Tag: Mary

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 5

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She Study, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 3/pp 37-38

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:7-20; John 1:14; and 1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

 “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Friends, I hope you have found as much joy as I have in walking through Mary’s story. From the angel’s announcement that she had been chosen to carry and bear the Son of God into the world, we have seen her tender, receptive heart not only to the unexpected (and humanly impossible) announcement, but also to a possible threat to her engagement and relationship with Joseph, not to mention what the changes might do to her (and her familiy’s) reputation in the community. We have heard her willingness to accept and believe the message and surrender to the will of God, and we have watched as God not only kept Joseph from walking away but also gave her a much-needed embrace and words of encouragement from her cousin, Elizabeth.

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And in time, everything the angel had told her came to pass. She gave birth to the only begotten Son of God, and He was named Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Jesus, God with us, as John 1:14 emphasizes, and as Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 7:14), A virgin would conceive and give birth to a son. People will call him “Immanuel,” which means “God with Us.” ~”Viewed in this light,” as gotquestions.org explains, “Isaiah’s prophecy is clear that Jesus is God, sent to earth to be with us, and to save mankind from our sins.” A savior born, the begotten Son of God, born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes,1 and laid in a manger; a perfect reminder that, as today’s study journal points out, “Regardless of whether or not there is room made for Him, the Lord will carry out His purpose.”

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

After Mary had given birth, swaddled her newborn son, and laid Him in the manger, she was visited by shepherds, who had been visited by an angel in the fields. The angel told them about the Savior, Christ the Lord, who had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  …When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:10-12, 15-19)

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH US IF WE WILL SIMPLY YIELD OURSELVES TO THE LORD.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

  • Why would Mary ponder these things?
  • Take time today to ponder what He has done for you.

The More We Know

  1. There are some interesting theories about Luke’s detail of Jesus’ swaddling clothes. Some have postulated that the swaddling clothes were a foreshadowing—a prophetic reference—of Jesus’ burial cloths. The Greek word sparganoo is the root word used in the phrase “swaddling clothes,” and it means “to clothe in strips of cloth.” But this word sparganoo is never used in the New Testament to refer to burial cloth. In the descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus’ burial, we see variations on the phrase “wrapped in linen cloth,” and different Greek words are used for the binding. The swaddling clothes could prefigure Jesus’ burial (the Magis’ gift of myrrh in Matthew 2:11 is a clearer bit of foreshadowing), but the link can’t be proved linguistically. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 3

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 33-34

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:39-56, Hebrews 11:6, and Psalm 37:4-5

Take delight in the LORD; and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD; trust Him and He will help you.

Psalm 37:4-5

Sometime after Mary professed her belief in the angel’s message and surrendered to the will of the LORD, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. You most likely know the story, but it never gets old, does it? Luke writes that Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Oh, how I love the words of Elizabeth, the description of the baby jumping for joy, and the sign that seemed to be to her that Mary had indeed been given the honor of bringing the long-awaited Messiah into the world.

As Mary had believed the words of the angel and surrendered to the will of God for her life, Elizabeth also believed and made her belief known to Mary, saying: “And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” What an encouragement that must have been to Mary, whom I cannot help but imagine has been feeling somewhat alone in all of this since she received the announcement. Though undoubtedly, her faith was a sustaining grace, the questions, conversations, judgments, and, especially, Joseph’s initial doubts had to weigh heavily on her mind and heart. Then she arrives at Elizabeth’s and is greeted with great excitement and honor. The Lord, our God, is so good to give us just the encouragement we need when we need it.

The willingness of the women to believe and Mary’s willingness to surrender were, as the study journal points out, “birthed in faith that if the Lord said it, there is no doubt it would happen.”

This is the faith that the author of Hebrews writes about in Hebrews 11:6, where we read: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Both Mary and Elizabeth believed that what God had said would happen. This reminds me of what Paul alludes to in Philippians 1:6, when he states that he is “confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.“

She had faith, and God performed a miracle.1

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT THE LORD HAS PROMISED, HE IS CERTAIN TO PERFORM IT.

Reflection and Application

When you pray, is your attitude one of confidence – not in what you want but in what the Lord can do? If you are waiting for a prayer to be answered, are you confidently surrendered to the will/desire of God for your life or the life of the one you are praying for?

