God often turns up unannounced, uninvited, unrecognized. 

God appears in the Bible as a stranger more often than we realize. 

God also appears in our lives as a stranger more often than we recognize. 

This is true in the Advent story, as well. God appears in this story as both friend and stranger. He comes to earth in ways none of us would ever have dreamed of. God is unexpected!

His interactions with the people involved in Jesus’ birth are often odd and hard to understand. Yet, all the while God is at work moving His world-wide rescue plan forward and inviting ordinary people, just like us, to join with him in his work.