This weekend we did something that we don’t do nearly enough at Atmosphere. Over Christmas I was struck by Mary’s response when the angel told her she was carrying the Son of God, the Savior of the world. She did not worry about being young, not being married, having no money or home, or about getting beaten for being pregnant out of wedlock. Read Luke 1.46-56: her reaction was one of praise and adoration. This weekend after looking at Mary’s response we spent time sharing how God has worked in our lives. Here is a sample of the blessings God has poured out on us.
Darkness to Light:
Three or four students who in the past year have been walking towards a life of destruction, making choices that could lead to death, yet through the grace Jesus displayed on the cross they have come to fall in love with Jesus and have turned their life around, and are striving to follow after God.
Mom’s stage 4 Cancer:
One student told of how a year ago he mother had stage 4 cancer and the doctors said that she probably would not make it to see another Christmas, to see her grandson born or her daughter married. A year later she has seen her grandson born and celebrated Christmas with her family. God has brought her through all the struggles and blessed her beyond what anyone thought.
Sister & brother-in-law have tried to have children for 5 years, are having a child:
After a couple years of marriage it was time to start the family. 5 years of trying, praying and consulting doctors and doing everything they could, they still could not conceive. This Christmas the family gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus but also celebrate with their 6 month old boy!
Almost Aborted:
A young man told of how his teenage mother was about to abort him, when two people convinced her to give their child up for adopted. That couple is now his parents. He shared how grateful he is for the chance at life and knows that God was at work in his life before he was even born
God is still working in amazing ways, and this weekend we took time to share and hear what God has been doing in and among us. I would encourage you in your Student Life Group, family or even among friends to share what God has done for you. There is no better way to reflect on 2009 then to remember what Jesus did on the cross for us.
How is God working in your life? How is He blessing your life?
, but I’m also feeling some mixed emotions as well. What are our 2 little princesses going to be doing tomorrow? As they prepare for bed soon, do they even know it’s Christmas? Do they even know tomorrow is a special day? Will they have someone to give them hugs & kisses & tell them Merry Christmas? It kills me to think what situation they’ll be living while their brothers are here happy, being loved, & spending time with family. What’s even harder is to think about the rest of the millions of orphans that don’t even have a family waiting & praying for them. They have no one to cry to, be loved by, to call Mommy & Daddy. I have so much anger towards what these children have to endure. The only hope I have is to know that the hatred Satan has towards these vulnerable children started with one Child. The Child that has given us the ultimate gift of eternal life & the Child that will soon come back to save these children & be their ultimate Father. The hope I have is that my Savior will stand beside those children to endure everything they are enduring, & in the end will devour the one that is causing all their pain.
by Mark Driscoll
by Tim Chester
