I study the Bible a lot – every day I have my nose in it. And I know there are times I can get teach and preach and get over the heads of those listening.
This is especially true of new things – things the listeners have not studied or heard before.
I try to explain everything but sometimes it just takes time to sink in.
The same thing happened to Mary.
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:28-30
Mary was troubled at his saying.
Why? Because it was new to her.
She lived in a society that followed the Law of Moses. It was a society where the religious leaders would emphasize that she wasn’t good enough and because her family wasn’t rich, they weren’t considered to be blessed.
Now an angel tells her she is highly favored and she has found favor with God.
The angel told her of grace, something she just didn’t understand. Grace and following the Law had little in common. Then again, they have everything in common. But there I go again – getting in deep.
Mary is not alone when it comes to not understanding grace. There are many people that don’t. I can’t swear that I fully comprehend it but I fully accept it.
I know I am saved by God’s grace.
There are many things in God’s word that are difficult to understand. Like grace, they need to be accepted and allowed to accomplish their purpose in you.
Abba, Your grace is more than sufficient for me. I love Your grace. Thank You for giving it to me through my Savior, Jesus. YES&AMEN
All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
One of the great sins of our nation is its failure to protect the unborn. They are seen as disposable tissue with no purpose and not life. Certainly in the hands of lawmakers and abortionists the unborn have no chance. 
I was in a restaurant last week and the waitress, whom I have known since her birth, came over to take our order. I asked her, “When is the wedding date?”
Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day of cards, flowers, and eating out for lunch. Many sermons will be given about moms.
I must admit that sometimes I’m a little dense.
I have met many Christians with some “wild” stories of miracles, visions, prophecies, and other things that God has done. For several years I just kind of rolled my eyes and thought “nut case”.
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. 
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 