Untraditional Christmas

This is not the usual Christmas spiel- you know, the whole "It's not about the gifts, it's about Jesus being born" thing. Most of us already know that, and if you didn't,  then you know now! ;)
Yes, it is important to understand the true meaning of Christmas, but I'd like to take a slightly different take on it... Namely, the "Untraditional Christmas. "
I recently heard a sermon about how Jesus' birth wasn't as "airy-fairy" as we see on all the Christmas cards and posters. In fact, it was the opposite. Mary and Joseph had to tavel all the way to Bethlehem. Now cars were non-existent back then, so I'm sure they got very sweaty and smelly along the way. When you're 9 months pregnant and about to pop, I don't really think you'll stop for some showers along the way... 
On top of that, Jesus was born in a STABLE. I don't know if you've ever been in a stable, but not only do those things have quite the... strong smell, they are filled with animals which normally attracts flies and some other unpleasant bugs. Then Jesus was placed in a straw manager.  Straw HURTS :/ I remember my best friend and I once climbing over straw barrels, we got pieces of straw sticking in some very uncomfortable places!
Jesus' birth was not exactly in the most ideal of circumstances, yet look how He turned out! Not only did He save the world, He also gave us some sound advice and showed us how to live a Godly life.
Jesus' life was far from easy. He was mocked, ridiculed, rejected and then crucified. He also travelled from city to city to preach, so He didn't exactly live in the most luxuriest of conditions, yet God STILL used Him.
We look at Moses as well. Moses was not supposed to survive, yet his mother strategically hid him in a reed basket in a river where he was picked up by the pharoah's daughter. Moses' early life was in the pharoah's palace and probably lived quite luxuriously,  but then he murdered someone who was mistreating a slave and his easy life dissolved. Moses went on to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and spend 40 years with them in the desert. How he did it, I'm not sure, because with the amount of complaining those Israelites did, I'd probably have duct taped their mouths shut!
Moses led these people to freedom and a new inheritance.  Acts 7:35 even says "This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and judge? '"
Now here's the point:
These are just two men who seemed insignificant or maybe unable to make a change, yet defied odds by God's power and did INCREDIBLE things!
The Bible warns us that we will face prosecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, " In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,". Part of this prosecution is rejection. I don't know if you have ever felt rejected or mocked by people for being a Christian? Or maybe you have been rejected or mocked for something completely different, like something you did for example?
Well here's the good news: If you've been born into difficult circumstances, God can STILL and WILL use you to do AMAZING, WONDERFUL things if you let Him!          
Maybe you've been born into good or all right circumstances,  but have done something terrible and think God won't use you. Well guess what? HE WILL! Paul, one of the most influential men in the Bible,  used to KILL and persecute Christians before he gave his life to God! Even after what Paul did, God forgave Him and used him to make such a difference for His Kingdom.
If you've been mocked or rejected because you're a Christian, let me tell you it probably won't stop any time soon. But at the end of the day, do you really need those people in your life? NO! Our life is to glorify God and share about His grace, so if people persecute you for it, isn't that all the more reason to share God's love and Word with them? We are working towards a SPECTACULAR inheritance- God's Kingdom.  Heaven is going to be BEYOND AMAZING... So amazing that our  human minds cannot grasp it or we may literally explode!  So keep moving through the persecution and just think: Don't you want to enter into heaven one day and have God rush to give you the biggest hug saying, I'm proud of you my son/daughter!"
Christmas traditions are important, and Jesus' birth even more important.  But sometimes I think it's important to look a little deeper, a little untraditionally.  Part of the incredible Christmas moment where we remember Jesus' birth, is remembering that God can still use YOU no matter what.
I'm ready to change the world.
Are you?