Nothing is impossible!

"Mary and Angel" - Botticelli

TODAY'S SPECIAL: LUKE 1:26-38

TO CHEW ON: "Then the angel said to her … He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1:31, 32-33


The day Jesus rode into Jerusalem accompanied by crowds of cheering followers, I wonder if Mary recalled the angel's words to her before Jesus was born (part of our reading today) and thought, Now it's coming true. The angel's promise is playing out right in front of my eyes!

I wonder how she grappled with her thoughts and emotions a few days later when all her expectations were dashed by Jesus dying on the cross. We can only imagine the emotional bungee plunge of all Jesus' followers when what seemed like an impending coronation turned into a crucifixion.

Of course with our long view, we know that this was all part of God's plan. It's a plan we're still living through, in faith that the prediction of the angel about Jesus ultimately establishing a forever kingdom will be seen and acknowledged by everyone on earth as we have acknowledged Him king of our lives and of the church.

Perhaps we can also take a lesson from this for our day-to-day lives. We pray. We get a promise. We think we're getting our answer as the circumstances line up. And then they turn. The door shuts. The heavens are brass. We cry and wonder, was my faith misplaced? Is God really going to make good on His promise?

Maybe, as it was for Mary, our answer will be way bigger than an immediate answer would ever be, like Jesus' ultimate kingship will be way bigger than just being a deliverer and king for the Roman-oppressed Jews of His time.

At times like that we can hold close the angel's further words: "For with God nothing will be impossible" - Luke 1:37.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to hang onto Your promises for their fulfillment in Your ultimate big-picture way. Help me to really believe that with God nothing is impossible. Amen. 

MORE: Feast of the Annunciation

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. The liturgy for this day begins with this Collect:

Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Let it be to me...

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Luke 1:26-38

TO CHEW ON: “‘For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:37-38


“Let it be to me according to Your word.” To me these words of sweet surrender typify this thoughtful Galilean teenager. An angel has just told her God favors her. That favor will result in her becoming pregnant with the very Son of God. But what a spot for a soon-to-be-married young woman to find herself in!

"The Annunciation"
by Dante Gabriel Rosetti 1828-1882

Mary asked one question: “How can this be, since I do not know a man.” I can’t help but think that dozens of others came to her after the angel left: What about my reputation? Won’t my life be in danger when people find out I’m pregnant? What about Joseph? No doubt the simple faith that had her utter the words, "Let it be to me according to Your word" in the first place, buoyed her up through the confusion of the following weeks and months.

God, in His own way and time, took care of each concern so that when Jesus was born, He had a responsible caring, committed earthly father in Joseph. As for Mary’s reputation–well, Joseph took care of it to the extent he could. As for people thinking ill of her (and there probably were some), that’s the risk one takes when one is a "maidservant of the Lord."

Has God ever come to you with a word (rhema) that seems as impossible as Gabriel’s to Mary? Perhaps you’ve been given a promise about your kids, or a work commission that seems far beyond your ability and totally out of sync with your circumstances. At the time it came, and still, you may be asking, “How can this thing be?”

Let Mary’s final words be your resolve and testimony as you wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled: “Let it be to me according to Your word.”

PRAYER: Dear God, please nourish in me a faith that is as simple and implicit as Mary’s, where I trust You to work things out because “With God (You) nothing will be impossible.” Amen.

MORE: The Feast of the Annunciation

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation – when we recall Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she will mother of the Son of God.

The liturgy of this day begins with this collect:

"Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

Liturgy for this day.


Biber - Rosary Sonata #1: The Annunciation
HEINRICH IGNAZ FRANZ VON BIBER (1644-1704)
"The Rosary Sonatas"
I. The Five Joyful Mysteries
Sonata No. 1 for violin and basso continuo "The Annunciation"



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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Great leaders use the servant entrance

TODAY’S SPECIAL: John 12:20-36a

TO CHEW ON: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him will My Father honor.” John 12:26

“Servanthood is the time-tested entrance prerequisite for trustworthy ministry,” begins a sidebar article in my Bible. “Since God’s Word seems to reveal such service as the basis for any advancement in leadership, we are wise to be cautious if such credentials are not found in a rising leader today.” – Joseph Garlington Sr. New Spirit Filled Life Bible, p. 1466

Have you noticed how many Bible leaders first served?
- Moses served Jethro - Exodus 3:1.
- Joshua served Moses - Exodus 24:13.
- Elisha served Elijah - 2 Kings 3:11.
- David served Saul - 1 Samuel 16:21.

If we dream of having ministries and being leaders, we’d better get used to the idea of being servants.

How comfortable are you with serving? I often watch the Customer Service clerks at our local Superstore with admiration. The best ones handle grouchy, complaining customers with  a humility, grace and willingness to help that puts me to shame. Personally, volunteering in our church’s Alpha program has made me even more aware of some of the hang-ups about serving that I have. It has shown me I have a lot to learn about this unlikely, Kingdom of God route to greatness - Mark 9:33-35.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to have a servant’s heart in everything I do – not to prove my greatness, but because You were a servant, and I follow You. Amen.

MORE: Feast of the Annunciation
Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. This is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the Angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. 

The liturgy for today begins with this collect:

"Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." 

(From the archives)

"The Lord is with you"

"Study for 'Ecce ancilla Domini!'
by Dante Gabriel Rossetti - 1849

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 1:26-38

TO CHEW ON: "And having come in the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.'" Luke 1:28

I wonder what the angel found Mary busy at when he came into her Nazareth house. Perhaps she was sweeping or preparing food, sewing or tending the fire, daydreaming or folding clothes. Whatever she was doing, the angel's pronouncement, "The Lord is with you" tells us God had watched and was there, present with her in her everyday living.

God is no less involved in the day-to-day of our lives. And we can be aware of Him by inviting Him into the mundane. I am reminded of Brother Lawrence, that 17th century man, of whom it is said in the preface to his recorded conversations and letter The Practice of the Presence of God:

"No conceited scholar was Brother Lawrence: theological and doctrinal debates bored him, if he noticed them at all. His one desire was for communion with God, We find him worshiping more in his kitchen than in his cathedral: he could pray with another


Lord of all pots and pans and things...
Make me a saint by getting meals
And washing up the plates!


And he could say, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God n as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees" -  p. 8 (in my 1976 edition).

Of course God is with us too, whether we acknowledge His presence or not. But why not? Here are some little things we might do to help us in this:

• Play praise music while we work, instead of listening to talk radio or TV.

• Review memorized scripture.

• Pray for family members, friends, and the world situation as these things come to mind, even as our hands are busy dusting or setting the table.

• Lay before Him the problems that come up as they occur to us.

• Use our imaginations to see those around us as if Jesus were right beside us (because He is).

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to practice Your presence by consciously inviting You into every setting, gathering, and activity. Amen.

MORE: "He is Here" - Gaither vocal band



Today the church celebrates "The Feast of the Annunciation." The liturgy for the day begins with this collect:

"Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."