Ponder and Treasure Who He Is

[This is the seventh in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE. Second post is found HERE Third post is found HERE. Fourth post is found HERE. Fifth post is found HERE. Sixth is found HERE.]



Luke 2:19 (MSG)

19 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.

The NIV version says '...Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.'

The word used for 'kept or treasured up' in this verse is

syntereo.  It means to treasure up  / preserve in memory. 

There isn't a single mother that can't relate to that word!  Today Mary would have started a photo album.  You know the kind.  Not just an album filled with pictures, but lovingly designed with borders, stamps, stickers, journaled thoughts and memories, etc.!

Can you imagine what that memory album would have looked like.  Not only was she preserving in memory the birth of her first born (don't you know they always get the best one!), but she was preserving the memory of the birth of our Savior, the Son of God.  Are there enough stickers, stamps and decorative paper to properly commemorate this memory?

I wonder what thoughts Mary had that blessed night?

• Hope... this is the Son of God.  The promised One that will fulfill prophesy and is our hope for the future.
• Wonder... how can this little child with 10 tiny finger and 10 tiny toes be Emmanuel ~ God with us? Such an ordinary infant in my arms that brings extraordinary things.  
• Amazement... angels have provided my child's birth announcement.  Strangers are coming to adore Him.  I'm a simple servant, holding and comforting this King of Kings.

Take a moment and pause over this simple verse today.  What can we learn from Mary's response to having just given birth to the Christ child?

If you have submitted your heart and soul to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
~ you have much to ponder. 

If you have come to the realization that as a sinner you fall short of being able to come before the throne of God, but by believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus your sins are wash clean and you are welcomed before His throne
~ you have much to ponder. 

We capture moments in our lives all the time.  We treasure them in albums of all kinds; births, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, milestones, etc. How much more so should we treasure the moments in our lives that represent the working of God. 

So take that moment to ponder today's verse from this perspective.  What are the God moments in my life? Not just the 'big' things that cause you to say 'that was a God thing', but all things.  What has God refined in you over the last year, 2 years, 10 years, etc.  Sometimes those things take time and if we don't stop to ponder them and treasure the memory of them we miss the joy of seeing His work. 

What were you doing this time last year or any other year in the past?  Were you seeking help for something?  Were you being tossed in a storm?  Were you battling a stronghold in your life?

Ponder those memories and see how God has refined you through those circumstances and situations.  Treasure those memories today. 

How about today?  As we recognize God's refining work in our past, we can look at our circumstances and situations with a brand new perspective.  If we can't see how He has worked in the past, we can't see how He is going to work in the present / future.

So take a moment today and ponder today.

What would your memory album be filled with? 

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, what a loving Father You are.  As I ponder all that You have done in me and for me since I came to know You, my heart swells with joy.  If I were to create a memory album of all I treasure in my heart, it would show the good times as well as the hard times.  And on each page I would journal the words 'thank You'.  Thank You for first loving me before I even knew how to love You.  Thank You for the days, months, years and seasons when You took me on a journey that brought pain, heartbreak, angst and frustration, so I could learn to love You more and more.  Thank You for all of the victories at the end of a refining battle.  Thank You for never giving up on me.  Most of all, thank You for the cross and the resurrection of Your Son.  In His name I am given access to You today.  Amen.

Just Do the Next Thing ~ God Has a Plan

[This is the sixth in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE.Second post is found HERE Third post is found HERE. Fourth post is found HERE. Fifth post is found HERE.]



Luke 2:1-7 (MSG)

1 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. 4 So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. 5 He went with Mary, his fianc-e, who was pregnant.



6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

God's plan isn't always going to look like a well thought out, perfectly orchestrated journey.  At least not from our point of view as we begin taking the steps as He directs them.  Looking back, we can see how it WAS perfectly orchestrated and very well thought out, but we never go into with 20/20 hindsight vision.  The key is to not question His plan and just do it! Even when it doesn't make sense. 

That, and do it with the right attitude.  God asks us to obey from the inside out.  Obedience with a grumbling heart is not pure, submitted obedience. 

Mary's lesson today is just this ~ just do the next thing and do it without complaining.  As far as we can tell from scripture, Mary never complained or grumbled when she was faced with the following conditions of her journey:

• travel to Bethlehem in her final month of pregancy. 
• no hotel reservation held for her
• not only did she give birth in a stable, she slept and recovered in a stable after the labor (this means a bed of hay)
• no family around.  no mid-wife. just her and Joseph.

