my pre-field training there before I went to Cameroon, Africa. CIT also does a debrief/re entry program, hence my week there. It was an invaluable time. There were four other missionaries there; we shared our struggles, encouraged one another, prayed for one another and looked at future possibilities for ministry. I cannot put in a nut shell or even into words how precious and needed that time was. When debrief was over I headed to Roanoke Rapids, NC to visit amazing friends; David and Stephanie with their sweet girls Sadie and Ana. Then onto Winston Salem, NC to see Julia; good friend who just returned from Tanzania, Africa. Aaaaaaand back to Jax . . . praying about what the Lord has for me here in the States (for how ever long the Lord would have me here). I miss Cameroon so much, I need to get my heart and head here, wanting to be "all in" here. I'm hoping to find a job that uses the heart God has given me; to work with children or women or youth; discipling and drawing others toward Christ. I'm also dreaming a bit about school . . . just dreaming for now; medical school, nursing school, counseling. .. we'll see. I'd appreciate your prayers! : )

Dear friends and family, December 9, 2008

I pray this finds you all well. I continue to be deeply grateful for all of you! I apologize for the delay in getting this letter to you; I’ve spent quite a while praying and thinking about how to communicate the following to you all. It’s a bit lengthy but I believe will be worth your time if you’re wanting to know what in the world is happening with me ;)

“Trust in the LORD and do good, dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him . . . The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” Psalm 37 exerts

I have been studying this passage and it has ministered to my soul. So many deep truths and promises in the passage above show the steadfast love of the LORD and remind me to continually commit my ways to Him.

The past year has been much like a roller coaster . . . To recap and catch you all up; in October 2007 I arrived in Sub-Saharan Africa, spent the first month or so in orientation, getting used to pre-historic size bugs and bats, sleeping under a mosquito net, allowing spiders to stay in my room as long as they kept up their duties of eating bugs, followed by language study, building friendships with some of the local women and strategy meetings with teammates. I met Oliver Haumann shortly after I arrived in Africa. Oliver is from Germany and has been a missionary in Cameroon for five years. He became a friend, in April we began a relationship and by July we were engaged. We spent much time in prayer and believed God had led us together. We did however recognize the importance of being in one another’s home cultures and had been advised to do so. Hence I returned to the States in September to debrief, reconnect with you (still working on that ;) and prepare for Oliver’s arrival here. I also continued to be in full time language study in September and October. Oliver arrived October 30th and we began meeting with one of my pastors right away. After discussions with my pastor, with one another, our seeking the Lord and insights from friends around us Oliver and I ended our engagement and relationship. We indeed did believe that the LORD led us together but now has led us apart. While I still don’t understand why, I as the pot will not question the potter (Romans 9), I will yet trust Him for I know that “All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful” Psalm 25:10. That was a difficult week for us but we were honest, honored one another in all we did and we believe we honored the LORD as well. Our heart was to listen to Him, hear His voice and obey Him in all things. Oliver returned to Germany shortly thereafter and is seeking the LORD’s direction for ministry. I remain here in Jacksonville, Fl for the time being. My heart is aching, healing and resting in the sovereign LORD yet a deep desire within me remains; to be married. I will continue to trust this area of my life to the LORD and covet your prayers.

Serving as a single woman in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) among a m_s1@m people group proved more challenging than I had anticipated. I believe God did indeed lead me there and used me there for His purposes for 11 months. My time in SSA was spent mostly in a transitional city but my goal was to move further north to a more remote area called Kousseri. I traveled to Kousseri often via bush taxi to visit my teammates and learn more about where I would be living. Although on the same compound as my teammates, I would have been living alone in a house in Kousseri. Due to the culture and safety issues I found that this was not a good option or fit for me.

Currently I am meeting with my church missions director and dialoging with World Team leaders about future ministry. My heart for Africa, for the unreached, for God’s great glory and for His Name to be made known among the nations has not changed but grows with my every heartbeat! As days go by here I become more aware of how much of my heart I left in Africa. The LORD loves the people of Africa deeply and has given me a great love for them as well. The Scripture that challenged me years ago; “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:13-14, still fuels my passion to reach those who are yet to hear. A great hope comes with a great challenge to those of us who hold that hope.

I am praying about when and where the LORD will use this passion He’s cultivated in me next. Currently I believe it’s in Jacksonville, Fl but I do desire to extend His hope over seas eventually.

In the midst of many questions fears, concerns and doubts over the past year this remains; “His steadfast love endures forever”. I trust that He used the past year for His great glory, for my good, for those I lived among to have experienced a glimpse of hope and joy and love for a time . . . even if through broken language, smiles and time spent.




As I continue to pray and dialog with my church and World Team leaders about future ministry. Please join with us in prayer for:

• How I may serve the LORD stateside
• Clarity to know where I may serve in the future over seas
• “To the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” Matthew 9:38
• Healing for Oliver and I

Once again I am deeply grateful to you all for your investment in me and in the kingdom work! It was with great joy that I was an extension of the body of Christ in Africa. It is so refreshing to be in your presence again.
I close the way the apostle Paul closed his letter to the Ephesian believers “Peace be to you brothers (and sisters), and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” Ephesians 6:23

In the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Stacey Anne Robert
(904) 562-9074
Stacey.robert@globalcomz.net
878 Waterman Road North
Jacksonville, Fl 32207