Today is the first Sunday of Advent — the beginning of the Christian calendar. The coming of Jesus 2,000 years ago literally divided time and has impacted the world like nothing else. And for the next four weeks, we’re going to be focusing on the Christmas story. My prayer is that we read the story with new eyes, and that we hear it with new ears — so that the Christmas story will have its greatest impact on our lives yet!
The Christmas story is an incredible story – God coming to earth in the form of one of us. God’s Son left heaven and came to earth to save us from our sins!
Amazingly, Mary never mentions in this prayer/song, that she is going to give birth to the Messiah. And we never have record anywhere in Scripture of Mary asking for anything – except in John 2, but even then, she’s not asking for herself. She’s asking that Jesus help out at a wedding.
Mary knows that it’s not about her! That’s humility. God uses humble people, and that’s what we want to talk about today.
Worshiping God is priority number one! We worship God by doing everything for God’s glory – as if we’re doing it for God, and with God!
As the years pass he goes lower; he grows downward!
Where does your joy come from? What brings you joy?
“God has blessed me” is the testimony of all who walk with God!
“His name is holy” – God can be trusted!
He helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people. The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his family forever!
God is in complete control! There will be intense battles long the way, but we know the final result! We know that victory belongs to the people who follow Christ!
I think it’s interesting that Mary says, “The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham …” Abraham was a man who was willing to go wherever God sent him!
It all starts with focusing on God. When we focus on God, instead of our problems, instead of anything in this life/world, when we focus on God, everything else gets smaller; everything else pales in comparison! The key is to focus on God – read Scripture; get to know God, intimately. Worship God – the more you worship God, the smaller everything else gets!
Inspirational no matter the age limit, it’s a heart issue.