Birth announcements are exciting! We had the privilege of knowing the name of our granddaughter, Naomi Grace, months prior to her birth. I whispered that precious name many times in prayer before she ever saw the light of day. Titus Alexander, our grandson’s name, was not learned until the day we laid our eyes on his handsome newborn face in the delivery room. And then tears came with the announcement of Noelle Gail who shares my middle name!
Have you ever questioned what to do?
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months then she returned home. I know God’s word is complete, forgive me for saying this, but I want more details! What happened upon her return? Did Joseph get a glimpse of her baby bump? Did she tell Joseph all that had happened? “You’re not going to believe this!”
Joseph’s world was turned upside down. Mary his betrothed was pregnant! Jewish Betrothal was more like modern day marriage. The relationship was legally binding but no marriage ceremony or physical intimacy had yet taken place. Divorce would be necessary to break the covenant and stoning was the punishment for what appeared to Joseph as adultery. What would Joseph do?
Have you ever felt like leaping for joy?
When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s she had no physical evidence to bring her faith to sight, but God used Elizabeth’s words to confirm what He had already spoken to Mary through the angel. We get a beautiful glimpse of Mary’s heart when she appropriately breaks out in song where her words reflect 12 different Old Testament passages!
Do you ever feel all alone?
Though the angel brought good news of the Savior, the news was life changing for Mary.
I love how God provided Mary with someone to encourage her. Immediately following the angel’s announcement of the virgin birth he then announced another bit of news. “And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:36 – 37
Mary’s faith is proven remarkable by the words she spoke after the angel announced she would give virgin birth to Christ. “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Matthew Henry’s Commentary considers she was not questioning CAN it happen but she was questioning how it WOULD happen.
Do you have a desire of your heart? I have prayed for many years concerning a specific desire of my heart. Since I am yet to receive a “No.” from God, I continue in prayer and act in faith. Should the day come that God says “no.” I will then shift my prayers in requesting a heart to accept His answer. We can approach the throne of God, not only to ask Him to fulfill our needs, but we can also ask His will concerning the desires of our heart.
Luke gives us quite the introduction to Zechariah and Elizabeth!
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Luke 1: 6-7 (NIV)
We had a visitor who expressed his opinions over world events and his emotional state concerned us. As he continued to pour out his heart, I prayed, “Lord, give us wisdom. Help us with the proper response.” I realized he did not need nor was he interested in our response. He just needed someone to listen. We heard great fear in his words. The fear we see in the world today is not so far from the fear experienced at the time of the first Christmas!
Billy and Ruth Graham wrote the following about fear at the time of Christ’s birth, “The Romans feared rebellion and their subjects feared Rome’s power. The Sadducees feared the Pharisees, and they both were suspect of the publicans. The hearts of people everywhere were filled with suspicion, fear, and distrust.”₁
Our bellies were full from our Thanksgiving feast and before the dishes were cleared we jumped right into the discussions and planning of Christmas. Every year I’m tempted to allow the busyness of the season to distract me from fully celebrating the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of Christ.
A slight struggle broke out in the middle of the store between me and the 20-lb. frozen turkey I was trying to place into my grocery cart. It made me laugh out loud then I couldn’t wipe the ear to ear smile off my face. The thought of the aroma of that turkey, and the laughter of family soon to fill my home, made me feel incredibly happy. Me and that turkey had a moment right there in the store. Every person passing by smiled at me as if my smile had become as contagious as a yawn. Thanksgiving was coming and so was my family – so I thought.