First Church of God

(This is the snow on Hickory Creek that runs behind our house! I snapped this picture this morning!)

I cannot believe it is almost Christmas!  It certainly looks like Christmas at our house.  We had blizzard warnings in Michigan last night.  It is the first time I have ever almost been in a blizzard!  Growing up in Tennessee, I thought that the few times we had heavy snow (1-4 inches!)  it was a blizzard!  But, now I know what a "Real Live" heavy snow looks like!  Driving home from church yesterday was interesting!  You couldn't hardly see at all!  (All of a sudden my southern accent has kicked in! Just talkin' 'bout Tennessee makes me have a "twang"!)  Anyway, getting back to my story!  The snow is heavier here, the cold is colder, and the wind, well, it is windier!  The winter is just plain different here!  But, I LOVE IT!  I like it that we get a big dose of the seasons when they change.  It makes life just a little more interesting. We would hate it if life were always predictable...what's the fun in that?

I wonder if that is what Mary thought when the angel appeared to her..."Well, this makes life a little more interesting!"  Or, I wonder if she thought...."How exciting is this?  I always wanted my life to be more than ordinary!"  What we do know is that she was willing.  She was ready to be used by God, no matter the outcome, the ridicule it might bring, or the unpredictable way that Joseph might react.  She just said..."Alright God, I'm your's so use me!"  I have always been intrigued by the bravery of this young girl.  I have always been stunned at the maturity in her willingness to give up her dreams, desires, and hopes!  I wish that we could have a broader picture of who she was, what she was like, and what her thoughts were as God worked His plan in her life. I want to know what it was like to raise Jesus.  How did she feel the first time she had to scold him, bandage his knee, or wipe his forehead when he was ill.  I am sure that Jesus did not come with an instruction manual! I bet her life was full of wonderful, beautifully unpredictable surprises! 

Most often, we don't like surprises!  We don't like for our plans to be interrupted. And, heaven help the person that schedules a big event on the same night as our child's birthday party!  But, as a general rule life IS unpredictable, unstable, and full of surprises.  I only hope that as I live my life I can have a little Mary in me.  My hope is that whatever the Lord chooses to do through me, I would react with the grace of Mary, the maturity of Mary, and the faith of Mary.  I pray that I can see beyond myself, past the blizzards that life throw at me, to the greater purpose of God.  I enjoy the changes in seasons, so why can't I enjoy the changes in seasons of life in general as long as I am following the will of God.  Wisdom is a must when dealing with change and only found in a relationship with the Lord God Almighty. 

This Christmas season my prayer for you is that you find beauty beyond the blizzards.  Joy beyond your sadness.  Peace amidst the storm.  And, love beyond all measure!  Mary is a wonderful part of the Christmas story that we must not overlook.  I hope that through her you can see, that God uses the ordinary, and makes it extraordinary!  You are a treasure to the Lord, and He has amazing plans for your life...don't miss it while you are charting out your days as if to say "I have no room for surprises!"  I pray you have a very unpredictable and blessed Christmas!