Christmas is just six days away! My children are all traveling home to visit so I am planning a menu of favorite foods, Christmas Eve traditions, and tucking a few surprises under the tree for them.
As I think of the preparations: shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, entertaining, cards to mail...It is easy to get caught up in the busyness and miss the quiet messages of Christmas. The message of hope. The message of Love. The message wrapped in swaddling clothes sent from God to a dark world; God's greatest gift.
When the angel visited Zechariah and then, Mary, the dark silence was broken. The dimmed hope of a Messiah was beginning to shine.
In preparation this month, we looked at the Angel Gabriel's first words to Mary, Hail favored one. The Lord is with you. We can only imagine what she felt as he said she would bear the Son of the Most High and name Him, Jesus. I know how I would have felt! Fearful, just like Mary! Then the angel told Mary, Do not be afraid. Easier said then done when faced with incomprehensible things. But, like Mary, once we get beyond the fear we can begin to believe.
When I need to believe God for something beyond my imagination, questions usually start to fly. Doubt rises and I begin to second guess myself and what I have heard. Mary had questions too. The angel assured her with news that her cousin, Elizabeth who was barren, was also expecting a child. Then Gabriel encouraged her by saying, Nothing will be impossible with God.
Nothing.
I believe these words are true for us too. Whatever we face, whatever our need, not only is God with us, but He is able to accomplish the things He has promised.
What promise are you waiting for? What comfort do you find in the words that Mary heard?
God is with you;
Do not be afraid;
Nothing will be impossible with God.
Believing brings hope to a fearful heart.
As we celebrate the messages of Christmas this week, I pray you will experience Him as Emmanuel, God with us. Savior. Lord. Redeemer. God's greatest gift. And, then believe, just like Mary did.
Amen, Jeanne. Nothing is impossible for God who is with us, Emmanuel. Good reminder. Blessings,
ReplyDeleteIt boggles the mind to think of how much He loves us and what He has done for us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post, Cass.
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ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thank you for what you wrote on your blog.. It amazes me how fast we all get caught up in the craziness and with out even trying or realizing we tend to forget the real reason for Christmas. Its not that we really forget but we allow it to be pushed aside for awhile and what we are really doing is pushing God aside for that moment of time. But he is such a wonderful and gracious God!!!! Merry Christmas...........
Kathy P.
So true, Kathy. Life can get crazy at any time of the year. Taking a few minutes to reflect on who He is each day helps to keep things in focus :)
ReplyDeleteRejoice in His coming,
Jeanne
Great reminder that God loved us by doing the impossible: Sending His Son through a virgin to live a perfect life, die an undeserved death, and then rise to save us all from the death we deserve.
ReplyDeleteThat is the meaning of Christmas.
I love the simplicity of His message.
ReplyDeleteJeanne
Thank you for your Christmas messages. This one was very needed today. I am trusting God for near impossible things right now, and seeking to depend on our Immanuel. He is with us! I hope you have a special Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie. I hope yours is wonderful as well.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jeanne