In the days of the Roman Empire before the time of Christ, people witnessed the impossible. They saw one of the greatest engineering feats in the history of the world. They saw the construction of a complex system of roads and highways that connected their world. All roads lead to Rome. Impossible. But it happened.

People in the 15th century also witnessed the impossible. With Guttenberg's invention of the printing press, all written communication could now be mass produced. Who would have ever believed that could happen?

Today we are witnessing what has been termed the flattening of the earth. The information highway (the internet) has brought all worlds together. Twenty years ago would you have believed that a North Vietnamese girl, crafting a doll in her village, could sell that doll over the internet to your daughter in Chapin? Impossible.

Someone has defined the impossible this way: "The impossible—what nobody can do until somebody does it." On the other hand, there are some things that only God can do. To us they are impossible. With God, the Bible says, all things are possible.

I have titled this year's Christmas messages "What Is Your Impossible?" Some months back I was reading through the Christmas story and began to notice all the impossible things that happened—the virgin birth, the announcement of the angels, the Incarnation, the star in the East, etc. The Christmas story is filled with miracles, things that are impossible…that is, unless God gets involved. And isn't that the whole theme of Christmas? God got involved.

Luke 1:37 serves as the key verse for these weeks of study. The words were spoken by the angel whenever Mary questioned how she could give birth to a baby in light of the fact that she was a virgin. The angel responded, "For nothing is impossible with God." Say those words with me. What is your impossible? I'm here to tell you this morning that God can relate. He knows what you're going through. Do you find yourself in an impossible situation? God understands. And nothing is impossible with God.

After my mom's surgery the doctor, with a grim look on his face, told me that he had to take out about a third of her cancerous lung. But he was not able to get all the cancer. He could still see some but felt that my mom could not have survived the trauma of more cutting. Since my dad's and brother's death from cancer were still fresh on my mind, I told him to shoot straight with me about a prognosis. He estimated a few months. That was nearly fifteen years ago. With God all things are possible.

Her cancer still shows up on her CT scan that she has once or twice a year. Every year, it is the same report. It's the same size. A month or so ago something suspicious showed up on her mammogram. So they did an MRI. It was nothing, but they did find something on the other breast and the doctor prepared her that it was cancer. The biopsy report came back. I was sitting in my office when she called and said, "It was just a benign mass that should disintegrate on its own." I confess that I was surprised because we all were certain it was cancer.

When I hung up the phone, tears welled up in my eyes as I said, "God, you've done it again. Thank you." Sometimes I believe my mom has such an effective hotline to heaven that God changes things around in her body in response to her prayers. There have been many times I call her and say, "Mom, it's time to pray." With God, all things are possible.

I know all the stories of hardship and challenges don't always turn out like we wish. But the point I'm trying to make today is that God can relate to whatever you're going through. Medical issues, financial hardships, family conflict, major life transitions…none of these things escapes the notice of God. Major life and death issues as well as the daily challenges—God can relate. Did you hear about the recent Miss Universe contest? Ingrid Marie Rivera, Puerto Rico's representative, won the contest. But it wasn't smooth sailing for her. Someone not only stole her luggage with all her clothes and credit cards but also doused her competition attire with pepper spray. Her face got all swollen and she broke out in hives. But she continued in the contest and won it. She remarked, "Regardless of the results, this is my goal. The more rocks there are in my path, the more thanks I will give to God for sustaining me."

God knows all about your needs. He can relate. He can relate because of one significant moment in history. Our focal verses today read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:1, 14). The reason God can relate to every need in your life is that one day God did the impossible. He took a walk from heaven to earth. He got involved in our lives like He never had before. He became one of us.

These two verses communicate one of the most profound truths in the whole Bible. "The Word was God…The Word (God) became flesh." In other words, the God of the universe, the Creator of the world, became a human. It blows my mind whenever I ponder the baby born in the manger in Bethlehem. Imagine you're there. As you gaze upon the baby, you're trying to figure this thing out. This is God I'm looking at. A baby. God in the flesh.

On Monday I stopped by Baptist Hospital to welcome a new baby into the world. Joey and Kat Abstance had their first baby, Sydney Grace. When I entered the room, there was Kat in the bed, Joey sitting in a chair. Her mom was in another chair. And there was the baby all wrapped up in a warm blanket in the arms of granddaddy David. I promise you there was super glue on that blanket because that baby was attached to David's arms. Can you think of anything more precious than holding a newborn baby?

