A Perfect Prayer

“Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

Psalm 113:2-3 NIV

 It is a bit chilly this January morning, so I must enter the garden of my heart from my overstuffed green chair in our great room. My afghan is cozy and my coffee is steaming. I begin reading Psalm 113 and I am caught up in David’s praise for his LORD.

 

Immediately my heart whispers, Lord, I don’t praise you enough. How can I do this better? The Master Gardner responds, “Praise me and worship me all day and all night. Speak of your love for me and tell others why you love me. Just as you praise all those you love, just add me to your list and praise me as well. Worship and respect me and lift my name on high as you walk through your day. Take care not to move so fast because when you do you forget to look up. Look up into the sky and praise me! Worship me by your obedience. Whisper your gratitude in the marketplace; sing to the top of your lungs, songs of praise to me and worship me while driving to and from your responsibilities. Work at home and with others outside of your home in ways that bring honor and glory to my name. This, my child is “living” worship. Remember, your attitudes, integrity and character should be a reflection of me. Make sure I am honored as a result of your choices. Bringing honor to my name is an act of worship. Also, go alone to a quiet place and offer up your praise and worship to me. Paula, in my eyes this is a perfect prayer.”

 

As many times happens, during my quiet time God reveals things to me that I have previously been missing. I know in my head that I am to praise and worship God but in my heart this action has shallow roots. To say the least my praise and worship of my Creator, my Lord and Savior is often found lacking. Many times when I write a letter, I often add a postscript. I am ashamed to say that this is often the way I approach God in my prayer life. My beginning prayer is always about what I want, what I need, what others need, and then comes the afterthought. Oh by the way God, I praise you and I worship you and I love you. After this morning’s prompting from the Holy Spirit, I am considering the very real possibility that I love myself a bit more than I love my God.

 

So today Lord, I kneel in your presence in awe remembering that my prayer time is my intimate time alone with you. I know that I usually rush into your presence with many requests. Some requests are for others, but most of my prayer focus is on asking for favors from your gracious hand that will benefit me. I ask you for provision, my personal desires, good health, and happy endings. Forgive me Father for failing to speak words of gratitude, worship, and praise. I know you are pleased when I bring my concerns and requests to you. However, today let me ask for nothing, neither for myself nor for another. Let me only praise and worship you. Today I want to offer up a “perfect prayer”. Not perfect in man’s eyes but perfect in your eyes. A prayer that brings you joy!

 

God this PRAYER belongs to you alone:

 

God, I’ve been studying your names. This is a perfect way to guide my words of prayer in praise and worship. The significance of each of your many names begs for my praise and adoration of you. Your attributes are awe-inspiring springboards for my praise and worship every day. God, all of your names reflect who you are. You are the Mighty God, who is powerful. You are the Everlasting Father, and you are the Creator of the universe. You are the Most High God, and Sovereign Lord. You are the God Who Sees. You are the All Sufficient One; you are a Jealous God who calls me to have no other gods before you, because you want all of me for yourself. God you are my Lord and my Master. You are the Great I Am, who is self-existent. You are my Provider, my Healer, and my Banner of protection from Satan. Lord, you are my Sanctifier and my Prince of Peace. God you are the Lord of Hosts, the mighty commander of heaven’s armies. Still you are my gentle Shepherd and you are my Righteousness. You are the King of Glory who is coming again for your bride. I praise you and I worship you! What a magnificent package you are, all wrapped up in One! There is none above you. I praise you because I love you. I worship you because you alone are worthy. I speak words of gratitude because without you my life is meaningless.

 

It is in your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

 

As I continue to linger in my mind’s garden I observe in the distance a field of trees clapping their hands in adoration. Then I notice that the stones along the garden path are crying out in praise. Flowers of every species raise their heads and shout “hallelujah” to their creator. The lush green ferns prayerfully whisper, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The birds in the garden sing songs of never ending praise. Then all is still. There is a musical “grand pause” of silence. Selah. This too is a silence that radiates meditation and marvelous worship.

 

“Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty,

he is the King of glory.”

