How Can This Be?

After the Beth Moore simulcast at church on Saturday, I picked up a copy of "Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only." It's a really neat book chronicling the life of Jesus and interspersed with places for you to write out your thoughts and prayers about what you are studying. Today's lesson was entitled "How Can This Be?" and took an in depth look at Mary's reaction to finding out that she was going to be the mother of Jesus.

When I read that passage (Luke 1:26-38) in my own Bible (ESV), I was struck by the wording of this question...not "How can this be?" but "How will this be?" To someone who always just assumed that Mary was asking if this miracle was, in fact, possible (a.k.a. me), it was a totally new concept to consider this adolescent girl realizing that God was going to do the impossible and not doubting it at all, but simply wondering how exactly He was planning on doing it.

If we as believers all chose to (with God's help) dwell in this state of mind rather than wondering if God would choose to work in the world today or not, imagine the incredible power of our combined faith! I have to believe that this is the kind of faith that Jesus seeks to draw out of His followers, and the kind that will bring Him unprecedented amounts of glory. Join with me in praying to remember this as we go through our day-to-day lives!

Cherished Connections

I happened to pick up this summer's "Our Daily Bread" while I was cleaning this morning and skimmed through it until I found today's date. It seemed to be worth posting on here, in honor of the many friends of this type that have come into my life so far, and for the ones who will in the future. I feel truly blessed to have been given so many cherished connections!

"When I heard that David was in the office for a board meeting, I was excited. He and I had a mutual friend, Sharon, who had died several years earlier. We had a few minutes to reminisce about her and her love for life and God. What a delight to connect with someone who has loved someone you have loved! There's a special bond because you love to talk about that cherished person.

"Those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior have even stronger ties. We are forever connected to Him and to one another. 'We, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,' Paul says in Romans 12:5. We've been 'born of God,' and we love those who are 'begotten of Him' (1 John 5:1).

"When we get together with fellow believers, we have the opportunity to talk about the one we love -- Christ -- and of the love, forgiveness, and grace we have experienced in Him because of His death and resurrection (4:9-10). At such times, we can encourage each other to continue to trust Him and spur one another on to be faithful in our walk with Him.

"This coming Sunday and throughout the week, let's remind fellow believers of all that Jesus has done and of how truly wonderful He is." --Anne Cetas