You might be surprised to know that we did not have a Nativity scene in our home for many years. Why not? Well, there were too many choices and I could not decide on the one I liked the best. Finally I chose one that I like very much, even if my family teases me that it is a little too big.

The first thing that comes out of the box is the stable. I blow off the dust, fluff up the hay and position it just right. After all, it is the central background for all the other figures.

"The Nativity," Lorenzo Lotto. Most paintings of the stable show scenes like this, but in Jesus' day, stables were often caves with mangers carved into the rock walls.

When Jesus lived, stables were often caves with mangers or feeding troughs carved into the rock walls. They were dark and dirty places. Certainly this was not the kind of place where the Jews expected to find the Messiah King. They thought that the Messiah would be born into royalty and surrounded by riches and luxury. Our God is full of surprises, isn’t he? He does not do what we expect him to do. He does things according to His plan.

One more surprise is that His plan is for us! Jesus came so that we could know God better. When you see the baby Jesus lying in the manger in the stable, get to know him. Grow with him and you will be surprised how it will change your life!