When the angel told Zechariah that his wife would bear him a son, he was full of questions and he asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife Elizabeth is well along in years.”
“The angel said to Zechariah, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple, but when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.”
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart, they do no wrong but follow his ways. Psalm 119
“Lord, you have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” Thank you, Lord!
The Angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph and said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, blessed are you among women!” Mary was troubled by his greeting, but the angel said to her,” Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name, Jesus.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we could only imagine the thoughts going through Mary’s mind. She voiced her concern to the Angel saying, “How can this be, how can I conceive since I do not know a man? The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, and the Holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God. For with God nothing will be impossible.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, when we are faced with the impossible, call upon God and trust Him, who is able to do the impossible. Great and marvelous things He has done!
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.”
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. Psalm 41:13
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. And the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.”
“God is working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year, God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near. Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea.” Our aim should be to know God and to make His love known so that those who do not yet know Him intimately will come to know Him and give Him glory.
We can do nothing in our own strength, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”
“All we can do is nothing worth unless God blesses the deed; vainly we hope for the harvest-tide till God gives life to the seed.” How patient are you?
“We praise Thee, O Lord, for Thy wonderful mercies, and while to Thy glory our voices we raise, O Thou that regardest the prayers of Thy people, accept our thanksgiving and praise.”
“We praise Thee, O Lord, for the wonderful token, that shines as it shone on Thy servants of old, the pledge and assurance that seedtime and harvest, from earth Thou wilt never withhold.” What a wonderful promise!
“We praise Thee, O Lord, for the bountiful harvest, that now has been gathered and garnered with care; rewarding the toil of the Sower and Reaper, while all in its blessings may share. For the bountiful harvest, we praise Thee, we thank Thee and bless Thee, O Lord: for the bountiful harvest, we praise Thee and bless Thee, O Lord!”
Many, who are struggling in their faith, will find it hard to give God thanks for a bountiful harvest. They may have lost their job, or family members, gone through a health crisis, or some tribulation. But I want you to understand, that, when you are down to nothing God is up to something, but you have to trust him, you have to hold on. Scripture reminds us in Habakkuk 3,” Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, though the olive crops may fail, and there be no herd in the stall, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, this takes great faith, but it is within you and within me. When you and I have nothing else but hope, know that it is not lost, the God we serve is able. Keep holding on to God’s unchanging hand and you will reap a bountiful harvest.