Mary's Song

Luke 1: 46-56
 ⁴⁶ And Mary said:

   “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

 ⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I love these verses.  Mary shows her heart and why God chose her.  She is the humblest person.  She doesn't take any credit for anything.  She states that generations will call her blessed, because of what God has done great things for her.  He noticed her, he lifted her up, he has done good things for all people.  

In one cantata, these verses were made into a song.  It is a song I will always remember when I think of Mary.  it  shows that she praised God because he picked her, even though she didn't know what was going to happen.  She just new that God needed her and she would do her best for him and the baby she was carrying.

A Baby Changes Everything

Luke 1:39 - 45
 ³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”


I love these verses.  Mary goes to see her cousin, Elizabeth, and God reveals to Elizabeth that Mary is the mother of our Messiah.  It must have been a relief to Mary to have someone to talk to.  Someone that understood what she was feeling.  The physical aspects of being pregnant as well as the looks and whispers.  For Elizabeth was pregnant with John, but she was very old.  How odd that must have been to her friends and neighbors.  
Both women had a lot to talk about, but when Mary first greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb.  Leaped!  We aren't sure how far along Elizabeth was, but even at 6 months, and could have been around a pound in weight and twelve inches long.  Doesn't sound like much, but that probably surprised her.  Timm was so big that if I stretched out, I would need help getting up.  I'm sure Elizabeth had to sit down after that.  But then the verses tell us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit.  She knew exactly what was going on.  What a comfort to Mary that must have been, because as we all know, this baby changed everything.


A Baby Changes Everything
Songwriters: Nichols, James Timothy; Wiseman, Craig Michael; Wiseman, Kim;

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she keep his trust?
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
Ooh, she cries
Ooh, oh

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
And she cries!
Oh, she cries

Shepherds all gather 'round
Up above the star shines down
A baby changes everything

Choir of angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
Everything, everything, everything

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around
I was lost but now I'm found
A baby changes everything, yeah
A baby changes everything


[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/f/faith-hill-lyrics/a-baby-changes-everything-lyrics.html |]

Mary, A Strong Woman

Luke 1: 26:38
²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

 ²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 ³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 ³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

 ³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Every day now, children are born.  A lot of them are born to very young, unprepared girls.  Some of them are able to deal with the pressure, the criticism, the feeling of disappointment that may come their way.  God takes this story and shows us that we shouldn't judge someone in their circumstance just because we do not understand it or think it is appropriate.  We probably all know a young lady that became pregnant out of wedlock.  Did we disapprove or help them plan a wedding?  We all have sinned.  Some sins are known, others not.  And everyone in Nazareth thought they knew what Mary had done.  What a fool she made of Joseph, they said.  But no one knew or believed what Mary told them.  An angel came and told her that God loved her and wanted her to be the mother of the Savior.  Being who she was, how could she say no?  How scared and alone she must have felt at first.  No matter how much ridicule she would have to overcome, no matter how much humiliation she endured, she knew that God chose her!  That would get me through the looks, whispers, and broken friendships.  I'm sure it gave her the courage to become who she became.  The mother of Jesus, Christ our Lord!

Mary, Did You Know?
Buddy Green and Mark Lowry

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? 
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? 
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? 
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? 
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again. 
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? 
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? 
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Preparing Hearts

Luke 1:26-38

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” 

In the verses of Luke I posted yesterday, Luke told us of Zechariah, the priest that saw an angel.  I focused on how God had been quiet for around 400 years.    The Israelites were ready for a Savior, but God had more groundwork to lay.  So he told Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth would have a baby in her old age.  He did not believe the angel Gabriel, and for that his tongue was silent.  When he came out of the temple, he came out and the people realized he saw a vision, but had no idea what it was, even though he tried to tell them. 

