Today's episode focuses on the story of Jesus' birth in Luke. The true reason for the season begins in Luke, Chapter 1. Can you imagine how Mary felt when told that she, a virgin, would give birth to a son? And not just any son, the Son of God, the Messiah. Throughout this book her prayer, what we call "Mary's Song" is revealed. Dr. Paula reminds us to spend some time in this scripture and notice, what Mary speaks from the heart. What is she calling Jesus? How is she describing God? How is she even describing her own heart?

To learn more about Dr. Paula McDonald visit drpaulamcdonald.com. Click here to download her free Christmas study lessons!

Hi there.

I'm Dr.

Paula McDonald, and I welcome you to my podcast live today.

It's here that together we'll explore the concept of balance as God designed it to be for us, his children.

Balance of the mind, the body and the spirit.

And it's what I've named Theosynthesis and it's here waiting for you.

Hi, this is Dr.

Paula McDonald and we are on the Live Today podcast episode number 85.

And what I wanted to talk to you about today is this beautiful time of Christmas.

And as I recorded a few weeks ago, making sure that we have the reason for the season that is so important.

Last night I was in my Bible study with my group and we were talking about Christmas and how it can become so frenzied and so crazy and don't you know that the enemy wants us to become so frenzied and crazy that we actually do forget the reason for the season? So I gave you some very practical tips on that recording and I believe that's podcast number 83.

But today I wanted to talk about the story of Jesus's birth in Luke.

And if you go to Luke chapter one, you will find in that very first chapter that it is packed with the reason for the season.

I'd love for you to spend time really pouring through that entire book.

It's filled with the angel Gabriel visiting Zechariah and telling him about his wife who's going to become pregnant, and then also his wife Elizabeth, how she responds to this message, and then how the same angel Gabriel visits Mary to tell this young virginal woman, hey, guess what? You are going to give birth to the Messiah, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

I can't even imagine how that young woman felt or responded.

But we are given a glimpse into Mary's song in that very first chapter.

So take a minute to go through Mary's song.

It really is her prayer and her heart.

And I think that song would be such a beautiful thing to dive into.

Really take apart the song and look at what is she saying in it, what is she calling Jesus? How is she describing God? How is she even describing her heart? It would make such a wonderful and beautiful Bible study.

I'm actually uploading some of those extra Christmas lessons and I'll have them on my Dr.

Paula McDonald page where you can actually go and do them with us.

So dive into that.

And if you want to go into one Samuel, chapter twelve, you can see the prayer of Hannah and the two prayers.

If you look at the prayer of Mary and the prayer of Hannah side by side, I think that you will find some amazing similarities between these two women and what they were going through.

But at this time at Christmas, if you'll take a minute to go to that song of Mary and read that to your family.

Maybe you break it down for your family and you go through it with a fine tooth comb.

I believe what you're going to find is a beautiful message of Christmas that is often overlooked.

We often forget about Mary.

We focus on Jesus, which of course he is the reason for the season.

But when we focus on Mary, we see the human side of her experience of what she had to do.

She had to have a crisis of faith big time.

You guys, here she was getting ready to get married to Joseph and this angel appears number one.

That would be quite amazing.

And this angel tells her you're going to have a child.

And of course she's saying, how in the world is that possible? And so there is her crisis of faith.

How is this possible? And then you see as the song develops that she has fully embraced and accepted this crisis of faith.

And she's told God, thank you, I will be obedient to what you are asking me.

And so as we look at that and we're going into this very busy season, I would ask that you stop and maybe you write a song to Christ.

It doesn't have to rhyme, it doesn't have to be anything special, but telling him about where you are and how you would like to be obedient to his calling in your life and what a beautiful thing that you could share with your prayer group or your family to just share this is what's on my heart.

But you guys, as we look at Christmas, I am feeling such a need to put aside the fake plastic artificial part of Christmas and to dig in deeply to the true meaning.

