"GABRIEL CAME TO VISIT!" 12/9/12

“GABRIEL SAID; do not be afraid!” It is easy for Gabriel to say; “do not be afraid;” but another thing for Mary to not be afraid. But when the Angel Gabriel said; “Mary, you have found favor with God;” Oh my! God revealed to her the truth of the situation, because she finally finds her voice and says; “How shall this be, since I have not known a man; I have no husband?” The scriptures do not indicate her being agitated or even perplexed when she said this.

LET’S THINK about this. Young girl; alone; her thoughts interrupted by a person she had never seen before, let alone could have imagined. He tells her things and after being frightened, she calms down and is able to speak to this stranger with complete control. God chose wisely didn’t he? God chose her and didn’t leave her out on a limb to handle this situation alone. You can read this story in Luke chapter 1 beginning with the 26th verse. Amazing story about a young girl and her God!

“THEN MARY said, Let me be the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said; and the angel left her.” With Mary’s mind whirling around with what just happened and with what she must do, she makes arrangements to visit her relative Elizabeth who was also pregnant with special circumstances. While visiting Elizabeth and discussing both their conditions, Mary becomes filled with the Holy Ghost and sings a song.

“AND MARY says, My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied! For He who is almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name, to be venerated in His purity , majesty and glory! And His mercy, His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age. He has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts; He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree. He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty handed without a gift. He has laid hold on His servant Israel (to help Him) in remembrance of His mercy. Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55 You can tell by Mary’s song that the Holy Spirit was giving her these words so that we could read them again and again through the ages.

EVERY woman experiences her own pregnancy. Some have morning sickness and keeps it under control eating crackers. Some go to the hospital and some are given bed rest somewhere along the way. For me, I just got bigger and bigger until I looked like one of the balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade. Just before I was fully done and ready to deliver, if you had stuck a pin in the bottom of my foot, I would have floated off into the heavens. But that didn’t happen! Instead I gave birth to a baby boy. The second time around I gave birth to a baby girl! God’s plan is amazing!

LOOKING BACK pregnancy was a great adventure, because the outcome, out weighs all of the suffering. Mary saw that and those of us who became mothers by giving birth, know that. Mary is indeed blessed of all women because the child she gave birth to, came to save us. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly!

I LOVE THIS STORY and never tire of reading it and hearing it. A story of love, adventure, mystery and it comes to life within you the minute you believe “that Jesus is the son of God!” I can imagine Mary holding her newborn child against her breast as He looks intently into her face; memorizing it, loving it just as she is whispering, ever so softly; “you are my son;” and all the while God smiles from the heavens and says; “yes, I chose wisely!” By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/8/12