A Church in Nazareth

     This year, while in Israel, I had the chance to visit the Church of the Annunciation. This is the place where the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1)

The house where Mary met the Angel

     The church is interesting, because it contains relics of Nazareth’s past. In the middle of the church there is an old house. This is the supposed home where Mary lived with her family, and the place where the Angel spoke to her. The church is inspiring. I have more pictures of the church on the KosherCopy facebook page. (While you are looking, please ‘like’ the page.)

The Church of the Annunciation is a busy place today

     The story of Mary is much like some of our what happens in our lives. We get busy, handle the important matters of life, and oftentimes miss out on the most important matters of life. Mary was involved in a relationship with the man she loved, and was planning a wedding with her family. I am sure she also had daily chores, and other things she did around Nazareth, the small town where she lived.

In the first century, it looked more like this farm

     Then the Angel came, and interrupted her life. The Angel told her God had great plans for her. Mary said, “How will this be?” She was from a small town, and was from a family she thought was of low status. There was no reason the God of heaven should notice her and nothing in her life to bring her to greatness. Yet God chose her.
     The Angel said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son.” Mary responded, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” And she realized her life was about to change. Normal children bring change to normal parents. For Mary, the change was greater. She was yet to consummate the marriage (and becoming pregnant could mean divorce, and/or death by stoning!) and the Angel was telling her she would have ‘the perfect child.’ Mary was not ready for this announcement.

A Christmas sign in Nazareth, Israel

     Often, we are not ready for the things that God wants to bring into our lives. We take life as it comes at us.
     But we should stop. Every day we need to take time off, and spend it with God.
     Especially at Christmas, which is why I wrote the book Advent Journeys. I wanted to prevent life from consuming our family, so we could take in Christmas rather than Commercialmas or Crazimass.

The day of the month is on the outside, reading inside

     I hung a paper chain in our dining room to remind us to take time for God. I encourage you to do the same. (Instructions are on my website). Especially if you have small children (or even older children), take the time to celebrate the real Christmas.

Please visit my websiet

     Please take time to read my book, Advent Journeys, through Kindle Reader, free on Amazon Prime, have your local library order a copy, or order your own book. The readings will add meaning to your Christmas. And let me know what you think at KosherCopy@gmail.com