DEC. 13th and 20th

Jeff LeBlanc taught the class for us as we were in NYC - took two grand daughters for their Graduation gift. Wonderful trip, great sights, good plays, and a joyous time of building memories with two lovely girls.

On the 20th: The lesson was based on the account of Christ's birth from Luke. Can you imagine? Despite what she lacked in the worl'd eyes, God sent His angel Gabriel to this poor, humble teenage girl. Gabriel saw her fear and assured her quickly. Mary may have seemed completely unfit and unusable for any task - have you ever felt that way? No one special, deficient in areas that the world deems essential...need more education, better clothes, a better resume, a better pedigree...

Apparently Mary's love for God qualified her to be used by Him. Apparently she possessed a faith that was pleasing in His sight, so she found favor for such a service. Her 1st response was to ask how this could be possible. The answer revealed...supernatural. This birth would be a miracle and that was all the explanation Mary received. She accepted the unacceptable. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord v. 28 Handmaid - femal salve whose will was not her own. It is clear that she had cultivated the heart of a handmaiden and a devoted attentiveness to her Lord. Her one purpose in life was to obey her Master's will...she accepted totally -ONLY as a humble young girl (could have been as young as 12). There was no diety involved before the happening or after!!! She was to be pregnant before she married...branded a fornicator. Everything would change in her life. God's choice would bring great sorrow as she followed her son on His path of pain to the foot of the cross. Mary KNEW her heavenly Father well enough to trust Him, to rest in His love and to ACCEPT what He ordained for her life. Remarkable!!

Is your attitude one of servanthood and acceptance. A season of May and December: Elizabeth, an old woman who became pregnant with John (the Baptist) - who offered loving guidance to Mary. A young woman whose love for God is growing. Do you have such relationships in your life? Both are filled with the Spirit of God "blessed is she who believed!" The souls of both are drawn upward in worship. Cousins in the flesh and sisters in the Lord. The Christian art of encouragement is both a command to be obeyed and a gift God graciously gives to His people. Are you one of those who strengthen and are strengthened by one another in the Lord?

Mary - response of worship. "My soul magnifies the Lord." Her song included 15 quotations from the O.T. A great demonstration that Mary knew God through the books of Moses, the Psalms and the writing of the prophets. Deep reverence...she was saturated with the Word (preparation for this most unusual plan.)

Mary was a pure virgin, an humble maiden, a devoted follower, a faithful Jew, - she had been well trained not only in household tasks, but also in the things of the Lord. She had hidden portions of God's Word in her heart. - result - servant heart and acceptance...WORSHIP!

Mary was chosen by God to bring Jesus into the world...This is what she encountered:
Her huysband wanted to put her away quietly (divorce), the Roman tax caused her to make a treacherous trip during her final weeks of pregnancy, she was far away from home, family and friends at delivery time, no room in the inn, but God transformed the circumstances: Joseph was obedient and he stayed by her side, the timing of the tax put them in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy, family was absent but God was sufficient, the LKord was her Refuge and He provided for her.

2:19 - Mary "treasured in her heart". In Mary we do not find anyone but a common woman...an ordinary person...not someone to be worshiped but someone that we might learn from. We see the kind of woman God delights in...a woman after His own heart, willing to do all His will. Our obedience and wholehearted commitment to walking in the ways of the Lord are essential. Are you one who loves God by walking in His ways? Do you love others? Gal. 5:14

Do you confess sin instantly, consistently, and sincerely. Fellowship with God is all the sweeter when we confess our sin immediately and then turn completely away from it. Are you faithfully training your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? God's primary command to parents is to teach and train our children in His truth and His ways. Spend time with the Lord now and affim your desire to be - like Mary a woman after God's own heart. God's privilege in Mary's life had a price. An infant sone to a cross! Joy mingled with much sorrow. How we rejoice at so magnificent a gift. A Gift which may seem free - but it was dearly paid for in full! Make it known! Don't miss any opportunity to share about the Gift and His marvelous Grace!!!