Whew, finally, the last piece! I just finished a puzzle that was started at Thanksgiving during the five days while my kids were here. We all worked on it, but I will have to admit they did the hard parts that didn't make sense, like the background that was all one colour. That's what separated the patient from the impatient. Only a puzzle lover could understand the jubilation and explosion of emotions of finding just the right piece!

As I read Scripture about the birth of Jesus, I see pieces of another puzzle coming together. The Bible is a giant puzzle that fits perfectly together, if we have the patience to gather its pieces. As I started through Matthew, I highlighted each reference from the Old Testament.

Matthew 1:22-23 – All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us." (NIV)

Matthew 2:5-6 – "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (NIV)

Just as I pick up the right piece of my puzzle and put it into the perfect place, prophecy from the Old Testament fits perfectly into the Christmas story. Amazing, isn't it! I get so excited as these perfectly shaped pieces of the perfect plan fit together. We tend to forget that the beautiful story we think about at Christmastime or read on Christmas Eve was not an isolated event, but it was that vital piece of the puzzle that brought redemption to us all.

Is the puzzle finished yet? No, it will be finished at the return of Christ, and then, we will fully appreciate the beautiful plan that God set into motion. The puzzle will be complete, and we will see fully things that we see only in part for now. Praise His holy name!

In the same way that God has a great plan for the world, He also has a plan for you and me! There will be times when the pieces of our lives seem not to fit together, when parts of the puzzle don't make sense, but rest assured; there is a plan!

Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

That means that even though our puzzle is not coming together right now, it will eventually, because God is the master puzzle lover, and He rejoices as each part of the plan He has for you comes together. God has all the pieces. Trust Him to show you His plan day by day.

Whew! I feel another thousand-piece puzzle in my near future. How about you?

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for fitting together all the pieces of Your wonderful plan for our lives. Amen.