Friends, the way we pray and what we pray matters… consider this commentary from Hebrews 11:6 by bibleref.com:

What does Hebrews 11:6 mean?

This is a popular verse from the book of Hebrews, and also one easily misunderstood out of context. Taken all by itself, the verse presents a truth which is fairly easy to understand. Namely, that God’s first and foremost concern is with our faith—our attitude towards Him and trust in Him—rather than in our actions. This does not make our behaviors unimportant. On the contrary: what we do reflects what we truly believe (James 2:14–17). However, as this verse shows, merely “going through the motions” is not what God is looking for. Those who want to please God need to have faith, not simple agreement, and not merely reluctant cooperation. ~ ~The problem with quoting or reading this verse out of its context is the specter of “blind faith,” or wishful thinking. As shown in prior passages, the writer of Hebrews is not advocating for a gullible, wishful-thinking attitude. On the contrary, this entire letter has been an exercise in evidence and logic. The writer’s point is meant to emphasize the primacy of true faith over insincere works: robotic obedience without legitimate trust in God is worthless. This lesson is given as part of a description of Old Testament figures whose actions prove their faith. (emphasis mine)

The More We Know

“Many of our prayers appear to go unanswered simply because we do not believe that God is willing and able to bring them to pass.”2

  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p33 ↩︎
  2. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p34 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 3

Elizabeth

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp11-12

You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16:11

Elizabeth is a well-known woman of the Bible. She is a beautiful example of faith and of the fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. We find her story in Luke, chapter 1, verses 5-80, where we learn that she was the wife of Zachariah, the prophet, and she was very old when she conceived. She was also the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is this part of her story that we will focus on today.

Not long after Mary learned that she was pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God, she traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth in Judea. Let’s stop and marvel for a minute at the contrast of the miracles God had worked in both women. Mary, a young, unmarried virgin, has just learned that she has become pregnant through immaculate conception, while Elizabeth, who was described as ‘barren and very old’ in Luke 1:7, is now six months pregnant. I can’t help but notice how their stories accentuate the beautiful truth that: “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 

Luke 1:35-36

While I love the entire story of Elizabeth and Mary, I particularly appreciate the beauty of Elizabeth and her baby when Mary arrived.

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Luke 1:39-45

Elizabeth was clearly overwhelmed at Mary’s arrival, but it was more than excitement to see Mary. Scripture says that it was because “at the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s baby leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” This was evident by Elizabeth’s “glad cry and exclamation to Mary,” that “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.” Elizabeth goes on to question why she is so honored to be visited by the “mother of her Lord.” What a moving and beautiful example of how the joy we find in the presence of the Lord our God affects those around us.

Experience and Application

Friends, I know that I share (or perhaps overshare) various stories of how God has worked in my life – so forgive me if you have heard this too many times. However, I cannot read this story without remembering my own experience with being unable to conceive for eight long and often torturous years. While I realize this in no way compares to the number of years that Elizabeth waited, it did offer me a similar experience as God restored a joy that had long been stifled by life’s sorrows and disappointments. For it was during my pregnancy and the birth of my first daughter that God sent several “Elizabeth’s” to me who poured out encouragement and joy by feeding my soul and mind with the Word that I had somewhat tuned out for years because of my disappointment in myself and in God. The pregnancy itself brought a sense of joy because I had hoped so long for it, but through the joy of godly friendships, He began doing the work of changing me from the Insideout and when that baby girl was born and they held her up to me – I knew my life would never be the same … not only because I had been blessed with a child but because I was filled with an awareness of His Presence in me.

“May we all seek to be an Elizabeth to someone else.”

She, Volume 3, p12

The More We Know

  • Who is an Elizabeth in your life?
  • Who was Elizabeth’s Son?
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Mary of Bethany, parts 3&4

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adapted from She, Volume 1, p 43 – 46

Read: John 11:1-45

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. …Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:20 and 11:32

Whatever it was that kept her at the house no longer mattered when Martha returned and secretly let her know that Jesus had come, “she got up quickly and went to Him”.

