Obedient Like Mary

We had a fun time last night at the Youth Group Christmas Party.  If you missed it, we MISSED you!  And, some of the highlights:  Jenna, James (as in James Fox), Jacob Boggs, and Austin all dressed up on Christmas dresses for the photo scavenger hunt!  It was hilarious & worth triple points to their team for that noteworthy performance.  Winning kudos goes to Sasha's team:  Sara, Sasha, Logan & AJ.  They succeeded in doubling most of their points...congratulations!

 

Our next big event will be Magic Mountain on New Year's Day: January 1, 2010 (Friday).  Cost will be $35.00 a person.  If you want to go, you MUST bring your money on Sunday, Decmeber 27, 2009. 

 

Frank and I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas! 

 

And, as we round the stretch into Christmas week, following is a great reminder from PW Devotions.  Many of us get caught up in the "what would I have done?" mode and I think we do the account of this miraculous moment a huge disservice.  This moment in history is all about God.  He made all of this possible, chose Mary and she obeyed.

 

Mary may be the mother of Jesus, but Jesus (God made flesh) is the whole point of this beautiful account.  Without Him we have no hope.  Without Jesus, we have no advocate.  Without Jesus, we are lost forever in our sin.

 

One good point is that Mary was ready to obey God.  Are you ready to obey God with your entire life?

 

Read on.

 

As you go through this week of last minute shopping, gift wrapping, food and family get-togethers:  keep in mind, this whole celebration isn't about us at all.  It is all about Jesus, His birth and our only hope for eternal life with God.

 

Luke 2:25-32

(25) And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  (26) And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  (27) And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,  (28) then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,  (29) "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; (30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation, (31) Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (32) A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

---

Faith Like Mary: Mission Accepted Posted: 20 Dec 2009 12:20 PM PST " '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) Do you see God as someone who has the right to tell you what to do, whatever that is? Or do you see yourself as someone willing to consider obeying God on a case-by-case basis? Mary believed God had the right to tell her what to do. That doesn't mean she never sinned. Even servants sometimes disobey. But there's a big difference between that and seeing God's commands for us as optional somehow. If an angel showed up on your doorstep with a message from God tomorrow and said, "You're going to have a miracle baby" or "Go and tell your neighbor about Jesus" or "Don't ever lie to your parents again," would you be able to say, "I am the Lord's servant. If He said it, I'll do it"? It takes faith like Mary to obey like that Think: Why do you think it's hard for us to say, "God has the right to tell me what to do, no matter what that is"? What's the alternative to believing God has the right to tell us what to do? Pray: Ask God to help you to be convinced that He has the right to tell you what to do -- and then to help you to have the faith to keep obeying Him, no matter what. Do: Read about Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-56 -- and don't miss Mary's song.

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/