Why have we chosen a Fiat theme for these events? 

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When the Angel Gabriel appeared with his famous salutation: “Hail! Full of grace! The Lord is with you!” we can only guess at Mary’s shock! She was called “Full of Grace” --this 14 year old girl. And that was an angel speaking to her! 

What she was about to hear could be considered:
1.  The greatest news ever delivered: She was to be the Mother of Jesus! God's chosen One, the Savior of the world! He would look like her!  Her flesh would became His flesh! She was actually to become an active part of the Incarnation…

OR…

2. You might think that she was the most severely tested person that God has ever “chosen.” She was very young, unwed, and she was going to run a big risk if she were to cooperate. What of her own life? It would be on the line. Her future, her plans, her dreams?  All disposed of. Her life would never be the same.  

Of course, she could say no.  Who would ever find out? Just she and the Angel knew, right? No witnesses, so-- no foul, no harm. She could just lay low and go back to being Mary of Nazareth, marry Joseph and continue with her consecrated virgin life. All safe, all good.

She was going to have to decide what to do in the BLINK OF AN EYE…

Would she look at this as a blessing?  Or as a burden that she did not want to carry?

(Do we see all that comes our way, life’s “interruptions” as blessings from God or burdens?)

Mary, with ABSOLUTELY NO HESITATION said:

“BEHOLD I am the handmaid of the Lord.” “Let it be done to me according to Your word.” (FIAT)- Which is her YES! 
Mary’s FIAT! was definitely not her first “yes” to God. She had been brought up by her parents to be faithful in the little things and so she was now able to be faithful in the big.  Are we faithful in the little things God asks of us daily? If so, when the bigger asks come, we will be able to say “YES!”

In this YES of Mary's we see her HOPE in what the angel said to her. We see that her HOPE lies not in her own understanding...how could it? This was beyond anything normal! Mary had HOPE in God, so that even if all that she thought could go wrong, did go wrong...He would see her through it. She trusted in His Promise! 

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Where do you place your hope today? What you can see? Your circumstances? Or God and His Word? 

By attending these Fiat Events, our hope is that you will be encouraged by the different speakers to place all your hope in God and trust his plan for your life?