Mary of Bethany serves as an example of how we must not delay in coming to Him.1

As we saw in the previous post, when Martha ran out to meet Jesus, Mary had remained at the house. We do not know the reason; it could have been a number of things. Some commentaries suggest that she didn’t know He had returned or that she was still caught up in her mourning. I tend to think, knowing her previous desire to remain at Jesus’ feet, that she remained behind only because she did not know He had arrived.

Now, when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at His feet and said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.” 

– John 11:33-34

Mary had laid her grief and faith at the feet of Jesus

What Jesus did in response to her sorrowful spirit and faith-filled words – was born out of compassion for her sorrow but also from His agitation that Mary (and the people with her) had something to be sad about – as we read in verse 35, “Jesus wept” … and then commanded: “Take away the stone.” … 43 When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!… and Lazarus came out.”  It was a miracle that not only delighted Mary and her sister, but it brought many people to faith in Jesus.

Mary of Bethany serves as an example of the difference Jesus can make in our lives when we are willing to fall at His feet. 2

Reflection/Application
  • What can you bring to His feet today?
The More We Know

“Can you imagine seeing your Savior cry because He cares for you that much?” When I read this question in today’s study guide, I couldn’t help but think of 1 Peter 5:7. It is one of my favorite go-to verses in all of Scripture, which says, “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.“ I believe what we see Jesus do in response to Mary’s and the other mourners’ sorrow is a beautiful example not only of the truth of Peter’s statement, but also of how deeply Jesus truly cares.

  1. She, Volume 1, p45 ↩︎
  2. She, Volume 1, p46 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Martha, Part 2

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Adapted from the study ‘She, volume 1, p 31-32

Read: John 11:1-24

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

John 11:5, 20-23, and 12:2

As both Scripture and our study guide point out, Martha “had a history of being moved to action by her love for Jesus.” We see this truth in action after Lazarus dies, and Martha hears that Jesus is coming – she immediately goes to meet Him. It is unclear if she even told Mary that He was coming or that she was going out to meet Him. The fact that Mary remained sitting in the house leads one to believe that she may not have known.

 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

John 11:21

While Martha’s statement to Jesus can be seen as an accusation, it is also possible and even probable that it was simply a statement of sorrow, coupled with Martha’s strong faith that, had Jesus been there, the outcome could have been different. One commentary explains it like this: In full context, her meaning is something like, “this is not how I hoped things would be.” Which was followed by her next statement: “But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.“1 Can you imagine her delight when, after seeing/hearing her faith, Jesus responded: “Your brother shall rise again.”

So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Reflection/Application
  • What example(s) does Martha set for us in today’s passage?
  • What could you be doing while you wait for His return?
The More We Know

It is worth noting this piece of trivia from the study guide: “The last time Martha is mentioned she served supper.” – “There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.” John 12:2

  1. Bibleref.com ↩︎

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Because He Has …

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice, Celebrating the Season of Advent

Scripture: God’s Road Map For Our Journey / Luke 1:46-49; Matt 11;25-30;1 Cor 1:18-31

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:48-49
Observations and Applications of the Journey

Just in case you’re thinking, ‘Wait, didn’t we just read this yesterday?’ and wondering if I put down the wrong reference … yes, we did read this yesterday, and no, I did not give you the wrong passage for today’s journey. We will actually be reading portions of Luke 1 throughout the week, ingraining into our minds and hearts the rich history of our Savior, born of a virgin, a lowly handmaid, to save an undeserving people. Why? Because, as Mary said, “God has looked upon the humble state of His servant…” and “because God who is mighty has done great things for us, and holy is His name.”

And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:46-49. NET

You see, Mary boasted in the Lord because she realized that God did not have to choose her. He could have chosen a woman of nobility, but instead, He chose her, a lowly handmaid/servant, to carry His Son – The Messiah – into the world. I don’t believe that Mary was looking down on or belittling herself here; I believe she was looking up to her God. Mary hadn’t just heard the words of the angel, Gabriel; she had believed them and given great thought to them. She considered what they meant about God, about herself, and about what it meant for the world both then and for the generations yet to come. So, when Elizabeth proclaims how blessed Mary is, Mary responds by exalting the Lord and rejoicing in Him because He is mighty and He has done great things for her. As was mentioned in the previous post, this is not about Mary, and she realizes it – this is about God and what He has done for her. Friends, we would be wise to realize this same truth in our own life.

