{"id":24653,"date":"2018-12-01T03:30:22","date_gmt":"2018-12-01T11:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24653"},"modified":"2018-11-29T13:54:02","modified_gmt":"2018-11-29T21:54:02","slug":"december-1-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/12\/01\/december-1-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"December 1, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant…. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.\u00a0He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty”\u00a0<\/em>(Luke 1:46-53).<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s Load<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When I ponder the Christmas story each year, I always relate to Mary on so many different levels.\u00a0I’ve been thinking about the “load” she had to carry.\u00a0She was being chosen for the greatest honor a woman could have\u2014being the mother of the promised Savior.\u00a0And yet it wasn’t easy:<\/p>\n

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  • Her friends didn’t understand<\/li>\n
  • She was faced with accusations of promiscuity<\/li>\n
  • She could have lost her betrothed, Joseph<\/li>\n
  • She had to deal with loss of reputation<\/li>\n
  • What was happening brought shame to her family<\/li>\n
  • When the baby came, there was no place for her to give birth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    And, just think\u2014this was all part of God’s will for her life! It wasn’t bad consequences of something she had done wrong. It wasn’t an “attack of the enemy.”\u00a0Nothing had gone wrong.\u00a0She was being given an awesome privilege.<\/p>\n

    Mary’s response was to say, “For with God nothing is impossible\u2014be it unto me according to Your word”\u00a0<\/em>(Luke\u00a01:37,38). One of my friends said, “Placing faith in God’s Word is the only way to settle our hearts when God’s purposes are beyond what we can know.”<\/p>\n

    Mary’s difficult circumstances were part of God’s magnificent design and plan. He had foretold of it long before: “Unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given…and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”\u00a0<\/em>(Isaiah 9:6,7).<\/p>\n

    The things you and I walk through in life\u2014our joys and our sorrows\u2014may well be part of the plan God has for us.\u00a0My heart’s desire is to trust Him like Mary did! I want to magnify the Lord like she did.<\/p>\n

    God graciously walked with Mary during this season in her life.\u00a0I am so very thankful for how He has walked with me, with our family, in the season we are in.\u00a0How wonderful and faithful He is!<\/p>\n

    \u201cFather, we celebrate Your goodness to us in sending us Your Son. We magnify Your Name, and our spirits rejoice in You, our Savior. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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