Saturday, December 14, 2013

A Matter of Trust

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38

Can you just imagine what it would have been like?
A young, unmarried virgin girl has been given this unimaginable news.
A visiting angel tells her that she has been chosen to give birth to the Son of God.

Really?

I mean, how does a young girl...how does anyone...even begin to wrap their brain around that? 
I can't even imagine. 


This little book is one of my favorite things.
Maybe you have seen it or maybe you have it too.

I get it out every year as I put out my Christmas decorations. 
It was given to me back in 2005 from a sweet friend who was at the time, my Secret Pal at church. 

The book tells the stories of Christmas taken from scripture but written in short story form—
based on what is known in scripture and then elaborated on a bit.


As I read through the first story, the theme is trust.

God trusted Mary, knowing that she would be the perfect mother to His Son.
Even though the scripture doesn't mention the word trust, it really is what it's all about.

Mary had to trust God more than she ever had to before.
She had to trust Him, first, to be able to accept this truth...
...that she was going to have the Son of God.
She had to trust Him to get her through the many obstacles that she and Joseph would face.


Mary trusted God completely...it's the way she lived her life.

That's why He chose her.

That's why He trusted her to raise His Son.




31 comments:

  1. I can't imagine! It also makes me wonder......would I have judged her? Would I have made assumptions? A lot of things to learn by Mary's obedience to God. Thanks for posting my friend...I may have to find that book. It sounds great.

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    1. It really is a precious little book Lisa...I hope you can find it.

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  2. How peaceful , peace filled and so beautiful.. I have read all of this and its just amazing the gift of faith that came from Mary as she carried Jesus. Thank you for sharing this.
    xoxo

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  3. Thank you for sharing a beautiful story. We are all in awe of the majesty of the birth of Jesus. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! Christmas blessings to you as well!

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  4. Your post is beautiful! Just beautiful! Thank you for reminding me to trust Him - in all things. It can be so easy to overlook the amount of trust that Mary displayed in God. It was not an easy task by any stretch of our imagination. I am glad that I visited from Spiritual Sundays. May we both trust Him more in 2014! Have a blessed Christmas!

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    1. Joanne, I know personally that I have taken Mary and this story for granted...for many years. She had to have been an amazing woman! Yes, I also want to trust Him more! Christmas blessings to you as well!

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  5. Beautiful! I cannot put myself in Mary's shoes.She was a very special woman to be chosen for this.

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  6. mind boggling, isn't it? Yes, indeed... she knew Him, she trusted Him and she obeyed.

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    1. Barbara, thank you for stopping by my blog today :) Oh...to only have that kind of trust,,,

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  7. Hi Debby! I think this is one of my most favorite posts from you Debby. The images, the message...so beautiful. And your faith just shines through it all. Thank you for making my Sunday so special.

    Hugs,
    Ceil

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    1. Ceil...thank you for once again encouraging me...you are such a sweetie. I've been thinking a lot about Mary this week as I was preparing a video for the song "Mary, did You Know?" for our church service this morning. Oh...to have a just fraction of her faith...

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  8. Your post piggy-backs with the sermon at church this morning! Wonderful!

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  9. And Joseph had to trust the Lord also. Loved the little book you shared. It's the small things like that--the treasures we pull out once a year that can be so precious. Enjoyed your post. Your blog is so cheerful! Visiting from Spiritual Sundays Link-up. Blessings and a Merry Christmas to you, Diane

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    1. Diane, you are absolutely right about Joseph! A tremendous amount of faith and trust was needed from him as well! That little book has really become special to me and it makes me happy when I get it out every year and place it on my coffee table. Thank you so much for stopping by....may your Christmas be blessed!

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  10. How lovely, Debby. I had never really thought of this idea - that God also trusted Mary with His very special Son. It made me think - maybe sometimes when I'm going through trials or suffering, maybe God is also saying that He trusts me to stick close to Him. And maybe my trust wins a battle against the enemy. Hmmm!

    I'm hopping on over to look at this book on Amazon - sounds like a purchase!

    GOD BLESS~

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    1. I really did love the author's take on Mary's life. When you think about it though, God had to have great trust in her to chose her from the beginning. Here's the way I see it...most of us were very careful about who we let watch or keep our children, right? Of course, God wouldn't settle for anything less for His Son. I hope you can find the book and if you do, I think you will cherish it like I do :) Blessings of the season to you, sweet Sharon!

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  11. Hi Debby. Just a wonderful post and the faith Mary had! I would only hope I could trust like she did. Thanks so much for popping in to see me and you're always a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Oh yes...to have the faith of Mary...wouldn't that be awesome! Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. My favorite story in all the world. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  13. It's so wonderful to take time and focus on th

















    What so struck me is the theme of trusting God when we get news we weren't prepared for, that others will criticize us for and gossip about, perhaps. A beautiful message as always from one of God's beautiful people. Thank you for always encouraging me! I wish you and yours a very blessed Christmas!


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    1. Thank you sweet friend...that encouragement goes both ways...I can always count on you for that. May you and your family have a joyous Christmas!

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  14. Debby, I can not even imagine how a young girl could comprehend it. One of my favorite traditions that we have is recreating the Nativity on Christmas Eve. The grands love doing it too! Have a very Merry Christmas!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  15. Beautiful! Isn't it amazing how God chooses the lowliest, the most broken and sinful, the downtrodden and the outcast, and those like Mary with pure, trusting hearts...HE IS AMAZING and we are so blessed!
    Merry Christmas sweet friend! Thanks so much for being a part of Amaze Me Monday, I so appreciate you!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Cindy...we ARE so very blessed because of the opportunity to serve our God who is SO amazing, aren't we? I want to thank you for your sweet encouragement and making me feel so welcome in "blog land" this past year. It's because of you and a few others that I haven't given up on it yet. I pray you and your family have the most blessed Christmas!

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Thank you for stopping by today! Your sweet comments are such an encouragement to me.