TERRE HAUTE —
My heart needs to be more like Mary’s. Here she was, minding her own business, busily preparing for her wedding, when the angel Gabriel showed up and told her she had found favor with God and that soon she would be with child. She was going to give birth to Jesus, the Son of the Most High, whose kingdom would never, ever, never end.
“But, how can this be?” Mary asked. Gabriel assured Mary that the Holy Spirit was going to take care of everything, that the child she was going to give birth to would be called the Son of God. The angel told Mary, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary answered by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”
What a startling, frightening, exciting, humbling conversation that must have been. (For the whole exchange between Mary and Gabriel, read Luke 1:26-38.) But no matter how fantastic the news, no matter how strange it might seem, Mary’s response was to be humbly obedient.
Mary must have known that nothing she had said or done would have made her worthy of this honor. She said, in Luke 1:46-49, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.”
Soon, everything happened just as Gabriel had said it would. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the census. There was no place for them to stay, and the Son of God was born in a stable. But then the sky was filled with angels shouting and singing and showing the shepherds where the Baby lay. What was Mary doing this whole time? “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (Luke 2:19).
What are the things we ponder in our hearts at this time of year? Did we get gifts for everyone on our list? Is there going to be enough time to finish decorating the house?
Will we be able to organize all the meats and side dishes that need to share the oven, baking for different times at different temperatures?
Or do we spend our time pondering why this Child, this Jesus, would leave heaven and come to earth so that he could go to the cross to be the sacrifice for our sins?
Do we ponder that Jesus told us — in Matthew 22:37 — that the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Like Mary, we should ponder these things in our heart.
Who are we that God should favor us with the Gift of His Son? Like Mary, we should give God our total, humble obedience, doing what He said to do.
Joseph had a heart of courage. Mary had a heart of obedience. Do we?
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, maybe reached at vrdspeaks@yahoo.com.
Features
THE JOY LADY: Like Mary, we should give God our total, humble obedience
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Kick off summer with Banks of Wabash Festival tonight
The 29th Annual Banks of the Wabash Festival will run from tonight through June 2 at Fairbanks Park in Terre Haute. The festival offers bingo, crafters, food, nightly music, a merchandise mart and will feature Luehrs’ Rides and Midway Games.
Admission and parking are free. -
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Rockville Cruise-In Street Dance set is June 2
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'Planes, trains and automobiles' at Rosedale Strawberry Fest
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See ISU grad’s ‘I’m Too Young For This @#!%’ exhibit
John D. Shearer, photographer and Indiana State University graduate, will display his multi-media exhibit “I’m Too Young For This @#!%” during June at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center in Bloomington.
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The sky’s the limit
Backyard astronomers stare at the night sky, trying to remember how to find the North Star, the Big Dipper and Mars.
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Actor to portray Ernie Pyle in one-man drama
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Top-10 Christian group Sidewalk Prophets in Terre Haute
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Halcyon Gallery showcases art of Evalyn James during May
Evalyn Gertrude James settled in Terre Haute the first time in 1928.
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International exhibit to feature painting in ISU collection
An oil painting from Indiana State University’s Permanent Art Collection will be featured at an international exhibition in Belgium.
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Wabash Valley Art Guild’s Spring Show at Honey Creek Mall this weekend
The Wabash Valley Art Guild’s 35th Annual Spring Show will be open to the community Friday through Sunday in Honey Creek Mall. Artists from throughout the Wabash Valley will be represented and promise to show a surprising variety of art.
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AUDIO: Sidewalk Prophets singer discusses Terre Haute boyhood, and Saturday's concert
Terre Haute native Dave Frey leads his Dove Award-winning band, Sidewalk Prophets, into a 7 p.m. Saturday concert at his hometown church, Maryland Community Church, joining opening performers Justin Hoeppner and Josh Wilson.
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It’s merely one word, yet the conjunction of those six letters conjures up so many meanings and feelings. While teaching us both the simple and profound lessons in life, mothers somehow can instill morals and memories. They can guide us on our journey, pick us up when we fall, and let go when we must find our own strength.
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Opry brings in acts from around the country
The Boot City Opry is in its sixth season and going strong. The theater is full, and the parking lot is packed every Saturday night from April to December.
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Bridgeton Art & Wine Fair May 12
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REVIEW: ‘Look Out!’ pure rock ’n’ roll, with no detours
ashville music aficionados know Tim Carroll as the crafty guitarist and songwriter performing alongside his wife, critically-acclaimed Americana country singer Elizabeth Cook.
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A craft and talent all their own
Take a fiber artist mother who is compelled to tell a story through her Early American-influenced rug hooking. Add a color-loving daughter who incorporates a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues with a twist of humor into her fiber and polymer clay jewelry. The result is an enthusiastic local duo that share an art studio and the designation of Indiana Artisans.
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Register now for Children’s Museum camps
From wacky science and space exploration to fairy tales and superheroes, the Terre Haute Children’s Museum has scheduled an exciting list of summer programs.
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Historical Fire Station No. 9 opens for season
Historical Fire Station No. 9 at 1728 S. Eighth St. will open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be open until September.
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May Day Festival is Sunday in Sullivan
The May Day Festival is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday in Sullivan, rain or shine.
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On The Line presents ‘The Miracle Worker’ this weekend
The theatrical production company, On The Line Productions, will open its third production, William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker.”
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Marshall’s Got Talent seeking performers
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Mystery author to speak in Rockville
Mystery author Tony Perona will visit the Rockville Public Library at 6:30 p.m. May 15 to talk about Dec. 21, 2012 — a date the Mayans say the world will end.
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Jason Petty brings ‘The Swinging Cowboys’ to Boot City Opry
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What do you want to be?
For more than 43 years more than 14,000 high school students have been able to explore what their future job could be like, experience college campus life and earn university credit during one-week seminars in the Summer Honors Program at Indiana State University.
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Community Theatre to stage auditions for An Evening of One-Acts
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Mom Moments: Tell us your story
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The Woods presents world premiere of ‘La Providence’
When Michael Boswell, assistant professor of music at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, sang his first piece by Sydney Guillaume, a dynamic rising composer, in 2009, he thought, “This person feels music the way that I do.”
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Taste the Music of the Night Rose-Hulman presents ‘Phantom of the Opera’
One of the best-known and most-beloved musicals of our time, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” tells the haunting story of the deformed and outcast Phantom who lives within the bowels of the Paris Opera.
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Christian recording artist endorses Valley author’s book
Bryan Duncan, Dove and Grammy award-winning contemporary Christian music pioneer singer and songwriter, recently endorsed Clay County author Marjorie E. Hopkins’ book.
“Dying to Meet Him: Wit and Wisdom from a Funeral Director’s Wife,” is a “must read,” Duncan said. - More Features Headlines
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