25 Days with Mary, Day 22

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Angels

Angels ~Angels~ Angels

You’re familiar with this one:

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark. Herald!

LISTEN! The herald angels, they go before sharing God’s news, have an announcement.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luke 2:8-14

Can you think about this delivery of news? Aren’t every one of us waiting to hear some good news today, especially regarding this virus that has caused chaos and confusion in our country, our world?

Abiding

These guys were doing their job, abiding in their fields. Abiding. Surrounded by all that was ordinary to them and given to them to attend. They had to be attentive in their abiding, right? But the angel’s interruption to their night, though it scared them nearly to death, caught their attention. Of course it did, yet, in my own concentration of ordinary, I’m afraid it’s all too easy for me to miss something even when that something is from the Lord. Doing their work at hand and leaving space to hear from God. I can learn from them.

The Good News

Oh, sweet angels, tell of the good news! Unlike too many popular praise & worship songs, this Christmas Carol is chockfull of biblical truths.

Amen & Amen!

And Amen! The truth of God’s Word never gets old, does it? Mary has birthed her firstborn son and the angels got to make this most beautiful birth announcement of all time.

Jesus is born-He IS alive! Rejoice, friends!

25 Days with Mary, Day 21

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Mother Mary

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6-7

The months had gone by, some fleeting and others dragging, I can imagine, and now the day has come, of all the duties she’d be given so far, today she was Mother Mary. I feel as if I could just stop right here with this thought: That moment she held her baby for the first time.

Mary was still a virgin. The awe that strikes me when a tiny human is born of any woman strikes me every single time, but for Mary it had to be so much more. She held the Son of God in her arms the very second she held her firstborn baby. How did this mix of deity and flesh meet her heart? How, I wonder, did this young, new mother contain all these things in her heart? So much wonderment with this verse.

Dr. Luke

By the Holy Spirit’s words, Dr. Luke pens Mary’s birth experience:

And she brought forth her firstborn son.

Luke 2:7

All the fascinating details we’ve read about leading up to this climatic event, and we get these eight words spoken as a true doctor. The baby is here; all’s well.

Mothering; it’s what moms do

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

Luke 2:7

When my firstborn son was being born, I’d been in labor for quite some time. My mom lived a couple hours away and we’d called her but told her to wait until the baby was here to come. I don’t know why, but I thought I was stronger without her there to support me-and that is a compliment to who she was. Her strength filled the gaps of my weakness and even made it easier to be weak because I knew she’d make it all ok. So, strange as it may sound, I feared this was not the time for me to transfer my strength to her and become weaker. You can imagine my surprise (though I shouldn’t have been) when my husband looked out our big hospital window and said, “Honey, I don’t know how to tell you this, but your mom is walking across the parking lot and there’s no stopping her now.”

Mom was there doing what Moms do, taking care of her baby.

Mary was alone, her family left behind in Nazareth, and just she and Joseph in this cave having a baby. Brand new, slippery, squishy, and tender, Mary began doing what moms do and was taking care of her baby. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth wrapped around the baby. In the past decade or two especially, the perks of swaddling have been gladly revisited; we even have special swaddling blankets for doing so. But Mary alone ripped cloth and swaddled her baby.

No Room

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

Away in a manger, no room for a crib, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. There they were, in a cave, on the ground, given no place otherwise to bring this baby, the King of Kings, into the world. What we’ve learned of Mary, would we rightfully come to the conclusion she’d look for or expect any sort of pomp and circumstance or glitz and glamour? Not saying the inns were that, but compared to a place where the animals ate, slept and went potty…you know? Mary lay her newborn baby in an animal’s feeding trough. Yet, I think this humble virgin wasn’t complaining about her circumstances. And, it was a picture of what would be Jesus’ life…and death.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Luke 9:58

Silent Night

One year while teaching VBS the sweet face of a five year old boy looked up at me and asked, “How could a baby be a king?”

Jesus in the flesh, born of a virgin, King at His birth. We sing this at Christmas time, but I love to sing it year round, because it’s worth hearing every day.

Christ the Savior is born!Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

Silent Night

Room at the Cross

At His birth, no room. In His life, no room. At His death… room at the cross.

“That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place where there was room for him was on a cross.” (Barclay)

Barclay

There is still room at the cross for you. And me. Come to the cross for redemption of sin. Come to the cross for grace and forgiveness. Come to the cross, there’s still room.

There’s Room At the Cross for You

The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there’s still room for one
Yes there’s room at the cross for you.Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it’s too late.The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

Video by Gaithers

25 Days with Mary, Day 20

Mr. & Mrs.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

Luke 2:4-5

We’ve been talking about this since the beginning of these 25 Days with Mary, but at the risk of being redundant, this engagement-betrothal-was as legally binding then as marriage is today. They two, Joseph and Mary, were Mr. and Mrs. now on their way to Bethlehem, the little city of David’s birth, to be counted in the census.