I think back to the times I have been expecting and how I worked so hard to make it a perfect time so that we could enjoy the event and celebrate the joyous occassion with family and friends.  Oh the plans to make things just right.  This is what we do for the birth of our own children.  Think of the plans made to bring a person of royalty into this world. 

Here is my imagined 'earthly' response one might have if they were called to bring the King of Kings into the world under the conditions described in Luke:

• travel to Bethlehem in her final month of pregancy.
• Really Lord?  Do you know how exhausting this is going to be carrying all of this weight around? I'm working really hard for You here Lord...how about a little help here, like a caravan that will allow me to travel in a little luxury?
• no hotel reservation held for her
• Lord, you knew I was going to deliver during this time.  Surely you could have held a room for us.  Plus we have all of these people coming to see You.  A suite would have been really nice. 
• not only did she give birth in a stable, she slept and recovered in a stable after the labor (this means a bed of hay)
• Lord, I'm not one to complain, but as You know, giving birth is painful.  This would have been so much easier on me if you could have provided a room with a bed.  A bath tub would have been nice too.  Again, not complaining Lord, but don't  you think the Son of God deserves better accomodations too? 
• no family around. no mid-wife. just her and Joseph.
• If we could have done this at home, I had such great plans for the arrival of Your Son.  The layette was ready, a shower was planned and I had lined up the perfect mid-wife to make sure it all went well. 

Of course, this is a 21st century version of a worldly 'imagined' response to the conditions of Christ's birth, but it makes me mindful of how I might be tempted to respond to what God calls me to do today, in the 21st century, with our presumed expectations of grandeur and notoriety when doing great work. 

Despite the dreadful conditions of Christ's birth, God's will was carried out perfectly and God was perfectly glorified.  Not as we would have planned it but as He had planned it.  PERFECTLY. 

So what about God's plan for us today?  Are we looking for perfectly laid out plans that make sense to us and have obvious 'God glorifying' results? Or are we simply submitting, doing the next obvious thing, without questioning the 'plan'? 

Mary was told to travel to Bethlehem in her late pregancy condition. 
She just did it.
Mary was told she would have to stay in a barn. 
She just did it.
Mary had only a manger to lay her child, the Son of God, into. 
She just did it. 

Just do it. 
Whatever God is calling you to, just do it. 

Serving God may mean:

• serving in less than desirable conditions
• a longer trip than planned
• hard work
• humbling circumstances

But we can be assured that no matter the conditions or circumstances our calling comes in or from, when we 'just do it' God will be glorified. 

No grumbling.  Just do the next thing and see God's plan for you bring Him more glory than you could ever imagine. 

Prayer:
Lord God, as I consider how Your will was played out in the birth of Christ, I am humbled.  How many times Lord, have I formulated great plans to bring You glory by doing this or that for You?  How many times have I miss stepped because I questioned the reasonability of the obvious next step and adjusted it to something that made much more sense in my mind?  Forgive me Lord for the times I have brought my worldly expectations to Your Godly plan.  Thank You Lord for never shutting the door and always giving me another opportunity to walk the path that brings me straight to You.  Forgive me Lord when I have grumbled and complained along the way.  Thank You Lord, for those hard walks down Your path that have drawn me closer and closer to You.  Lord, show me the next thing.  Give me eyes to see the next step.  Give me a heart that responds with obedience.  Lord, I want to just do the next thing for You and watch the Glory of Your will play out in my life.  I do not ask for 20/20 hindsight vision Lord.  There is more joy and peace in trusting you blindly than in seeing the beginning from the end.  Thank You Lord for the sacrifice of Your Son that allows me to walk in that peace and joy with You.  Amen.

A Heart Made Ready for His Will and His Glory

[This is the fifth in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE.Second post is found HERE Third post is found HERE. Fourth post is found HERE]

Luke 1:;46-55

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, 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; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Before moving on through Luke, there is another lesson I have gleened from Mary's Hymn of Praise.  It's really a reinforcement of a lesson learned in by watching how she first responded to the word she received of her calling, as we explored in our earlier sessions.  Why Mary? 

