The Story of Possible

The Christmas story is one of hope and love. It’s a story of the impossible coming to fruition. So many times we become frightened or frozen by what appears to be impossible but…

With God NOTHING is impossible!

Nothing. Not our financial situation, not our health, not our kids or our spouse, our job, our safety, our peace of mind. Nothing! God’s gift to us is the gift of making the impossible possible.

These words were spoken to a young Jewish girl by an angel: “Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ 34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’ 38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:29-38 CEV

What could be more impossible than this – a young woman, who was a virgin, having a child?

No situation in your life or mine could be more impossible than this. Truly!

God’s power and Mary’s agreement with God’s promise made the impossible possible. If Mary hadn’t believed the angel’s message he would have had to go to someone else. After all, it had been prophesied for hundreds of years that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. But she accepted that NOTHING was impossible.

She believed, she conceived and she received what God gave. The hard thing would be living her conviction. She had to tell her family. She had to tell Joseph and then she had to hear the whispers and the criticism that followed. She was up to the task.

There was another woman who saw the power of God at work; she also saw God do the impossible. She was old, I mean really old. She was almost ninety and her reproductive system had never worked but God made her a promise. Sarah saw God do the impossible in her life.

“The Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? 14 I am the Lord! There is nothing too difficult for me. I’ll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.’” Genesis 18:13-14 CEV

Compare our impossible situation with Mary and Sarah. Whose need is bigger or more difficult to fix?

God is the same – nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult for Him.

Time and time again I come back to my favorite verse. It is the foundation I stand on everyday.

“God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.” Numbers 23:19 CEV

Our Father has given us a book filled with promises that cannot fail. Find those promises and then stand knowing that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Everyday Life

The small details of everyday life are often miraculous!

We hear those stories of the Junior High Science Teacher who inspires a young student and then that student goes on to become an epidemiologist and their discoveries help millions of people. Or the High School Track Coach who challenges the relay runner to push just a little bit harder and then that track star goes on to win an Olympic medal.

These small but yet significant encouragements shape lives and inspire greatness.

The words “Mary, did you know?” filled my heart when I woke this morning. The answer to that question was “yes, she did”. An angel had told her the plans that God had for her and the baby she would carry.

“The angel greeted Mary and said, ‘You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.’

29 Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.'” Luke 1:28-33 CEV

Can you imagine how Mary must have felt? She was an ordinary girl, going about her daily routine but this day it was interrupted by an angel. Most likely she was a teenage girl who had heard the words of the Old Testament prophets who said that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. The Jewish people had been waiting for His coming for hundreds of years and now there was an angel standing before her telling her she was the one chosen to be His mother.

Yes, Mary knew!

I’m pretty sure that none of us have had an angel deliver us a message from the Lord, however, He speaks to us daily through His word.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

Every day when we open our Bibles and read what God inspired we are hearing His words and being taught by the Lord. He is interrupting our daily lives with His message. We can ignore that message or choose to obey it. God’s plans for us are good – in fact, the verse above says His word equips us for every good work.

Perhaps we will encourage and inspire others today or maybe God will send someone to inspire and encourage us. Everyday life is anything but ordinary when our hearts are open to God. Just ask Mary…

“Mary, did you know”?