Another look at the Preparation for Jesus' coming

Luke 1:26-46


One month after Elizabeth‘s retreat ended, she had a surprise visit from her young prima Mary. Folks around the neighborhood had visited with plates of cookies so they could see if this old woman Elizabeth was really pregnant as had been rumored since Zech had been doing the women’s work of drawing water from the well. He had avoided busy times of drawing water but still, how could you overlook a man going to the village well every day for months on end?

The sentinel of God, Gabriel, had another message that was a whopper…..another one of a kind birth but even more unusual than an old woman conceiving. His mission which he gladly accepted was to head to the tiny village of Nazareth and tell a virgin that she would bring forth a baby son who would be called holy, Son of the Most High and whose kingdom would never end. After he answered Mary’s, “What you say?” and Mary gave him a high five of agreement, Gabriel returned home and Mary hightailed it down to Elizabeth’s casa.

After Elizabeth was greeted by Mary the Holy Spirit spilled over from the baby she was carrying and filled Elizabeth with the Holy spirit, causing the voice of this old pregnant woman to sing exuberantly. Wow! This experience would come in handy as she would have a child in this Holy Spirit-filled condition starting at day one of his life.

The beautiful praise that Elizabeth was honored to sing out was a gift to:

Mary: “someone understands me”

John: (years later) oh, yes! You are the Son of God! I’ve been doing the prep work for these stubborn people and now they are ALL yours!

Elizabeth: We are blessed! Thanks for saying yes to what God has called you to do!

After Mary’s song she had a three months retreat before returning to face the reality of the Nazareth tongue waggers and the shame of divorce from her betrothed.

Advent is a special journey we get to take each year. It is not an Express but help you to stop and smell the pines during this season.
Hugs around, Mimi

The Gift of Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

Luke 1: 8-12

The right place is whatever duty God calls us to do. Don’t overlook daily duties, mundane things, as what he is calling you to do.
Do wholeheartedly unto the Lord whatever your hand finds to do.
Once in a life time chances-take them if God’s directing you to do so.
Call the intercessors. Great things happen when people pray together.
Angels show up without warning or announcement but they are easily recognized as angels. They can throw us “off balance.” They are messengers of God.

On this first Sunday in Advent we prepare to experience  Christs coming as we celebrate His birth/
 
Blessings, Mimi'

Living honorably before God

Luke 1:5-7
Oh, that it would be credited to me, like Zachariah and Elizabeth that I lived honorably before God. Wouldn’t you love it, too? How is it possible or is it possible? They were careful to keep the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. If I want the clear conscience before God I am going to have to be careful to keep His ways front and center. I’ll need to let them act as a filter of my thoughts, words and actions. Yes, even my attitude. You know we do get to choose our attitude….brash or brave…..cutting or caring and so forth. So this advent season I don’t want to look just at the ‘must do’s of God’ but also at the ‘heart of the manger’ and love with the same humility.
‘Tis the season to draw near to God and he will draw near to you.(James 4:8).

A fellow seeker,

Mimi

Living beyond a shadow of doubt

A few people were looking for the messiah to come.  Some were extroverts and seen as un poco loco by those around....the other cousins of John the Baptist probably did not go out into the desert to extend an invitation to their family reunion.  Some were introverts....Elizabeth, perhaps.  A childless couple would have some folks whispering, "You know, the couple without any kids..." More to come about Elizabeth moving out of her comfort zone.

My advent meditation will be Luke 001 and 002 from the Message version of the Bible, with a New King James kept nearby.

It's written to an individual, Theophilus, so we are reading someone else's mail. Theo means God and philus is loving. You do the math....a God loving fellow.  And yet Luke feels compelled to write quite a long letter so Theo and yo so we " could know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught."

Luke was an eye witness and Theo, like us, came later and fall into the Hebrews 11:1 category, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.".

My prayer today: I believe beyond a shadow of doubt in your coming, Lord. Help me to live not in the shadow but in the light.

The picture is one of my attempts to capture Fall.  The interesting part to me happens where the light is shining. It is the back gate to the museum in Silver City.

Preparing my heart for Christ mass,

Mimi