In verse 48 we see God sought a humble heart:
 "because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,"

In verse 49 we see God sought a heart that recognizes the perfect work He has done:
"because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;"

And in verses 50-55 we see God sought a heart that held tight to His word and knowledge of His word is a priority:
"from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Mary was ready to respond to God's call on her life because of these things. They did not happen over night.  Her upbringing, life experiences and dedication to seeking God's word all the years leading up to this day made her ready for this very moment in her life. 

Is my heart ready?  Am I taking the steps today that will make my heart ready for the right response to His calling in my life?  Do I seek to do mighty things for God before my heart is ready to do them with a humble heart that only has desires for His glory and can see truth as presented by His Word? 

Once again, this Hymn of Praise reminds us that we must have the blinders on first, so that we can be ready to respond with a right heart. 

Prayer:
Almighty God I kneel at your thrown with a humble heart.  A heart that recognizes how far I fall from deserving fellowship with You without the redeeming blood of Christ that was shed for me.  I praise You Lord for the gift of Your Word, without which I could never have the knowledge of Your perfect plan of salvation.  I desire to draw closer to You daily and recognize that this is done by spending time daily in Your Word and developing an attitude of prayer throughout every moment of every day.  Let me not take a step without seeking Your face first Lord.  Protect me from the deceptions of the enemy for I know that You have given me a sound mind.  One day at a time Lord.  I desire to become all You created me to be, and recognize that I must demonstrate this by submitting and drawing closer to You one day at a time.  Your will and Your way Lord.  To Your glory.  In the name of Christ who went to the cross for me I pray.  Amen.

Praise Him with Blinders On

[This is the fourth in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE.Second post is found HERE Third post is found HERE]

Luke 1:;46-55

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,

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; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

This was Mary's response once the shock had subsided and she had bonded with her aunt ('sister in Christ').  She begins first and foremost with praise and glory for God.  As I meditated on this word, I once again tried putting myself in Mary's position, imagining the fear of the unknown, acknowledging the ridicule society would throw her way with gossiping rumors of their perception of what 'really' is happening here.  I consider how God calls each of us to do things for His glory that may bring with it controversy, discomfort or questions from those my flesh seeks approval from here on earth.  Godly choices that may not be popular choices.  Godly submission that may conflict with the wordly perspective of 'self promotion'. 

And then I consider how I respond to such callings in my life.  Mary's hymn of praise reminds me that the response God desires is pure praise.  Humble, soul submitting praise.  Blinders on, eyes focused only on Him and the purpose of His plan for His kingdom. 

Mary is excited to be serving God, even in a precarious position that could harm her 'reputation' in the world.  It could bring hardship in her future and she is definitely not being 'paid' to do this. 

How is God asking you to serve Him?  Do you have your blinders on to see only that which is His calling?  Are you focused on seeing the purpose of your life for the plan of His kingdom?  Things we must be aware of that may distract us from having such focused vision include concern about possible ridicule from the world's perspective, fear of how you will live or concern for income over trust in His provisions. 

We must focus instead on a response of YES with great excitement.  True JOY comes when our motivation is to glorify God even at the cost of our own popularity, wealth or fame.

There is more to gleen from Mary's hymn of praise, which we will explore tomorrow.  Today, lets spend a moment in prayer giving God the praise for what He has done in our lives and seek to embrace that which He desires we focus on for our future.

Prayer:
Lord God, creator of all, Master of all plans, lover of my soul.  I rejoice in the salvation provided by the sacrifice of your Son.  I rejoice in the mercy you showed to us all at the cross.  I rejoice in the grace You pour out on each of us.  Without your perfect plan of salvation, I would fall short and never have the joy of sitting at Your feet for comfort, guidance, wisdom and protection.  I would not know the joy of such intimate fellowship with You.   Give me eyes today that are focused on Your will, Your plan and Your desires.  Give me a heart that desires nothing more than to submit for the glory of Your plan.  Protect my heart from fears, doubt and concerns of what the world may think.  I submit my all to You Lord.  For Your glory.  In the precious name of Your Son I humbly pray.  Amen. 

Who Is Your Elizabeth and Vice Versa

[This is the third in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE.Second post is found HERE]

Luke 1: 39-44

In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me?  For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

How perfect are God's plans.  This passage reminds me how intricately detailed God's plans for us are and how His plans for us are also His plans for His kingdom. 

