Luke 1:39-55 ~ glorifies the Lord

 

Mary and Elizabeth painted by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Luke 1:39-55

 (Today's New International Version)

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"

46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for He has been mindful
of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
Holy is His Name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped His servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and His descendants forever,
just as He promised our ancestors."

The communion of saints, Matthew Henry says, "It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another." How wonderful for a teenage girl to be able to have someone who believes her and lives the same goal to honor the Lord. It must have been difficult for Mary, no biblical recognition is given to Mary's family except Elizabeth and, later, Joseph.

Matthew 18:20  

For where two or three come together in My Name, 

there am I with them. 

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, 

but let us encourage one another

—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Colossians 3:12-15 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

 since as members of One body 

you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

John 13:34-35 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." 

Today, is the day I fast as part of diet I have been mostly following for quite some time.  I feel empty and scattered. Dieting is not a joy maker, yet Scriptures say to fast. I do fast for myself and the body to be in better shape. Fasting  can seem like alcohol in the way they make a person seem off: slowed thinking, worse coordination, and slurred or less organized speech. With fasting, the main drivers are usually reduced fuel availability and fluid/electrolyte imbalance rather than intoxication.

Although many fast for prayer. I am asking for prayers of strength, collected words and thoughts. Not so much suffering, please pray for me. I started noticing this as I began fasting. 

Today we walked and saw all kinds of VBS. Such a good service for mothers who work.  VBS is volunteers but how wonderful for children to have VBS and not just a day care camp. My family is made up of all kinds of people, and I know several who have all the knowledge they have of God, Jesus or Scripture from the opportunity to be in a Church place. And this has blessed their lives.  Maybe one day Churches will offer all summer child services. Holiday Child Care.  Day Care for the Lord.

Several of the Churches we attended for decades had schools. And really the parents did not join the Churches, but the people and family I know who Love the Lord because someone gave of their time to tell of God's Love. To introduce the Scriptures. Worthy, worthy. worthy to the Lamb that was slain.  Doesn't this remind us all, of the loving Monasteries of the Renaissance teaching farming, hospital care and feeding the village to avoid a (physical) starvation.  That is indeed Missionary work and feeds those in the communities. 

A lot of Churches have expensive Schools, all well and Good!  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have affordable Child Care. 

We walked yesterday in a new neighborhood and saw many family homes completely empty for the summer. The children are not home and would probably love a change from school or day care. This would be a labor of love for the Churches but lives will be changed. 

And would give College aged Youth Group a lasting and more adult memory of their Church. Some of these former Youth Group never had younger brothers and sisters to know small children.  Families are far flung these days. The opportunity for Youth Groups to reconnect. 

If the Congress hopes to improve housing for the Nation, perhaps the Churches could plan for summer to be total opportunity for the children. Childcare is vastly expensive. And this would be a new form of Civil Soul Rights. Knowing God and the Gospel. Having the opportunity to hear all of this freely by enthusiastic Christians also comfortable in their environment. 

Open as the Family of God.

Oh, the places Jesus has gone.

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, 

He Himself likewise partook of the same things, 

that through death 

He might destroy 

that one

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Lord Jesus

Mark 11:27-33 ~ He was walking

  

Mark 11:27-33

And they came again to Jerusalem. 

And as He was walking in the Temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, 28 and they said to Him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 

29 Jesus said to them, 

“I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 

31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, 

“If we say, ‘From Heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” 

And Jesus said to them, 

“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Scripture explains Scripture. 

Light remains Light. Living Water remains Living Water.  Jesus the Lord God. Light of Light. God of God.

When we read this portion of Mark's Gospel, in the Eleventh Chapter, we could be reading about Job asking God why God has allowed difficulty, pain or hardship.

Job 41:32-34

Behind Him

 He leaves 

a shining wake;

    one would think 

the deep 

to be white-haired.

33 On earth there is not His like,

a Creature without fear.

34 He sees everything that is high;

    He is King 

over all the sons of pride.”

Job 42 

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that you can do all things,

    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

    things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;

    I will question You, and You make it known to me.’

5 I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

    but now my eye sees You;

6 therefore I despise myself,

    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Matthew 28:18

 

And Jesus came and said to them, 

“All Authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Matthew 7:29

For He taught them as One having authority, 

and not as the scribes.

Yesterday, for Father's Day, we read Genesis 50. 

The History of Joseph finding his own father, to then lose him to old age.  And in the loss, perhaps, you read some of the anguish of Jesus, The Christ of God, saying goodbye to his earthly father, Joseph. We can think of Jesus as weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, knowing Lazarus would rise.

So many people in Church for Father's Day have said goodbye to their own father. And Father's Day, they remember their own earthly Abba.  The love and the beautiful memories with the ones that are more grounded in the troubles of earth. And we remember in Church, that Heaven is God's Kingdom of perfection.

And in these thoughts of Father's Day, Mark 11:27-33, the Authority of Perfect and Loving Jesus is our Help and Comfort. The exact nature of God. Comforter.

Jesus, the Lamb of God

ABBA, FATHER,

The grace 

of our 

Lord Jesus Christ 

be with your Spirit, 

brothers.

Amen.

O LORD 

Our Lord God, Almighty

and

 Governor of our souls, 

Whose Glory 

is in 

all 

the world

 We commend this nation 

to Thy merciful care, 

that being guided by Thy Providence, 

we may dwell secure 

in Thy peace. 

Grant to 

THE PRESIDENT 

OF THE UNITED STATES, 

and to all 

in authority,  wisdom and strength 

to know 

and 

to do Thy Will.

God our Creator, 

help everyone to share 

in the good gifts 

You have given to us. 

May those who lead 

the nations of the world be given wisdom. 

Especially we pray for Donald, 

our new President, 

You would fill him 

with all 

the gifts and blessings 

he must have to fulfill 

the solemn task before him. 

 Lord, in your mercy, 

hear our prayer.

ABBA, FATHER,

The safety 

of those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart 

far 

from us

and our children.

With Your Help

We will act justly

 and to love mercy

 and to walk humbly with You, our God.

Peace for California

putting out the many, many, many fires

And

speedy insurance

claims

and fast rebuilding

realizing the standard building codes

even of Reagan

were safe.

Peace

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

Peace and the Joy God gives us.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

Help us seek and find 

and bring,

to become,

 more Heaven

to this earth.

And in Jesus - This Hope.

Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.

Amen

John 21

Thank you, Jesus our Lord Christ

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus