What does the Lord require of You?

•December 14, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Luke 1:39-45 – the realization that this will be a special baby

Mary Visits Elizabeth

A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.  She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.

The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.  Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:

God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have.  Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?  As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me.  The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.

Jacques Daret Visitation

So I went off to see Elizabeth.  I thought she might be the one person who would understand.  After all God was working in her life as well.  God had given her a special child to carry too.  Her son was going to show the way. He was going to tell others about my son, God’s son.

But I never even got chance to tell her.  Before the words were out of my mouth she knew.  The one within her, recognised the one within me.  His showing others had begun already, as he let his mother now that something special was happening in me, something important was happening in the world.

God was working – and he was doing it now.

What precious thing is God wanting to do in your life?  Does he have something for you to carry for him?  Something for you to do for him?

It may seem inconvenient, difficult, even downright embarrassing.  But doing something for God is a privilege.

Are you listening for his call?  When you hear his call, will you answer?  Will you let him work in you and through you?  Bringing him into the world, pointing the way to him?

Posted in Advent, calling, response
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Can you hear me calling?

•December 13, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Help me Lord

to hear your voice,

to respond to your call.

When I feel the nudge,

the niggle,

your prompting

May I let you do it –

in me

through me,

with you

Thank you!

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A Message from Heaven

•December 12, 2010 • Leave a Comment

The Annunciation Henry Tanner

Luke 1: 26–38

An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus

One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David.  The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant.  Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was.  He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God.  Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son.  Nothing is impossible for God!”

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

So there I was, minding my own business, and I got this message.  Strange really.  But you know how you get this funny feeling when God is trying to tell you something, that niggle that there’s something he needs you to do for him.  I try and do it – after all, he usually keeps on at you until you do!

But this one was a bit more odd.  More than a feeling, more a presence – God there in front of me.  All very confusing really because he seemed to be saying I was going to have a son.  Nice prophecy that, when I’m settled down, a baby boy to look forward to.  I always wanted a baby boy.

But that wasn’t quite what God was thinking.  He meant now!

Well you’d think God would understand the facts of life – after all he made them.  But, it turns out, this was going to be something different.  God’s Spirit was going to fill me, fill me full of God and fill my womb with his child. Wow!

I questioned him about this, these kind of things don’t happen.  But he pointed me to Elizabeth.  How did I think she’d got pregnant at her age after so many years of trying unsuccessfully?  God is doing something strange with the laws of reproduction.  Doing something very special to bring about his promises.

So, it seems I am to have a baby, but it’s a baby for God – his son. I’ll say it again Wow!

God has chosen me, he does things like that.  Chooses us to help him do what he needs to.

I offer myself to him to use – there’s no point arguing with God when he asks you to do something for him!

Posted in Advent, justice, response
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