Select Page

He knew

I have been thinking about the Christmas story. One thing that has come to my mind is the parallel between the story and Psalm 139. Psalm 139: 13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. God knew God spoke life God said to the Angel… go tell Mary “I have chosen her.” Just as he had chosen Elizabeth Mary’s cousin. Luke 1:13-15 the angel talking to Zechariah; “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. The way was being prepared. With Elizabeth first then with Mary. Luke 1:26-32 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent an angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” vs 32b vs 34. “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 the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called 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.” Mary’s response: I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (I wonder what her thoughts were after the angel left remember she was young and this would be very life changing for her) Reading further… vs 39. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. (I wonder what the greeting was ~we aren’t really told) vs 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Isn’t it awesome that God knew us… just as He knew them before we were born. Elizabeth was honoring Mary her relative and the baby heard the baby reacted Life in the womb is often a mystery but it is life and it is real and babies can listen. God knew they would be boys God knew their names God knew the call on their lives before they were born. Before they experienced a breath He knew their name and who they would be forever in history. Before they breathed a breath of life God knew them. Do you believe that God knew you too?

Guest post

I was honored to be a guest writer on Mary Demuth’s thin place side.
She featured my story about Mary my sister
there is so much more that could be written about her and her story
this is just a beginning of the journey from death to life.

She is a walking miracle and my sister.

click here to read the post:
http://www.marydemuth.com/?p=7482

I wonder more

The other thing I wonder about sometimes
in the Christmas story.
Mary was so young and Joseph too
did they worry about what it would mean for them
to have a special child?
This was a child who was given to them
by divine appointment
by an angel announcing it.
She didn’t read the news on a stick with a plus or minus
like someone would find out now.
She was told… don’t be afraid
you are with Child.
Did she have morning sickness and fatigue
just like other new mom’s?
What was it like to feel the movement of the
‘Holy Child’ within her?
What was she thinking
as she watched her roundness grow
did Joseph get excited or was he worried?
So much to think about
the Bible said ‘she kept it all near her heart’.
Wouldn’t we all?
So much to deal with
so much to handle
physically
and emotionally.

Mary was just like other new moms who are expecting
only her child was to be different.
Divine appointment
Divine assignment.
Can you even imagine?
One week you are just a ‘young person’
the next week you are met with an angel
telling you
about a life changing moment.
Your life changing moment forever.
That you are to be the mother of the Holy Saviour
who would save not only the world
but yourself too.
I wonder…so much…
can you wonder with me?

I often wonder

I often wonder
did Mary and Joseph talk about the angels who told them
about the baby arriving?
Wouldn’t that be something special to share with each other?
How did it appear to you Joseph
and how did it appear to you Mary?
What did you feel or think?
Were you scared?
After all she was very young in her teens and he was just as unprepared.
Also I wonder did they know each other and were they friends before or
were they given the heavenly order
to become married then to get to know each other.
The other thing I wonder about
is if they ever talked about how Joseph saved her life.
For to be with child and unmarried Mary could have been stoned.
She knew the consequences and yet she said ‘I choose’.
I accept.
I will be obedient.
Joseph also knew that as he took her for his wife he was not only being obedient when he didn’t fully understand it all. He knew he had to do follow through for the angel told him to do it.
There was no discussion.
The angel said:
Joseph… take Mary to be your wife.
There were so many questions that could have come between the two of them.
So many worries and fears.
I often wonder
what they were thinking in the quiet of the night.

Do you often wonder?