In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city named Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said:

Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you…..you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

But Mary was…

Troubled…

Fearful…

Questioning:  “How will this be?”

And the angel answered:

Nothing is impossible with God. 

Can you imagine the thoughts running through Mary’s head? “What would Joseph think? Would he break our engagement? Would he believe that I am a virgin?” And to add to her confusion the angel said that she was the “favored one.” She did not feel favored at all– only troubled, fearful, and confused.

This week we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, who came to rescue us; to give life eternal and hope to the hopeless. In the midst of our confusing and sometimes fearful world in which we live shines Jesus, the hope of the world. And as we embrace Him we embrace  His Peace.

May Jesus the hope of the world fill your life and break through with His eternal hope. 

Merry Christmas and much love to all of you faithful Making Space for God folks who have been on this journey with me.

Below is a wonderful video to watch containing a song sung by Faith Hill, called “A Baby Changes Everything.” I encourage you take a few minutes and listen to the lyrics, reflecting on how a baby really did change everything.