When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she had found favor with God and had been chosen to give birth to the long-awaited Messiah, Mary responded with faith, humility, and obedience. Now it's our turn to experience the favor and the power of God. Like Mary, we have to respond to God's call with faith, humility, and obedience.

The Israelites lost a certain battle to the Philistines not because God wasn't powerful enough to deliver them, but because they harbored attitudes that led to defeat. (Recorded at RLC's Friends & Family Day at the park.)

If we want to be effective in changing the world around us, we need to be broken in the right places - our wills, our pride, and our hearts.