To Be...Magnifying the Lord

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December 14
Oh, how I hope you've had time to sit by your tree and read from Luke.  My church "greeter" question this month is "Besides Jesus, who is one of your favorite personalities from the Christmas story?"

As a woman who treasures friendships, my heart thrills when Mary and Elizabeth gather and rejoice together over their unexpected pregnancies.  We are told that Elizabeth was much older, than teenaged Mary.  We are also told that they are cousins on some level.  Elizabeth was from the Jewish tribe of Levi, a daughter of Aaron (Mose's brother) and Mary was from the tribe of Judah.

Elizabeth is such an encourager. She had kind of a southern girl "Bless your heart!" moment when Mary arrives at her home. The Spirit literally moved within her having her speak that Mary was with child. God was so gracious to give these two pregnant gals, who needed encouraging time together!

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!...and blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."  Luke 1:42, 45

Next we are treated to Mary's Song of Praise called "The Magnificat."
Oh, that others might encounter us magnifying the Lord in such a manner.

"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he has spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."  Luke 1:46-55

It is a gift of God to be able to rejoice with one another.

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