Selah

Psalm 24:10 NIV

 The Sonshine is warm; I am enveloped in God’s arms of love. I do not want to leave this place. The moments I have spent in pure praise and worship have been indescribable. My heart cries out for more worship, and more praise. If indeed praise and worship belong alone to God, then why do I feel so blessed and so loved? Could it be because I am full, my cup runs over, I have no need for asking the one I worship for anything. As my praise and worship goes up to the throne of God, he in return showers his love and peace on me falling down like a refreshing rain and I am blessed.

 

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced sweet praise and worship?
2. Do you relate to offering your praise and worship to God as a postscript?
3. Would you consider sitting with Jesus in prayer and refraining from asking him for anything?
4. Do you realize that God created us to worship him?
5. How is praise and worship played out in your life?
6. What are the benefits of praise and worship?
7. Would you consider making a “selfless” list of why you love him?

Wisdom Deficient

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NIV

 On this January morning as I look out my window I see gray skies and I can’t help but notice how winter has ravaged my gardens. Brown grass, dead perennials, leafless trees, and bare flower beds. All of last years beautiful gardens are but a memory! I am left to feast only on striking red Nandina berries, lush evergreens, interesting tree bark, beautiful birds and scampering squirrels. Not so in the garden of my heart! Praise God, all flowers bloom year round and nothing dies! Color abounds and God’s beauty is everywhere at all times. So off to the garden of my heart I go because I have an appointment with the Master Gardner. I need to shed the gray shadows of winter. It is a new year. It is time to pick myself up and press on hoping to do better on every level.

 

I’m usually the one who begins speaking first, mumbling foolish gibberish about who knows what, but not today. Today the Master Gardener meets me head on with a couple of questions. “Paula, what is it that sets your stomach churning, stresses you out, and causes you anxiety? What is that ‘thing’ that presses down on you so hard that you feel that you are teetering on the brink of depression?”

 

Wow! Reluctantly, I begin to confess many things starting with the insecurity I feel because of my history of personal flaws and failures. I tell Jesus about my memories of revisited pain from past brokenness, and I express my fear for the future. There are family needs, financial burdens, health issues, and retirement concerns. I try hard to justify my lack of trust. I spill out my issue of needing to be in control of all things at all times. There are relational issues. I admit that I am quick to anger and often slow to forgive. I confess that judgmental attitudes often plague me. This behavior pushes down hard on my spirit.

 

I ask, “God why am I so lacking in my wisdom? Why can’t I subdue my emotions that send me into panic mode? Why can’t I be wise enough to be quiet instead of responding so quickly? Why can’t I know how to handle the ups and downs of life more peacefully? Why can’t I be wise enough to trust you for the future? Why am I impatient as I wait for you to open and close doors in my life?” I begin to long for wisdom that reveals solid direction in my life. I wish for a billboard with a dazzling message telling me the way that I should go. I want my cell phone to ring, a call straight from heaven with exact information regarding all that I do not understand. I live in a real world…memories of springtime butterflies, blooms, and warms breezes are just not doing it for me during times when I feel so lacking. I don’t need spiritual assurance. I need accurate details for the future.

 

As God so often does, he responds to me first with a smile and then with loving words. “Paula, have you forgotten? I made you. I know all of your flaws and defects. I know where you are the most vulnerable and where you are the most likely to experience brokenness. I know your weakness regarding control and fear. I know you over react, but do not worry; I can use each of these things for your eternal good and my glory.”

 

As I ponder Jesus’ words I come to the conclusion that it is entirely possible that at the very last minute when God created each of us, he purposefully placed within us a personal physical or emotional defect, a flaw, or perhaps a weakness as his final creative touch of love in our life. His plan undoubtedly was to use that flaw or weakness to create within us a need for him. If we were perfect we would have no need of God. I am beginning to realize that my imperfections are not to be despised but rather embraced as a “love gift” from my Creator.

 

God knows our weakness and the struggles that we feel within. When we ask God for his wisdom he immediately goes to work in our behalf without finding fault. God wants to change our character from the inside out. He often does this through our brokenness. The process of becoming free of our bondage can be long. I suspect that it may have to do with our trust, obedience, or perhaps acceptance of our circumstance. Asking for wisdom is a “holy process” that may walk us thought many steps. In every situation, when the process is complete we will experience God’s inner peace regardless of the outcome.

