Christmas…….. What a wonderful season!!!!!
The hustle and bustle don't bother
me! I love the magic, the twinkle in my boy's eyes when they see Christmas
lights everywhere, but most of all I love the gift from my Savior. It's the
same story every year, "Jesus was born of a virgin, in a manger" and
this year just like every other year that story touches something deep inside
me. But today something new is tugging on my heart. "MARY" was
ordinary. She was a child of God, but nothing special. You know what I mean? To
us she is special, she is the mother of our all-powerful Jesus. But before
then, before she was the mother of the Messiah, she was just Mary. She was just
a young girl who believed in God, she was no different than you and me. When
Gabriel appeared to her she had no preparation. She had not spent her life
getting ready for what was to come. She didn't receive any special training,
she wasn't without fault or sin, she just believed. Mary was full of faith,
even then. In what had to be a very overwhelming, frightening, and
life-changing moment; she didn't falter. Mary's faith remained strong and she
was willing. I can’t help but wonder if I would have been willing, would you?
What are we willing to give, to do
for Him?
In Luke 1:28 Gabriel called Mary
"highly favored one". It means that grace was bestowed on her or that
she was full of grace. In Ephesians 1:6 the same word was used discussing all
believers. We are all full of grace- highly favored in God's eyes. It could
have been any of us. God could use one of us to do something huge just like He
did with Mary. I want to be ready when He asks me to do something HUGE. I want
Him to ask me to do something HUGE!
Christmas is awesome! I love every minute of it- but this
year I have found some new meaning in it all. Somehow it seems even more
magical than ever. Hopefully you all can find new meaning in it, and if nothing
else take a look at the story and remember what He did. What God did for us,
what Jesus did for us, and how Mary handled the life-changing situation with
grace and honor.