In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”  Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant 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 God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end!”  Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. For there is nothing that God cannot do.”  “I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38 GNB

When I started thinking about how the story of Jesus began I went right to these verses.  Mary wasn't famous. In fact, Mary was a young peasant girl.  God could have chosen anyone. He didn't pick a girl from a well known family of aristocratic lineage. He didn't pick a girl that the majority would have picked.  He picked Mary. Because she was a virgin and she had a pure heart.

Chosen by God to bear a son... His son! She was chosen and met by  the angel Gabriel who delivered the news. After being quite concerned and confused, asking "How can this be?" She responded with "I am the Lords servant," and "may it happen to me as you have said."  Though she did not quite fathom what was about to happen, she trusted God for the child she was preparing to give birth to.

Pure Joy.

When the angel visited Mary he told her of Elizabeth and Zechariah and how they were expecting a child even though they "were both very old".  Gabriel visit them also to tell them of this great news.  Mary set out to Judea to meet with Elizabeth. When Mary arrived Elizabeth heard her greeting and the baby in her tummy leaped for joy!
if you read further Elizabeth speaks a word to Mary.  The words she spoke caused Mary to become truly excited and start praising God. I really love the way The Message bible translates it! the translation says "I'm bursting with God-news;"!  God news!  I would've loved to be a fly on the wall to watch these two friends celebrating the ginormous blessings they were both about to receive.
I remember how excited I was to be pregnant with my son and happy to be pregnant. The day he was born, I remember being so overcome that the moment they laid his little body on my chest, I was laughing and crying at the same time. I could only imagine the intensity of the Joy Mary felt to be carrying the one THE ONE who would be an atonement for all of us!

We are the chosen.



Just like Mary, God has chosen us. Each and every one. He knows the number of hairs on our head, he has our name engraved on the palms of his hands.  He knows all of our stories. Even the stories we've not spoken. He knows.  The author of our lives has already written our stories. He knows each and every choice we will make. No matter the choice, He offers us grace and he loves us any way.  Sometimes I just can't wrap my head around how much He loves me.

So as we prepare for the gaherings with family and friends, wrap the gifts, bake the cookies, prepare the big meals. Can I ask you to take just one small moment?
Take a moment to reflect upon the fact that YOU were chosen by (His) LOVE.


He chose us, will we choose Him?

Linking with The Faith Barista's #OneWordAdvent



Christmas Blessings,


One Comment

  1. I love the Message's wording "I'm bursting with God-News!" That must have been such a joyous reunion. I would have loved to watch them, too. :) May God fill our hearts with so much love that we will burst with joy! Have a hope-filled Christmas with your family!

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