Through the years many have tried to discredit any and every point of Mary’s virgin birth, but God, His Word is truth; His plan stood then and stands now.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

Little Things in Life

Joseph was heading to Bethlehem and Mary was going with him. We don’t know if she had to out of legal obligation (if so, it would show the two them were indeed one family, but many bible and history scholars say she didn’t have to be there), or she decided to willingly for any number of reasons. I read one commentary suggesting Joseph may have used this opportunity to remove Mary from her normal surroundings in an otherwise-seemingly- scandalous pregnancy. Either way, they both made the trip together.

We lived in north Florida in the beginning of our marriage way back in the late 80’s to mid 90’s. It was the little things in life that got us there, and consequently, now that I think about it, back to Virginia. In the past 8 years we visited and talked about, dreamt about, moving far south and near the ocean: 1000 miles from where home had been most of our lives together. *Our* plan was a 15 year plan. God’s plan was different.

Friends, it was the little things in life that God used to do very big things. I won’t tell the whole story now, but the nutshell version starts with a plea from my Dad to help him as he was getting older and needed us. Since 160 plus miles separated us, we knew this would require a more urgent move than we were prepared for -in, any, way. But we prayed. After nearly 16 years, two babies, our two Mom’s lives and passings, and a whole lot of life in those years in our beautiful home, we made the decision to get things ready to sell and move. That was the middle of April 2018, and we pulled out of our Virginia driveway for the last time on July 23, 2018 head for as far south we could go without hitting the sea. We were here to take care of my dad, and that is exactly what the Lord wanted us to do, and He did it in a way we’d never recognize or design in and of ourselves. My husband is amazing in so many ways-oh, the details here stir my heart and mind in a Dorthy and Toto way. Keeping it short, we love this place and are thankful every day for the blessing of living in the sunshine by the ocean. Not only did we not have to leave our oldest as he decided to move with us last minute (I mean, everything about this move was last minute to us), we gained a daughter in law here, too! All the little things were working for our good and for very big things in our lives we couldn’t see, yet. And you know what? My dad got married and moved away about 3 weeks ago.

He who began a good work

A census that put marching orders to all of Palestine? Go and be counted. And they all did. It didn’t cause chaos or upheaval in the land, and thought it was costly in time and money, in so many ways it was just part of life-a little thing. That little thing was a move toward very big things. And, it was God’s sovereignty in the young couple’s lives. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem because that was God’s plan for them. We came here to take care of Dad, because that was God’s plan for us, and what a blessing it has been in ways I could go on and on with here.

Of course, we recognize the big stuff in our lives, the mountain tops and trenches-every big circumstance high and low, but ordinarily days are in the orchestration of God’s complete, divine, sovereign plans, too.

This has been a year like no other, to understate things. But remember, whatever seems like any other ordinary little thing to your life right now, really is another part of God’s plan for you.

25 Days with Mary, Day 19

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Untimely Circumstances

25 Days with Mary, Day 19

After Mary’s departure from Elizabeth’s house, she returned home. Baby John, John the Baptist, was born, named, recognized, and praised just as Zachariah had been told by Gabriel. Now, Mary and Joseph’s story continues unfolding. Luke chapter two.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.a 2This was the first census to take place whileb Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

Some things to take note of here as we begin this journey with the young couple:

When Mary went to Elizabeth’s, as soon as Gabriel left her, Elizabeth was then six months pregnant. After staying with her for three months, her cousin was ready to have her baby and Mary went back home. Unless the Lord advanced her pregnancy in a way we are not privy to, Mary would have been in her third month of pregnancy as she returned back to her home in Galilee. Therefore, when the story picks up here in Luke two when Mary is close to delivering her own baby, another six months have passed.

Life Preparations

I wonder how young Jewish brides prepared for their espoused husbands to arrive back to them, and for their final marriage ceremony. Whatever it was, it wasn’t usually done with a growing baby inside their womb. What happened in the void of time in these scriptural accounts while Elizabeth spent days and nights nursing a newborn and Mary contemplated her delivery? Whatever the details, Mary and Joseph must have been making life preparations as the Roman emperor announced his own plans.

A New Journey

Off to Bethlehem.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.a 2This was the first census to take place whileb Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

Luke 2:1-3

Last Trimester

When I was expecting our firstborn, I was regularly asked, including by the L&D nurses as I waddled through their open door, if I was expecting twins. I can’t blame anyone who questioned my 5′ frame carrying my large baby and too much fluid, but I can assure you I was ready to have my baby long before my body’s go switch got flipped.

Do you recall your last month of your pregnancy/ies? I truly don’t believe I’ve ever met a woman in her late third trimester who didn’t say something like, “I’m so ready!” Mary probably was fain to give birth, and likely, just like the rest of us, the sooner the better.

Yet, in very untimely circumstances, the entire Roman world was purported to show up and be counted. Another trip was at hand. This time with her husband and her very pregnant self.

Not a great a time for a trip, wouldn’t you agree?

What probably was seen as an inopportune time for her-them-was 100 percent God’s plan coming to pass exactly as He appointed it to be.

Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; he has laid siege against us; they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, (ef-rah’-thu) though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Micha 5:1-2

Bethlehem

O Little town of Bethlehem. Hold that thought. Bethlehem was indeed a little, humble, otherwise un-important little town: a little town among thousands. Its name means: house of bread. Ephrathah (ef-rah’-thu): fertile. Oh little town of Bethlehem was pinned on the map long before Mary was born to be the birthplace not only of King David, but also of Jesus Christ, Ruler of Israel, Bread of Life.

