Last Sunday, we finished with the story of Mary in our Expectant series.
It was back in November when Joel made the graphic for our December Expectant series. When we saw his idea, there was something so perfect and intriguing about an open door to represent “Expectant.” An open door as in a place to go maybe you haven’t been before. An intrigue about what is next. As we close the year on the threshold of Christmas, we look to the future like that open door. There are things yet to come that only God knows is in our future. Our friend, Tim, often says-“ The best is yet to come”; and with God, that statement really is always true. What a tenet to hold onto so that you CAN stand Expectantly looking toward 2018.
The story of Mary and the Birth of Christ teaches us so much about the character of God and how He chooses to interact with us and relate with us. But what we are taking with us most from this year’s look at the nativity is that God loves to take our challenges--- our long, rough journeys, our rejections and our cold, hard cave floors where we’ve cried painful tears and He loves to turn them into Triumph. What a reminder to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit and stay willing and obedient to all of God’s messages- believing that new and good and life giving things He will birth in us, when we, like Mary, say, “Let it be as You will, God.” When like Mary and many of God’s servants before her…people like the boy, Samuel, we say- “Speak, Lord, we’re listening and ready to do Your will” then that is the open door of Expectancy. Through that open door, we learn that nothing is impossible for Him. We will be intrigued and challenged when we see what He has next.
Friends, let nothing deter us from the Truth that He is good and that He SO loves us. Let nothing deter us from expecting the good things Jeremiah 29:11 promises— hope and looking forward to the future. Together let us expect good things for 2018, in our spiritual lives, in our families, in our church, and in our city. We can say like Psalms 27:13-14— “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
We invite you to be a part of the Christmas Eve gathering where we celebrate Jesus Christ and worship Him together through music and candlelight. We will meet at 6 pm at the Sunshine center 330 5th St N St Petersburg Fl 33701. Hope to see you there!
Merry Christmas, Radius! Blake and Amanda Clark