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b'READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 1:26-38\\n\\n\\n\\nAs Rosa walked toward town to meet up with her fianc\\xe9 Antonio, she was passing by the old mines when something shiny caught her eye amidst the rocks and tumbleweeds. She was leaning down to look when suddenly a voice from above rumbled, \\u201cGo and take this gold. It is a gift for you and a promise of more to come. I will restore this town and bring it out of poverty.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\nShaking with surprise, Rosa said, \\u201cWho\\u2019s there? Who are you?\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cI am the One who watches over you. And I will restore this town, starting with you. Go and tell the people of my promise.\\u201d So Rosa picked up the shining object, excitement coursing through her veins. It was a perfect gold nugget. Rosa ran into town, looking for anyone to share the good news with. The first person she ran into was the banker.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cLook what I found! The old mines are going to open again\\u2014this whole town can be restored!\\u201d She shoved the nugget into the banker\\u2019s hands, and he gave it, and her, an appraising look. \\u201cWell, it looks like a perfect gold nugget\\u2014too perfect to be real. Besides, there\\u2019s no way this could have come from the mines. They\\u2019ve been closed for decades. Now, who did you flirt with to get this?\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cFlirt with?\\u201d The sheriff overheard their conversation and stepped in. \\u201cHow do you know she didn\\u2019t steal it? Let me see that!\\u201d The sheriff grabbed the nugget in one hand and Rosa\\u2019s arm in the other. \\u201cI think we should have a little talk at the station.\\u201d Rosa struggled. \\u201cI\\u2019m no thief! I found the gold, and a voice told me that more would come!\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cNo, she\\u2019s right.\\u201d Antonio pushed his way through a gathering crowd of onlookers. \\u201cI had a strange dream last night that the mines re-opened and there was more gold than we could imagine.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cThank you,\\u201d Rosa mouthed as the sheriff grumbled some excuse and let go of her arm.\\n\\n\\n\\nAntonio smiled at her. \\u201cI didn\\u2019t know what the dream meant until you found the gold\\u2014this is great news!\\u201d Rosa smiled back and whispered, \\u201cIt\\u2019s going to be a miracle.\\u201d \\u2022 Naomi Zylstra\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Consider taking some time to read the Bible passages today\\u2019s allegorical story is based on. God chose a humble teenager, Mary, to give birth to the Savior. Why do you think God chose to save the world this way? Imagine yourself in the banker\\u2019s or sheriff\\u2019s shoes, hearing Rosa\\u2019s story. What must it have been like for Mary to be doubted and scandalized?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cDon\\u2019t be afraid, Mary,\\u201d the angel told her, \\u201cfor you have found favor with God!\\u201d Luke 1:30 (NLT)'