by Sharon O | Dec 6, 2014 | Uncategorized
The fourth person of the Christmas story is Mary.
What an important part she has been asked to do.
Can you even imagine?
She was very young most likely between the ages of 12 and 15
and she was not expecting anything so life changing to happen to her. I often call it a life altering moment.
In Luke 1:28 The angel Gabriel said to Mary:
“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered
what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you
have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive
in your womb, and bear a son and you will name him Jesus.
And he will be great, and will be called the son of the most high,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
He will rein over the house of Jacob forever, and
of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel said to her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the most high will over shadow you:
therefore the child to be born will be holy;
he will be called Son of God.”
I can imagine Mary and her thoughts.
Who would she talk to, who would she tell?
What about Joseph and how is he going to deal with this?
I don’t believe we are ever told about her parents.
Not sure what happened to them and her news about a child.
We know that for her to be pregnant with a child and
to have no husband, could actually be a death sentence for her.
We also know that she knew the rules and seemed accepting of them.
I wonder what happened in her life to give her such strong ‘faith’
without fear for her life and her situation.
Then Mary said, “Here am I, a servant of the Lord,
let it be with me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed.
On this fifth day of December, we think of Mary and her chosen role
to be ‘the Mother of Jesus’…a new little baby…the Son of God.
I wonder what she thought and how she felt when the angel departed from her, did she feel alone, overwhelmed, sad, confused or was she filled with deep peace.
There are so many things about her I wonder about, many of them
we will never know. All we know for sure is God found favor in her.
That is very commendable in fact that is why many give her honor
and praise and lift her up highly.
Mary was chosen.
Out of everyone else God chose a little teenage girl.
To be a very important part of the ‘Nativity story.’
by Sharon O | Dec 5, 2014 | Uncategorized
The third person in the Christmas story actually arrived before the first two.
God decided at some point in time that the angel Gabriel would play an important part on many levels within the Christmas story.
God sent him with a very specific assignment.
To Zechariah, in Luke 1:19 The angel replied,
“I am Gabriel.
I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent
to speak to you and tell you good news.”
I always find it amazing that the angels can speak in a language we can understand.
I also find it amazing that once the initial ‘fear’ leaves the one listening,
they seem comfortable in speaking with an angel.
Remember he always says, “do not fear” before he gets their attention.
Imagining that it would be a bit scary and unsettling,
to all of a sudden have a heavenly being in your presence,
not only that, but speaking to you as if they know who you are.
Each time they show up they know who they are speaking to and they know why.
There is a purpose and a lesson.
I also find it interesting that not only did Gabriel give good news to Zechariah,
he also had the power to discipline him.
In verse 20 the angel said,
“But now, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute,
unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
In other words, I am in control and you need to be quiet.
If he was mute till the baby came that would be almost nine months.
That would be a powerful lesson.
The next assignment Gabriel had was to go visit Mary six months later.
That means he left God’s presence to tell Zechariah something.
Then he returned till it was time to tell Mary something.
Amazing details and interactions.
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, vs 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgins name was Mary.
Notice the specifics in this, a town within a town, a virgin who was engaged and he knew the virgins name along with who she was engaged to.
Nothing is missed. All the details very specific within the story.
In the book of Matthew 1:20 Joseph was met by an angel in a dream
and it doesn’t say it was Gabriel but it makes me wonder.
Just as in Matthew 2:13 and 2:19 an angel met him again in a dream.
In Luke 1:28-38 we are told of Mary’s interaction with Gabriel.
Every year more details seem to come out of the Christmas story.
Nothing was by accident or chance it was all planned and ordained.
On this fourth day of December,
I am amazed that so much detail was poured into the birth of Jesus.
I can’t help but believe in this all knowing, all powerful God.
by Sharon O | Dec 3, 2014 | Uncategorized
The second person of the Christmas story is the wife of Zechariah.
Her name is Elizabeth.
Her story begins in Luke 1:6
[Both of them were righteous before God, living blameless
according to all commandments and regulations of the Lord.
vs7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
vs 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, vs 25 this is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.]
Those who have studied the Christmas story know how old Elizabeth was and how it was medically impossible for her to be with child.
It was also a great ‘shame’ to be without a child in those days.
I would imagine she was post menopause in age and definitely not young enough
to be even thinking of having a new little baby.
You can imagine her joy when she found out she was chosen to have a child
not just a child but a very important ‘chosen’ baby boy.
Have you ever waited for something for so long that after a while
your longing and dreaming becomes a thin wish… and then sorrow
takes the place of the fulfillment of your dream?
Yeah, I would imagine that is what they felt within their empty broken hearts.
Wishing and hoping and waiting for a baby and like every other couple who have difficulty conceiving a child the disappointment becomes the normal feeling month after month.
Then all of a sudden she realizes with Zechariah the dream is real.
She understood the miracle of the moment and that God was blessing them in a miraculous way.
God had chosen their child for a special reason and purpose.
Their son, the one they would conceive and the angel said
his name would be called John and he would play an important part
in the Messiah’s story.
Johns name means “the Lord has been kind.”
What an important part of the story and also a great reminder for us.
Don’t get discouraged in the waiting process.
Someday, when you are least expecting it, your ‘dream just might happen’ and it will be better than anything you could imagine.
by Sharon O | Dec 3, 2014 | Uncategorized
The first person of the Christmas story arrives in the book of Luke
found in the New Testament.
In chapter one verse eleven we find an angel having a conversation with someone.
[Then there appeared to him, an angel of the Lord,
standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him he was terrified,
and fear over whelmed him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid Zechariah,
for your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call him John.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord”.
Zechariah questioned this for both he and his wife were old.
In verse nineteen it says:
“The angel replied, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God,
and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.”]
This gives me great peace as it confirms to me on many levels
what I have already known and have believed.
God hears our prayers and cares for us.
The angel called him by name so God knows us personally.
Those around us are known as the angel also knew Elizabeth.
The baby was not yet born but already had value and worth.
The name of the baby was chosen and had meaning.
On this second day of December reflect with me, this passage
and the power of the foretelling and beginning of many miracles
surrounding the Christmas story.
by Sharon O | Dec 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
Our tree is not up yet but this is what it normally looks like.
Things are happening at a slower pace this year.
That is just fine with me. I intend on making it more intentional.
Studying the story. Listening to the music.
Taking time for hot cups of tea and writing out cards.
Shopping has been done now a few days which allows for the season
to be focused on what it should be… a time of reflection.
I so enjoy this quiet especially with gentle music and soft lights.
Can’t do too many candles anymore because of allergies and new kittens who might not understand the dangers of a flame.
I can decorate simply and enjoy the peace this ‘holiday’ calls for.
I am reflecting on the Christmas story and all that it holds for us.
Reflect with me… on this first day of December.
Luke 2:1-20 the story of the beginning.
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child
laying in a manger…vs 16
