Luke 1:45-57

45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

46And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

This Christmas more than ever I find myself clinging to my Lord and desiring nothing more than to allow him to work through me. Being an instrument of God’s love is on the very tip top of my list of things to do.

It sounds all good and noble. And believe you me, it is a true desire.

But how serious of a commitment is it?

What would I really be willing to do to spread the love and joy of Jesus?

It’s a question that is daunting because I know before I even take the time to think very deeply about it I can feel my selfishness come out. I begin to think of all the things in this life I hold so near and dear and I feel myself become the two year old girl who has just discovered the word “mine”. Suddenly, the comfort of my home, everything in my room, the horses in my barn, friends that live close by and far away – in my head they all become “mine”.

A few months ago I was babysitting one of the precious little girls I get to spend time with every week. We were having a grand ol’ time. Until I touched…you guessed it - the bubbles. Little did I know the little purple container which contained the soapy-substance was such a prized possession or never would I have done such a thing! It went something like this…

Kelci: *reaches for bubble jar*

Girl: “NOOOOOO”

Kelci: “What’s wrong?”

Girl: “You CAN’T blow my bubbles! Those MYYYY bubbles!”

All I was doing was getting it off of the shelf I was sure the little munchkin could not reach - in order to make her life easier so she could get to the enjoyment of blowing bubbles faster. Be assured, I have never done such a horrifying thing again.

I laughed for weeks about that one. Until I realized, all too often I do the exact same thing…on a grown-up scale that is. Which, actually makes it worse. I find myself asking God to work through me, and the second he starts to – I panic and try to pull away. I ask for his help, he reaches for the bubble jar so I don’t have to – and I kick and scream because they are “mine!”. All too often I forget that everything good in this life in actuality belongs to God and whatever is under my care has simply been entrusted to be for an undisclosed amount of time. God owns it all, right down to my hair brush. At any point he chooses to – he can take it away or ask me to move on to something else.

So, what would happen if he turned my world upside down and took away everything as I know it today? How would I respond if – in order to further his kingdom – he took away my family, friends, home, and horses? How would I react if he chose to work through me in order to save another person – or several people – but had to send me to a foreign country to do it?

Would I hold tight to my safe, secure, and comfy life and scream “mine!”?

Or would I be like Mary?

What an amazing servant heart this girl had! It is extraordinarily inspiring and mind boggling to me at the same time! Think about this… here she is, a young woman about to be married. She has kept herself pure for her future husband who she loves dearly. All of the sudden, seemingly out of nowhere – God tells her “Mary, I need for you to be pregnant…in fact, you already are. I need for you to carry the savior of the world inside of you. Oh yeah, and you are going to give birth to him in a stall.”

WHAT?! I have to say – I think I would be kicking and screaming a little about this one.

Mary’s response? “Let it be to me as you have said.”

And again I say….WHAT?!

Wow. What an amazing faith. What an amazing servant of the Lord.

Dear Lord,

Give me a heart like Mary. May I be willing and ready at your call to go where ever you say to go and do whatever you say to do. May I remember that my things, my body, my life…they all belong to you. Work through me to bless others, and please strengthen my faith. Let it be to me, according to your will.

Luke 1:45-57

45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

46And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,