In Luke 1 : 26-38 we are given good news of great joy. Mary received the good news that God was sending Jesus into the world, but to fully understand why we have good news of great joy we must first understand who Jesus was, why he came into the world, and what our response should be.

In Genesis 11 we find the account of the

tower of Babel. Right after in chapter 12 we see God calling Abram out of his country and giving him a promise of blessing. What do these two texts have in common?

In the account of Noah and the flood, we are met by a God who cleanses the world of sin. It was quickly evident that what God's creation needed was a greater cleansing : salvation through Jesus' death on the cross. Baptism is a symbol of this, the old life passing, and a new life beginning.

Many times when we are faced with problems and overwhelming circumstances we do not feel like singing- but that is exactly what God tells the Israelites to do. Worship and worry cannot go together.

Ps Brett looks at the creation of Adam and Eve and how they were made for a purpose. That purpose meant for the world's first couple is still the same for us today and is found in a relationship with our Creator.

In Genesis 2, we are met with the story of how God declared His creation finished and then He rested. His resting meant that everything that needed to be done- was done. We see a similar situation when Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father, declaring once again a finished work.

In Genesis 1 we are introduced to who God is. He revealed Himself through creation and we find Creator who is supreme, purposeful, personal, and good.

Many things try to distract us from the purpose that God has for our life. We need to be aware of those things and know how to fight them, just like Jesus did.

The followers of Jesus relied not on their own strength, but on the power of God. They were a community devoted to prayer and saw the sovereign strength of God displayed in their lives. How can we follow their examples of boldness and faithfulness? We must be a community of prayer.