Tag: Advent

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Encounter #2

A Teenage Girl and a Messenger of God

Luke 1:26-38

Mary, a young teenage girl, lived in Nazareth, a region near the sea of Galilee. It was some distance from Jerusalem, where the Temple was the Centerpiece of Israel. But Nazareth was a quieter area, where fishing, farming and flocks of sheep were common. Mary was engaged to marry a young man named Joseph, a local carpenter whose family had a respected lineage in Israel’s history.

One day, an unexpected Visitor came to Mary’s family home. But the Visitor greeted young Mary first, with these words: “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you!”

Mary was startled. This was not the usual way that visitors began a greeting in a family home. He addressed Mary specifically . . . a young, teenage girl. Normally the parents were the first to be addressed. But He spoke her name.

The Visitor continued. . . He said, “You are favored by the Lord. The Lord is with you.”

Mary was startled by these words, and was trying to figure out what this greeting meant.
Normally, guests first spoke with the head of the family. . . not a young daughter. Little
did Mary know that God’s #1 Angel was the had ever carried such a Message since the
Earth was Created.

The Visitor (Angel) continued. . .“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.

You will become pregnant,
Give birth to a son,
And name him Jesus.
He will be a great man
And will be called
‘The Son of the Most High.’

The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,
And His kingdom will never end.”

Mary was startled . . . and confused. . . with good reason! She was not married, and she was a virgin. The Visitor (Angel) continued, with care and more clarity for this young girl whose life would never be the same again, nor like that of anyone else in all of history. But young Mary knew God. She knew Him as her Savior.

The Visitor provided more details of what was soon to take place in Mary’s life:
● The tiny baby she would carry within her was a boy
● The Baby’s name: Jesus
● He would be the greatest Man of all
● His Title would be “Son of the Most High
● He would inherit the Throne of King Daivd (his ancestor)
● His Kingship would be over all the people within the ancestry of Jacob
forever

● His Kingdom will never end.

In that quiet, Sacred Moment, alone with God’s Angel. . . the young girl spoke the words that were in her mind and tender heart. No questions. In what was perhaps one of the weightiest Moments in all of human history, a young girl opened her heart, her future, her total being. . . and spoke the words that would impact all of History from that Holy, deeply personal Moment on. “I will do what You have Said.”

How does a young, sheltered teenage girl begin to understand such a message? Who is this Stranger in the room? A young virgin being told she will begin to carry a baby in her body. . . a baby who is the Messiah that her ancestors through centuries had been awaiting to become their Perfect, Just King Who would at last change their world into the future World that God had Promised so long ago. She knew the stories. They had been passed down throughout centuries to her own people, to her own time, and for her people’s future for all Time.

The Angel had said that her fiance Joseph would be the one walking through this unimaginable future with her. She would not face this alone. There was a Plan. The Prophecies that her people had held in their minds and hearts for centuries were
beginning to unfold in her time. In her and Joseph’s family line. . . and into their own home . . . into their own lives . . . into her own body…her own arms. It was to begin now.

Mary’s heart and mind was swirling . . . she was so young. She had to talk to someone.
Who in the world could possibly understand any of this. Who could hold her, care for
her, help her step through this one-time-in-global-history experience? She could only
imagine the probable reactions of the people she loved most, not to mention the
probable reactions of the people of her sheltered world. . . her mother. . . her father . .
girlfriends, neighbors, cousins, . . . all of the circle of relationships that made up her
small world in Nazareth.

Who could ever believe her? Where could she feel safe? Elizabeth. Her sweet, wise, loving “favorite cousin.” The angel knew her, and knew that Mary would desperately need someone in this life-changing Moment. Elizabeth would understand. She would be safe . . . wise . . . caring. . .and experiencing her own miracle pregnancy. Perfect.

The young girl gathered her things and with her parent’s blessing (of course!) and
began her journey to dear Elizabeth’s home. She would be safe in Elizabeth and Zechariah’s home. She would be welcomed, and loved. It would be the perfect place to begin thinking and talking through the realities that she was only beginning to imagine. She was so young. Aunt Elizabeth had never had a baby, but she was so wise. . . she would know what to do.

God would have to handle the overwhelming realities to come. But in that Moment, Mary knew she needed a safe place, a caring face, a loving heart, and the words of wisdom from a dear one she could trust. Both Wise Aunt Elizabeth and young Mary were in for a Delightful, Divine Surprise!

God knows the emotional needs that arise throughout the seasons of our lives. Cross-
generational relational connections are a sweet way to share experiences, struggles,
perspectives, advice and care throughout our years and seasons of life. Mentors who have lived through struggles, heartaches, and loss have gems of truth that can shed light on our present realities. A rocky relationship . . . a challenging pregnancy, hurtful whispers and judgements. . .life dreams that seem to crumble. . . insecurity about the future. . . God’s ancient people experienced those realities. Their stories and ancient words of Wisdom can bring light for our own hearts and struggles.

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A Season of Human (and Divine!) Encounters. . .

That old, familiar Story . . . told and retold throughout the centuries. That Story of a Baby Who changed the state of the world by His Coming. He changed the status of the realities of our earthly life forever. And most impossible of all . . . He provided the Way to change the human heart, mind, and eternal Destination of every man, woman and child of this Earth.

