Christmas in a Wrap

Mary’s life took a turn in a flash

When Gabriel came for a day

“Highly favored with God!

A son will be born, now listen, don’t delay!”

“He will be called the Son of God,”

Mary’s like “How can I believe this stranger?”

She took it all in and pondered it all

And off she and Joe went to a manger.

A manger, you ask? It’s THE Son of God!

That seems a bit bizarre!

But, they trusted Gabe’s words

And off they went, guided by a star.

So the shepherd dudes were doing their thing

Keeping watch over their flocks by night

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them

Oh, my, that must have been a fright!

But the angel said “Don’t be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy!

Today in the town of David 

A Savior will be born, and he’s the real McCoy!”

The shepherd dudes heard the heavenly host

Praising God and singing

Glory to God and on earth peace to men

Those Christmas bells were a ringing!

So, soon they found Mary and Jo

And baby Jesus a sleeping

The shepherds, returned, glorifying God

And joyfully weeping!

Immanuel, God with us!

He’s the answer to our deepest pain!

Whether we’re lonely or lost or weary,

There’s really no need to complain!

Seek Him, Find Him, Know Him,

A relationship with God is sweet

For there’s nothing so beautiful 

As sitting at His feet.

Make this Christmas special

Remember the real live story

And don’t forget to celebrate

And give God great, great glory! 

Written by Nancy Abbott, Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Imagine Mary

Imagine Mary, mother of Jesus, living today. Imagine Mary waking up to an early morning text. Meet me at the Starbucks on the corner. From:@AngelGabriel. Imagine Mary meeting the angel at Starbucks over a hot mocha and being told some shocking news?  I may have taken a quick dash out the door and waited to wake up from my strange dream. 

This is for real, folks! It’s a beautiful, real story. Mary was a real young teenager with real feelings and real fears. I marvel at Mary’s willingness to listen to the angel, question the angel and then believe the angel. 

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and o His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this be?” Mary asked the angel, “since I do not know a man?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God……. For with God nothing will be impossible. (Luke 1:31-35, 37)

 “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

Don’t miss this! One of my favorite sentences in the Bible is Mary’s response: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Despite Mary’s questions and probable fear, she accepted the angel’s message. She said “YES!” I don’t believe she had to. She could have freaked out and ran, like some of us. Mary didn’t know the future. She trusted God in the present, knowing that He would carry her into the future. Just think what her obedience brought to the world... a Savior!

How do you handle the surprises and challenges that life throws your way? Mary demonstrated a heart that was open to what God wanted in her life. Just think, Mary didn’t know that much about the Messiah or what He would do, while on earth, but we do! Even when she didn’t know or understand the future, she trusted God in the present. And it changed the world forever. Merry Christmas!

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God

Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am

Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Mary did you know? Oh
Mary did you know? (Lyrics by Mark Lowry and Music by Buddy Greene, beautifully sung by Pentatonix)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

All is Well

I can’t hear this Christmas song without weeping. It was just last week when I heard it sung by Michael W. Smith in concert. True to form, the tears immediately streamed down my face as the orchestra began. What's with this song? I think it takes me out of my ordinary day, complete with busyness, distractions, and the joys of life to a different place. It lifts my eyes from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The temporal to eternal…..the simple to exquisite…..the earth to heaven.

All is well, all is well;
Lift up your voice and sing.
Born is now Emmanuel,
Born is our Lord and Savior.
Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia, all is well.

(Written by Michael W Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick, beautifully sung by Carrie Underwood and Michael W. Smith)

It’s an interesting title for a Christmas song. For many, all is not well at Christmas time. Christmas time can tend to heighten the pain that already exists with folks. Marital strife, singleness, depression, a recent loss, addiction, work challenges or a scary diagnosis certainly can dampen one’s spirits. To say “all is well” feels really like a stretch for some.

This song is not about our circumstances. It’s about a reality that takes us to a different plane. It’s about how heaven came down to earth in the form of a baby, the baby Jesus. When we grasp the wonder of His birth found in Luke 2:1-20, well …… it causes us to worship. Worship takes our minds off of ourselves and places it on the only One worthy to be praised.

All is well because of Christ. We are not alone in our marital strife or singleness or depression, our recent loss or addiction or work challenges or scary diagnoses. As we lift our eyes from our circumstances to our God, we see the promises of God take root. He walks with us through our pain. He comforts us in our grief. He fills our loneliness with more of Himself. He brings hope when hope seems lost. He brings peace instead of fear. For this, all is well.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
        

God @ Work

The first six months of my life are unknown to me. I don't have any family pictures of my first days of life. I don’t know what hospital I was born in or when my mom brought me home. The truth is, she didn’t bring me home. It wasn’t until later that I was adopted into another family.

Have you ever wondered why things happen as they do? Have you questioned God when things in life don’t go as planned? When the chaos of our world overwhelms you, do you wonder where in the world is God? 

This week, God astounded me in a new way as I read a familiar Psalm, Psalm 139. God allowed me to take in these words as if they were new again! I was blown away.

“O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down. And are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it? Where shall I go from your Spirit? (1-7) For you formed my inward parts: you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are you works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (13-18)

I marvel at how God was very present and had the perfect plan for my life, even when my birthmother didn’t see me as a “perfect” plan. I marvel at these verses and how much God’s presence is right here, right now. That I can’t get away from him. I can’t hide from Him. I can’t act as if He doesn’t exist. So, why would I? 

God is @ work in each of lives. Nothing in our past has given us the title “Unacceptable”, “Unwanted” or “Rejected” or “Alone." Why would we hide from the One who loves us most? Why would we hold him at arm’s length? Not only is God @ work in your life, but He is with you AT work, AT home and everywhere in between. 

December is here and Christmas around the corner. Christmas is about God’s greatest gift to mankind, Jesus! God is @ work by providing the greatest gift ever! 

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 NLT

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.