A friend of mine asked me to join in her a journaling exercise through the holidays.  Despite my first reaction of being repelled by reading programs in a structured system ... I agreed.  This has been one of the best personal expressions of creativity and faith.  I'm so thankful I didn't say "no".

Everyday through the month of December, I find the passage I am supposed to journal and write it down.  Then ... the Holy Spirit always give me some sort of take-a-way.  It happened again this morning.

Luke 1:30-34 was my journal entry.  I wrote.  Then, I glanced at a quick backstory to this passage.  Right before Mary is told to "not be afraid" of this gigantic news she's just processed, she has become "confused and disturbed".  Duh?!

I love this!  Some days ... and certain times of the month ... I stay in a state of "confused and disturbed"!  I hear something my Chris says in an innocent statement of facts and turn it into a personal crisiticm of my character.  I witness the girls get into a "scuff" with one another and  - in my mind - I automatically have them in counseling sessions for years to come.  Whew!  Talk about "confused and disturbed"!

When we chew on an issue, especially one that is a little unexpected, we become "confused and disturbed".  Then ... out of our confusion and disturbed"ness" (pretty sure that is NOT a word) ... we get afraid.  Fear develops after I've concisely thought of every possible outcome for whatever ails my mind.

"STOP IT!"  That's totally what the angel said to Mary.  He got it.  Fear is not productive, useless, expresses lack of faith, and dare I say ... a sin.  Yep.  A little ol' thing like fear.

And then ... as if I'm not confused or disturbed enough ... the angel tells Mary she's favored!  Favored don't stay stuck in fear!  They can experience the emotion - hello, we are human.  But ... BUT ... they don't stay stuck there!

dropping fear and picking up favor,
christina