The Women of Christmas #2

-

 Calm down.

Luke 1:13


The translation of this verse is fabulous!  I've printed it off and placed it in a frame.

When the key players in the Christmas story had their angel encounters the angel always said, "Do not be afraid" but in this particular translation that was "calm down."


Liz Curtis Higgs refers to Mary as "the virgin mother kind".


Her name is synonymous with innocence, purity, devotion. Her calling was like no other woman before or ever since: she gave birth to the Savior of the world.

“Young, chaste, submissive”. Higgs says "I’m none of those things.”


“…Greetings, Peace be with  you.” (Calm down.)  From the start it was clear that Gabriel came bearing good news. “..you who are highly favored!”  Luke 1:28


We have had several angel encounters in our family.  That will be a post for another time, but they were very real.


In this chapter the author helps us put things into perspective. The perspective of God first!


“Mary was full of God’s grace simply because God chose to bless her.  We have no description of her being holy or pious or deserving.  She is a virgin, yes, but not perfect, not without sin…What made Mary worthy of her calling was not her virtue; it was God’s virtue….God takes us as we are and uses us as he will, for our good and for his glory.


…The Lord is with you.  Luke 1:28  


Not just on Sunday at church, not just when you are on your knees praying or serving Him some way.  He is WITH you always.  It’s a promise, a statement of fact.


Do you want to know more of the promises of God.  Sign up for 365 Promises.  https://www.365promises.com


This is one skilled angel who knows just what to say to lay out this amazing plan from God.


Greetings, 

You are highly favored,

The Lord is with You.

Don’t be afraid

Again, You’ve found favor with God and now here’s the big news…

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and call him Jesus, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and reign forever.


Mrs Higgs references Mary’s honest and humble response…  Not, “Say what?” 

She didn’t ask for proof, she just wanted to know how.

How can this be…I am a virgin.  Luke 1:34


This testimony is just  fabulous!  “Mary didn’t ask for clarification or press for details. She believed the angel because she believed in the One who had sent him. Our compassionate God sweetens the situation.  “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age…”  They can share in these miracle pregnancies together.


Here’s the promise  For no word from God will ever fail.  Luke 1:37


Hallelujah is one of my very favorite words and that’s just what I want to say at this point.


“Mary carried Jesus in her body. By the same Holy Spirit, we ‘carry the risen Lord in our hearts.” Liz Curtis Higgs


Do we have Mary’s surrendered spirit in us …I am the Lord’s servant.  Luke 1:38


Then when she was at peace the angel left this young teenage girl.


At 3:20 each day my reminder on my phone dings and I remember Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,


Mary had no cell phone, but she had enormous faith and trusted God.


The Song 


"Mary Did You Know" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE Pentatonix

 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF9GwomhKzs     Mark Lowry 

Popular posts from this blog

She Fought the Good Fight

-
Image
February 27 Bible Gateway's verse yesterday was: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him . 1 John 4:9 A fitting verse for the day my everyday friend, soul sister, monster of the faith and mischievous partner in crime, Kaye, left this world behind and headed to her heavenly home. My husband was able to be by her bedside and said he knew she heard the words of our faith that he shared. Her sweet daughter held the phone up to her ear so I could say good-bye and the brightest single star you have ever seen shown through my bedroom window as she exited this earth! Yesterday, my heart literally ached so badly that I told the Lord, "Take me too!" Wouldn't she have been surprised if I had snuck up on her in heaven and said, "Thought you were going somewhere without me, did ya." When we received the call she was ready to go, I called out to the Lord for comfort and He led me to the Bible Gat...
Read more

Toe Sucking

-
Image
June 13 If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet. Psalm 25:12 …or allow them to be sucked off by carp!  For as long as I've been on this lake (49 years) we've gone to feed the carp at various marinas.   I have a bag of old bread waiting to be tossed to the carp tomorrow by our grandchildren!   There's a new adventure at a couple of the marinas.  Toe sucking!   For 25 cents you can buy a small scoop of peanut butter to go on your toes. Then the carp suck it off!   I just got a pedicure, so I have an excuse not to participate! What we do need to participate in is keeping our feet on the paths the Lord sets before us. Give careful though to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26 
Read more

Remember Your Story

-
Image
Our oldest granddaughter made this bouquet and hand painted card for me.💖 Nothing touches our lives that God doesn't allow.  He has a plan and a purpose, sometimes far into the future, that can be used for His glory. (Jeremiah 29:11) Flash back 40 years and I approached life's downs with an "I can't believe this is happening." and truth be told "How can I fix it?" attitude.   Now that I am older and wiser I see that God truly works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28) I thank God for the stroke 8 years ago and how it mellowed me out (okay some of you are laughing, but it really did). And honestly,  I like getting old. Sure, there are regrets, but there is also value in being able to pass along the wisdom learned from those regrets. God CAN use everything for His good. Mentoring moments are what I feel called to at this stage of life.  Working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend, I came ac...
Read more