Decorating
Gingerbread houses…
Nibbling
Gingerbread men…
Snuggling
while watching Christmas movies
Visiting
the Reindeer Ranch…which included…
Jumping and Climbing…
Sliding…
Riding…
Petting
reindeers…
And
even seeing someone getting kissed by a reindeer…
Times
of silly play with grandchildren…
Playing
Candyland, Connect Four and Kerplunk…
Attending
a Pre-K Christmas Program…
These
were just a few of the activities (memory makers) that filled this past
weekend!
Yes, it
was busy!
But how
blessed we are to be close to family…providing us the opportunity to spend so
much time with them!
One
fun-filled activity led to the next!
And
though I loved each and every moment, I know how important it is to take time…
Time to
be still before the Lord…
Time to
remember the real meaning of this season…
Time to
reflect on why Jesus came to earth…
Time to
reflect upon the glory of our Heavenly Father…
Time to
read the story of the birth of Jesus…
And
what an amazing story!!!
Who
could imagine the characters or events that appear in this miraculous story!
Mary, a young bride-to-be…a teenager… is visited by an angel…
The angel spoke to Mary, saying…”Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”…Luke 1:28.
And the angel continued to tell Mary…
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”…Luke 1:30-33.
Can you imagine how Mary felt?
What she was thinking?
An angel had not only come to visit her…but was also talking to her…telling her that she would give birth to God’s son!
I’m not sure that I would even be able to comprehend this news!
I’m not even sure I would be able to speak, let alone ask questions, but Mary did!
She asked the angel… “How will this be…“since I am a virgin?”…Luke 1:34
The angel answered…“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…Luke 1:35.
Mary didn’t question the angel.
She didn’t tell him that he was mistaken…that he had the wrong girl.
Mary simply said…
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her…Luke 1:38.
I am slightly astounded by Mary’s words!
She was so young!
Looking forward to marrying Joseph!
And in a single moment…she learned…from an angel…that she would be giving birth to God’s son!
Her world had just been turned upside down!
And she simply responded…”I am the Lord’s servant”!
I believe we can learn a lot from Mary!
When God speaks to us…each of us would simply respond with…”I am your servant, Lord.
I desire to live my life completely surrendered to you”!
Oh, I want to be like that!
Willing to do or go whatever God calls me to do…wherever HE calls me to go!
I pray that each of us ponder Mary’s response this Christmas season…and then ask ourselves…”Is there something I could learn from this young teenage girl”
I believe if we are completely honest…each of us would answer with a yes!
Dear Heavenly Father…help us to read the story of the birth of Jesus with fresh eyes…a fresh heart…receiving all that you have for us as we read those precious words! And then help each of us to be a little more like Mary…by responding to God with her words…”I am the Lord’s servant”!
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