Friends, the earth is still in place as it was from creation. From old. From everlasting. God is still doing His work. When our work is done here in this life, He will take us to be with Him and His Son Jesus in glory, should His return tarry. Therefore, as we walk with our Lord as Mary and Joseph did, until that day, our circumstances aren’t haphazardly falling into our lap. No matter how untimely something feels to you or me, when we are walking with the Lord it is Our God, from old, Our God, from everlasting, who is setting our path before us.

Don’t be afraid. Go with confidence with Him knowing He’s there with you every step and that will never change. Mary’s road looked frightful, unwelcome and mistimed from the first appearance of Gabriel, didn’t it? We are blessed to know the rest of the story here, but she was IN the moment putting one foot in front of the other each unkown step of the way, and she kept trusting, following and praising God. Remember we are also chosen and favored by God. We are now walking in our lives the same way she did, unknown path one step at a time. We don’t know the rest of our life’s story, but we do know the end of the story.

Fairytales

Fairytales would succinctly say: and they lived happily ever after. God says:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Psalm 37:23

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:47

25 Days with Mary, Day 18

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When Mary Left

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Luke 1:56

When Gabriel was first speaking to Mary, he told her her cousin Elizabeth was in her six month of pregnancy. Shortly after, in a rush, Mary made her way to Elizabeth’s home. She stayed three months and then left. All the mothers out there are doing the math right now, right? Six months plus 3 months means it’s about time for the baby to be born.

All the things these cousins shared over the past 120 days and nights, all the wonderment surrounding their upcoming babies’ births, was about to become past conversation, for the Lord’s plan had them parting ways at what may have seemed an odd or ill-timed in their own minds. I can’t imagine being with one of my closest friends or family and choosing to leave right as the baby was about to be born. Yet, this we know, God’s ways are not like ours neither are His thoughts.

And so, Elizabeth’s and Zachariah’s lives unfolded just as the prophets, the angel, and the Lord told it would happen.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:55-66

As God Said it Would Be

Every detail here, through the end of Luke one, actually, tells us John the Baptist’s birth happened just as God said it would be. If we had time, I’d go verse by verse, so I encourage you to go read the rest of the chapter for yourself. God’s Word is so full of richness we can’t afford to skip over.

Mary Left

But it’s the verse that begins the rest of Elizabeth’s birth story I want to pause at today.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Luke 1:56

Mary Left. Following with her obedience and response to all the Lord had given her to this point, we should think she did the same thing here. Obeyed the Lord’s direction.

As women, we can’t make sense of why Mary would desire to leave and miss this miraculous baby’s birth. So, except for the Lord’s prompting, I come up at a loss and with no other logical reason.

When God Moves

This is the big day for my husband and I, the day he ascribes to as even more special over the years than our wedding day. This day, 1987, a few weeks after meeting one another and a few more before saying I Do, we were engaged to be married. In these 33 years, there have been many of our own, when God moves, times. It has been God’s hand leading us toward His will in our lives when it hasn’t made any logical sense otherwise. We have to be careful not to be foolish and to seek God in prayer and other’s for godly wisdom when much is at stake, but like Mary did leaving Elizabeth’s, following God no matter anything else IS what matters.

All things Considered

Considering her own role in all of this, carrying her son Jesus, God’s Son, Jesus, it would make sense that she be present at such a time as this. SO much of God’s plan was about to be put out in public for all to witness, why wouldn’t she be there, too? All things considered, it made no sense to leave except that God must have told her to.

When I met my husband, all things considered, nothing about me being there-and leaving where I was or my life as it was going to that point-made sense. Yet, how I wish I could share so much more; maybe that would be a fun theme for blogging, more of my story-anyway, but suffice to say, God. All God.

All God

I promise you, it was ALL God. I knew it then, I’ve known it all along the way through the hills and valleys in these three plus decades (are there more drastic words for hills and valleys? Use those here, instead.). And, why does It matter anyway? It matters because of all the things, all the stuff that happens in life. It matters because when we follow God, even when His timing, His assignment, His way makes no sense to us, we have the assurance that it is all about Him, and not about ourselves.

Guess what has kept my marriage together over the years? Yep, I know there was no mistaking when I said yes on December 18th, 1987. I know there was no error of God’s will in our lives when we said I Do the following June, 18th. All God.

When God doesn’t Make Sense

It’s a given. God won’t make sense in our lives all the time.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

And yet we know it’s right and He is good. Whatever He is doing in your life, when it makes no sense, when it’s not what you want-or when you want it, know He is working out HIS good in your life. Even through the pain.

The LORD will fulfill His purpose in me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever–do not abandon the works of Your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Mary left because that was God’s plan for her. Whatever His plan for you, whatever you’re going through right now is part of it. Go to Him. Love Him. Whatever He is taking you through.

Trust the Lord right now.

For women at home

MASTER OF THE SEAPEACEHe still calms storms

He calmed the storm to a

whisper, and the waves of the

sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29

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