Because you guys, I do believe our time on this earth is getting shorter and shorter as things in our entire world are getting more and more crazy.

Think about it in terms of diving into your word, diving into your Bible like never before, and don't allow the busyness of the season to stop you from spending that time.

And I mean, it does take a discipline.

So even if you need to get up early or you need to use your lunch break as a time of digging into the word of God, go and do that and get to the chapter of Luke and really, really, really look in to that beautiful Christmas story what was really happening on that night and the time before.

It's all set up.

It's all recorded for us.

And I think one of the most beautifully done shows is The Chosen.

And looking at Jesus's birth through Mary's eyes.

They have a Christmas special that is phenomenal.

Take time instead of watching Frosty the Snowman, which I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Frosty the Snowman, but instead make an intentional night with your grandkids or your children or your spouse or your friends or your Bible study to watch that show.

The Chosen, the Christmas special from last year to really stop and reflect.

What was it like for them, what were they going through, what were the real human emotions? I think that's what the whole show Chosen does so well.

When I had the privilege and honor of meeting some of the characters and the producer of this show a couple of years ago, I told them, thank you guys for creating a storyline that's not so.

What we used to seeing, and it's done so cheaply.

The Chosen is done so beautifully.

Well, their costumes, the music, and what they do that I love is the fact that they're getting into the character's psyche and emotions that just aren't covered in the word of God.

There's no way that the Bible is already large enough could capture every human emotion that they were feeling.

And so that is what I know I'm turning my heart to right now during Christmas is the real human side of what does it really mean to me and to my family? How can this Christmas be different in that respect? And how can we fully keep our eyes on Christ? And for me, the really only way for me to do that is by staying in the word of God, no matter how busy I am.

And trust me, I'm like you all, I live a very busy life, but I put it on my calendar.

I block out time to spend with the Lord to either work on my podcast or my Bible study or whatever it is that's going to further the kingdom of God.

And so that is what His Christmas wish for us is, is to spend more time with Him.

How can you do that in this crazy busy season? Because I tell you, when you do, you are going to be blessed more than you've ever been, and the season will take on a new meaning for you.

Yes, all of the traditions and all of that family time is important, but it can become so marred and so messed up when we take our eyes off Christ.

And so this Christmas season, will you stop? Will you breathe, and will you slow down so that you can fully get into the true meaning of this season? It is not to be missed, you all.

It is so beautiful.

And I am excited to see how this Christmas will be different from the rest by slowing down instead of speeding up, because I don't want to miss a moment of it.

I'm to the point now where I have grandchildren and I get to go see them, and I want to be able to leave a legacy with them, that there's so much more than toys and presents and Santa and elves and all of that stuff.

Those are fun things, but they're not the reason why we are celebrating this time.

So think about what your family traditions are, and maybe it's time to create new traditions.

And I know there's lots of wonderful Advent calendars and things of that nature that can get your focus on Christ, any of those things that you can do.

Get your journal out and look at what you have been doing as a Christmas tradition and perhaps see what a more biblical or spiritual tradition that you could start.

It could start with you, because you are the one hearing this podcast.

And therefore God probably has a reason for you listening to it.

And that's because he wants you to hear something.

Think about those traditions and go to Him in prayer, get your journal out and come up with some new things that you can share with your family.

You guys, you will be blessed beyond measure, I can tell you that.

I know I already see it and feel it in my own life and I just wish I had thought about or someone had taught me to do this much earlier in my life.

But it's okay because we are all moving forward and there's no guilt to be had.

It's what we do with the knowledge that we've gained today and what we do with it tomorrow.

So head into this season fully expectant of the beauty of the season and on our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He desires that time with you, even when you're so stink and busy, so just slow down, rest in Him, spend time in the Word.

It's never ever wasted.

And I believe that you will find so much peace and rest and joy and happiness in this season.

So I want to wish you the most beautiful and merriest of Christmases of all.

Thank you for joining me, friends.