The Girl Who Said--Yes

Margie Houmes has a heart for Jesus. I've benefited from her words that flow like a gentle stream over the soul because her words are from God's heart. I know you will be blessed by her thoughts; she is my guest today.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  Luke 1:38

 (Copyright, 2013, ProvidenceCollection.com) Used with Permission

Mary was dreaming again—about Joseph. A year had passed since Joseph’s request for marriage. Mary knew the day of her betrothal was drawing near.

Every night she listened for the shout of her beloved coming to snatch her away and make her his bride. Would this be the night?

Her wedding gown glowed pure and bright. Every stitch was sewn in place and visions of rapturous love while standing under the canopy with Joseph were her daily imaginings. What would it feel like to receive the blessings written in the Torah and know Yahweh was pleased with their holy, untainted union?

Would Joseph come for her this night? Mary looked at her gown and knew she was ready…ready to bind herself to Joseph and bear him a treasure trove of children.

Suddenly, dazzling angelic light flooded her room. Gabriel, God’s angel, began to speak, his amazing words spilling over with fervent exhilaration.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary. God has seen the hunger in your heart for Him. (Click to Tweet)  Among women, you are highly favored and when the Holy Spirit falls upon you, your womb will conceive the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mary held her breath. Oh, how magnificent to be chosen. What wondrous news, that I a lowly handmaiden would be set apart to bring forth the long awaited Messiah.

But in the next moment, horror riveted Mary’s heart.

Pregnant…before my betrothal? Pregnant…before I don my virginal gown? With child… before Joseph sweeps me away in the night?  What will people say…will I be stoned? Oh, how can I say no to all my hopes and dreams, say no to a day… like none other?

And we know the story well and remember—Mary said yes.

So our own hearts cry out, “Lord, to what must we say no, so your glory fills our souls? What are the opinions of men that keep us from bowing our knee before your Majesty and receiving Your favor? And Lord, give us the freedom to say, ‘Be it unto us according to your Word.’”

And so, my beloved sisters, I bowed my knee and remembered a girl of long ago—who said yes. Did you remember also? Precious friends, let’s join our hearts today and surrender…

“Oh, Lord, let your love reside in us that the world may know there is a God who so loved the world that He gave… His only Son.” 

Will you say yes to Him?

Margie

After Margie retired from teaching, the Lord told her to pick up her pen and write. She loves sharing her passion for Jesus Christ and has spent years studying and writing a Bible study on the Book of Ruth (Awaiting publication). Watching Jesus release people from bondage and give them new marching orders is one of her greatest joys.  She serves the Lord in several ministries at Celebration Church...and loves it!  Margie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Bob. They are blessed with sons, daughters and grandchildren.

Visit Margie at www.margiehoumes.com


 

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Pondering the Nativity

 

I unpacked my nativity scene to display for Christmas; what appeared to be an idyllic scene as I placed the painted figures in the humble dwelling must have been a great inconvenience for Mary and Joseph. The stillness and serene faces hide the fact that Mary and Joseph traveled for about eighty miles to Bethlehem because of the decree for a census. Joseph had searched high a low for an inn to provide Mary a place to give birth. The bustling Bethlehem overflowed with travelers and the ‘No Vacancy’ signs ruled that night. Instead they took shelter, if you can call it that, in a stable.

The sanitized crèche seen on Christmas cards hides the evidence of barnyard smells and prickly hay. Joseph probably cleared a spot and put fresh hay down for Mary. He scooted the cow and the lambs out of the way and borrowed a feeding trough to lay the newborn baby. It wasn’t what they had planned for their birthing location, but by divine direction shepherds who had been in the starlit field found the infant, Jesus lying in a manger just as the angels had said.

I wonder what the young family was thinking about as they were jostled and tossed about, unable to find a resting place. Did they get stressed? Were they cranky? Did Mary and Joseph have words with each other in the heat of the situation?

We often forget that these were real people and trying situations. Instead of seeing them through human eyes, we set them up as some super saints who dressed up for a role and played it to perfection. But, the smelly stable was an obstacle; one that I would have felt cranky about.

So, as I ponder the holy family and all they endured, I am encouraged because of their faith and strength in the midst of some not so perfect circumstances. They knew that their son, Jesus was God’s son and they were coming to grips with angel’s proclamations. Yet mingled with the amazing truth they needed to face some uncomfortable realities. Scripture says that Mary pondered all the things that were said. She heard the shepherds tell about the angels in the field. By God’s grace, Mary and Joseph fulfilled God’s plan even when things didn’t look anything like they imagined.

 In any situation we encounter, we are the ones chosen to roll with the punches and give grace to those around us. God is at work in you and in me to bring about His purposes in us and through us. We may need to endure some smelly surroundings sometimes, but we can trust just like Mary and Joseph did on the night of Jesus’ birth. God is at work and is bringing some amazing things to pass in our generation. It may not be what we imagine but we can trust Him to work it out as we live life and face its less than perfect circumstances.

The coming of Jesus the Messiah was expected, but no one imagined Him being born among the smelly stable animals. For this reason, some overlooked Him. This nativity lesson to me is to expect the unexpected. Don’t miss what God is doing around you because it doesn’t look like what you have planned.

How is God at work around you today? How is it different than you imagined?

 

Jeanne