Yesterday Frank did a sermon called “A Lesson in Carols.” It was beautiful, although the songs chosen were unfamiliar to most of the congregation. I did not know but a few myself…yet found the new ones oddly interesting. You see….Christmas for me is influenced strongly by the music. I began our Advent time by singing the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” Every year when I sing this song it made me think about her….Mary. She was just a very young girl – when the angel Gabriel came to her. No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the Savior of the world. She was chosen. Can you imagine how she must have felt through this whole event? Can you imagine what her thoughts were as her time grew closer? I know how overwhelmed I was. I love the story of Mary. the second Sunday of Advent I went to the Arbor service at First Church in Alex City and sang, "Breath of Heaven" with Rhonda. It is also a Mary song....she is anticipating the birth of her son....and the tech crew had a video that was of Mary riding a donkey on such a hard journey. The Mary stories always touch my heart. So let me ask you….have you noticed what has happened in worship services over the past few weeks? Have you seen a change in the music? Around this time of the year we change the music and start singing songs like: O Little town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World. In fact we know that Christmas is getting closer when we hear the songs being played. As Jesus gets closer and closer we can have a song in our hearts. I look forward to the time of year when we get to sing these songs. I often wonder why we can’t sing them all year long. You all know I am a favorite song nut….and have hundreds. I would be hard pressed to chose just one favorite Christmas song…..but did you know that Mary had a song? It is found in Luke 1:46-55. “46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV)” Mary had a song of praise. Her focus for her praise is God. Let me tell you something about praise. When you are praising God – there is no time for a pity party. Praise always moves you out of negativity, and into positivity. Let me tell you – if anyone had a right to have a pity party it was Mary. Young, pregnant, single. Can you hear the gossip? Can you image the stories? Mary also had a song of purpose. God does not do anything without a purpose….and He definitely had one in this story. God was smack dab in the middle of the situation. God was/and is in control. God had/has a purpose for what was/is happening. The song is about God. His purpose will be fulfilled. His plan will come to pass. Whatever is going on in your life – guess what – it’s not about you. It’s about God wanting to break into your life. Into you home. Into your holiday. Into you heart. God has a purpose for you. God has a purpose for what you are going through – He wants to be in the middle of you life. He doesn’t want your problems to be the center of your life. He doesn’t want your circumstances to be the center of your life. He doesn’t want your situation to be the center of your life. God - Himself - wants to be the center of your life. I have to ask you all right now….are you letting Him? Mary was a just very young girl….barely a teenager…. when the angel Gabriel came to her. No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the savior of the world. Mary had a song of promise. God told her, “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 12:2-3 God does not lie…..so what He said to her….would come to pass. Please understand, have I already tell you that she was a very young girl – when the angel Gabriel came to her? No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the savior of the world. Let me encourage you this season put a song in your heart. A song of praise, a song of purpose, and a song of promise. You too can have a song in your heart if you will ask Jesus. Remember Mary? She was a very young girl – when the angle Gabriel came to her. No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the savior of the world and she said, "Yes!"
1 comment:
I've often wondered what would have happened had she said no? And, was there someone before her who said no? Guess that's one of the questions we'll get an answer for when we get to heaven!
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