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Jesus: The Center of Our Joy

12/28/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders
 
 
It is amazing how many times one can read stories in the Bible and miss the gems hidden inside the narratives. When newly-pregnant Mary goes to visit her elderly relative, Elizabeth, to share the good news that she (Mary) will be the mother of the Messiah, something miraculous happens (Read Luke 1:39-56).
As Mary greets Elizabeth, who is past child-bearing age, and who is also pregnant, Elizabeth’s baby jumps in her womb. Most of us know that story, however, many skip over the details. Elizabeth tells Mary:
“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:44, 45, NIV).
John, the unborn child, the forerunner of the Christ-Child, “leaped for joy”!  Even in utero Jesus is the reason for John’s joy.  John could sense the presence of the Messiah through the sound of Mary’s greeting. Perhaps, as the women hugged, belly to belly, their unborn children made a divine connection.
It seems that John, who would pave the way for Jesus’ ministry, had already started. His joyful movements in the womb, which was accompanied by Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit, was confirmation to both Mary and Elizabeth herself that God rewards those who trust his Word. And, that God’s Son, the Messiah, was indeed making his entrance into the world.
The joy that Jesus brings is contagious! Elizabeth breaks out in song, blessing Mary.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v.42, 43)
Isn’t it remarkable that Elizabeth already identifies the Child Jesus as her Lord? That is another confirming revelation given to her by the Holy Spirit.
Notice, there is no petty jealousy or rivalry between the women. There is nothing but joy. Don’t you wish that others would be happy when someone experiences blessings at the hand of the Lord?
Joy permeates the air as both women tell about the wonderful events God has planned for their lives. So, filled with joy, Mary sings in acknowledgment of God’s faithfulness. She can foresee his mercy and provision at work in the lives of his people.
“My soul glorifies the Lord
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation”
                                    (vv. 46-47, 50).
 
Oh that we, too, would glorify God.  That we would find joy in the everyday things of life that we receive from his hand.  Let’s praise God for family and friends, for life’s necessities, for opportunities that come because he called them into being. Let’s recognize that God, our Father, has given us Jesus… and Jesus has brought us joy!
 
PRAYER: Jesus, joy-giver, hope of all nations, we give you praise! Fill our hearts and lives with the joy only you can give. Remind us that in the small, seemingly insignificant things we can find joy. As we look forward to a New Year, be our joy, our hope, our comfort as we spread joy to those around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                   ©Medytations 2022

​December 28, 2022
Wednesday’s Word
Jesus: The Center of Our Joy
 
 
It is amazing how many times one can read stories in the Bible and miss the gems hidden inside the narratives. When newly-pregnant Mary goes to visit her elderly relative, Elizabeth, to share the good news that she (Mary) will be the mother of the Messiah, something miraculous happens (Read Luke 1:39-56).
As Mary greets Elizabeth, who is past child-bearing age, and who is also pregnant, Elizabeth’s baby jumps in her womb. Most of us know that story, however, many skip over the details. Elizabeth tells Mary:
“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:44, 45, NIV).
John, the unborn child, the forerunner of the Christ-Child, “leaped for joy”!  Even in utero Jesus is the reason for John’s joy.  John could sense the presence of the Messiah through the sound of Mary’s greeting. Perhaps, as the women hugged, belly to belly, their unborn children made a divine connection.
It seems that John, who would pave the way for Jesus’ ministry, had already started. His joyful movements in the womb, which was accompanied by Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit, was confirmation to both Mary and Elizabeth herself that God rewards those who trust his Word. And, that God’s Son, the Messiah, was indeed making his entrance into the world.
The joy that Jesus brings is contagious! Elizabeth breaks out in song, blessing Mary.
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v.42, 43)
Isn’t it remarkable that Elizabeth already identifies the Child Jesus as her Lord? That is another confirming revelation given to her by the Holy Spirit.
Notice, there is no petty jealousy or rivalry between the women. There is nothing but joy. Don’t you wish that others would be happy when someone experiences blessings at the hand of the Lord?
Joy permeates the air as both women tell about the wonderful events God has planned for their lives. So, filled with joy, Mary sings in acknowledgment of God’s faithfulness. She can foresee his mercy and provision at work in the lives of his people.
“My soul glorifies the Lord
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation”
                                    (vv. 46-47, 50).
 
Oh that we, too, would glorify God.  That we would find joy in the everyday things of life that we receive from his hand.  Let’s praise God for family and friends, for life’s necessities, for opportunities that come because he called them into being. Let’s recognize that God, our Father, has given us Jesus… and Jesus has brought us joy!
 
PRAYER: Jesus, joy-giver, hope of all nations, we give you praise! Fill our hearts and lives with the joy only you can give. Remind us that in the small, seemingly insignificant things we can find joy. As we look forward to a New Year, be our joy, our hope, our comfort as we spread joy to those around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                   ©Medytations 2022
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Rejoice! The Lord Has Come

12/21/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
By Dorette Saunders

 
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
 
 
 
Emmanuel! The Lord is here!
My eyes can scarcely take it in:
A tender babe upon a mother’s breast;
A Savior who would rescue us from sin.
 