 

I must learn not to confuse answers and direction with wisdom. Sometimes we ask why, but God says, “Do not beg for answers that are my secrets. Don’t seek to know what you are not meant to understand. This life is full of secrets that belong to me alone. On the other hand I am more than willing to give you wisdom. When you know that I am the way, that is true wisdom. When I see that you trust me with the unknown, I will open my doors of direction for you without you even asking. In fact you will be totally surprised because it will be different than anything you could have ever hoped to ask for. That is one way that you will know that the open door is from me and not of your own effort. It is not your job to try to discover my will for your life but rather to stay alert, remain in me daily, listen for my gentle whisper, and stay calm as you wait. It is my job to reveal to you my will, my plan at just the right moment in time. I will do this for you.”

 

I have come to realize that I am wisdom deficient! Learning how God thinks is a lifelong process, yet it is the key to wisdom. This year as I read God’s Word, I want to look for how Jesus’ responded to people and to difficult situations. I want to examine my own heart and see how different my responses are to his. I want to listen for God’s gentle whispers of wisdom telling me what he thinks about all that concerns me. I must remember, God gives His wisdom generously, without finding fault, because he loves us. True wisdom is seeing our situation from God’s perspective rather than the twisted, self-serving, perverted perspective of the world.

 

Questions:

 

1. Are you currently seeking God’s wisdom?
2. Do you confuse answers and direction with wisdom?
3. What do you think of the wisdom of  the world?
4. Do you believe that true wisdom comes only from God?
5. Can you see the benefit of knowing the mind of Christ?
6. Do you agree that true wisdom is seeing your situation from God’s perspective?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

 

When I see conflict, you see an opportunity for me to embrace your peace. When I see stress in my life, you see a chance to call me to come and rest in your love. When I am confused, you call me to solitude so that I might hear your voice and find your wisdom. When I see failure in my life, you know my heart’s desire is to climb higher with you. When I have a pity party, you call me to gratitude. When I feel fearful, you call me to praise and worship, for it is in the knowledge of your attributes that I receive the courage to trust you. When I allow myself to slip into negative thinking, you see it as an opportunity to teach me about hope. When I become stressful because of lack of finances, you see this as an opportunity to bring glory to yourself if I will but trust you for your provision. When I find that I am on overload, you use my frustration as an opportunity to call me to simplicity. When I become irritated with others, you see how this can be used to teach me about compassion, mercy, and grace. When I see failing health, you will remind me that I am walking toward my heavenly home. Oh Lord Jesus, how I want to know your thoughts. How I desire to learn to take my thoughts captive one thought at a time. I am so happy that my first thought does not have to be my last thought. There is absolutely no wisdom in this world because the world twists truth and sells it as a superior commodity designed to stamp out your divine truth. Wisdom comes only from above. Wisdom discerns the truth. Wisdom is knowing that you see our problems as opportunities. Lord, remind me daily that my weaknesses are your way of showing me how much I need you. When I walk in that truth I am wise. I thank you that you have promised to give wisdom generously to all who ask and you give it without finding fault to those who put their trust and hope in you. 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.

The Lost Gift

“I am the vine, you are the branches:

He that abides in me, and I in him,

the same brings forth much fruit:

for without me you can do nothing.” 

John 15:5 KJ 2000 Bible

Very soon after New Year’s Day I get busy with the task of taking down all the Christmas decorations. I love putting up the decorations but loath taking them down! This year I think that I will try something new. As I put away the decorations I am going to try to focus on the year ahead. This New Year I want my mind to be filled with hope. I want to raise the bar in my life in many ways, especially in my spiritual life.

The fact is Christmas is over. My daughter and son-in-law have loaded the car with suitcases, unwrapped gifts, and my grandchildren, and have headed back to Maryland. My son has boarded an airplane that is bound for California. Sadness is creeping its way into my emotions. Even though I have just experienced a wonderful Christmas holiday; it is hard for me to shake off the heaviness that is slithering into my heart. I am now faced with the gray of winter, boxes to be filled and carried to the attic, and a house to be restored to normal. This type of melancholy is natural but I must NOT remain here! I must be on guard because my spiritual progress could be hindered by my emotional state of mind.

As I begin removing decorations from our Christmas tree, I notice that there is one lonely, unfamiliar gift that has been shoved to the back of the tree. It had previously been hidden from view but now a corner of this lonely gift peaks out from under the folds of the red and green fabric that has skirted the base of our tree. I’m a bit curious but I decide to retrieve the gift later.

I begin winding up the shinny red and gold garland as I remove it from the tree branches. As I wind the garland, my mind pleasantly begins to remember the wonderful memories that our family made this past Christmas. But in an unsuspecting moment my mind skips from positive thoughts to negative thoughts as I wonder what the future holds. I am reminded that life has a way of changing on a dime. Numerous people I know are experiencing heavy emotional burdens that have been brought into their life because of unwanted life change. Many of these changes have left them reeling and grieving for what has been. Fear grips my heart as I realize – I’m not exempt!

Then in a split second, the Holy Spirit whispers in my mind’s ear, “Abundant life can be yours.” I am a little taken back because I’m already a believer and have been for many years. Then a quiet whisper of truth came to me, “Yes, salvation comes as a free gift from Jesus Christ, but abundant life comes from abiding in Jesus Christ. Abiding is the essential key.”

That thought has given me a little bit more to chew on than a leftover Christmas cookie. What is the Holy Spirit trying to teach me? I started to reflect on what it would mean if I raised the bar in my spiritual life by seeking to abide in Jesus Christ every day of the coming year. First, I realized that simple prayer is a must. Perhaps more prayer for my spiritual needs and less focus on my material and physical needs. Then, of course, reading God’s Word. Maybe I should endeavor to read God’s Word looking for more personal application. I think that seeking to know the mind of Christ would also be a benefit. I must learn to consider how God observes my attitudes, how he sees this world, how Jesus views my overwhelming life changes, my concerns, and my fears. I become conscious of the fact that I must form the habit of listening intentionally for the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit.

My thoughts are racing as I continue to carefully remove each Christmas ornament and loveingly wrap it in tissue paper for safe keeping. I begin to reminisce over the significance of each ornament and I become uniquely aware of a spiritual application that parallels my life. For forty-two years we have collected ornaments for our tree. There are ornaments that signify marriage, birth, faith, and ornaments from special friends who have been people of influence in our life. I treasure the handmade ornaments that were made by our children in elementary school. There are also ornaments that remind me of special vacations and ornaments that denote hobbies and interests of each family member. I even have ornaments from my own childhood. Our Christmas tree is a “timeline” of love!

This discovery reminds me that my life also has a “spiritual timeline”. If I were to draw it on paper I would have to begin with my birth and my first memory of God. I would have to include the influence of my godly parents and my siblings. I would note God’s blessings of marriage to my wonderful husband, the birth of my two children, the addition of a son-in-law, and last but never least, the blessings of my two grandchildren. On this spiritual timeline I would have to place the names of many people who have influenced me for Jesus. I would also include one very special lady who mentored me with amazing love and wisdom. I would also mark on this timeline the darkest days of my life and then the times when God pulled me up and out of my despair. I would make special notes regarding the people God sent into my life to help me through those dark days. I would mark the churches I have attended and the heavenly messages I learned in each place. There would be stones of remembrance placed all over this spiritual timeline reminding me of God’s provision and protection for me and for those I love. My personal spiritual timeline serves as a visible reminder to me of God’s faithfulness. All of my days have been ordered by him, even before a single day came to be!

Today I am considering the very real possibility that God has allowed all of these things to come into my life for a reason. I am shocked to realize that life altering change has proven over and over again to be my very best teacher. My entire life God has been changing me, experience by experience. The person that I am becoming in Christ Jesus is being shaped by the continual divine touch of God’s creative hand in my life. God is a master of using both the good and the bad circumstances of my life to refine me for his eternal purposes. God is in the process of changing me from glory into glory. He is preparing me to meet him face to face.

Nevertheless, I am a master at taking each change in my life and immediately gift wrapping it in my own expectations. I know what I want, what I do not want. I know when I want God to show up and what I want him to bring with him.  I know exactly how I want things to end. It is always the same; I want things to end well! No matter how good my intentions are or how right my desires may be, I am learning that I cannot experience God’s peace unless I am willing to give up “when” I think things should happen and “how” they should end. When I am finally able to hand Jesus my gift wrapped package of control and expectations, he then unwraps the package and rewraps it the beautiful pure white paper of his grace and ties it with a gorgeous gold bow of his faithfulness. This box holds the contents of my broken heart, but little by little God will fuse the pieces of my brokenness back into place as he perfectly repairs and prepares my heart for eternity.

No matter what may come my way I will always be tempted to question God. However, past experiences has taught me that the acceptance of God’s will for my life will be the only thing that will bring me peace of mind. Most likely I will never be free of the memory of what happened to cause me so much sorrow. But it must remain, only a memory. Not an open wound to be relived daily. When I am able to surrender the future to God, the difficult circumstance of my life may still remain the same but by some mysterious work of God’s divine grace, my outlook regarding my pain always changes for the better.

I am beginning to see that I must seek to see the unwanted life change from the eyes of Jesus. I am very well aware that I see negative life change as painful, but how does Jesus see this change? I believe that first of all he weeps with me. I then believe that Jesus sees the pain in my life as an opportunity and if I will allow it, he than begins to use that circumstance to develop my character. God desires that I become a believer that is better not bitter. This is not easy when every thread of my being screams out, “No God. Not this!” Still I must remember that some day all tears will be wiped away forever, but until that day there will be pain and sadness because we live in a fallen world. I remember that God’s Word tells me that I am never alone. Jesus will never leave me or forsake me! That is his promise to me and to you.

It has now been a few hours since I began putting away decorations and thinking on things above. My curiosity has gotten the better of me so I crawl under the Christmas tree that is now looking quite naked, to retrieve the lost gift. Sitting cross legged on the floor, I look closely and see that to my surprise it has MY name on the tag. Now my hands are shaking in anticipation of what is inside. I carefully begin removing the wrapping paper. The lost gift is amazing! Nestled inside soft tissue paper is a beautiful crystal heart-shaped paper weight. Engraved on the crystal is one simple word, “HOPE”. I open the card that is attached to the gift and slowly I read His words, “Abide in me, surrender to me, and hope in me. My precious daughter, this is abundant life! Love, Jesus”

This lost gift is a treasure! This crystal heart and this beautiful note is going to be placed on the center of my desk as a daily reminder that all of my problems must at some point leave my heart and end up under the paperweight of Jesus Christ, who is  my hope of glory. Jesus, I want your abundant life today and everyday as I abide in you and place my hope in your capable hands of love!

Questions:

1. Does the New Year make you anxious?
2. Is there a life changing burden deep within your heart?
3. How long have you carried this burden?
4. Do you see the need to surrender your control and expectations to Jesus?
5. What are the benefits of abiding in Jesus every day?
6. This week draw your own spiritual timeline and save it as a tool to remind you of God’s faithfulness to you in the past. It will give you hope for the future!

If you are a new believer, you too should consider starting your own personal “spiritual timeline”. It may go back only a few days, months, or years but it will move forward your entire life. Over the years this timeline will prove to be a precious document of God’s faithfulness to you.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I confess that it is so difficult to trust you with life change. I am afraid to trust you because I do not know the future outcome. I so desperately want my way! Jesus, is it so wrong to want things to turn out well? I am reminded that you too wanted things to turn out well. You desperately wanted to avoid the pain and suffering of the cross. Yet, through the eyes of your Father you were able to see the eternal good in an outcome that was not personally good for you this side of heaven. Jesus, I know that I must abide in you so that I will be strengthened. Father I want to raise the bar in my life so that I will abide in you moment by moment and day by day. Jesus I am profoundly thankful that you do not expect me to be thankful for the pain in my life. I know that you understand my pain and weep with me. So today Lord, I am not thankful for the pain or the loss in my life or for the suffering, but I am thankful for the knowledge that by some mystery that I cannot understand you are going to take all of the stinking, miserable circumstances that come into my life and use them for my eternal good. For this truth I am thankful.  So today Jesus, I pray for your grace to enable me to trust you and to surrender the outcome of every difficult situation to you. Help me to trust in your unfailing kindness because I know that you alone are sovereign. Father, help me to abide in your love and treasure the hope I have in you.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen. 

He Who Gives - Let Him Give Freely

“he who gives, let him give freely”

Romans 12:8b (Bible in Basic English)

 

Without a doubt, Christmas is a time of giving. Sometimes we give to our children and grandchildren to a fault. But basically, giving is good. Giving gifts to others tells them that we love and appreciate them. It is a joy to give someone something unexpected. It is a greater joy to know that they really love what you have given them.

 

Aside from giving to our family, friends, neighbors, people who serve us, and the individual whose name we have drawn out of the hat at work, we often give to people in need during the Christmas season. The Bible is full of stories about people giving large amounts of food and treasures to those whose favor they hoped to gain. The Bible encourages us to give to those in need. We are not to give for personal gain.

 

Giving to the needy at Christmas is widely encouraged in our culture. In our attempt to give to those in need we write checks, gather groceries, purchase and wrap gifts for children we don’t know, fill shoe boxes to be sent to children in foreign countries, serve meals in shelters, hand out toiletries to the homeless, visit nursing homes and leave small gifts for the residents, and the list goes on and on. All of these avenues of giving are to be commended. Many lives are blessed because people give generously.

 

But my question today is have you ever been in need? Have you been on the receiving end of giving? How did that make you feel? There are many emotions that can surface when we are on the receiving end in a time of need. It is easy to enjoy a gift when we don’t need anything. But then again, when we are in need we sometimes feel inadequate, embarrassed, or our pride kicks in and we want to refuse the gift that is being offered.

 

I experienced this on Christmas many years ago. Our children were small and my husband and I were struggling financially. After all the gifts had been unwrapped one of our family members handed us a check of a sizable amount. My first response was to refuse the gift. I think perhaps I experienced many negative emotions but for me pride was at the top!

 

We graciously accepted the check but I purposed in my heart to never cash it. God began to speak to my heart regarding this issue. I stumbled upon a scripture, in of all places, a Christmas cookbook. The verse said, “he who gives, let him give freely” Wow! I knew this scripture was from God because I was not seeking confirmation, not to mention that God seemed to be speaking to me from a cookbook! This verse hit me so strongly that it sounded more like a command than a statement.

 

After thinking about the scripture verse for awhile, I began to realize that perhaps the giver was being obedient to God. Who was I to refuse something that God had orchestrated? Furthermore, I remembered that when I have been the giver, God always blessed me. Who was I to rob this giver of a blessing? If God wanted to provide for us, who was I to say thanks, but no thanks? Why was I so determined to decline this gift? Then as out of nowhere the Holy Spirit spoke words of conviction to my heart. “Pride is a sin.” Needless to say, I confessed my pride, thanked God for his provision, cashed the check, and expressed heartfelt thanks to the giver. Appreciation and gratitude replaced my pride.

 

Giving is a two way street. The Bible teaches that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 NIV However, that Christmas I also learned that from my point of view it was definitely more blessed to receive than to give.

 

Questions:

 

1. Do you enjoy giving?
2. When was the last time you gave to someone in need?
3. Have you ever given to a family member in need?
4. Have you ever been in need?
5. How did you feel as a recipient of a gift that was given to help you?
6. Have you ever been too proud to accept the gift?
7. Did God change your thinking regarding the giver of the gift?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I confess that I do not give enough. Please forgive me for my selfishness. I pray Lord that I would become a giver because giving pleases you. Help me also to look for needs and rise to the occasion of meeting the needs that you put on my heart. Father, I thank you that have you blessed me in the past by others giving to me in my time of need. Father when it is my time to give, may I give unreservedly. When it is my time to receive I pray that I would set aside pride and allow the giver that you have sent to give freely. Jesus I am reminded that you have given the greatest gift of all, your life, to redeem and rescue me from the bondage of sin. I thank you Jesus that I am a recipient of your gift. This Christmas and every day I want to give of my time and my resources for your glory.

 

In your name I pray. Amen.

Ordinary Mary

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.

“May it be to me as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:38 NIV

I am amazed at how ordinary Mary, the mother of Jesus really was. She was not from a big city. She was from the small town of Nazareth. Actually, Nazareth did not have a very good reputation. Her family was not wealthy or well to do. There were plenty of other young women who were her friends that God could have chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but he didn’t. It makes me wonder, why Mary? Simply put, Mary was ordinary, so what was it that set her apart?

 

I imagine that Mary was going about her business, dreaming of her wedding to Joseph the carpenter and planning her future that no doubt included many of Joseph’s children. Mary was raised in a typical Jewish household and was taught the importance of respecting God and trusting him for his provision and protection. Mary was also taught to look for the promised Messiah. She believed all that God had promised regarding the Messiah would come to pass.

 

Mary’s days were most likely routine. Perhaps she helped her mother care for younger children, bake bread, fill water jars, and perform other tasks for the family. Yet one day out of the blue here comes the angel Gabriel, straight from heaven with news that was not the best. Mary I know you are a virgin, but not for long. You will become pregnant, not by Joseph, but by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. It will be a mystery to you but nevertheless, trust me, it will happen.

 

God in his wisdom sent an angel. The angel Gabriel was a very visible sign for an invisible experience that was soon to take place. Gabriel’s beginning message was pleasant enough, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Now I’m guessing that when you are in Mary’s position it would be good to know that she was highly favored. But in the days ahead it would be even more important for Mary to know that the Lord was with her.

 

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” She may have thought, “I’m glad he knows my knees are knocking!” And there it was again, that word “favor”. What will that mean? Then here came the words rolling off the tongue of Gabriel, the words that would change her life forever! “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Good to know! In a world absent of sonograms, here was an angel standing before her with divine information, a son, and on top of that a name already chosen.

 

Now at this point, ordinary Mary may have gone straight back to fear! How can this be? What will Joseph say? What will my parents say? My father will be angry. My mother will cry.  This is shameful. I may be stoned when Joseph finds out. Mary’s thoughts invaded her mind with such speed that they had no chance of becoming words. Fear? Are you kidding me? Of course I’m afraid! I’m petrified!

 

Then more information from the bearer of bad news! If I were Mary I think at this point I would want to grab a scroll and something to write with, then grab some young boy who could write and have him take a few notes! Gabriel continues, “He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 

Now in the middle of this horrific storm of life change Mary hears what Gabriel is really saying. “He will be great.” He will be God’s Son. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever;” He will be a ruling king. The implication of that statement pointed to her precious baby boy as being the promised Messiah! “His kingdom will never end.”

 

I’m not sure if Mary really believed that God would take care of her, but for sure she knew that he would take care of his Son, the promised Messiah. For Mary those words may have been the very words that dispelled her fear. Basically, Mary was just an ordinary young virgin that was available. God knew her heart and knew that she would respond to him in humble faithfulness. She was not chosen because she was holy. Mary was chosen because she was available to be a vessel for God’s use.

 

Mary’s response to Gabriel is priceless. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. I wonder how much time passed from Gabriel’s arrival until his departure. Was it five minutes, fifteen minutes, a half hour, an hour, an afternoon, an entire day? I do not know but I do commend Mary on her quick obedience. Sometimes I argue with God for days, months, and even years. If Mary was extraordinary on any level it was in her immediate response to obedience. She quickly sent a message back to God via Gabriel. “May it be to me as you have said.” Oh, for a heart like Mary’s. A heart that was not only available to God but also a heart that quickly responded to God in loving obedience.

 

Questions:

 

Do you marvel at Mary’s heart for her God?

Has God ever asked anything of you that you thought was impossible?

Was your first response fear?

If God asks you to do something, do you believe he will be with you if your are obedient?

Are you impressed with Mary’s quick response of obedience?

Are you available to God to be used as a vessel for his service?

Prayer:

Dear God,

I am encouraged to know that Mary was just an ordinary woman. I see also that Mary was not perfect. She had negative thoughts and fearful responses. She didn’t want to disappoint her parents or Joseph. But God, above all others, Mary didn’t want to disappoint you. Mary so wanted to please you that her response could be nothing less than yes Lord, I will be obedient, use me. God, I see that Mary was able to set aside selfish concerns and bow in humble obedience to your will for her life. I pray God that you would help me learn from Mary. God, I want to be available to you. Help me Lord to cast out all fear when you ask something of me. I want to be obedient to you because I love you. Forgive me God when I procrastinate regarding my obedience.  I thank you God that you have recorded Mary’s example of obedience in your Word so that I might be encouraged to set aside fear and choose the path of obedience. God, I don’t want to be just a believer. I want to be a believer that trusts you in all circumstances. I want to trust you because I believe with all my heart that you love me and will always be with me even when life would give me every reason to doubt.

In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.

Christmas Miracles

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.  

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.”

Isaiah 9:6-7a NIV

 

What better place to witness the miracles of Christmas than in the garden? Yes, it is a bit chilly but without a doubt worth the experience. Pure white snow, dark evergreens, shades of gray blending into the black tree trunks that support empty branches standing in silence as they wait for spring. Moonlight cast filtered shadows on the red holly berries. The chickadees and cardinals have tucked their heads under their wings for the long winter night. Early tomorrow morning they will wake up singing their praise as they fly about adding interest and color to the drab days of winter. As you know, since my heart’s garden not an actual garden, my mind is wide open to add additional beauty. If I want snow...there is snow!  It is possible for me to enjoy poinsettia, amaryllis, paper whites and snow drops all in the same garden bed!

 

It has been a busy shopping day for me so I am getting to the garden a little late. Large wet snowflakes of a million different patterns are beginning to fall. Dusk is succumbing to night and the moon is climbing high in the black velvet sky. One by one the stars begin to twinkle and shine reminding me of the message of a Christmas miracle that happened over two thousand years ago.

Tonight I will  sit a spell in the gazebo and contemplate Christmas miracles of long ago. My thermos of hot chocolate is steaming and each swallow warms me inside and out. I also feel the loving warmth of God, my Heavenly Father. Memories of that first Christmas night begin to flood my mind. What were the miracles of that special night?

The greatest miracle was the arrival of God to live among men. It was also the miraculous appearing  of the heavenly host of angels descending from the realms of glory and hovering over the Bethlehem hillside as they delivered God’s holy birth announcement to the sleepy shepherds. It was a manger made of wood that would begin a journey that would eventually lead this Christ child to a wooden cross. It was Joseph, a loving earthly father, who against all odds took on God’s assignment for his life even at the risk of personal humiliation. It was Mary, a simple young woman who considered herself to be blessed by God among all women even though her predicament had raised eyebrows and placed her in a position of shame. It was a tiny newborn baby who had created all life, but now was dependant on those he created. It was a holy night of prophecy finally being fulfilled! These are only a few of the miracles of that first Christmas so many years ago.

Tonight I am amazed when I realize that the same stars that shown over two thousand years ago lighting the way for the Messiah are the same stars that are still in place for me to enjoy tonight. Glancing around the garden I am reminded that my winter garden contains holly berries, cardinals, poinsettia, and amaryllis which are all brilliant red reminders of the blood that Jesus shed for all who would believe in him and accept his free gift of salvation. The pure white snow reminds me that even though my sins are as scarlet, the blood of Jesus washes away my sin and makes me whiter than snow. As the wind whistles through the trees it seems I can hear the distant song of the angels and the message they sing is for the entire world. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 KJV The snow topped evergreens surrounding me are celebrating God’s message of hope for everlasting life. These are indeed the miracles of Christmas. How blessed I am to be in the garden this wonderful night! How comforting it is to know that this very day God is still in the process of fulfilling his prophecy. As prophesied, Jesus came to this world a long time ago and every day we live we are one day closer to him coming again!

Questions:

1. What miracles of Christmas amaze you the most?
2. Why are those miracles so meaningful to you?
3. As Christmas nears will you make time to reflect on the miracles of Christmas by spending time with God in the garden of your heart?

 

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

What an amazing plan you have for this world! God, it was you, who put on the skin of humanity and came to earth in the simple form of a baby. No fanfare only simplicity.  You used the simple to baffle the wise. It was a simple handmaiden and a man who was an ordinary carpenter that brought glory to you because of their obedience. God you rode into the little town of Bethlehem nestled in the womb of Mary, who road on the back of a common donkey. You chose to use a smelly stable for shelter and a hay manger to cradle your precious Son on the night of his birth. Your birth announcement came from the heavenly angels to the lowly shepherds. This heavenly announcement was the only splash of magnificence on that dark starry night. The message was simply go to the busy city of Bethlehem, where there are more people than rooms, find a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Because the shepherds believed the message of the angels they quickly went without hesitation to find Christ the Lord and to worship him, the Messiah, the Son of God, The Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. God, I want to thank and praise you tonight for your wonderful gift to this sinful world. Jesus, is the miracle of Christmas!

 

It is in His name I pray. Amen.