A Christmas message

Dear Editor,

Christmas is approaching, do we really know what it is all about? You know nothing is accidental with God, the timing of Christ birth was perfect.

So this year I am looking at Mary, the mother of Jesus, and there are a lot of misconceptions about her. I have searched the Bible over and over again and I cannot find anywhere that it says I am to worship her.

The Bible doesn't say she was perfect or sinless. What is special about Mary was her plain ordinariness. God took an ordinary woman and used her in an extraordinary way. That is what makes her so special. What a blessing!

Mary had all kinds of fears, but she never let her fears control her. I see three things in Mary that we should have in our lives, and if you build them into your life, you will find God using you in ways you cannot even imagine.

The three things that I have found are these: 1. God uses people who want to do his will; 2. God uses people who decide to pay the price; 3. God uses people who dare to trust his promises. Mary had enthusiasm and humility, and these two attributes made it clear she wanted to be used by God.

What do you want most in life? To get married, be financially independent, to retire? Trust me, you will need a greater purpose in your life or you will miss the boat.

In fact there is really only one place to start when discovering God's purpose for your life. "The things you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants." (Matthew 6:33).

Mary did what God wanted her to do. And yes, she had to pay the price. There is always a cost in following God's plan for your life. You will have to give up something and step out in faith. Mary did!

Can you imagine what it cost Mary to be the mother of Jesus? It cost her reputation. She was a virgin, pregnant, and engaged to be married to Joseph. How was she supposed to explain this to the community? How about her comfort? Jesus was born in Bethlehem. She was in Nazareth.

Tell me, how would you like to be nine months pregnant and take a long journey on the back of a donkey?

God's purpose for my life includes some problems. They are not accidental, they are part of the plan for my life, and that is part of the cost. What about you?

Mary was a woman of deep faith, and no, she did not have all the answers, but she knew who did, and she trusted him. She was not afraid of the supernatural or of miracles. After all, she had the son of God growing inside of her!

If God took a teenage girl, a poor peasant with no education and chose her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, don't you think your excuse for not letting God use you is pretty puny?

It is Christmas time, let me ask a very personal question. What are you going to give Jesus for Christmas? You have bought gifts for everybody else, what can you give God?

Yes, Christmas is love! This Christmas take the "m" and turn it around! "Christwas love!"

In Christ Jesus

Pastor Marie Terry