Countdown to Christmas: Mary (Not ruining it for you)

You may read that Mary does question the angel, much like Zachariah but it how she questioned the angel that make it different.  She's not talking back.  Zachariah wanted to know how will he know the angel's message will happen.  He wanted to use his knowledge.

Mary wanted to know how it's possible, but she's not relying on what she's knew. 

This young girl - an example of good faith but I want to say she's more.  She's obedient. "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered "May it be to me as you have said."

Later her cousin Elizabeth said "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished."

I don't know about you but I find it hard to continually believe what the Lord told me will be accomplished sometimes.  Obedient to God is hard.

Don't take my word for it, try it.

But see I want to be obedient like Mary.

(I also want to sit at the feet of Jesus like the another Mary of the bible (Mary and Martha) and know what it truly important. [that for another post])

Anyway I want to be obedient.  Right now God's telling me to wait.  Not sure what I'm waiting for but to wait.  I want, in my quiet way, to rush ahead of God and find what I'm waiting for.

It could be any number of things...

But I know that I'm to believe, pray and seek out God while I wait.  Again here where Mary is obedient she goes to her cousin's house to wait.

Dear Lord Jesus,

I asked You to bless those who are waiting for an answer. To help those waiting to seek Your presence, for You to dwell in them.  To let them know they are loved and not alone.  You hear them and You are healing their brokenness as they wait.

In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, I pray, Amen!  

A servant of the Lord Jesus,

Annie Laurie

Countdown to Christmas: Zachaniah

Zachaniah's head knowledge outweighed his faith.  He showed this when he talked back to the angel like a know it all teenager. He was a priest therefore trained but he and his wife are "righteous in the sight of God" (Luke 1:6 NIV), this tell of his faith.

 

Did Zachaniah show a lack of faith?

Or did he show another problem? One we see over and over again in the new testament and today?

His head knowledge outweighed his faith.

He gone far on this knowledge and he and his wife are "righteous in the sight of God." (Luke 1:6 NIV) I think this "righteous" confirm his faith.

 He talked back to the angel like a know it all teenager demonstrate his head ruled over his heart and faith. With the words “'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.'”  (Luke 1:18) According to the life experience and the rules of the world which everyone with good common sense know, a woman "well along in years" and never had a child, most likely not going to have a child.

But see Zechaniah asked the wrong question.  He asked "how can I be sure of this?"  The I is very important in this sentence.  He's saying with all the knowledge I have this is not possible.

I suffer from wanting to know the how, why, when and where, all the time with God and his plans for my life and his commands.

But see there's another way to ask for the how, why. when and where when it come to God and this plans.  And that I will post about in a later post when I write about Mary and her visit from the angel Gabriel.

Anyway....

Since Zachaniah need proof the angel take his voice away.

Have you ever notice how God works wonders in the quietness?

When we don't throw demands at God and let Him show us what best when we listen?

Zachanish needed to listen.

And since I'm writing this post I'm pretty sure God telling me I need to "be still" and listen and "Know (He) is God"  To stop telling Him what's I'm worried about, what I want, and what I think He should do."  Now there will be a time when I am I cried my heart to God and "talk" to him about what's on my mind, but I realize once I'm finish I need to sit back and let Him have his turn at "talking."

What is God telling you?

What do you think of Zachaniah?

Handle It

            “Roll with the punches.”

            “If life gives you lemons make lemonade.”

            “God will not give you more than you can handle.”

            “Handle it.”

            People use these phrases when they're telling someone else to go handle the problem.  A person may or may not know how to deal with the problem but they're told to go" handle it."  They are to just deal with it, do it, and more forward. 

            Some people will grow and learn to survive, it will toughen them up.  Create thick skin and a sharp tongue.

            It may even create a harden heart.

            God doesn't want a harden heart.

            No, God wants an open heart to Him. 

            "Therefore tell the people, this is what the LORD almighty says ‘Return to me' declared the LORD Almighty 'and I will return to you" Zechariah 1:3.

            Return to the Lord Jesus Christ.

            There are some things in life we can't handle.  These things are way over our heads.  The Bible doesn’t say God will not give you more than you can handle.

            It's says don't worry, God will deal with it.  Return to Him.  Remember, pray to Him for healing, for Him to take matters into His own hands and for the right outcome.

            Jesus wants you to remember Him, to seek Him, to trust Him, and to return to His arms where he can protect you, know you and guide you.

            He loves you so much He died on the cross for you.

            What an awesome, mighty Lord we serve!

Blessings,

Annie Laurie Gray