The impact this had on Elizabeth, being barren for so many years must have been shocking.  For her, after so long of watching all her family and friends celebrate the births of children, being pregnant couldn't have made her any happier.  She probably was concerned for her health and that of her child, but she seemed calm and accepting.  This child, we find out is John, aka John the Baptist.  He also was related to Jesus.  John became the announcer of Jesus.  He made the people see their wicked ways and turn to God, preparing their hearts for Jesus.  Who prepared your heart for God?   During this time of year, it's easy to talk and see God's goodness.  But is that how you came to God?  Did a Sunday School teacher, a parent, or a mentor give you the advice you needed to make your decision for Christ?  Thank them for preparing your heart to accept God.

Christmas Shoes

Written by Eddie Carr and Leonard Ahlstrom

The Christmas Shoes lyrics

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
( From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/newsong-lyrics/the-christmas-shoes-lyrics.html )
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out 
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

I am taking a break from Daniel because it's Christmas!  There is so much to talk about.  Last year I did a series on unusual Christmas songs.  This year I am going to combine the Christmas story with songs, and maybe throw in a few of my favorite stories as well.

Luke 1: 5-23

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

 ⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

 ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

 ¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

 ¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

 ²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

 ²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Many people do not see this as part of the Christmas story.  But as my minister pointed out yesterday, it had been about 400 years since God had spoken with mankind. He sent the angel Gabriel to talk to Zechariah and announce that in his old age and that of his wife, Elizabeth, they would have a son that would make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  This is the first mention that a Savior was on the way.  

God kept quiet for what seemed like eternity, but his people prayed and pleaded for him to come to earth, to talk to them.  They felt distant, cut off, and lost.  Sometimes we feel like that.  We are so lost that we cry out to God.  We do not what to do.  But we have to have faith that he will come, in his time.   

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Author - unknown

Music - Thomas Helmore

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory over the grave. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times once gave the law In cloud and majesty and awe. O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of Thy people be; Before Thee rulers silent fall; All peoples on Thy mercy call. O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Have You Truly Accepted God as God?

Daniel 4:19 - 27

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”

   Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹ with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— ²² Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

 ²³ “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

 ²⁴ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:²⁵ You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. ²⁶ The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ²⁷Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

God had had enough!  if you remember, every time King Nebuchadnezzar described Daniel, he said he was filled with the spirit of the holy gods (verse 9).  God wanted the king to recognize him as the one and true God, and he knew that this would be the way to do it.  King Nebuchadnezzar would be cut down and stripped of his kingdom for seven years.  He would be out in the wilderness and people would think him insane.  But God also had mercy on him.  The king would return to his kingship after he professes God as the Most High.  God is a God of second chances and he loves each of us and wants to give everyone a chance to acknowledge and come to him.  It's just that some of us are more stubborn and take longer to let the word hit our heart and mind than others.  Has it truly hit the mark of your heart?  Have you truly accepted God as God?  I pray that we have.   

The Weird Dream

Daniel 4:9 - 18

⁹ I (King Nebuchadnezzar) said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. ¹¹ The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

 ¹³ “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. ¹⁵ But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

   “‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times^[d] pass by for him.

 ¹⁷ “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

 ¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

As usual, this is a strange dream.  But that is what makes it interesting.  I hardly ever remember the dreams I have.  So to remember one this detailed is interesting to me.  A tree so high it touches the sky, it feeds and houses every living thing.  Someone tells King Nebuchadnezzar to cut it down.  Then the dream says that someone will become like the animals for seven years.  These decisions are from God and his word is law.  How strange.  It would have scared me.  This is a nightmare, not just a dream.  I am not sure I would want my dreams interpreted.  I think that sometimes it's better not to know, than to anticipate the worst.

But King Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel to tell him what the dream meant.  He now trusts Daniel, even making him the chief of the magicians.  The king knows that no one else can tell him what it's all about.  What confidence the king has in him.  What jealousy must rage under the surface of all the other magicians and wise men.  If I was Daniel, I would first pray, but then question the dream.  Is the King crazy?  Did this dream really happen? But I am sure Daniel, already had ideas.