You and I have been trained by our culture to question the intervention of the supernatural. Mary had been trained by her culture not to believe that God could ever become a human being. Although these barriers are separated by time and space, the barriers she faced against belief in the Christmas message are every bit as complex as the barriers we currently face. And yet Mary decided to believe. She settled the matter within her heart. We read this story with a combination of tradition, reason, evidence, and experience. Mary deconstructed her barriers and she came to faith. We believe the narrative we personally believe until we choose to believe something else. That is exactly the way it works now. Mary doubted, she pondered, she used her reason, and she asked questions—just as we must today if we are going to have faith. It's not a sin to ask questions. It's not a sin to use your God-given brain to figure it out. For the Spirit of God gave us does not make us timid--but gives us power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Believers--it is our role to tell the Christmas story and we must carry this mantle with honor. It is not up to the secular world to tell our story. It is our story to tell. Christmas is more than a holiday. Christmas is the celebration of the Savior of the world. The birth of Jesus Christ included a supernatural intervention and a series of events that have cataclysmic results. It took the Creator of the World to establish not only the means but also the end to the question of salvation, our meaning, our purpose or our eternal destiny. When you believe this story, you will discover there will be no room for you in a lot of 'inns.'

We embrace the mandate of telling this story seriously.

December 8, we will host special worship services at Naperville at 9 & 10:30 AM and at 9:30 AM in Oswego. We will tell the story of Jesus through song and scripture. Wheatland's finest staff, volunteers, musicians, and vocalists have been working behind the scenes crafting a service that tells our Christmas story in a creative way. Invite your family and friends to join you at one of these services. Plan to talk with them afterward about what you believe about Christmas. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But, do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Have an answer.

We don't have to understand something to believe it. For example, love is essential to every human being. I don't understand it, but I still believe in it. Likewise, I don't have to understand God's supernatural intervention that permeated our world--and more importantly my personal life--to believe in it. I find Mary's query and response refreshing and revitalizing to my faith. I pray that you do, too. Have your answer. It may sound like this, "I don't know or understand it all but I choose to believe it because......"

It is essential to do life together before telling others what to believe. So, invite those whom you do life with to come along with you this Christmas. Be authentic. Be real. Be available and see what Jesus does through you to reach others. Advent begins Sunday. We have Advent devotional booklets for you to use with your family, friends and even your colleagues. Imagine what may happen if the believers in Christ were invigorated with the greatest gift this Christmas--the robust faith that the Savior of the world still wants to supernaturally intervene in our world. And this year, He's coming into your life.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:49-50 NIV

Pastor Jen