Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we enter into the "Christmas Season" ... "The most wonderful time of the year!" "Christmas" is the time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Messiah, Jesus. Over two thousand years ago, Mary and Joseph traveled into Bethlehem to be counted in the census that Caesar Augustus ordered. At the time, Mary was nine months pregnant and ready to give birth to her son. Jesus was soon born; and with His birth "Christmas" was upon us.

But "Christmas" actually started nine months earlier. Mary ... who would become Jesus' earthly mother ... had an unexpected encounter with the angel Gabriel. Gabriel shared with her that she had been chosen by God to birth His Son into the world. This "spiritual call" on her life was shocking to say the least. At that time she was betrothed (engaged) to Joseph, soon to be married. But, she had never been intimate with him or anyone else. After Gabriel explained that the baby she would carry would be miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, Mary willingly said, "I am the Lord's slave (servant). May it be done to me according to your word!" Mary's submission to the will of God for her life is a remarkable example for all of us. How are you responding to God's spiritual call on your life?