2. when the impossible or the difficult presents itself … fearfully recoil, … faithfully speak God’s best future into reality. … faithfully speak God’s best future into reality.

7. Proverbs 23:7 as a person thinks within themselves, so they are.

8. Luke 1:5-25

9. Luke 1:5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.

10. Luke 1:6-7 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

11. Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.

12. Luke 1:9-10 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

13. Luke 1:11-12 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.

14. Luke 1:13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”

15. Luke 1:14-15 “You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.”

16. Luke 1:16-17 “And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

17. Luke 1:18 echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Z echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

18. Luke 1:19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!”

19. Luke 1:20 “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

20. Luke 1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long.

21. Luke 1:22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

22. Luke 1:23-24 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.

23. Luke 1:25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

25. Luke 1:7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

27. Luke 1:18 echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Z echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

29. Luke 1:18 echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Z echariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

31. we begin to be defined by:  our circumstances  our frustrations  our doubts,  we allow other people to define us by those failures and frustrations.

32. we begin to let reason rule over God’s promise

33. we reduce faith to…  believing in God,  believing in Jesus, and,  living the 10 Commandments

34. Luke 1:20 “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

35. Acts 1:8 you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you to be my witnesses

36. God will blow some stuff up

37. Luke 1:20 “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

38. settle

40. Dr Siemens “These people have never heard that the impossible things we read of in scripture are not possible.”

42. Luke 1:13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”

43. Luke 1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee

44. Luke 1:28-37 “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary… for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus… Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

45. Luke 1:36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

46. who says it is not possible ?

47. Luke 1:36-37 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.

48. the grace of God… the things of God… the wonders of God… …are new every morning.

49. we resign ourselves to live less than Gods best … we forget who we are & what we have in Christ, & who we are in Christ

50. Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

51. Ephesians 1:7 it’s been lavished upon us.

52. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

53. Your failures and weaknesses do not determine the outcomes of your life.

54. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the L ORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

55. Luke 1:23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.

56. Luke 1:24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.

57. Luke 1:25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

58. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

60. Joshua 3:5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the L ORD will do amazing things among you.”

61. Advent… … breaking camp: from the place where you’ve been hanging out, and beginning to march

62. You want to keep Christ in Christmas? Stop being afraid. Don't let the media plant seeds of fear in you. It's manufactured fear for the sake of politics, money, war. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to;   Racism   Homophobia   War   Stress   Isolation

63. You want to keep Christ in Christmas? Live like you actually believe that: perfect love rives away all fear. perfect love rives away all fear. 1 John 4