Sometimes you need to do kid things with kids and it is extra special when they are your grandchildren. I'm in a snow fort made by a couple of them, a great Sunday afternoon activity next to the sledding luge that was constructed by Daddy and Grandma. A week with this part of the family was such a blessing to Stephanie and I. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Christmas Day, and Sunday gathering together allowed us some great worship time.
Here is each in their forts...
We are continuing our deep dive of the true Christmas story, a study in looking at the first coming of Christ as our sent and anointed of God Savior to the world. Mary rises up to see her cousin Elizabeth just as the angel Gabriel had said to do and she found everything just as he had said. Elizabeth and Mary's greetings brought a kick from John the Baptist in the womb of his mother. With a kick, he who is John the Baptist in the womb, announced as the messenger to the Messiah that the Messiah, in the womb of Mary, had come. He was just doing his ministry role in the fulfilling of prophecy about the coming Messiah. 
The faith of Elizabeth and Mary become evident. This will also be true next week when we look again at Zechariah. They believe that the One in the womb of Mary is not only the Messiah but their Lord. Even from the womb they believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit. For Elizabeth and Mary this led into a time of worship of Him. This is why I look at Mary as a model believer and a model worshipper.
- Mary heard the Word of God from the angel Gabriel. - With God nothing is impossible.
- Mary believed the Word of God. - May it be unto me.
- Mary responded with submission. - I am the servant of the Lord.
- Mary obeyed the direction. - Arose and quickly went.
- Mary worshipped Him with praise. - My soul magnifies the Lord.
This is the process the model believer goes through. We hear the Word of God. We respond with believing those words with repentance (turning to Him) and faith. We bow in submission to Him as Lord of our life. We arise in obedience to walk in His steps. We live a life of worship of who He is.
Mary is also a model worshipper. Her worship is internal (my soul, my spirit). Her worship is intense (magnifies, rejoices). Her worship is part of something continual (from generation to generation). Her worship is from a state of humility (the Lord, my Savior, He has regarded, holy is His name, the low estate of His servant, He who is mighty, His mercy). Elizabeth does much the same with giving blessings to others and putting herself in a place of humility.
In our world of self focus, I think it is hard to worship from a place of humility and also to truly come together as the body of Christ thinking of others rather than ourselves. In June of this coming year I will start my 39th year of being in full time ministry and I can't tell you how many times I have heard from others and also from myself a critical focus given around worship that pointed to me rather than Jesus. Maybe I feel a new year resolution coming on here. What will I do differently this year to enter the local gathering of God's flock and be a true worshipper as Mary and Elizabeth?
I do pray this will be a fantastic 2025 for all of us. As we walk through what God wants us to experience, I pray we will honor Him with our words and deeds. One last picture from the shores of Grand Lake.
Adam
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