Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Merry Christmas sister who is highly favored (2 Cor 6:2)!  On this day over 2 billion people in over 160 countries will celebrate the birth of Christ.  Jesus, the son of God through the gift of the Holy Spirit was born in the world.  Today many will acknowledge Christmas /Noel /Yuletide as the most important holiday not just for Christians but for the world.  For Jesus  the Prince of  Peace, The Lord of Lords is the Lamb of God and the Savior of the world. In all His names he was also known as Mary’s child.  How favored must Mary his mother have been to have the Son of Man as her very own son.  Mary Batjoachim (the word “Bat” in Hebrew means “becoming” and “daughter”) was the daughter of Joachim and Anne, and becoming the wife of Joseph (descendant of Abraham’s lineage).  In pondering the birth of Jesus, one cannot help but to also ponder Mary whom scholars determine may have been as young as 14 yrs old.   What made God choose this young woman, a virgin to bear and raise the Messiah, the Great High Priest, the King of Kings, the Son of the Most High.  According to the book of Luke, in a message of good news sent by angel Gabriel (who stands in the presence of God), Mary wondered but did not waver in faith.  Her faith simply accepted the unfailing word of the Lord and honored in immediate, decided subservience.  Adjacent to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist who doubted God and faced muteness, Mary believed.   How beautiful, wonderful and refreshing must it have been for not only Gabriel but for God to see such an authentic and sincere person who simply accredited the trusted and true God.

Concern (C): Sister do you fully and truly believe God like Mary? “I  Believe, I Believe”, said a skeptical Natalie Wood repeatedly in portraying Susan Walker in the 1947 movie Miracle on 34^th Street.  Who truly did believe upon seeing a long awaited present (spoiler alert-a house).  But Mary saw nothing before the appointed time yet believed urgently and indefensibly.

Encouragement (E): Mary sang a song of full of God’s promises, His help and His giving of good things.  Luke 1:46-55. Certainly Mary knew who God was, his track record and what impossibilities he was/is capable of achieving.  Mary recalled the Mighty One’s acts and mercies despite the difficulty in comprehending while facing taxing outcomes (ostracizing of her family, community, laws, values and future).  Surely her sturdy faith assisted her in the continuance of her walk with God as Jesus stayed behind in God’s house, performed his first miracle and died on the cross before her very eyes!

Act (A):  Imitate humble Mary and hurry to joy.  The Bible says Mary hurried to Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist.  And she stayed there for months.  When encountering a spiritual adversity get with someone else who will encourage your faith and keep you encouraged.  It is up to you to hurry to that place of joy and stay there as long as possible.  Rest assured God is in control.  He will and has determined it all out and will Bless You with treasures in the process. (Lk 2:19)

May the blessings of the season be upon you & yours now and throughout the rest of the year into the next. With love always from The Daughter Line.

**Please give clothes/toys/food to your local shelter & pray for the homeless, orphans & current Federal shutdown to end as God best wills.  Thank you**

https://www.hopeww.org/  HOPE worldwide meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. (http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/human-services/hope-worldwide-in-san-diego-ca-658)