When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her that she will give birth to the Savior, her response was, “Here I am, a servant. Let it be to me according to your word.”

When I stop and think about it, this is a breathtaking response!

In his book The Jesus Way, Presbyterian pastor/scholar Eugene Peterson writes, “I am going to make a huge guess right here: I am guessing that this prayer was not only formative for Mary, but also Jesus. I can imagine a Jewish mother handing this prayer on to her son because on the eve of his death, he prays nearly an identical prayer in the garden of Gethsemane: “Not my will but thy will be done.”

Not my will, but thy will. Here I am, your servant. Let it be with me according to your will.

My friend Tasha was telling me about her nephew years ago, trying to learn the Lord’s Prayer. The family would say it together each night before dinner. He would pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. My kingdom come, my will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”

Tasha said, “I fully understand how he could make the mistake! I know I have often prayed that God’s will would be done, but in my heart, I want my own will to be done.”

Robbie tells me that her father would often end his prayer time with the Lord’s Prayer—but also with his own addition. He would pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And let it begin with me…”

Here I am, Lord, your servant.

What would it look like if we made that our prayer? If we were steeped in it? What would it look like to understand our deepest identity as God’s servants? How might this affect not only our daily decisions but even our deepest dreams and ambitions? What if we were able to pray each morning, “Here I am, Lord, your servant…” I wonder what opportunities God might put in front of us…

In this holy season of Advent, may Mary’s prayer become your prayer: “Here I am, Lord. Your servant. I’m willing. I’m open. I’m available. Give me eyes to see and a heart to feel. Let it be to me according to your word.”

Let us pray: God of Grace, we celebrate that through Jesus, you are bringing salvation, hope, love, peace, and joy to a world that is desperately in need. And as we receive these gifts, as they fill our lives, may they also be passed on through us—his servants. Amen.

The owner of a big, shaggy dog called the local veterinarian on Christmas morning. “It’s my dog, Molly,” he said. “There is a large swelling at the corner of her mouth.” “But it’s Christmas morning,” the veterinarian replied. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” “Please,” said the dog owner anxiously. Please let me bring her now.” “All right,” said the vet. “Bring her right now.” When the dog arrived, the vet made a brief examination, then said to the man, “Do you have any children?” “Good heavens,” the man replied, “is it contagious?” “No,” said the vet laughing. “It’s bubble gum.”

Friend of Dial Hope, the joy of Christmas is contagious, but not primarily because of our gifts of dolls, electronic games, bikes, scooters, pretty dresses, ties, candy, cookies, and bubble gum. The joy of Christmas is contagious because of the spirit, the Christ spirit behind the gifts. The glory of Christmas is that God became one of us to tell us that He loves us … yes loves us unconditionally. And those who believe this make this spirit of giving contagious.

Let us pray: God of love, we thank you that you cared enough to send us your very best, your son Jesus Christ. We give you humble thanks for the difference he makes in our lives. Help us now to make a difference in the lives of others and to make this day a masterpiece. Spread your mantel of grace and love over the men and women serving our country in faraway places. Be with the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. We pray for peace … that peace will come and there will be war no more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There’s an old story about an American hunter who was in search of big game in West Africa. He was closing in on his prey when his hard-running local guides suddenly sat down to rest. The hunter complained to their leader. The leader in turn threatened, implored, and even offered bribes, but the guides wouldn’t budge.

“But why are they stopping now?” the hunter asked. The leader replied: “The men say they have hurried too fast. Their bodies have run off and left their souls behind. They must wait now for their souls to catch up.”

Maybe that is one of our problems today. We are racing through life so fast, trying to do so much, running from one activity to the next that our souls are being left behind. I know that in my own life, if I don’t make time to stop and rest and play and pray, then my soul dries up. I feel empty and anxious and wonder why God seems so distant.

I wonder what it is that restores your soul. Where do you find times of refreshing and renewal? Amid a busy holiday season, I pray that you would carve out that time and allow your soul to catch up.

Our prayer today was written by our founder, Roger Kunkel. Let us pray: Loving God, blow your Spirit of gentleness and strength into the lives of those whose candles of hope grow dim and weak. Weave your grace into the patchwork quilts that are the days of our lives. Tune our hearts to the anthems of peace and take us home when our day is done. For we ask these things with souls full of the love you showed us in the life of your Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Today a special word of thanks to those of you who have supported Dial Hope Financially. Several donors have generously offered to match all gifts dollar for dollar now – through the end of the year.  No limit on the match!  If you are able to participate, please go to our website for donation opportunities: www.dialhope.org.

There is a great story in the book of 2 Kings (6:20-23) where the enemy Arameans have been captured and brought into the city of Samaria. The King of Israel asks the prophet Elisha whether he should kill them. Elisha says no. Instead, he says, “Set food and water before them so they may eat and drink; and let them go to their master.” So, the king prepared for them a great feast. After they ate and drank, he sent them on their way… And then, the Bible says, “the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel.”

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Toward the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln reportedly began speaking kindly of the rebel soldiers—as fellow human beings. One of his associates upbraided him and told him flat out, “Mr. President, you should not speak kindly of your enemies. You should destroy them.” Mr. Lincoln’s response was this: “Do I not destroy my enemies by making them my friends?”

Let us pray: Merciful God, we remember that Jesus taught us to love our enemies. And, we admit that sometimes that feels near impossible. We begin today simply by praying for those who have hurt us deeply. We lift them up to you—to your care—to your love. We also recognize that there may be some people who will continue to hurt us, and in those cases, give us the courage to get away, and stay away from them.

Today, Lord God, set us free from any anger, bitterness, or hatred we may be carrying. And as we let go, wash us with your grace and fill us with your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Over the past few days, we’ve been reflecting on the gift of hospitality. Of course, we know the early church grew from the first few disciples to a massive movement due to the extraordinary character of Christian hospitality.

Not judgment. Not defensiveness. Not self-preservation.

Hospitality!

And it makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are expecting Jesus to meet you at any point in time as a stranger, you treat people in a whole different way.

Sometimes I think about that when I meet a visitor in church on Sunday morning; or, on a deeper level, sometimes when I pass someone on the street who looks lost or in need. That’s a lot harder…

In a Bible study I taught recently, we raised the following questions:

• In an age of distraction, how might offering our full attention to someone in need be a form of hospitality?
• How about offering someone the gift of a listening ear?
• How about welcoming new people and visitors in your church? What about inviting them to join you for lunch or dinner?
• What about in your daily life—the workplace, when you’re out to dinner, at the grocery store, walking in your neighborhood?

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome: “Let love be genuine… Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

In the book of Hebrews we read: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Let us pray: Holy God, across the ages you have sent us more witnesses than we could recognize, more help than we could seek, and more of yourself than we have been able to recognize or love. Thank you for your hospitality to us. Empower us to share that same love, acceptance, and grace with a world desperately in need. Amen.