But I wonder what Joseph and Mary must have felt as they held their newborn baby. I mean they were holding God. God didn't come to earth in the form of a grown man. He came as a baby. Other than not having a sin nature, this baby was just like any baby—squalling in the middle of the night, poopy britches, spit up and everything. He skinned His knees and got splinters in His toes. Imagine you're Joseph and Mary and you're returning to Nazareth from your trip to Jerusalem. Where is Jesus? They couldn't find him. They accidentally left Him behind in Jerusalem. I remember Anita and I travelling down the road one day and realizing we had left Kenny at home. But that's nothing because Joseph and Mary left God in Jerusalem.

Why am I making a big deal of all this? Because it is a big deal that Jesus was fully God but also fully human. As a human He experienced the things we go through. The Bible says, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Because He faced the same things we do, He can relate to our problems. He understands our trials and pain.

What is your impossible? Where do you need a miracle in your life? Is your impossible the ton of guilt you're living under because you've made such a mess of your life? Maybe your impossible is that your life has gone through major transitions and you wonder what in the world you've gotten yourself into. Could it be that your impossible relates to finances? You can't find meaningful employment and the bill collectors are calling every day.

For some, it may be your marriage is falling apart. You can't see how you can possibly survive the stress and turmoil in your life. Others are students or singles and you're dealing with relationship issues. You're wondering if you need to go out with someone. Or maybe you broke up with your boyfriend. Or maybe you're wondering if you're going to be single the rest of your life. God understands. He can relate to your needs.

Some parents right now…your son or daughter is breaking your heart because of the lifestyle he/she has chosen. He's living far away from God. She's got hooked up with the wrong crowd. He's dabbling with alcohol and drugs. You think there may be an addiction problem. It's impossible for you to see how all this is going to end up.

You may be reaching your twilight years and you seem to be facing one health issue after another. You wonder who will go first, you or the mate you've been married to for more than fifty years. God understands.

You may be facing disappointments, discouragement, despair, and depression. In fact, you may be lower right now than you can ever remember. God took a walk into this universe for you. He understands. What is your impossible? I promise you…God can relate to whatever you are going through. He cares. And don't forget that with God all things are possible. What you may see as impossible, God sees as an opportunity to shine.

Let me share three thoughts with you that I believe will help you see God do the impossible in your life. I'm not trying to be a Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, or Joel Osteen. This is not a three-step process to get quick miracles from God. But I've been where you are. And these three things are very obvious and simple; but they will help you.

First, stop trying to solve your problems with your own power. Quit trying to take matters into your own hands. No, God doesn't want us to just sit back and say, "OK, God, do your thing." But too many times we get so engrossed in our impossibles that we tend to leave God out of the picture.

Last Saturday afternoon, Anita was in the kitchen getting things ready for hosting some friends who were coming over to watch the game (you know, THE game). I was in the study typing away at a book summary when Anita called me to take care of a dog problem. Bruno had a big wad of dog bed stuffings in his mouth. No big deal. Except Bruno got defensive and didn't want to give it up. I don't believe in dogs winning. All the techniques I had used in the past didn't work. He was making me mad. So I took matters in my own hands. I shouldn't have. He growled and jumped up and took a big chunk out of my arm. I should have gone to Urgent Care for a couple of stitches. But I wasn't about to miss the Clemson-Carolina game. So Anita doctored me up and it's healing up fine.

We do that a lot with our problems. We think we know what's best. So we assume control of the situation, only to find out that we get dog bit and the problems get worse. God says, "Let the Master of Impossibilities take over."

Second, talk to God about your situation. Approach God's throne with great confidence. Remember the verse from Hebrews that reminded us that God understands our weaknesses. The very next verse says, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (Hebrews 4:16). Be brutally honest with Him. And don't tell Him how you think He ought to work things out. Some of us treat God like we are His master. "God, here's the situation. And just in case you need some advice, here are the steps I think you need to take to resolve this mess."

But, Ken, I've been praying. Don't stop. Don't give up. Keep persisting.

Third, believe that God is working on your behalf. Sometimes it might seem that He's far away and that He's not doing anything. It's during those times you must have faith that He is in control. In fact, the Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). You've got to have faith. You've got to trust Him to work things out in His own timing and in His own way.

What's your impossible? God wants to do a miracle in the midst of your impossible. But keep in mind the miracle for you might not be healing from a disease. It might not be the saving of a marriage or your loved one coming to Christ. The true miracle might be the way God transforms your life and gives you the strength to make it through whatever impossible situation you're facing.

During this Christmas season, I pray that you will be ponder the many miracles in the nativity story and that you will be caught up in the wonder of how God still works miracles and does the impossible in our lives today. Nothing is impossible with God.