Advent day 19
If using an Advent Log – light candles 1-19.

Mary

Holy Family

By all accounts, a young girl, Mary was chosen to marry a man, named Joseph.

But even before her was Elizabeth and Zacharias.
They had been waiting for a child.
Zacharias received a very special message during his service to the Lord in Luke 1:5 and following. This child was going to announce the coming of the Messiah!

What did the Angel say?
Luke 1:28

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

• Thou that art highly favoured – favor and grace
• The Lord is with thee: – with – as in WITH? an unheard of position.
• blessed art thou among women. – above Rachel and Leah by whom Jews had been blessing their daughters for centuries!
• She is one that Loves her God!
• She’s told she will have a child…with no male intervention. This means that she will be seen as a harlot. This is punishable by death.

Maybe this is why it’s angel GABRIEL! that came to speak to her! But, her response is a beautiful statement of complete yeildedness to God’s plan, no matter what.

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The Angel sends her on her way to Elizabeth’s – the babe in Elizabeth’s womb jumps for joy, and Mary sings what has gone down in history as her Magnificat.

Luke 1:46-55

She raises the Son of God – her story continues to the day he dies. She was a person, just like me, that said yes to God.

The key to me in this is am I willing to be embarassed at least, persecuted to death at the most for something that God has told me I should do. Now, Mary did get some evidence pretty soon that she was going to have a baby – but she also knew that she hadn’t been with a man. I, on the other hand, just have the strange visions, notions, or thoughts that God might want me to do things…and I often beg out because I am embarrassed. Mary’s reputation was on the line, and it was even brought up to Jesus years later. And she said yes!

A Baby Changes Everything! Sung by Faith Hill

I have often thought about Mary, seeing as how my first name is Mary. yes, named after THE Mary, as well as a woman from the church in which I grew up.
Mary was devoted.
To God! As she understood him.
She was willing to put her life on the line for something so very strange, so unbelievable that her life was in jeopardy.
So often I get a leading…a simple leading like “take more medicine in case you are there longer” and I dont listen. Odd – in that case, I ended up there an extra day, no medicine, and I paid with several says of fibro flare.
This did not put me in the position to be stoned! not even imprisoned! or whipped! And, it was a situation that I could have changed.
Mary – she just said YES – even though she did ask HOW – but she didn’t say NO…

I was raised Episcopalian, so there is a strange relationship between me and the Prostestant and Catholic views of Mary.
On Faith has a wonderful essay on the 10 Things Christians should know about Mary.

I love this song, I’ve never heard it before. Be Born in Me sung by Francesca Battistelli

Breath of Heaven(Mary’s Song) sung by Amy Grant. This is an insight into what may have gone through Mary’s mind!

While I desire to be like Jesus – He is PERFECT – because he is God/man.
Looking at what we know about Mary – I want to be like my namesake! How about you?

Mary did you know Lyrics

More Advent Devotions

Advent Day 20 – Joseph

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

• Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
• Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.