A good friend of mine throws a themed party every year as a charity event. \u00a0This past year, I received the invitation and read “attire is jeans & boots, RSVP”. \u00a0At the time I didn’t have any boots and I wasn’t willing to shell out a few hundred dollars on some dingos for one night! \u00a0Well, I didn’t respond and I missed out! \u00a0They had all my favorite food, friends showed up that I haven’t \u00a0seen in years, and I missed out on my favorite cigars which he special ordered for this event!<\/p>\n
Luke 1: 31-38 NLT<\/p>\n
31\u00a0<\/sup>You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.\u00a032\u00a0<\/sup>He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33\u00a0<\/sup>And he will reign over Israel[a<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0forever; his Kingdom will never end!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n 34\u00a0<\/sup>Mary asked the angel, \u201cBut how can this happen? I am a virgin.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n 35\u00a0<\/sup>The angel replied, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.\u00a036\u00a0<\/sup>What\u2019s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.\u00a037\u00a0<\/sup>For nothing is impossible with God.[b<\/a>]<\/sup>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n 38\u00a0<\/sup>Mary responded, \u201cI am the Lord\u2019s servant and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. \u00a0May everything you have said about me come true.\u201d And then the angel left her.<\/em><\/p>\n So, God is telling Mary through his angel…Forget the “culturally acceptable” plans for your life that you have. Married as a virgin, conceiving your husbands child, white picket fence blah blah blah. \u00a0I want you to carry my son while you are engaged, risk losing your fiance, and live a life on the road protecting my son. \u00a0Her response…let’s do it! \u00a0Through her willingness to obey God a mighty work was set into action!<\/p>\n When God calls us to do something, how often do we say “I ain’t buy those boots” and miss out on the blessing? \u00a0We want God to do a mighty work in us and through us but the earthly cost is too great and we don’t respond…and miss the party!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A good friend of mine throws a themed party every year as a charity event. \u00a0This past year, I received the invitation and read “attire is jeans & boots, RSVP”. \u00a0At the time I didn’t have any boots and I wasn’t willing to shell out a few hundred dollars on some dingos for one night! … <\/p>\n