"Mary Over Came Fear and gave Jesus a Home"

What do you fear?

... (an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat)

As a kid I feared… (being alone, disappointing my parents monsters under the bed(feared come out at night, Brother fixed it; psychiatrist; no Carpenter; cut legs off bed)

As a Teen… not fitting in with the crowd. Acne and girl friends

As a Adult … Letters from the IRS, diagnosis from the doctor

Fear can paralyze you into inaction.

Golden Gate Bridge… Predicted for ever million $ spent one life lost.

Numerous safety measures: hard hates, safety glass, tie-of lines, even an onsite hospital

After 20 million spent only one life was lost, because $130k net was placed 60’ above the road.

That net freed many of the workers from an often-paralyzing sense of fear which helped them work more productively.

Gabriel’s appearance to Mary invoked great fear.

Reasons for her fear: (age, speaking to an angel, betrothal to Joseph, stigma of pregnancy, That God choose her)

Like workers she had a safety net.

Her faith in God was her safety net.

(Her trust in God, vs 50 & 53)

Mary over came her fear and gave Jesus a home. What about you?

God can do great things with ordinary people.

Mary was a young girl, unequipped to bear the savior of the world, and yet she was faithful to the call God placed on her life.

How can you live into your call?

Remember your safety net (faith in God) a faith that continues to grow in strength each time you trust Jesus with those tough moments in your life.

God has used us here at Lebanon to do a extraordinary thing in his world.

In many ways you and I are not so unlike Mary who gave birth to Jesus in the lives of others. You see Jesus is being born everyday in the hearts people who choose to believe. Let me share with you what I mean.

This week I got in the mail from Samaritans purse a letter telling where the shoe-boxes you prepared and sent so that others might know of Jesus’ love for them.

Ukraine

Ecuador

Hard to Reach Areas

Malawi

You or I may not be a 14 year old peasant girl from 1st century middle east, but God still calls on us to give birth to Jesus, in the hearts of others.

When you are faced with an opportunity to share Jesus…

You can give excuses why you can’t, but trust in God, he is your safety net, he won’t let you fall.

The past has shown us when we step up to the plate and trust in him we will hit the ball.