12.24.2011

12 Pearls of Christmas Day 12 ~ With Rachel Hauck

Welcome to
the 12 Pearls of
Christmas
!



Merry Christmas from all of us at Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoyed these
Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from the authors who were so kind to donate their time
and talents! If you missed a few posts, I hope you'll be able go back through and read
them on this blog over the next few days. If you'd like to keep up with Pearl Girls
and our new book project, Mother of Pearl, coming this spring, just click this link and sign up for our
newsletter (lower left sidebar).


Also, just a reminder that today is the last day for the pearl
necklace and earrings giveaway!
Enter now by filling out this

{form}. The winner will on 1/1 at the Pearl Girls blog.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In
short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in
the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering
Grit, Experiencing Grace
 or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.


***
Jesus -- The Reason For the Season

By: Rachel Hauck



Through the narrow scope of 2000 years, Mary, the mother of Jesus, appears to be one
lucky woman. Chosen by God to give birth to His son, the Savior of the world? All right,
Mary, way to go.



“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” Gabriel said.



How many of us would like a declaration like that? Highly favored. The Lord is with
you. But Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this
might be.



The angel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Mary’s
seems confident and resolved when she responds, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your
word to me be fulfilled.”



She’d just been told the Holy Spirit will come upon her, that God’s power will
overshadow her, that she’d become with child even though she wasn’t married, and she
said, “I’m the Lord’s servant. Let your words be true.”



I find this amazing! A young woman. Ancient Bethlehem. Unwed mother. They stoned
women for such things in her day. But Mary believed in God. And submitted to His
will. He gave her the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit given to us. If He gave her
confidence, He will give us confidence. Even though, like Mary, our situation seems
impossible.



Listen to Mary’s song later on in the first chapter of Luke.



“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been

mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me
blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me Holy is his name…”



Conceiving a child out of wedlock, by Divine intervention. Not a girl’s every
day existence. Yet she had a Yes in her heart to God. She rejoiced. She boldly
said, “Generations will remember me!”



How we struggle to trust God with our children. Our finances. Our emotional well-being.
We worry. We fret. And wonder why we have no peace.



Christmas is the season where words like joy, peace and love are bantered around like
Christmas candy. Let’s not take them as just words, but as truth. Let’s be like Mary and
embrace God’s favor on our lives. Boldly declare "He’s done great things for me!”



Out of the grit of our own souls, we can reach His heart, and feel Him reaching
for ours.
No matter the pain of our past, present or future, God is there for us. He
is able. Best of all, He is willing. “My soul glorifies the Lord this Christmas!”



***
Rachel Hauck is an
award winning, best selling author who believes God has done great things for her. She
lives in Central Florida with her husband and ornery pets. Her next release is Love Lifted
Me with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, January 2012. Then in April, look for
The Wedding Dress. www.rachelhauck.com.

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