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Listen while you read: "Lo How A Rose"1
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Luke 1:26-34 – In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. … You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." … "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (NIV)
As I was going about my daily chores, God spoke the seed of an idea into my mind very clearly: to go back to school as a mature student. What He was asking me to do would change the course of my life, if I made the choice to trust and obey. I did, and it did.
The Bible does not tell us what Mary was doing when the angel Gabriel came to her. But there is no reason for us to believe that she was doing anything more than going about her routine chores, just like the rest of us do on a daily basis.
That visitation to Mary and what she did about it, however, not only changed the course of her life, but that of the whole world.
God had holy work for Mary to do. He also has holy work for each one of us to accomplish. Mary was just an ordinary girl. We, too, are just ordinary people. But when God desires to plant a seed of direction within any of us, it has the power to produce extraordinary results.
The crux of the matter is whether, like Mary, we, too, will be open and willing servants and embrace what He is asking us to do, believing that with Him, all things are possible.
So today, as we go about our daily chores, may each us be prepared for an encounter with God, for He is able to meet us at any time and in any place. And when He does, may we be prepared to embrace, through trust and obedience, the holy seed of the work that He desires to implant within our hearts and minds.
Prayer: Lord God, may our hearts be open to be Your willing servants, to move forward with Your holy work within this world as You encounter us amidst our daily chores and routines. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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Amen, Lynne. Hope you and the family are enjoying the holidays.
Good morning, Lynne,
Thank you for your message today. It was filled with love and wisdom.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Good morning my friend,
This is so encouraging and God is faithful! He proves it everyday day.
God bless.
Merry Christmas.
Lynne, I love how you shared how the Holy Spirit sparks in us His opportunities to partner with God, while we are just going about with our mundane activities, and we are given the choice to agree with the Holy Spirit and say “yes”. Praise God!
Good morning, Lynne,
I am not sure if I would have been as gracious as Mary, if I had been on the earth at that time. I am not even sure if I would recognize Jesus as who He was if I was on the earth at that time. With God’s help, hopefully I would have been ready and willing. I am glad you were. Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne, for another of your very positive and encouraging devotionals. Yes, we never know just what our God has in mind for us to take on, and we have the assurance of His helping hand upon us when we follow His will. Our path in life can be truly surprising at times but whatever is God’s plan for us, is for the best. Blessings for these very special writings you deliver and Christmas greetings to you and your family.
Hi Lynne
Isn’t it amazing what happens when we are obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I, like you, was prompted to go back to school as a mature student to study to become an Ordained Minister. I obeyed and as they say the rest is history. I met my wife while doing my internship in Seminary.
I thank God that you were obedient to the Lord and went back to school as a mature student.
Blessings.
I’ve signed up for a distance ed course starting in January. Now I am having second thoughts. I’m 65. Maybe I should be a more active grandma and take up a craft. And look after my hubby and house better. How many great causes could I volunteer for?! So many things I’ve never had time for!
I’ve been a servant of God for many years, but he has rarely answered my prayers of the type, and I’m not sure what I should do.
We enjoy your devotional very much.
AMEN! Thank you, Lynne.
Thank you, Lynne. Thankfully, you followed His prompting, as should we.
Great message in this crazy pre-Christmas busyness that seems to have escalated this year into madness!
Thanks dear Lynne!
Thank you, Lynne, for your messages all year through.
Wishing you and yours a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.