Luke 1:26-38

So I am not writing about Eli or a lesson he taught me this time; however, it was still children in my life that motivated me tonight to read and write what is on my heart.  This time, it was my Sunday school students.
Our Sunday school lessons have been changed for the month of December so I decided to take advantage of my Monday night Starbucks time, and review our new lesson.  After reading and reviewing the lesson, I decided to write my own thoughts down that I got out of the lesson.  I feel like with Christmas being around the corner, the lessons I take from this study will also benefit others.  Tonight while at Starbucks, I read Luke 1:26-38. 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

 ²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!^[a]”

 ²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel^[b] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

 ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

 ³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[c]”

 ³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Mary was an ordinary, young, probably poor young girl.  These characteristics make us wonder why God would choose her for His great plan.  Yet He did.  He chose her for one of the most important jobs.  He chose her to be the mother of His son.  Many times we may feel that our experiences or education, our size or how we were brought up make us not qualified for God's work and that God can't use us.  However, if he used Mary, a normal, young woman who wasn't even married yet to birth his son, then anything is possible with Him.  "For nothing is impossible with God."  I am sure Mary questioned God and maybe even wondered if what the angel was saying was true.  She probably thought, "Why me, God?"  I am sure she was probably scared and worried about what could happen to her if she goes along with it.  I know I would be a nervous wreck and worried about the outcome.  Back in her day, she could have been stoned.  She could have lost her fiance and her friends and possibly even her family if she got pregnant before she was married.  But yet, she trusted God and said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Just think if we all had Mary's attitude when God asks us to do something for Him.  How often do we question what God is laying on our hearts to do?  How often do  we feel there is no way God could use us or that we aren't qualified for that type of work, etc.  I know many times, I think I am too small or not smart enough or didn't major in a certain area; therefore, I'm not the right person for the job.  However, God can and will use us if we open up to him and his will for our lives.  We need to pray and really truly seek what God wants us to do.  God has a plan for all of us! We are part of His great plan! I know something that has been on my heart lately is reaching out to the community I live in.  So many thoughts have entered my head on what I can do; yet I haven't stepped up and followed through with any of those thoughts.  Tonight while thinking of ideas for our Christmas program at church, I thought of a wonderful way to spread the Good News to our neighborhood this Christmas season.  If you have read, "The Legend of the Candy Cane" you will know what I am talking about.  I was thinking of writing a short skit to retell this story when a thought popped into my head from that story.  How cool would it be to pass out a candy cane with a card attached that told this legend?  This legend was started by a guy in Indiana which will hit home for people in my neighborhood.  I will be able to share all about what Christ did for us just by handing out candy canes.  Jason and I have talked about sharing this story with our Sunday school class, and then getting together with them to pass out the candy canes.  I am so excited about what God can do in my neighbor's lives through this small act of stepping out of my comfort zone to share the good news.  Just think if every Christian stepped out of their comfort zone to share what Christ has done for them what a difference we could make! I challenge everyone who reads this, to step out this holiday season and do something to make a difference in your community...a difference that could make a difference for eternity.  Think! Share! And come up with an idea to share Christ with others this holiday season! I know God can and will make a difference through each one of us, and I am so excited just thinking about how He is going to use each one of us! Please post and share your ideas so that others can use those ideas as well! What a great way to share Christ!!!!