SATURDAY STROLL

Welcome to "SATURDAY STROLL!"

In these posts I will be interacting with Scripture – making it a conversational walk of faith.

Sometimes we'll be talking with Jesus, sometimes God will be talking to us.

There might even be *guest appearances* by some of our beloved characters from the Bible!

So put on your walking shoes – you know we can all use the exercise!

Today we're going to *walk a few moments* in Mary's shoes:

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.

Mary is busy tidying up, when the angel speaks to her:

"Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"

"Oh! You startled me!" Mary says as she turns around.

Then she sees the majestic, glowing creature standing before her. Her eyes grow wide. She begins to tremble. She grows confused and disturbed.

"What on earth does he mean?" she thinks to herself.

Gabriel senses her feelings.

"Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God!"

And then Gabriel begins to outline the plan that God had in mind. A secret plan that had been known to Him since before He created the world. A plan for salvation set into motion before the first sin had even occurred.

And now it is time for it to be revealed.

Mary is perplexed.

"But how can this happen?" (Mary knows that she has not slept with Joseph, and she has no intention of changing that arrangement anytime soon!)

Gabriel smiles.

He's spent his lifetime in the presence of God. He knows the God of "impossibilities."

He chuckles to himself as he remembers Elizabeth and Zechariah's reaction to the news that they were going to become pregnant.

Gabriel thinks to himself, "Oh, if they only knew God the way I do."

He puts his hand on Mary's shoulder, and looks deeply into her eyes.

"Mary, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

And when Mary hears this, her fears are calmed – even though all of her questions have not been answered.

When Gabriel leaves, she ponders these things in her heart.

Lord, I feel like Mary.

So often things arrive in my life that confuse and disturb me. I am so often perplexed by my circumstances. Your plans just seem so impossible sometimes.

"Sharon, I have had My plan and purpose for you set in place before you were even born. Won't you believe that it will be accomplished by the Holy Spirit? Won't you let MY power overshadow you?"

Yes, Lord – less of me, more of You.

And even though all of my questions have not been answered, my fears are calmed.

As we approach Christmas Day, let us ponder these things in our hearts.

And let's join Mary in her response:

"I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."

(From Luke 1:26-38)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"