About the Author

Jennifer is an artist living in rural Nebraska with her US Army veteran husband. She loves to create and seeks to reflect the beauty of Christ and encourage others in meaningful, beautiful ways. You can find her and see more of her art on Studio JRU.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Jennifer,
    It’s kind of mind boggling that I have the power in my choice to say, “Yes” – to unleash God’s ability to work through me and use me to bring glory to Him and build His kingdom. May I be brave enough and wise enough to continually say “Yes”. You’ve got me thinking this morning…and that’s a good thing.
    Blessings,
    Bev

  2. I love the idea of this, I’m still trying to work out if it’s all a trust thing with God. How will I know if I say yes to God and He is really in my heart? How do I get into a deep & meaningful relationship with Him? Apologies for all the questions – I’m just desperately searching.

    • Ann Marie,

      It all starts with a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ and asking Him into your heart to save you. Saying yes to Him and what He did for you on the cross is the first yes you get to say to Him. Then, after that, it’s practicing that same yes over and over again. Once you ask Him into your heart, He will put His Holy Spirit into your heart and will guide your life. May I encourage you to seek out a good Bible-believing church that offers a good discipleship program that will help you to grow in your faith? Also, get into His Word for there He will speak to you. I pray God’s blessings on you as you seek Him.

    • It can be hard for us all to just completely trust Him, Ann Marie. We are human and therefore do a lot of questioning! 🙂 Just open your heart to Him in prayer. A prayer life is such a great way to be close to Him. Keep seeking and you will find! Merry Christmas!

  3. Jennifer, thank you so much for this timely post–timely, because it’s Advent, and timely, because time is short. We live such fleeting lives and have so few opportunities to say yes to God. And this is timely for me personally, because I just finished writing my Christmas program for an annual luncheon we’ve hosted for around thirty women each year. And I wrote about Mary’s yes. After she said yes to God, she sang (what is now called) The Magnificat, and, indeed, her soul did magnify the Lord. We magnify God with every yes. I have a little plastic card (like a credit card that I got at some women’s conference) that I keep in my wallet that has a big YES to God on it. It’s a reminder to say yes to Him with all my heart, mind, and soul at every turn. There is a wonderful “yes” quote by the author Madeleine L’Engle for artists–to say yes to God so that He can birth His creative work in us. If I can find it later today, I will post it for you and your readers. Thank for your such an encouraging (and prodding) post. Yes, I surely needed to read it. Now may my life be one long yes of obedience to the Lord.
    Merry Christmas!
    Lynn

  4. Jennifer,
    I find it mind blowing that she said Yes so quickly. Other Biblical giants came up with excuses–Not Mary just Yes!! We are living in such precarious times now–almost like end times and we need to say Yes to Him. A yes to His leading will bring Glory to Him!!
    Blessings 🙂

  5. Beautiful, Jennifer. I never thought before about how Mary let it be. She said yes without question. Oh, that I could obey that way. If I trust God, I can do this. Now . . . to choose to trust Him in all things. Thanks for giving me good thoughts to ponder this morning.

  6. Jennifer I needed this so much. In the unknown, the change, the hard times I need to just say “yes.” Daily I need to just say, “yes.”

  7. “I want to respond to His call with the same willingness that Mary had!” Me, too, Jennifer. I’ve been thinking about this lately. May we be open to God’s call in our lives and have the courage and grace to say “Yes!” to whatever and wherever He wants to use us! Thank you for this inspiring reflection!

  8. So simple, yet profound. That is usually the way of our God isn’t it? We so often want to know the end, instead of knowing the One who will be with us to the end. Thank you for this!

  9. I would like to thank all the ladies for their comments!!! I have really been struggling with saying YES to God’s calling on my life!! Other things seem to pop up that are important, but seem to lead me off the path I know God is calling me to. I’ve made a decision to just say yes!! Oh, what a relief!!!

  10. Good Morning Jennifer… I woke up this morning and stared reading this message about Mary and her three simple words… “Yes” Lord use me… “Wow” how true this should be for every “born again believer’ today and so I thought that I would like to send this message to my friends via e-mail… How do I go about doing that from here? I looked on this page and your previous page?? Thank you so much for your “encouraging messages”!

    • Thank you so much! I think there is only ways to share through facebook, twitter and pinterest right from the post. So if you receive emails from DaySpring, some of them include the posts and you can forward that to your friends. I think the weekly post email goes out on Mondays. Or you can just use the good old “copy and paste the link” as a way to share the post. We do appreciate you sharing! Merry Christmas, Dolores!

  11. Oh, how I love this.
    This Advent has been reflective of embracing the season I am in …and every season that follows. I love that you highlight the importance of letting God’s will be in our lives as Mary did in hers. How many days do I fail to be still enough to absorb God’s agenda over my own to do list. especially around the holidays!!!
    Wonderful, gifted writing, sweet sister.
    Merry Christmas
    Megs

  12. I shared a very similar piece in one of my groups on facebook. Here is my reflection:

    Advent means wait. I have spent the past weeks pondering anew the true meaning of the celebration of Christmas. This is one of my favorite Christmas songs and I have watched this movie every year since it came out. So many things to consider… Mary must have been a brave young (only 13) woman. Her faith must have been very strong to respond as she did with complete obedience to God knowing the things that she would face in a culture that treated women, and especially unwed pregnant women, with contempt. Did she really understand what she would be facing? And was her faith so strong that her trust in God outweighed the questions she had about how this would be accomplished? Today we wait as well. We wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Mary, God calls us to be obedient to His call. No matter what things look like God IS in control and He calls us to be faithful to Him keeping His Word, and believing in His plan. As I have been studying the book of Revelation this year I rejoice at the mercy of His plan. And I feel more compelled than ever to share the gospel! God is patient – He desires salvation for all. Without the recognition of the need for a Savior – the Lamb of God Jesus Christ who redeemed the sins of man – many will not be saved. Heavenly Father we thank you for your mercy and grace and for sending Your Son who left all for the sake of Your plan in complete obedience to You. Grace is Your underserved gift to all who humbly accept it! The Light of the World has come, has overcome the world for us, and He sits at the right hand of our Father God until the appointed time of His return to bring God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven!

      • Jennifer, I am always “in couraged” by all that each of you share! So much so that I pass it on to many others. I was so amazed after reading your words by how God was speaking to us in such similar ways. Thank you for your love for Jesus and for being like Mary and being obedient to His call to you and sharing His love with others through your writing.

        Merry Christmas sweet sister in Christ!

        Nancy

  13. yes…there’s that word!….
    I have always believed Mary has been very overlooked because she was so unwavering willing…with her very body.
    She didn’t take chapters to argue it through, she was a VERY young women,who pondered things in her heart and through faith and obedience carried the Son of God!!! Wow…just wow

    and so 30 some years ago when l was raped and found myself with child…l turned to God and Mary and
    today l have a thirty something year old daughter, born on Christmas eve.
    Wow….
    just wow
    Yes….is such a big, life changing word

    • Wow… just wow! What a story, Kim… and your baby was born Christmas eve because you said “yes”! Grateful to know that God and Mary carried you through such a time. Thank you for sharing, Kim. Merry Christmas!

  14. I’m just reading this today and I am so glad… God’s timing – His Yes – Thanks!!