Christmas 2013Christmas 2013

When God JacksWhen God JacksWith Your PlansWith Your Plans

Plan B LivesPlan B Lives

God's FaultGod's Fault

If it is God's fault If it is God's fault that my mother diedthat my mother died

Isn't it also his doingIsn't it also his doingthat I had the joy of knowing herthat I had the joy of knowing herTo begin with?To begin with?

Our ChoicesOur Choices

Our ChoicesOur ChoicesTheir ChoicesTheir Choices

Our ChoicesOur ChoicesTheir ChoicesTheir ChoicesCircumstancesCircumstances

Our ChoicesOur ChoicesTheir ChoicesTheir ChoicesCircumstancesCircumstances

God's DecisionGod's Decision

RedemptionRedemption

{Changes Everything}{Changes Everything}

Nothing is wasted with GodNothing is wasted with GodExcept that which is notExcept that which is not

Yielded to GodYielded to God

The only thing God can't redeemThe only thing God can't redeem

Is that which isn't givenIs that which isn't givenTo himTo him

In the In the sixth month sixth month the angel the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the whose name was Joseph, of the house of Davidhouse of David

a virgin betrothed to a man a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Josephwhose name was Joseph

There's a Plan in PlaceThere's a Plan in Place

And the virgin's name was Mary. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, And he came to her and said,

“Greetings, “Greetings, O favored one,O favored one, the Lord is with you!”the Lord is with you!”

But she was But she was greatly troubled greatly troubled at at the saying, and the saying, and tried to discern tried to discern what sort of greeting what sort of greeting this might bethis might be

400 Silent Years400 Silent Years

And the angel said to her, “Do And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for not be afraid, Mary, for you have you have found favorfound favor with God. And with God. And behold, behold, you will conceive you will conceive in your in your womb and bear a son, and you womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesusshall call his name Jesus

He will be great and will be He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most Highcalled the Son of the Most High

And the Lord God will give to him And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end”kingdom there will be no end”

She knows!She knows!

And Mary said to the angel, And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power upon you, and the power

of the Most High will of the Most High will overshadow you…overshadow you…

……thereforetherefore the child to be the child to be born will be called holy-born will be called holy-the Son of God. the Son of God.

And behold, your relative And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also Elizabeth in her old age has also

conceived a son, and this is conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her the sixth month with her

who was called barrenwho was called barren

For nothing will be impossible For nothing will be impossible with God”with God”

Pause.Pause.

The angel waits. No words.The angel waits. No words.

Hopes, Dreams, AspirationsHopes, Dreams, Aspirations

Plans and PreparationPlans and PreparationHer Entire FutureHer Entire FutureOut the door…Out the door…

Single mom:Single mom:

Beggar?Beggar?Prostitute?Prostitute?

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servantservant of the Lord; let it be to of the Lord; let it be to

me according to your word” me according to your word”

And the angel departed And the angel departed from herfrom her

The anatomyThe anatomyOf Submission andOf Submission andActing on FaithActing on Faith

Submission begins withSubmission begins withUnderstanding Ownership Understanding Ownership

And Choosing to Trust GodAnd Choosing to Trust GodOver CircumstancesOver Circumstances

What is God calling me to?What is God calling me to?

Do I know I'm His?Do I know I'm His?Do I trust that He is good?Do I trust that He is good?

Young and ScaredYoung and ScaredBetrothedBetrothedPregnantPregnant

With a story no one will believeWith a story no one will believe

She does an ultramarathon She does an ultramarathon

……Mary arose and went with Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabethgreeted Elizabeth

And when Elizabeth heard the And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby greeting of Mary, the baby

leaped in her womb. And leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was Elizabeth was filled with the filled with the

Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry…with a loud cry…

““Blessed are you among women, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted womb! And why is this granted to me that to me that the mother of my the mother of my Lord Lord should come to me? should come to me?

For behold, when the sound of For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, your greeting came to my ears,

the baby in my womb the baby in my womb leaped for joyleaped for joy

And blessed is she who believed And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment that there would be a fulfillment

of what was spoken to herof what was spoken to herfrom the Lord”from the Lord”

Consolation of IsraelConsolation of IsraelBringing Redemption:Bringing Redemption:

Set things rightSet things right

Magnificat:Magnificat:ProphesyingProphesying

And Mary said, And Mary said, “My soul “My soul magnifiesmagnifies the Lord, and the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servanthumble estate of his servant

For behold, from now on all For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and great things for me, and

holy is his nameholy is his name

And his mercy is for those who And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to fear him from generation to generation. He has shown generation. He has shown strength with his arm…strength with his arm…

……he has he has scattered the proud scattered the proud in in the thoughts of their hearts; he the thoughts of their hearts; he has has brought downbrought down the mighty the mighty from their thrones and from their thrones and exaltedexalted those of humble estatethose of humble estate

