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About My Husband
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Joseph, Joesph
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1:18-25
Mary, Mary
How long have you been married? At the end of this week only 33 years ago, just about 3 months after meeting, my perfect boyfriend with a proposal of marriage put a ring on my finger. So much to say, so little time…another day. I do remember it as if it were yesterday. This young(er) me was full of every eagerness to please my soon to be husband. I would have done most anything if I knew it would put a smile on his face and in his heart. On the contrary, I didn’t want to do or say anything that would hurt him.
Can you imagine Mary’s position here? What do you think *you* would have done? Mary? In absolute, Mary left this hard message trusted to the Lord’s doing.
Two shall become One
I haven’t done any studying about this, I probably should have before going on here-maybe some of you will and then share with me-but in Genesis God tells us about marriage and also repeats Himself in the New Testament.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:31
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Mary and Joseph were betrothed, and it would take a decree of divorce to put her away. Therefore, I would have to think they were one in Him as declared regarding marriage.
Moving forward in this thought, then.
I’d say Joseph submitting to God’s message through His angel is a picture worthy of framing in our own marriage, wouldn’t you? He loved God so much-don’t miss that, he loved GOD so much- that he first wanted to protect Mary and quietly put her away, but then-when he heard from God-he desired and decided to submit to Him. With blind faith, as is our faith, Joseph’s obedience to God’s Word was absolutely for the very good of His bride, and his own. And not just those two, but for each of our own good, too.
A Lesson in Obedience
Our obedience to God affects those around us, every time. And, our disobedience does, too.
God Can
I just told you it’s been 33 years since my husband and I were engaged, and we followed soon after in marriage. I did not realize this wisdom for a long time; God can take care of my husband. He doesn’t ever tell me through His Word that I should be His Gabriel to my husband’s ears or heart. Oh, I read a lot about who I should be in my marriage, in my life as a child of God, but that one isn’t there for me to gather under my repertoire of duties. Friends, God can, still. Whatever your marriage needs, God can. If I could wrap up a year’s worth of my blogging/podcasting for Christian women’s marriages, it would be this: God, change me. Of all the things I’ve talked about, and we’ve tackled so heavy hurts (go back and read/listen to past episodes of Marriage Mondays and Word Wednesdays), the end resolve has to be just that. Since I can’t change what isn’t my responsibility to change, and since my desire is to submit to the Lord, my resolve (and God’s gracious answer) is the hardest simple to learn: God change my heart.
Change My Heart Oh God
Change My Heart Oh God
Make It Ever True
Change My Heart Oh God
May I Be Like YouYou Are The Potter
LYRICS
I Am The Clay
Mold Me And Make Me
This Is What I Pray
Mary’s First Journey: When Women Talk
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In Haste
This word, haste, probably conjures a negative connotation in your mind because we tend to use it as a bad thing, who hasn’t heard their grandmother (or repeated her words): haste makes waste. In scripture the word haste typically refers to something done with urgency of time. Mary went to see Elizabeth with haste-in a hurry. She needed to get there with urgency. BUT, that was easier said than done.
Mary’s first journey
Mary’s first journey as the mother of Jesus was put into fast motion. And as soon as the Gabriel departed, Mary was ready to leave, too. As we consider what it meant for her to get from Nazareth to Elizabeth’s home in Judah, it’s easy to realize this trip was nothing like any of our own.
Mary came from Nazareth, a Galilean city west of the Sea of Galilee (see Luke 1:26). Her journey from Nazareth to the hill country of Judah covered between 80 and 100 miles. Luke does not mention whether Mary made any preparations for the trip or how she traveled; she may have gone on foot or as part of a caravan. In Mary’s day, a person traveling by foot could cover about 20 miles per day. If Mary walked to Elizabeth’s home, it would have taken her four to five days. If she accompanied a caravan, she would have arrived in about three days.
logos
None of the facts dissuaded her. Mary had a mission and it would start with a visit to Elizabeth.
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, 40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39-40
Life Changing News
Life changing news, have you received your own? I wonder what popped into your mind first.
- A pregnancy?
- An accident?
- A diagnosis?
- A debilitation?
- Learning of a loved ones critical illness, cancer, or death?
- A generosity that traded your debt for financial freedom?