It is a story of Divine Encounters that are woven throughout the season that we call “Christmas.” Does God speak to young children? Does He speak to teenagers? Does God speak to hearts in the midst of serious life choices and crises? Stories of God’s personal Engagement with humanity cross all barriers of age, gender, social status, ethnicity and religious affiliations.

Holidays can often be settings for interactions that bring hurt, disappointment, tension, and emotional distancing. The Bible is full of stories of those human realities, including one of the most beautiful stories in all of history. . . the coming of the Messiah as an innocent baby, to be born and live in a world that would widely reject Him . . . then and now.

Yet, He walked through our world embodying Perfect Love. The only One Who ever did. He is our Example, and offers His Presence in our lives as we move through our days and our relationships every day.

May this short series of Stories of His First Coming touch your heart and mind as you walk through this Christmas season and all of the Divine Encounters that await. . .the unique sense of Wonder . . . Hope . . . Time with family and friends . . . sights and Signs of Beauty and Light . . .May you know He is near.

ENCOUNTER #1

An Old Priest, His Wife, and an Angel

Luke 1

The old Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem had been given the honor of serving there at a special time of year, and his very special assignment was to burn the sacred incense in the most holy place. He had this rare privilege through his heritage of coming from the priestly lineage of Aaron, and his lifetime of faithful service to God within the walls of the beautiful Temple . . . the Centerpiece of Israel. It may have been his only “Shining Moment” to enter that sacred space in his lifetime. Every detail of this Moment must be perfect. He was literally “in the Presence of God.”

Zechariah carried out each detail of this sacred experience . . . focused, memorized, exact, prepared. He was an old man, and it was likely that he would never experience this again. Was he memorizing every moment? Did he wish that his dear Elizabeth could see this? Did he wish that there had been a child . . . a son who could have shared this amazing Moment with his daddy? A son who would carry on his legacy of serving in God’s Presence in the Holy Temple . . . the Focal Point of his city . . . his nation. . . his people Israel.

Then, He appeared. Right there. Standing right there in that Most Holy Place. The Angel . . . Gabriel!! Standing with him to the right of that sacred space at the Altar of God. Zechariah was stunned. No one else was in the place. . . all the people who had come to worship were
praying outside while Zechariah carried out his most sacred responsibility and privilege to light the incense that God wanted to fill all the air around Him. But there were no instructions for this situation! Zechariah was shaken to his core!

Was he about to die? Had he made a mistake? He had never heard of anything like this before. There was no one else in this holiest place in the Temple. All the people were outside. . . worshiping . . . praying . . . waiting. He was alone. With an Angel. He was “overcome with fear”….AKA freaking out!!! Literally speechless.

The Angel spoke. “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. (The Angel knew his name!) God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son… (He knew her name!)… And you will name him ‘John.’ He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.

“As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord with the Spirit and Power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way, he will prepare the people for their Lord.”

WHAT??? Hello??? This makes NO sense. This is impossible! I am an old man. Elizabeth is far too old to get pregnant!

The glowing Stranger introduced himself. “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s Presence. This is all going to happen. Now you will just have to think about what I have told you. You won’t be able to say a thing until it all happens. It will all come true at the right time.” And he was gone.

Old Zechariah finally stumbled out to the crowd waiting outside the Temple. This was not the normal way this special event was supposed to go. What happened in there? The old guy couldn’t walk. He couldn’t speak! All he could do was try to tell his experience through pantomime. He looked crazy!

His time in Temple service was not finished. He had to go back into the Temple until his obligation was ended. He couldn’t even see Elizabeth. Did she have any idea of what was going to happen. . . an elderly couple was going to have a baby. Impossible.

But God. . .

Old age is rarely a season of life to which anyone looks forward. Although wisdom and
experience are a resource that the coming generations can draw from, the opportunities
or intentional pursuit may not be the reality. But God’s Word is filled with history and
stories of His value and engagement with a lot of very old people, women and men, who
played significant roles in their own and future generations. God uses old people, with
their life experiences, wisdom, and perspective of what truly matters in life.

Little did this elderly couple realize that Elizabeth’s young relative, Mary, was about to
go through her own experience of a Miracle Baby. . . as a virgin. There would be the “looks” …“whispers”… “questions.” Auntie Elizabeth would provide a safe shelter to the
young girl whose life would be turned upside-down, as her own miracle pregnancy
became noticeable to her friends and neighbors. Two “impossibly” expectant mothers
would have a safe place in one another to share their joys, fears, questions, and time.
Poised together on the threshold of the arrival of two baby boys who would impact the
world for Eternity, the two women, old and young, would walk through the eternally
singular Experience of carrying Miracle Baby Boys within their own bodies . . . so near
to their hearts.

And God orchestrated the faithful, childless couple to play a significant role in the life of
a beloved niece, whose Child would change the World forever. Zachariah and Elizabeth’s miracle baby, for whom they had hoped and prayed was now nearing birth. John. And the One. . . the Messiah. . . for Whom they had waited and watched throughout their lives was now nearing His Own entrance into the world, through their own niece, Mary. God rewarded their faithfulness with a miracle son, and the experience of a “front row seat” to see the physical signs of the unborn Messiah, for Whom they had prayed throughout their lives.