What do you do when you face impossible situations? Do you shrivel up in fear, shore up in faith or shrink up in defeat?

My kids, like a lot of kids, love to watch TV when they can. My kids especially loved to watch the Disney Channel. Not only did they love to watch it, but it sometimes watched them. On weekends and during the summer when they were allowed to watch the most TV, you could hear the Disney Channel blaring in our living room, in the kitchen, in their room and sometimes on the computer. I have learned to hate the Disney Channel. Yea, occasionally I found something on that channel that I could watch, but for the most part, it was just annoying. One of the shows that my kids loved to watch, especially my daughter, was a show called Kim Possible. I knew everything about this show, and that was in itself annoying. But even in my irritation, there is something that struck me about this particular program.
Kim Possible is an Emmy Award-winning animated television series about a teenage crime fighter who has the task of dealing with worldwide, family, and school issues every day. The series revolves around the life of Kimberly Anne Possible, a junior adventurer who deals with both super-villains trying to take over the world and her own school life. Her lifetime friend Ron Stoppable and Ron's pet mole rat, Rufus, act as sidekicks. They are backed up by Wade, a ten-year-old genius who gives Kim her equipment and missions and never seems to leave his room. The characters live in the average town of Middleton, and while the series revolves mostly around Kim’s fight against her enemies, she usually also has to deal with problems in her own daily life as a cheerleading teenager.

There is a lesson to be learned from Kim Possible. Many, when faced with impossible situations throw up their hands and decide that it is not worth the effort. When faced with impossible situations, the faithful are at their best, because they are not intimidated by challenge. In fact, without a challenge, most people are satisfied to remain unchanged and seldom progress to their highest potential.  Consider the man who had recently became a Christian but traveled from church to church trying to decide which one he would join. For a while, he attended a medium sized congregation that had great testimonies about God's work in its spiritual life. He was impressed with the congregation but never joined. Several of the church's leaders visited him to ask why he had not joined them after visiting so regular. He told them that the building was beautiful and awe inspiring. Its decor was breath taking and its worship was majestic. He said one Sunday he saw a note in the bulletin announcing a reduction in its ministries for the next year because of expected tough times. After reading that note he never returned. Many of his friends were surprised when they learned that he had joined a little church with unpadded seats, an old outdated, untuned piano, and hardly enough funds to keep the lights on. He was asked what made a man of his position unite with such a small church. He answered: "When I first visited them they were worshiping in the park and the preacher said God would put a roof over their heads, a few months later they were inside. The next time I was with them they had no music and a choir member said God would send a piano. A few months later they had one. The third time I dropped by, the pastor said God would bless and multiply their efforts to build a new building in one year. Without batting an eye, the small congregation rose to its feet and shouted Amen." His friends were still puzzled "That's it?" They asked. He answered, "The big churches I attended acted on probability and put their hopes in their budgets and their plan. That little church tackled the impossible and put their trust in the Son of man! I joined them because they reminded me, that with God, there is no such thing as impossible!"

Beloved, it is not impossible, but Him-possible!

Christ was born in a way that seemed inconceivable, under conditions that were improbable with a mission to do the impossible. In the midst of all this impossibility He gave the world hope! As Christians, the birth of Christ should stir a feeling of joy, happiness and renewal. It should rekindle in every believing heart a renewed faith that despite the impossible conditions of this world, our God is still able to do the impossible!

Our Gospel text this morning shows how an angel reassured Mary that though the circumstances surrounding her conception seemed unbelievable, they were not only probable but also highly possible, with God. Mary was told by an angel of the Lord that she would birth the Christ child into the world. That was highly unlikely, especially since Mary was engaged to be married and remained a virgin. Considering those facts, in verse 34 Mary asked a question: "How can these things be?"

A great future was laid out before her that appeared impossible. The son she would birth would be called the Son of the Highest and He would inherit the throne of his father, David. The terminology used may have been confusing to Mary just as many today who read the account are confused. In verse 32, Mary is told that King David is the father of the child. That must have been confusing, because King David had been dead for several hundred years. The term "father" in verse 32 did not mean that David would be the literal father of the child, but as head of the great royal line of the family of David all of his descendants are said to be his "children." In his lifetime, God had promised David that one from his family would reign forever. 2 Sam 7:16, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." It appeared to be an empty promise because not only had the kingdom of Israel fallen from power, but, they were the subjects of the Roman Empire. The prospect of Mary birthing a child that would rule on David's throne was considered highly impossible, since there was no literal kingdom to rule. In that same context, Elizabeth, in verse 36, Mary’s relative, and old woman, was 6 months pregnant.

All of this must have sounded impossible: An old woman she knew would have a child. She would have a child in her youth, but without sex. The child would be the Son of God. That must have had an impossible ring to it. Mary had some doubts. And if you remember, St. Thomas, as we celebrate the Feast of our Patron, St. Thomas the Apostle had some doubts himself about the resurrection. Historically, Thomas is remembered as "doubting" Thomas, because of his famous assertion that he would not believe in the resurrection until he could put in his finger in the nail prints of the master. Although Thomas was known for doubting, the reason for his doubting is understandable. The other disciples had seen something he had not seen. They had experienced something that Thomas missed. If we consider the events that occurred on the Sunday Thomas missed, it is understandable how the others believed, but he doubted. Jesus appeared to them in bodily form and showed them the nail prints in his hands and the spear mark in his side. So they had so evidence that the impossible had happened.

