There’s a story to write…
We know the story of Jesus. We’ve read the book.
But Mary didn’t know the story when the Angel appeared to her and said “Don’t be afraid!,”(Luke 1:30, NLT) (Which as I’m sure you’ve thought before, kind of blows the soft cuddly imagery we may have had of angels). Mary was living the story as it was being lived out before her as her son would be called Emmanuel, God with us.
Noreen and I are reminded again and again how this journey to Utah is bigger than us. It started with a call, God’s call, not a phone call. Trust me at times, we responded like Mary, “Me?” Every time we share the stories of God’s leading with people it also builds our faith, not just for finances, but for the incredible plan He has.
I know there is an incredible plan for Chi Alpha and the Kingdom of God in Utah, because He keeps calling people. Over these last few months we’ve asked you to pray for a team of people to go with us. These next few months we want to share with you the stories of the people God is calling to Utah. I know it was God and not Daran or Noreen, because God was already stirring something in these individuals before we even talked about Utah. We’ve already written about Shiloh. But there are more! God is forming the team; former students from youth pastoring days, Chi Alpha students & missionaries we’ve never met, and others!
Like Mary, we don’t know the end of the story in Utah. The story is still being written. Unlike Mary, we’ve read the end of the story. We know that her little baby would grow to be the savior of the world. Yet Mary must have marveled over the attention as Luke 2:18 (NLT) describes ”but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
What about you? What is God preparing for you next year, 2012? Like Mary, think about these things God has spoken. Celebrate Christ this Christmas with the joy that will make everyone around you want what you’ve got. There’s a story to write.