After reading/dwelling on this for a bit, I was hit by a barrage of questions in my mind. They are both challenging and convicting to me – but such is the word of God: “For it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”1 I am confident the Holy Spirit prodded me with these questions because I needed to hear them, but perhaps someone else needs to consider them as well.

  • IF I WERE TO LIST THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE, WOULD THE LIST START WITH AND CENTER AROUND HIM OR ME?
  • WOULD OTHERS FACTOR INTO THE LIST OF THOUGHTS?
  • DOES MY SOUL MAGNIFY/EXALT THE LORD?
  • DOES MY SPIRIT REJOICE IN GOD, MY SAVIOR?
  • DO I REALIZE MY “LOWLY ESTATE” AND UNDERSTAND HIS GREATNESS?
  • DO I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS CHOSEN ME TO CARRY HIS SON’S MESSAGE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD?

Have you, like Mary, come to know how exalted and holy God is? Do you know how small and sinful you are in comparison, and how much mercy and grace He has poured on you through His Son, Jesus Christ? Think about it: the infinitely great and perfect God has chosen you to be His beloved daughter. He has lifted you out of your sin and depravity. He has promised you eternal glory in heaven by your faith in Jesus. You are highly valued and infinitely loved by Him. May we, like Mary, rejoice in God’s holiness.

Rejoice Journal / p105
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Holy Lord, most holy Lord – You alone are worthy of my praise! Like Mary, I am captivated by Your beauty and filled with joy in Your presence. I do not forget who I was and how You have changed me from the inside out – making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Because of Your love and mercy, I have been set free from condemnation. Because of Your grace, I have been set free from the chains of sin and the fears that once bound me. There is no end to Your faithfulness and no boundaries to Your greatness! Of this, I am certain, and therefore, I have hope. – Amen

The More We Know about the journey

Instead of being scared of this mighty, exalted, and holy God, Mary was captivated by His beauty and filled with joy in His presence. His greatness has not kept Him from doing great things for her. God could have chosen the daughter of the king or high priest to give birth to Jesus. He could have chosen a girl who was rich, beautiful, educated, and admired. But, unlike us, God is not impressed by these attributes. Mary herself says that she was a “humble state”, meaning she was probably a nobody in her community, overlooked by the important people, an insignificant servant. And yet, the holy God chose her, a peasant girl from Nazareth, to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was amazed that God would be so great and yet see somebody as low as her.

Love God Greatly, Rejoice Journal / p105

How do you see yourself? Do you think more of yourself than you should? Or do you see yourself in light of God’s greatness and realize your “humble state”? – Consider the words of Paul in Romans chapter twelve, verse three: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Paul understood that unless we see ourselves as we truly are, we will struggle to trust that we can do what He has gifted/called us to do. – I encourage/urge you to click here to read the commentary by bibleref.com for Romans 12:3 – it’s a game-changer you won’t want to miss.

The Truth About Our Journey

God used Mary to deliver Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, into the world. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with the great and holy God that Mary proclaimed in her beautiful song of praise. Do you know know Him today? If not, I invite you to read Know These Truths and find out how you can share in this life-changing faith – If you do know Him, will you please help me share these truths with others who need to know the love of Jesus?

  1. Hebrews 4;12 ↩︎
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

The Magnificat

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based on the 2024 LGG Advent Study, Rejoice, a Celebration of Advent

Today’s Scripture God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1: 26-56 (46-47) and 1 Peter 1:3-12

And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Luke 1:46-47. ESV

Has anyone ever said a blessing or a prayer over you and you didn’t know what to say – other than thank you? What we read today and will focus on throughout the week is Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing over her.

Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing is most often referred to as the Magnificat or Mary’s Song. According to gotquestions.org, the Magnificat is a poem of praise to God for His blessing to Mary and His faithfulness to Israel.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:30-34. ESV

As one can only imagine, the shock and awe of the Angel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah was still ‘fresh’ in her mind. However, here in today’s passage, we read the sweet reflection of her heart and mind and see a beautiful picture of God giving her peace – as we read, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior-.”