- A lost job?
- A new job?
- A big move?
- A burning down house?
- A new building up home?
- An engagement & marriage?
- Another new baby?
Where did your mind go with news of a big change? So often it goes to the negative, doesn’t it? Is it reasonable to say it’s there, in the trials and hardships, where the biggest change in our own lives take place?
Mary’s Big Change
Do you think Mary’s surrender to the Lord and her acknowledgement of her very name being blessed for generations to come, made her big news less hard for her? There’s a lot to be said about the state of our mind in hard times.
Mary’s big change was just as big of a hardship in her life as are ours in our own today. She was indeed blessed, and favored, but she was no less flesh and blood than are we. An unwed pregnancy carried a death sentence, and furthermore, it’s not just that she would give birth to Jesus, remember. No, she would give Him life and watch Him be rejected, unrighteously accused, forsaken, and murdered. Friends, that’s heavy news for any mother, isn’t it?
We, I, forsake to recognize God’s grace in ways like this. Out of His love, He didn’t have Gabriel tell Mary all of the sufferings that were to come, but she knew the coming Messiah, to be born of a virgin, was coming to die for His people. Details spared, Mary knew the news shared by God’s angel was life changing in a very big way!
Sharing her news
It makes sense, in my mind at least, that upon finding out she was pregnant with the Lord Jesus she would seek out to talk to Joseph right away. My poor husband, though I’ve really grown in this area by God’s grace, would hear the very thought being formed come out of my mouth with any (potentially) big circumstance in my life. But Mary didn’t even think to talk with Joseph, at least we don’t have any scripture saying she did…she headed for the hills-figuratively and literally.
Girl Talk
Tomorrow we will look further into their visit, but I want to settle here today. With her big news, Mary made haste into the hill country to see Elizabeth. Is there a significance here? Of course, because it’s here to learn about.
What do we know about Elizabeth? We know she was close to Mary whether a cousin or some other relative or close friend. We know she loved and obeyed the Lord faithfully. We know she was a descendant from Moses. We know she was married to Zechariah. We know she was quite old and certainly past the age of having children. And we know she was infertile in her child-bearing years and therefore, childless.
…whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
Luke 1:5-7
The Rest of Her Story
And, we know the rest of her story:
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him , and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him .
Luke 1:8-17
Where She was Going
Mary made hast to where she was going. Two women who loved and followed the Lord without abandoned in very different seasons of life, suddenly with more in common than not.
Gabriel announced both of these miracles of birth: one to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, and the other to Jesus’ mother, Mary. And while he was at it, talking to Mary, he told him of her cousin’s pregnancy, too. God did that and He had a great plan in it. He gave Mary a safe place to run to. He gave her a friend who was wise, godly and willing. After 5 months of keeping herself hidden, Elizabeth opened her home and her heart to her cousin, at just this time.
Mary was running to her friend’s house. Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall? Too often, too many Christian women are more accustomed to running to the group of women to share news and gossip, but right away we can wipe gossip off the possible avenues of conversation, simply because we know what character these women had, and being busy bodies was not part of them. Their meeting together was another divine appointment. Here, two women find themselves inside of Elizabeth’s house, and inside God’s amazing story together. Oh how sweet the fellowship must have been. I can imagine their blossoming relationship including worship of their Father, and the Lord Jesus, and the overflowing excitement as they chattered hours a day about pregnancies, babies, marriage, miracles, and God.
Grace Filled Encouragement
Mary made haste, and she did it to meet the very encouragement God had already made ready for her in just the time she needed it.
He’s faithful, still the same God to you and to me this very day we are alive and breathing. Some of you, barely breathing and holding on to your own life in a lot of ways. May you be encouraged. The God who made Elizabeth’s impossible pregnancy happen did so in the exact time Mary would need her-pregnant her- in her life for consoling, counseling, courage and comfort.
Comforter
Right here in the beginning of Jesus’ birth story we see the Holy Spirit with Mary and with Elizabeth. At the end of Jesus’ life story, we see His Holy Spirit again. This time, He will be here to stay. The gift of comfort for those who know this very Jesus, born King of Kings.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:7
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
John 16:33
I’m praying for your heavy hearts, and I’m praising God for His comfort.
