Thursday Dec. 8, 2011 The Journey 2011-26

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. I think my computer needs prayers this morning as I have been a full hour trying to keep it online. Anyway, praise God the snow missed us, and all we received was rain. That is nice for my wife does not need to shovel the rain. (Just kidding, folks, I would not let her shovel snow.) Thursday and schools day and families day on this line. Meaning we pray for families and for our schools, and please remember to pray for the family of God.

The Journey 2011 Day 26 Luke 1:26 - In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (NIV)

Hey folks, mount up for a few days with old Gabriel and let's see what he is up to this day. With all the rain in the area I think we will put the top up on the sleigh today. Come on, Rudy, turn the light on and we will move out. You remember two days ago we watched as Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, made a visit on Zechariah and told him that even in his old age his wife Elizabeth, also up in years, would have a child and he was to be named John. Today we see Gabriel coming to Mary, who was a virgin, and whom the Lord found favor in her. What did old Gabriel say to her and how did Mary handle it? Shh, let's listen in.

Luke 1:28 - The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (NIV)

Oh my gosh, what would we think was about to happen if Gabriel or any other angel of the Lord would come up to us and say. "Greetings."

Would we be thinking, well my time on earth is done, and I am going home. Or maybe, what did I do so wrong, how bad was my sin for the Lord to "sic" an angel on me to tell me to get into line? It would tend to scare you a tad I would think... Let's see how Mary handled it.

Luke 1:29 - Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name of Jesus." (NIV)

So you think you were troubled before, think about this, you are a young girl, (think way back ladies) and you were a virgin and you had a wonderful guy you were really getting serious with. Then this angel of the Lord tells you, you will be with child. He tells you not to worry, and you are thinking, I am going to need to go home and tell my folks, my dear mother and father and my sister and brother that I am going to have a child and I never had sex. They for sure are not going to believe this. And then you must go tell "Joe," this nice young man who has respected you and never pushed you to lay with him, and now you must tell him you are going to have a baby.

I want you to ponder this today and see how you would handle it... Tomorrow we are going to see how Mary handled it and how her Joseph handled it. Will Gabriel get it all straightened out? What will happen? Come back tomorrow.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for getting my computer up and running again. Thanks for this, our families and schools day. Dear Lord, please bless our families according to Your will and keep our schools safe and sound, and Lord, may You be in them with the kids. And Lord, ride those buses also. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings and sharing the Love of God... love ya, Pastor Dan.