Timing and Plans Confirmed
God graciously confirmed His plans and His timing to both Zachariah and Mary. An angel showing up in the temple could have been a powerful and private confirmation to Zachariah that the messenger brought a telegram from God Almighty, but Zachariah had years of crusty unbelief to hinder his reception. So, being mute until he held the promise was his additional confirmation and was both public and humbling. When Mary asked for confirmation, several things 
happened. She was told she would undergo a physical experience of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her to conceive. She was given a word of knowledge that her older, barren cousin, Elizabeth, was six months pregnant! Then Gabriel reassured her with the proclamation: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” After that, Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s door and she became a second witness: “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Mary’s call was confirmed even more when her bethrothed, Joseph, was convinced in a dream that his wife-to-be would indeed experience a “virgin birth” and bring forth Jesus, the Savior of the world. —Kathy
Kathy will be teaching and ministering prophetically at Kingdom Congress which is March 4-6, 2020. There is no fee to attend.
Bring your laptop and coffee mug for the morning meetings.
Join Melissa and the Grace Worship Team for worship encounters each evening.
CLICK HERE for all information for KC2020.
God’s Timing and Appointments
“These things will come to pass . . . in their time,” was Gabriel’s answer to 
Zachariah. The old priest had not known how to factor in God’s timing into his destiny and purpose. God not only has a plan, He has a specific time-frame to manifest it. Many of life’s frustrations come because we have no understanding of God’s TIMING for our gifts and callings. God’s TIMING rarely flows within the confines of our logic or agenda. Learning to recognize His TIMING can be the key to fulfilling our calling. If we are out of sync with God’s timing, we need not expect confirmations. There is not anyone or anything positioned to confirm us along life’s path if we miss God-ordained appointments. —Kathy
The How and the Disappointment
Mary said to the angel,”How shall this be?” -Lk.1:34. It is interesting that Zachariah, in Lk.1:18, asked “How?” also, but the question got him in big trouble! Luke 1:18-20 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and 
my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (RSV)
There were obviously some major differences in the two questioners. Mary was a young girl with little experience in spiritual matters, but Zachariah was a seasoned spiritual leader. There is no indication Mary had prayed for a child, and there is definitely no evidence she had prayed to birth Immanuel. However, Gabriel had come with an answer to Zachariah’s specific prayers for a son! Mary was a virgin with no known means of approaching her mandate. However, Gabriel did not bring a mandate that Zachariah did not know HOW to complete. So, technically, Zachariah was asking, “How can I be sure it will be worth the effort for me, an old man, to pursue this venture?” That really was not an innocent request for confirmation, rather a rebuttal gathered through undeniable years of “tried and couldn’t” disappointments. —Kathy
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