Listen HERE
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Mary’s sweet surrender.
I’ve read and read through Luke one more in the past few weeks than ever in my life, and it hasn’t gotten overdone in my heart. Here Mary speaks for the second time since Gabriel’s appearance. The heavens had been silent for some 400 years, according to biblical timelines and scholars, and we are privy to the first conversation from God’s to His faithful servant, Mary.
After inquiring to learn more about how this could happen, how this would happen, Mary responds. But, we should be certain of something extraordinarily important, first. Before Mary opens her mouth with her response for Gabriel to hear -and for Dr. Luke to pen, she has resolved full obedience to the Lord in her heart. Her declaration forthcoming would be null and void without a heart’s commitment preceding. Oh, what a blessing to her, to us! Mary’s sweet surrender. Mary’s surrender was complete, and it was sweet.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38
In this verse, the term handmaid is sited, according to strong’s entry, Strong’s G1399 – doulē (doo’ lay). It looks and sounds much like our current word for doula, doesn’t it? Here, it’s defined:
Luke 1:38, one who worships God and submits to Him (the Lord)
Blueletterbible.com
Pecking Order
In the pecking order of life, and life style, Mary was lowly. She wasn’t royalty nor was she in the mix thereof. She didn’t come from money. She had no riches to lavish on herself or her home. Her days were not filled with exceptional activities and outings, but rather ones ordinary and mundane. In all of these ways, when it came to how people lived, Mary was at the lower part of the pecking order.
Forever Blessed
However, she wasn’t just like every other woman. Mary was very special in God’s eyes. She was favored. She was blessed. She was obedient. And she was chosen by God to become the Mother of Jesus. Mary knew she would continue to be called blessed for all of life to come; forever blessed.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Like 1:38
Simple Surrender
Not only is Mary’s resolve sweet and complete, it’s simple. Mary knows both who she is and who God is. I like how the Contemporary English Version of the Bible states this verse.
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Luke 1:38 CEV
She resolved in her heart to fully trust God’s plan. And, here’s the thing we too often don’t think about, Mary chose-still chose- obedience when she had everything to lose. Her surrender was a simple surrender, too…”I am the LORD’S bondservant,” & “Let it happen as God has said.”
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18–21
Everything to Lose
Before Joseph’s dream but after learning of her pregnancy, Joseph was in a quandary. He was a man faithful the law and faithful to His God. He had made a decision to honor both:
Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
Matthew 1:19 NLT
Why was Joseph going to “put her away secretly?” Because that’s who he was. He knew the law stated that Mary would be killed if she was accused of adultery, and being pregnant-knowing he wasn’t the father-would put her in the situation to be accused of and suffer the consequences thereof . But God.
Not only did God choose Mary divinely, He chose Joseph, too. Not just any man would have a heart tender to God’s voice, willing to hear and obey even the most impossible instructions.
Everything To Lose
So when we consider Mary’s her response to the Lord of complete surrender, and so willingly so, don’t think it was an easy way to go. Mary had everything to lose and indeed her very life.
Today my heart is completely overwhelmed for another friend. Recently I told you of a friend who became a widow as her husband, a transplant patient with a long history of struggling with physical needs – always able overcome them somehow, met Jesus. Today, another friend walks in her shoes. Her year has been one that Job could have related to. When I try to put myself in her shoes, as I tend to do when others are hurting or going through things I can NOT understand, I break. I know God is able, and we were praying God WOULD answer prayers as OUR hearts desired, yet when everything you have is in the balance of suffering and obedience, it’s not an easy sacrifice. Somehow, Mary shows us even with everything at stake to lose, it’s still good and it’s still ok to surrender to God’s will.
Very Hard
I bet most of you know very hard things in your own lives, too. Mary’s surrender wasn’t because God had something easy to take her through, it was because God is faithful and worthy of our obedience from love.
Friends, may you grow closer to the Lord and learn to love Him more and more. When hard times come, may you ,and I, be willing and desire to surrender completely to Him. Oh, it will look like it’s impossible, and we may think we could even die in the process, but God. That’s all I can muster to say in this hard day, But God.
For women at home
He calmed the storm to a
whisper, and the waves of the
sea were hushed.
Psalm 107:29
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