Who Me?
”In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
Luke 1:26-27 (NRSV)
Dear Prosperity Partners and Friends,
We are 13 days away from Christmas! Can you believe it? I pray that you and your family are well as you prepare for the Holy Days.
Just as the Angel Gabriel visits Mary and delivers a shocking and life-transforming message, so, too, does God have a Christmas Message for us. As we get still and prepare for the birth of Christ in our soul, may we be receptive to God’s messages that whisper to us. If the message is shocking, don’t dismiss it. Ponder the message in your heart, as did Mary.
Let the story of Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel be a reminder that: “Any soul that is spiritually ‘prepared’ can ‘expect’ to give birth to the consciousness of ‘Christ’ even when it occurs in shocking and surprising ways, and by uncommon means.”
The Prophet Isaiah says that the ways of God are not our ways. (See Isaiah 55:8) Let us be open and receptive to God’s way because it higher and more successful than our personal way.
The Major Points of Sunday’s lesson are:
1. The ‘Spirit of Christ’ birthed in the soul is by design and not by accident. Like Mary, we must:
a. Prepare for it.
Our time of worshipful listening is most important. Like Mary, who represents the soul that worships in the temple daily, we must practice ‘whole soul’ devotion. In other words, we must be intentional about listening to God’s messages to us. Respond to God’s message with ‘Yes.’
b. Say ‘Yes’ to it with a sense of expectancy.
God’s messages fill us with a sense of hope and expectancy. We may not understand how what God proclaims will happen. We may even ask: How can this be?’ Yet, be excited that the proclamation has come to You and that it is for You. In all things, always expect God’s goodness to permeate your life, especially amidst appearances of impossibility. Let’s begin now to ‘Expect the Unexpected!’
2. There is something wonderful that Christmas promises for you. Expect your investment in your spiritual progress and your receptivity to divine guidance and inspiration to be demonstrated in surprising ways that bless you and humanity, too.
When we find that something is worth it, we invest our time and energy into it. You have invested in your spiritual progress. You have prayed, sat in stillness, tithed, studied, served and more. Expect spiritual dividends as your pay off. I don’t know the form that your payoff will take, but I know that it will be wonderful for you. Make no apologies for the blessings you receive. Simply, accept them. Give thanks for them. Keep investing in your spiritual bank account.
Let’s pray:
God of my soul.
I now prepare the way for Your possibilities to be birthed in me. I re-direct my attention to listening to Your still small voice that speaks within my soul, leading me into right action. Nothing is too good to be true. Nothing is too good to happen in, for, and through me. I affirm my worth and give You permission to do with me what you wish. Lead me and guide me, as you did
Jesus. I will follow.
And so it is.
Empowered to Get It Done,
Rev. Sheila