……he has he has filled the hungry filled the hungry with with good things, and the rich good things, and the rich

he has sent away emptyhe has sent away empty

He has helped his servant Israel, He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his Abraham and to his offspring forever” offspring forever”

ProphecyProphecyPast Tense= Past Tense= WillWill Happen Happen

Plan B take Note:Plan B take Note:- Israel- Israel- The oppressed and victimized- The oppressed and victimized- All who hurt and are in pain- All who hurt and are in pain

Redemption is ComingRedemption is Coming

Part of the GospelPart of the Gospel

The blind see, the lame walkThe blind see, the lame walkGood news is proclaimed Good news is proclaimed to the poorto the poorHungry are fedHungry are fed

And Mary remained with her And Mary remained with her about three monthsabout three months and and returned to her homereturned to her home- Luke 2- Luke 2

Plan BPlan B

Plan BPlan BAnd everything And everything Works out smoothly, right?Works out smoothly, right?

Next Week:Next Week:

Baby BumpBaby BumpAnd a surprised JosephAnd a surprised JosephAnd taxes that really suckAnd taxes that really suck

Joseph wants a divorceJoseph wants a divorceDanger in BethlehemDanger in BethlehemLiving in EgyptLiving in Egypt

A son who stays behindA son who stays behind

Mary even struggles Mary even struggles with doubtswith doubts

Now Jesus’ mother and brothers Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were came to see him, but they were not able to get near him not able to get near him because of the crowdbecause of the crowd- Luke 8:19- Luke 8:19

While Jesus was still talking to While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to himto speak to him- Matt. 12:46- Matt. 12:46

Then he went home, and the crowd Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family not even eat. And when his family

heard it, they went out to seize him, heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, for they were saying, “He is out of “He is out of

his mind”his mind”- Mark 3:20-21- Mark 3:20-21

Mary has her doubtsMary has her doubtsAnd great painAnd great pain

Jesus' brothersJesus' brothersTry to get him killedTry to get him killed

Jesus went about in Galilee. He Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, would not go about in Judea,

because the Jews were because the Jews were seeking to kill himseeking to kill him

Jesus' Brothers:Jesus' Brothers:“Leave here and go to Judea, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see that your disciples also may see the works you are doingthe works you are doing

For no one works in secret if he For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to do these things, show yourself to

the world.” the world.” For not even his For not even his brothers believed in himbrothers believed in him

- John 7- John 7

- Talk of plots- Talk of plots- The hatred of religious leaders- The hatred of religious leaders- The betrayal by Judas- The betrayal by Judas- The torture & death of her Son- The torture & death of her Son- Giving her to John- Giving her to John

Plan B is hardPlan B is hard

The only thing God can't redeemThe only thing God can't redeem

Is that which isn't givenIs that which isn't givenTo himTo him

The Consolation of Israel:The Consolation of Israel:RedemptionRedemption

The very thingThe very thingThat ended Mary's Plans That ended Mary's Plans for herselffor herself

The very thingThe very thingThat ended Mary's PlansThat ended Mary's Plansfor herselffor herself

Saved Mary…Gave her greaterSaved Mary…Gave her greaterAnd brought hope to our worldAnd brought hope to our world

MagnificatMagnificat

God will set all things rightGod will set all things right

Plan BPlan BChoices, Circumstances, GodChoices, Circumstances, God

The only thing God can't redeemThe only thing God can't redeem

Is that which isn't givenIs that which isn't givenTo himTo him

Your choices- own themYour choices- own them

Your choices- own themYour choices- own themTheir choices- forgive themTheir choices- forgive them

Your choices- own themYour choices- own themTheir choices- forgive themTheir choices- forgive themCircumstances- let themCircumstances- let them

Your choices- own themYour choices- own themTheir choices- forgive themTheir choices- forgive themCircumstances- let themCircumstances- let them

God- trust himGod- trust him

Crying toddler Crying toddler And sugary cerealAnd sugary cereal

The only thing God can't redeemThe only thing God can't redeem

Is that which isn't givenIs that which isn't givenTo himTo him

DivorceDivorceHealthHealthHeartache and PainHeartache and PainPlan BPlan BGod redeems…God redeems…Because of ChristmasBecause of Christmas

Your Plan BYour Plan B

Is God's foreknowledgeIs God's foreknowledge

And nothing in your lifeAnd nothing in your life

Is beyond his RedemptionIs beyond his Redemption

The only thing God can't redeemThe only thing God can't redeem

Is that which isn't givenIs that which isn't givenTo himTo him

Gift to Yourself:Gift to Yourself:Personal InventoryPersonal Inventory

What am I holding ontoWhat am I holding ontoThat belongs to God?That belongs to God?My possession is my limitationMy possession is my limitation

As a churchAs a churchWe can make our plansWe can make our plans

God has the ultimate sayGod has the ultimate sayAnd can redeem anythingAnd can redeem anythingFor his glory and our joyFor his glory and our joy