What caused a retinue of stars to shine?
Or angel hosts to serenade his birth?
Or brought the humble shepherds from the fields
To witness God’s Messiah come to earth?
 
And like the magi, let us worship him
With hearts and hands made pure by grace divine.
Let’s tell the world what we have seen and heard:
How love was born at Christmas,
wrapped in God’s precious Word.
©Medytations 2022
 
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Advent: Peace on Earth

12/14/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders
 
 
What do you want for Christmas? If we are honest, most of us want something for Christmas although it may not be what we would have asked for many years ago.
 
Our unspoken wishes quite often include dreams for ourselves, or elevating family and friends, and even for positively changing the state of our present world. Did “peace” make your list? Each of us can experience peace even in the midst of the chaos that surrounds us because God’s peace short circuits worry and fear. Jesus explains: 
 
 “I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn't like the peace this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid” (John 14:27, CEV).
 
Can you visualize such peace? It’s the kind of peace that stabilizes your emotions, puts a song in your heart, and a smile on your lips when you acknowledge that despite what your surroundings say, you win!
 
There is no doubt that the razzle-dazzle of the holiday season often puts our nerves in frazzle mode.  But it need not be so. Jesus, Emmanuel, is with us. The Scriptures confirm that Jesus is “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV).
 
Focus on that last phrase. Prince…of...Peace.
 
Right now we live between advents: that of Jesus’ coming to earth as our Savior, and the other of Jesus’ return as our King. We live with God’s promise for everlasting peace when that day comes. Listen to what Isaiah, the prophet, foretold of Jesus’ Second Coming:
 
He will settle arguments
    between nations.
They will pound their swords
and their spears

    into rakes and shovels;
they will never make war

    or attack one another.
 
What a day! Can you see it? Peace across the world. Peace that satisfies our souls. Peace that makes this struggle worth it.  Peace that brings an end to strife, chaos, and calamity. Peace coming down from heaven, brought to us by the Son of God, the Prince of Peace!
 
Our Christmas celebrations are reminders of God’s promise, of God’s grace, and Jesus’ love for us. They are also a reminder that soon, Jesus, our Prince of Peace, will be coming back to bring peace to the world.  Let’s make ready to receive him.
 
PRAYER: God, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus, bless each of us with your peace. Help us to share this wonderful gift with those around us. Prepare us, Lord, for that day when you come in glory and majesty as our Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                     ©Medytations 2022


 

 ​
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Advent: A Joyous Faith

12/7/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

 
 ​Women talk! We often see more details than men do, and we loop those into conversation. At times a woman’s “sixth sense” will kick in—it’s called intuition, and others will wonder, “How did she know?”
 
The Bible tells us in the first chapter of Luke that a young woman named Mary has a visitation from an angel and is told she will be the mother of the Messiah, God’s Promised Son (Luke 1:26-38). Soon, Mary makes a trip to share the good news with her relative, Elizabeth, who is also pregnant.
 
This news is not hearsay. Nor is it intuition. It is divine revelation. Nothing is more precious than knowing that you know that you know God is at work in your life, even if you don’t quite understand it or see it!
 
The backstory of her pregnancy is complex: Mary, a virgin, is engaged to be married, however, as the angel tells her, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God” (v. 35, CEV).
 
How will she explain this pregnancy to her fiancé? What will the townspeople think? Never mind all that, God has bestowed his grace on Mary, and she is joyous. Her faith is at its zenith. And Elizabeth confirms this by saying to Mary as they embrace:
 
“The Lord has blessed you because you believed his promise” (Luke 1:45, CEV).
 Such faith! How many times have we missed God’s blessings because we have been hesitant or we have flat out refused to believe God’s promise?
 Mary’s response to God’s promise is a joyful song of praise, referred to as The Magnificat. Here is a portion of that song:
 With all my heart
    I praise the Lord,
and I am glad

    because of God my Savior.
 God cares for me,

    his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say

    God has blessed me.
 God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,

    and his name is holy.
 He always shows mercy
to everyone

    who worships him.

                     (Luke 1:46-50, CEV)
 This account is not just about Mary. It is for all of us—women and men—who worship God. God does great things for us. What songs of joy can we bring before the Lord as we wait for the birth of Jesus? How does the celebration of Jesus’ birth feed our faith? Do we feel the comfort and joy that Jesus’ coming into the world brings?
 The carols beckon us to be faithful, joyful, and triumphant. God is doing a new thing in us, in our communities, and in our world. Like Mary, let’s open our hearts to receive it…and then offer God praise.


 
PRAYER: God, as we celebrate Advent weeks symbolizing faith and joy, remind us that you have blessed us and are constantly working for our good. Remind us to use our faith to believe for what others see as impossible. And to sing with joy, even when it is not yet in view. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                           ©Medytations 2022
 
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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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