All Mary had was some words from an angel. Nothing tangible, just promises. Mary learned that this string of impossible events was going to happen through the intervention of the "Holy Ghost" (v35) or the spiritual presence of God Himself. If it all appeared confusing and impossible she was given one clear thought to ponder in verse 37: "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

Today there are many people who are troubled with impossible situations in their personal lives, family and in the community. The odds appear stacked against them, and there is no way to succeed. Sometimes economics creates impossible situations. Money problems worry many people. On any given day there are millions who consider their meager finances an impossible situation. For some, debts are increasing and income is decreasing. Some have lost jobs or experienced investment losses. Even at this very hour, while many are sharing the joy of the Christmas season with their families, someone is quietly wondering how to get enough money to beat their checks to the bank and cover the costs of Christmas revelry.

Many people think their finances are in such shambles, that it is impossible to repair. They owe the bank, the loan company, the mortgage company, the auto manufacturer, the credit union, and the lady next door. They have thrown up their hands in defeat. Economic trouble is a verse 37 situation. That is when we remember that nothing is impossible with God. It is Him-Possible!

A widow woman faced this same situation, having used everything she had and prepared herself to die. She learned that though it did not sound practical at the time, obeying God made the impossible possible.

Troubling Interpersonal Relationships create impossible situations. Many have reached crucial points in their marriages and relationships. Some marriages seem beyond repair. Understanding, love, peace, and every other ingredient necessary for a happy marital experience seem to have disappeared. Even some who are simply dating are experiencing hardships. Many have argued and wounded each other so often that, the success of the relationship appears to be an "impossible situation." Divorce in America is escalating at an alarming rate. Modern children are learning the art of being juggled from house to house and seeing their parents on schedules decided by a court and observed to the letter of law. Divorces result when one or both of the partners decide that they are faced with an impossible situation. But, Relationship trouble is a verse 37 situation. Even in marriage and relationships, there is nothing too hard for God to do, if we want Him to handle the situation.

Mary and Joseph were in the most embarrassing and potentially explosive situations imaginable. There have been divorces in modern times for even the suspicion of infidelity, not to mention a wife coming home one day pregnant and blaming it on the Holy Spirit. Both Mary and Joseph heard the voice of God and learned that nothing is impossible for God. Those with relationship trouble should attempt to hear the voice of God before they see their lawyer, the advice is better, and it's free.

Moral Imperfections often create impossible situations. Some are involved in illegal activities. Someone is embezzling from their employer. Someone is selling or using illegal drugs. Some have committed adultery. Some have even tried to buy and sell Senate seats. The list of moral imperfections is long and detailed. There are many who consider their moral predicament an impossible situation. They feel they have made such a mess out of their life, that they are beyond salvation. These feel like they are beyond repair.

Dealing with moral imperfections is another verse 37 situation. The truth of the matter is that there is no sin, or immoral act that God does not have the capacity and willingness to forgive. If we can repent for a sin, God can forgive. That's it plain and simple. Jesus met a woman at the well who at the very time she talked with Him was shacking with a man and had called five men her husband. Even her situation was not beyond repair.

Yes, beloved, the message the angel gave Mary as she pondered the birth of Christ is the same message that God gives today, "With God nothing shall be impossible." As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Christmas, there should be an atmosphere of renewed hope among us. When we consider the extent to which God went to bring the Christ Child into existence and accomplish His will, it should say to us that as long as we do what is in the will of God, nothing shall be impossible for us, because it is Him-Possible.

When we consider the details of the birth of the Christ child, it should remind us that we serve a God that specializes in doing things which are impossible. If we are plagued by empty pocketbooks and billfolds, we should remember that God specializes in filling empty pocketbooks and stuffing billfolds. My father is rich in houses and land! He holds the wealth of the world in his hand!

If we are plagued by interpersonal relationships, and feel that nothing can be done, we should remember that God specializes in solving problems of the heart. I heard a song writer declare, "I cannot take the lightning and flash it across the land. I cannot take a piece of clay and mold it into a man, but I have a father who can!" When things seem impossible I may not be able to handle it, but I have a father who can!

If you believe that your life is beyond repair you should remember that God specializes in restoring lost souls. The spiritual anthem of millions is epitomized by the words "I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within, seeking to rise no more. But the master of the sea, heard my despairing cry and from the waters lifted me, now safe am I!" Love lifted me! When my head was bowed down low, love lifted me! When my eyes were stained with tears, love lifted me! When my heart was heavy with guilt, love lifted me, now safe am I!

Have you any rivers that seem uncrossable? Have you any mountains that you cannot climb? God specializes in doing things impossible and He can do what no other power can do! It is Him-Possible!