December 5–Roles Reversed

Wednesday is here and it’s going to be a good day. Yesterday I was with my sister while we were taking care of some business for our mom who is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. We talked about how strange it is to be in the role reversal of caring for a parent, especially one who may or may not know who you are. 


Sometimes, we are challenged to understand why we are in the situation we find ourselves. Most of the time, it’s about decisions we make, but there are time when we are just there—in the middle of a mess that was not of our own making. 


Living life with God does not mean a life of unbroken happiness nor does it promise that all your dreams will come true like a Hallmark Christmas movie. There is almost always a price to be paid by those whom God chooses to use. 


God chose to use Mary, a young, uneducated and inexperienced girl in His grand plan to save the entire human race. Mary had a life planned with Joseph but all those plans changed because Mary found favor in the eyes of God. And just as God used Mary, He desires to use everyone who is willing to be part of His strategy. 


That very first Christmas Mary discovered the presence and intimacy of the Lord as never before. Over the next several years, she would be confronted with the reality of what happens when God places a piece of Himself into an earthly life. No longer was God a concept or a Divine Being who never engaged Himself in the affairs of everyday life. The presence of God Himself invaded the life of this young girl who, prior to this moment, had nothing but Joseph on her mind.


“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ”Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:26-28, 30-32 NLT‬‬


Just as Mary embarked on an unprecedented journey, we can begin a life of intimacy walking in the very presence of Jesus. 


Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your son. And thank you for the example we have in Mary showing us that as long as we are willing, we don’t have to fit any special criteria for you to work though us. We long to share the presence of you this Christmas—teach us Father what true intimacy with you means. We love you and worship you and offer to you all our praise. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

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