ezra
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Mary, Did You Know?by Cassie Downs
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:26-33
Even before I had my own children, I was always fascinated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. The favor God saw in her and the courage and willingness she showed was inspiring. And since I love her story so much, “Mary, Did You Know” has also been my top Christmas tune. I can't read Mary's story or hear that song without wondering that very thing, Mary, did you know? Did she truly understand what God was doing through her? Did she know the hurt she would endure for you and for me? I believe God spared her a lot of the details because if He had told her everything, it might have been too much for a Mother to bear.
I wonder if that's true for us at times. As a dreamer, I often have giant dreams that only God himself can make happen, and He has done some of them, but to be honest, if He had shared every detail about what I would grow through and how He would work it all out, I may have run for the hills. I think of Joseph and the dream he had, and the terrible things he endured, yet God used it ALL for His glory and ultimately Joseph lived his dream (Gen 37-47).
Mary may not have known everything that would take place, you and I may not know or understand everything that will take place for God to use us, but that's ok. God will only ever use things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28). Mary had to be broken at the sight of her broken son hanging on a cross, but even at that moment, God was working it for her good. The child that she delivered would soon deliver her. This Christmas my prayer is that you will open your heart to the Father who passionately loves you and has only the best for you. I pray you do not worry how things will work out or when, but trust that God has the best for you. Trust in Him and His promises for your life and let’s leave the details up to the all-knowing.
May God bless you and yours this Christmas time and all through the New Year. I pray this be a Christmas full of miracles for you. Merry Christmas.