If we stop there, we are left to wonder how this young girl, a virgin, engaged to be married and given a message that she would miraculously become pregnant and give birth to the promised Messiah, could possibly be rejoicing. Luke’s detailed account of Mary’s song answers the question as she goes on to say, “Because God has looked upon the humble state of His servant.”1

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46

Some may misconstrue Mary’s statement, “For from now on all generations will call me blessed,” to be about her, but instead, it is an acknowledgment that what God was doing through her was to be “an example of His grace for all generations.” Take a minute to reread her song; you will note that it is clearly a praise to God, a song that points people to Him – the only One worthy of our worship and able to hear/answer our prayers. 2

Today’s LGG journal entry explains Mary’s joyful praise in a beautiful way: “Mary’s heart was full of joyful praise because she looked to God, the One she knew would be with her and help her. Being full of faith, she was able to see beyond her immediate, challenging circumstances and meditate, instead, on the great deeds of God, past, present, and future. Her spirit was not filled with worries, fears, and the trifles of life. Her spirit soared above as she fixed her eyes on God, her Savior, and what He had done for her.”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

borrowed and shared from the Rejoice journal, p99

Lord, let our minds be increasingly filled with You, Your character, and Your deeds. Amen

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

Trusting God

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based on the LGG Advent Study, The Promised Messiah / w4d3

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56 / SOAP verses

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

46 Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.

Luke 1:46-49

Nestled in this passage of 30 verses is a beautiful prayer by Mary and a delightfully powerful scene of the affect that our Lord has on others when His presence is detected in us. However, there is another verse that jumped off the pages to me. You see, as is my morning habit, I opened an email devo before diving into today’s Advent Study. The verse from the devotion in my email was from Mark 9:23, which teaches that for the one who believes in God everything is possible because there is nothing God cannot do.

“‘if you can?'” said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.'”

Mark 9:23

This is a great reminder for any given day to be sure, but when I got to verse 37 of Luke chapter 1, and read, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”, I realized God really wanted me to remember this truth today. Two separate passages, two distinct conversations – but both pointing me to the same truth – With God all things are possible! – Nothing is impossible! For the father’s son in Mark chapter nine, it wasn’t a matter of “if” Jesus could heal the boy it was matter of believing that He could; as for Gabriel’s words to Mary it was the encouragement that the same God who would deliver a baby through a virgin was also giving a child to Mary’s relative who was old and barren. In both passages the result is the same thing – trusting God for the impossible. May I never lose sight of this truth. For it is hope and strength and peace in Jesus’ Name! May I say with Mary, my soul exalts You Father and, indeed, my spirit rejoices in You – my God and Savior. Because You, in grace and mercy, have looked on this humble ‘servant’ and have made known to me Your love and Your Son and by faith I have been made new. You have done great things for me, and holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Going Further

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Good News of Great Joy

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-52; SOAP – Luke 2:10-12

As inspired by Love God Greatly’s – He Sees, He Knows, He Cares – W1D4

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news[that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

Today’s larger passage, vv1-52 of Luke chapter 1, is familiar to all believers, and aside from John 3:16, it may be the most popular passage of the Bible. Before we zero in on verses 10-12, it is helpful to look at what comes before. Basically, God sets the stage, aligning all things with His perfect will and timing. From the ‘unexpected pregnancy’, to the census, the genealogy of Jesus, and heaven’s army joining the angel and filling the sky – God is clearly the orchestrator of all these events.

Many things jumped out to me – but the one thing that connected the dots back to the beginning of Luke chapter 1 was the other angelic messages. The first two announcing a shockingly unexpected birth yet to come and the third – found in our focus passage – announcing the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds in the fields nearby. In today’s story, as well as the others, we hear the angel, speaking on the Lord’s behalf, saying, “don’t be afraid! However, there were some notably unique messages in this third announcement from the angel, namely that he appeared to a group and not just one person … he encouraged them to listen carefully, because the message was one of good news – not just for them – but for all the people. Perhaps the most exciting news came when he clarified that the good news was the arrival of the Savior of the world – but not just a Savior – He was their Savior! And then he told them where and how they would find the baby.

The shepherds believed the message and wasted no time in going in search of the baby – “So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw Him, they shared what the angel had told them about this child. And, not just that but they also returned to their fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, for everything happened just as the angel had said.“

How then should we live?

