The Adventure of Christmas

(ROCKWALL, TX — December 3, 2018) Why is Christmas called ADVENT? To me that suggests an ADVENTURE! Looking at it from Mary’s perspective, HOW MUCH OF AN ADVENTURE COULD THAT HAVE BEEN??? She’s minding her own business and SHAZAM (from Gladys in The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. You MUST watch it if you haven’t. The Herdman kids give a whole new slant to the whole thing!)! Gabriel, one of God’s greatest angels, appears to her! Needless to say, she was “very perplexed” at what he had to tell her.

Don’t get me wrong. They believed in angels 2,000 years ago in Nazareth, but she was only a non-descript Jewish girl, doing what young girls do during the day. This appearance would change not only her life, but HIStory also. An ADVENTURE was beginning that had been planned 750 years before as told to us by Isaiah the Prophet.

Her SHAZAM moment continued after the angel’s greeting, telling her not be afraid. I guess there was comfort for her in that, knowing that SHE WASN’T GOING TO DIE ON THE SPOT! But his news further exploded her mind as he told her she was going to have a baby…a Baby Boy. That would have thrilled her a few months later after she and Joseph had married. But that event hadn’t occurred yet.

Mary was puzzled (to say the least) as her Mother had informed her of the process involved for conceiving children. That event had not occurred in her life causing her great confusion. She boldly spoke to Gabriel and said, “Are you kidding me???? My Mother would kill me and even worse, I could be STONED by the guys at the synagogue!!!!!!”

As Gabriel explained to her about this ADVENTURE, and that it would begin as the Spirit of God overwhelmed her leading to conception in her womb, she surrendered to the experience by saying, “Behold (AKA Shazam!), I am a servant of the Lord; may it be done to me as you have said.”

This was only the beginning of Mary’s ADVENTURE. We’ll see more later, but I wanted to ask you if you’ve faced any IMPOSSIBILITIES lately. Have you had some shattering news? A life-altering diagnosis? An expense that simply doesn’t fit the pocket book? A word from an angel?

Don’t discount Mary’s perplexity or yours. She was human and lacked the life experiences that you and I have had. But something else that her Mother had told her…Messiah would come. He miraculously would be born of a virgin. He would save His people from their sin. Please be reminded today that His message to you is the same as to Mary, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” He has given us many promises. “He who began a good work in you will perfect that work until the day of Jesus Christ.” SHAZAM! “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” SHAZAM! “I will work ALL THINGS together for your good,” even that shattering news, that unexpected expense, that surprising diagnosis, “if you love me and obey My Word.” SHAZAM!!!! Even Gladys would be astonished at these words.

Now that’s a GOOD WORD! Merry Christmas!

By Paula Lively. Paula is a Volunteer Chaplain at Broadmoor Medical Lodge in Rockwall. She is a VERY retired RN who loves serving the residents at Broadmoor. She and her husband, Fred, have lived in Rockwall for 15 years.

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