I’ve been reflecting a lot about Mary. A messenger from God named Gabriel came to her. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28, ESV). He went on to tell her that she would miraculously give birth to the Messiah. Here is her response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; … Continue reading I am only the workshop in which God operates
mary
Knowing God, not knowing everything
What does Mary teach us about having faith today, especially when the future is uncertain. In short, a lot. Just imagine her situation. She was a young Jewish woman. She may have been as young as 14, 15 or 16 when she gave birth to Jesus. She would have grown up learning the Scriptures, reciting … Continue reading Knowing God, not knowing everything
Costly devotion
Jesus brought Mary’s brother Lazarus back to life. Not only did he restore a heartbeat, but he restored hope, joy and the certainty of eternal life. At a dinner in Jesus’ honour, Mary wanted to show her gratitude. She “took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet … Continue reading Costly devotion
Pondering the nativity
The season of Advent and Christmas can be such a blur. As a result, we can easily leap-frog the biblical story of Jesus’ birth as we mad-dash to the mall, or attend to a dozen other dizzying responsibilities. 'But don’t we hear that story on Christmas Eve?' Yes, but Christmas Eve sermons tend to be … Continue reading Pondering the nativity
4 ways to draw closer to God
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” When we cultivate a closer relationship with God, we experience his power and presence more and more. Consider the example of Mary. In her famous song of praise in Luke 1:46-55, she shows how she is close to God in at … Continue reading 4 ways to draw closer to God
She sobbed when she saw Mary
Richard Mouw and his wife were visiting Gothic cathedrals in France for their vacation. On one of those visits they noticed a young couple pull up on a motorbike. They were both wearing “punk” clothes and hair, and she had her face covered in black and white paint. Mouw watched as they “swaggered” through the cathedral. … Continue reading She sobbed when she saw Mary
Don’t waste it dwelling on the negative
Human (noun): “a homo sapien who has the ability to breathe, reason, and become an expert at second guessing themselves and dwelling on the negative.” Okay, you’re right. That definition isn’t in the dictionary… but it could be! Especially after Christmas. You’d think that after celebrating the birth of the Messiah we’d be on cloud … Continue reading Don’t waste it dwelling on the negative