Oh how I can get so absorbed by what I need God to do in my life and lose sight of the fact that I am called to seek God's will for my life as it was designed to fulfill His plans for me in His kingdom. 

Here we see Mary and Elizabeth meeting for the first time since both learning of their pregnancies.  Both are carrying children with a calling on their lives that will impact the world.  But I am also mindful that each of these women were created for with a calling for God's plan too.  Neither knew before hand of this calling, but it was God's plan all the same.  God did not ramdomly select 2 women at the moment he decided it was time to bring Christ to the world. God knew the moment of the day that this would occur and He planned the timing and lineage of Mary and Elizabeth for this very purpose. 

I have to personally pause here and just take in all that this means to me.  Every single person is created in exactly the same way.  We are each planned for, created in our mother's wombs at a specific time and place, with a specific lineage and a specific order of birth.  Our gifts, our experiences (good and bad), our circle of friends...all of these and more are not done by chance but by plan for God's calling to be played out in our lives. 

In today's scripture, I am struck by how all of this is demonstrated in the following way.

God needed John the Baptist to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. He also knew that Mary needed a companion for support on this journey He had called her into.  In His great wisdom and perfect planning,  He provided for Mary what she would need by fulfilling His plan for John through Mary's Aunt. 

God could have accomplished His need for John in any woman He chose.  It didn't have to be Elizabeth, but He knew it needed to be Elizabeth.  And not just because she was Mary's aunt with whom she was close, but also because of Elizabeth's age.  It was because of her age that Elizabeth could relate to the amazing circumstances of Mary's calling too.  And vice versa.  Mary had a companion she knew could relate to her miraculous calling in a way no other could. 

Mary has surrendered her life to a calling in which she will face issues like fear, ridicule, questioning from others and even internally as she faces each new day of not just the birth but as the mother of this Child of God.  God has made accomodations for this in advance, as part of His perfect plan.  Elizabeth is more than a person of comfort; her home is a place of refuge and protection for Mary. 

As you surrender your life to the calling of Christ do you have fears?  Are the choices you know you need to make to give complete surrender of your decisions and actions over to the glory of God put you in a position for ridicule by those around you?  Do you have questions? 

Who is your Elizabeth?  Don't you know that God has given each of us an Elizabeth in our lives that we can go to for comfort, compassion, wisdom and intercessory prayer because they have experienced things in their lives that give them the ability to relate to what you are going through and provide these things you need?

I confess that for too many years I let personal wounds and walls I had built for personal protection keep me from seeing and reaching out to the Elizabeths God was providing for me.  Maybe today's scripture is a good reminder for each of us to spend some time at the table with God and ask Him to show us who He has provided for us in our journey, just as He did for Mary and Elizabeth. 

And don't forget to ask the question in reverse.  Who's Elizabeth are you?  What experiences have you been through or are going through right now that give you insight that could provide wisdom, comfort or compassion to a person God has placed in your life?  Ask Him to reveal that person to you and be open to His response.  Sometimes it's not the person you are closest to, but one that is removed from you or a recent introduction.  Sometimes it requires us to step out of a comfort zone of a certain social circle. 

When we seek the answer to who our Elizabeth is and vice versa, we are blessed beyond measure. 

What a great lesson we can learn from Mary today!

 

Humble Submission

[This is the second in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. First post is found HERE]

Luke 1: 34-38~

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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[a] the Son of God. 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. For no word from God will ever fail.”

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

Here Mary has been told of God's plan and as any of us might do she questions the viability of the plan.

~How can this be...it doesn't make sense~

Such a familiar question, isn't it.  It is for me.  How many times have I been in the midst of making decisions that would please God but they just don't make sense to my worldly mind. 

The answer given to Mary's question is, 'nothing is impossible with God'. 

I wonder if Mary was familiar with this Proverb...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Mary's response to the answer she was given tells me she was not only acquainted with it, but had spent her life learning to live what it says. 

Instead of continuing with  more questions, doubting the practicality of this plan, she says:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
How many times does God present what appears to be an impossible solution to a problem in our lives, or reveal a life path that just doesn't line up with common sense plans we have made for ourselves?

As you think about that, also try to remember how often your immediate response (key word...immediate!) was "OK. I'm your servant.  Your' the Master.  I'm doin' it Your way even though I don't understand it."?


Mary teaches us so much in this simple response to this impossible plan.  It really boils down to her submissive acknowledgement that she is God's servant. 

In her time, Mary would be very familiar with the term 'servant'.  It was part of that culture to have servants in homes.  She knew the word servant meant:

• One who respects all of the wishes of her master
• Does the work requested of the master without question.
• Works in all things to please the master, not herself. 

Our society rebels against all that the word 'servant' stands for.  Because pride is such a strong part of our culture our response to the points above often look like this:

• One who respects all of the wishes of her master
• we are often more concerned about getting respect than giving it
• Does the work requested of the master without question.
• "no one tells me what to do with my life" / or we feel compelled to tell them how we think it can be done better.
• Works in all things to please the master, not herself.
• we are often driven to do what will make me liked by others, so if we are told to do something that might threaten our 'popularity' we are inclined to do what pleases our personal need  

I realize that we are not all as extreme in the pridefule examples above, but if we pause for a moment and honestly examine our past 'servant like' responses, we will probably find more resistance than submission.  And remember, Mary only asked one clarifying question and then immediately submitted her life, will and body to the plan of God. 

Mary's response is a perfect example of a servant recognizing her true Master. 

The world tells us to stand up and make a name for ourselves; take control of our life plans and do what it takes to make them happen.  

Mary's had plans marriage and normal family life.  She let go of those plans to be replaced with God's plan. 

The world's measuring stick for success is fortune and notoriety.  

Mary submitted to a plan that brought her shame as friends and family began to gossip about the circumstances of her pregnancy.  

Mary submitted to a plan that put her in a 'barn' giving birth in pauper like conditions.  

No fortune.  No notoriety.  

But her godly submission (not just doing what God says but doing it with the right attitude) resulted in a world changing event.  

Maybe God is not calling us to do something that will change the world, but it might be a plan that could change our life if we will just have the heart response of a servant to his master.  

And who are we to say if God's plan for us will have world changing results or not.  

God Bless and Keep You,

Highly Favored

[This is the first in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. To see the entire series, click HERE ]

Luke 1:28 ~ The angel went to her (Mary) and said

"Greetings to you who are highly favored.  The Lord is with you."

Have you ever wondered why God chose Mary to carry His son?

Was she walking in her faith perfectly, without any sin?  Was that it? 
~No, scripture tells us 'for all have sinned and fall short'. 

So did she pray more; do more 'good' things?
Why is it God favored Mary and how can we also be favored?

If we look a little deeper at the Greek word used here for 'favor' we discover it is the work 'charitoo' and means "filled with grace".  Further study reveals that this word is used only once more in the New Testament-
Ephesians 6:1 To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.  This tells us that believers in Christ are 'filled with grace'.  Not because we do good things, pray enough or walk a perfect walk.  We are 'filled with grace' by the blood of Christ.  God chose to favor us with the ultimate gift of life. 

So just like Mary, we (Christians) are highly favored.

And just like Mary, not only are we highly favored, the Lord is with us.

Matthew 1:23 ~ The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')

Mary was chosen to physically carry the son of God
to be born into the world

so we could have a way to salvation
and be highly favored / filled with grace.

~  ~  ~

We are chosen to carry the name of God
 into the world

so others can hear the way to salvation
 and be highly favored / filled with grace. 

Mary did what God called her to do.  The question we have to ask ourselves is are we doing what we have been called to do?  I love remembering the birth of Christ every December, but I love to remember the result of that birth more.  This is a wonderful time to reflect on how that result is being carried out in our lives. 

Prayer:
Thank you Lord that I am highly favored as a child of God.  I come before You during this season when thoughts are turned towards the birth of Your Son and ask that You make me mindful of more than the event, but of the result of that event.  Because You chose to send Your Son to earth in the form of a baby, I am able to live a life freed from sin.  I have done nothing to deserve this favor; I have not acted perfectly, prayed perfectly or even done good deeds to earn this favor.  I am filled with Your grace and You are with me because a child, Your only son, was born to live a life that would take Him to a cross where He would be the only perfect sacrifice that could bring me into fellowship with You.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Praise to God the Father.  I rejoice in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel ~ God with us! Amen and Amen!



[NEXT: Luke 1:34-38 ~ A Servant's Response: I Don't Understand How This Can Be, But May It Be As You Have Said]

 God Bless and Keep You,