It is vitally important for us to live glorifying the Father, sharing the good news of great joy by telling others what He has done. We see this played out not only in the Shepherd’s response, but in the beautiful portrayal of Simeon’s and Anna’s lives and their words to Mary and Joseph, verses 25-38. We see it played out in the life and words of Jesus, delivered through the virgin Mary – just as the angel said. We see it played out in the life of John as he lived out his calling to prepare the way for The Lord. And we see it played out in the lives and writings of the apostles throughout the New Testament. May our legacy be that others saw and heard it played out in our lives as well.

My Prayer Response to the Word

Father, I can’t help but think of the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, How lovely on the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says your God reigns. An angel brought good news of great joy to the shepherds as well as to Mary and Zechariah, and all of them made known what you had said and done. May this be true of Your people today Father. May we live obedient to Your Word and to the examples of Christ to be Your witnesses to the ends of the earth. For were we not chosen as a people for Your own possession, as Peter said, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light? Father help us to be faithful with the message so that others may share in the good news of great joy that is meant for all the people, for how will they believe if they do not hear? Thank You for Your intricate plans and timing and Your faithfulness to carry them out for us that we might know Your Son and share in the salvation He came and died to bring. Help us, as Mary did to treasure and ponder these things in our hearts – for from the the mouth comes the overflow of the heart! In Jesus’ most holy and powerful name! Amen –

Posted in Bible study, He Sees He Knows He Cares

The power, the purpose, and the promise of God in action

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Suggested Reading: Luke 1:26-56; SOAP 1:48-49

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:48-49

If you have ever doubted what God can and will do, or should you ever doubt His promises in days to come – you only need to consider this story. The story is true, based on the history of God’s people and the incredible means by which He delivered His son, untainted by sin, into a world filled and dying from it. For from the barren womb of Elizabeth, in her “old age” and the virgin womb of Mary in her youth – God brought forth sons, one the messenger to prepare the way for the other, who would be the Savior of the world! This is the power, the purpose, and the promise of God in action. Surely, “Nothing” is, or ever will be, “impossible with God!”

Knowing God’s power and purpose to save a sin sick world, and seeing that He is a promise keeper of the ancient words He spoke since the foundations of the world – how then should we live? I believe we should live with hope that what God says He will do – He will indeed do. We should not be surprised by, nor doubt, what God can do or what He will do – instead, like Mary, we should listen to and explore what God says, and we should be sensitive and surrendered to His Presence and the work He does in and around us. We should be quick to worship Him and focus all the glory and honor on Him as both Elizabeth and Mary did. We should look for opportunities to point out His goodness and the great things He has done. We should not be puffed up about our position with God but remember that we are His humble servants, and honored by the fact that He looks on us with favor, choosing to give us His Son and to use us for His glory – to which end we should faithfully live.

Let us not miss the lesson found in the beauty of God’s intimate and relational nature, as we look at the larger passage and realize that God is faithful to intertwine our lives with others – so that we might rejoice with one another or encourage and lift each other up. Consider Elizabeth, suddenly pregnant in her old age, decades older than any other expectant mother around her – and her husband was now mute. It seems possible that she would have been feeling alone in her shockingly and unexpected pregnancy as she, undoubtedly, dealt with the natural fears or excitements every birth brings, and in her case, likely more so. Then – consider Mary, the young virgin – who – though having never slept with a man – now carried a child within her womb; and not just a child, but one who would be the Son of God. Clearly, these women needed each other. They needed someone who could understand and appreciate their unique situation, they needed encouragement – and renewed strength to face their future. So God, in His love and perfect timing brought them together – strengthening and assuring them of His presence with them and with their children. We would be wise to remember that He knows our needs as well and thus to embrace the relationships He offers us with other believers, through the bond of Christ.

My Response to God’s Word

Father, how very great You are, placing a child in the womb of a virgin and an old woman. Only You could do such greatness and with such purpose. Again, I see Your perfect timing and I witness the affect Your Presence has on us when I am attentive and yielded to You Spirit. As You found favor in Your servant Mary, find favor in me I pray. Use me to carry Your love to the world and to encourage others. Thank You for the eternal blessing of Your Son through whom nothing is impossible with You. All glory and honor to You, most good and faithful God!