Mary: Did You Know?

“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered,  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:34-35

Imagine:  You are a 15-year-old girl living with your parents, engaged to be married to a kind, stable, older fellow, when your room is suddenly filled with light, and a strange being proclaims that God is honoring you above every other woman on earth by causing you to become pregnant with a male child.  What would your first comment be in this amazing situation?

Mary’s was a question:  How is this possible?  I have never been with a man.  I am a virgin.  Of all the things she might possibly have said, Mary takes the practical approach:  Wait a minute!  We have a problem here.  It takes two to get pregnant!  Conventional wisdom would certainly agree with that thought, but this wasn’t a conventional messenger, and his reply is astounding:  You, Mary, will be the mother.  The Holy Spirit will be the Father.  The child will be born holy.  He will be the Son of the living God.

To my knowledge, there has never been another child of whom it could be said that they were born “holy.”  But then, there has never been another child whose father was a member of the Godhead.  Did Mary understand all of this?  Did she realize that she was going to give birth to the Messiah?  How much of this unbelievable story could she comprehend, much less believe? 

But Mary is a young woman of simple yet strong faith, and her reply to the angel is said without hesitation…

 

Mary, Did You Know?  Pentatonix

 

Mary: Blessed of All Women

 The angel came in and said, "Hail, you who are highly favored.

The Lord is with you and blessed are you among all women."

Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind

a greeting like that.  But the angel assured her,

"Mary, you have nothing to fear.  God has a surprise for you:

you will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

and call His name Jesus.

He will be great, and be called Son of the Highest.

The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father, David.

He will rule Jacob's house forever.

-Luke 1:28-33

When I read this story in the book of Luke, I begin to wonder if Mary actually realized it was an angel that she was talking to.  Surely she must have wondered, "Who in the world is this?"  Here is some guy telling her that she is blessed more than any other woman on earth.  The Scripture says that Mary was perplexed - thoroughly shaken - troubled - with probably a good dose of fear thrown in the mix.

Her strange visitor then stuns her with the message that she is going to have a baby - a son - and must name the child JESUS.  The child would be the Son of the Most High God, from the family and lineage of David, ruling over Israel forever.  These words may sound odd to us, but they held great significance for Mary.  The angel was plainly saying:  Your child - your son that will be born to you, is going to be the Messiah, the Promised One of Israel.  You, Mary, are the fulfillment of one of the greatest prophecies in the Old Testament:  

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given,

and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called

Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, 

the Prince of Peace.

 Isaiah 9:6

Advent 1: The Candle of Hope

 

Hello, Mary!

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel

was sent from God to a city of Galilee named

Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named

Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's 

name was Mary.

Luke 1:26-27

I have always wondered what exactly angels look like.  The illustrations we usually see around this time of year show large, masculine figures with huge wings, either blowing trumpets or gathering in groups to light up the sky.  

Because the Bible reveals that the angel visitor sent to Mary was named Gabriel, I have always imagined him to be the masculine variety with great, beautiful wings.  But it is anyone's guess what this strange being looked like.  It's a good possibility that he was rather terrifying, because the first words out of his mouth are, "Fear not, Mary!"  Whatever his physical attributes, this must have been an unnerving experience for a young Jewish maiden. Given the history of the acceptable age for marriage in that culture, Mary was very likely a girl in her early teenage years, espoused to Joseph - most likely a much older man.  

We know very little about this girl, but one fact is vividly clear:  there must have been something very special about this young lady for the Creator God to send His right-hand angel to speak with her.  And his message?  Life-shattering, to say the least!

 

 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good - His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God gods - His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of Lords - His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven - His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1,2,3,26

For the Beauty of the Earth

You are my God and I will give You thanks.

You are my God, and I will exalt You.

Psalm 118:28

Folliot Pierpoint was born in 1835 in England.  After graduating from Cambridge, he taught at Somersetshire College.  One day when he was 29, he walked in the countryside on a beautiful spring day.  He saw the carpet of green, the blue dome of heaven, and the winding Avon River cutting through a flowery landscape.  Inspired, he wrote the words to For the Beauty of the Earth.  

 

We Gather Together

God

O Lord, my God, I will give You thanks forever.

Psalm 30:12b

We Gather Together is a hymn that we in America associate with the Thanksgiving holiday, but it was actually written some time in 1597 to celebrate Holland’s freedom from Spain.  The Reformation had reached the Netherlands, and the people of Holland wished to follow the Protestant faith.  The unknown Dutch author of this hymn was full of thanksgiving that his people were finally free from Spanish tyranny – free to worship God as they chose.

We Gather Together (Grace Community Church)

Now Thank We All Our God

 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in Him and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song.

Psalm 28:7

At the age of 31, Martin Rinkart became a pastor in Eilenberg, Germany, just as the 30 Years War started - a war that has been described as the worst in all history.  Because Eilenberg was a walled city, it became an over-crowded refuge for fugitives.  The city endured several waves of deadly disease;  The plague of 1637 was particularly severe.  At its height, Rinkart was the only clergy alive to care for the sick and the dying.  In the midst of all this. Now Thank We All Our God was born.  -Amazing Grace, Kenneth W. Osbeck

I Am Thankful For: Everything

Be joyful always.

Pray continually.

Give thanks in all circumstances

For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

These verses are part of the closing thoughts – the “final instructions” – from Paul to the church in Thessalonica.  This is an early letter – after Paul’s visit to the church recorded in Acts 17.  Paul preached on Sabbath for three weeks.  The Jews started a riot in the city, searching for (and not finding) Paul and Silas, then dragging the Christians before the city officials with the accusation:  “They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”  When the Christians were finally let go, they waited until nightfall, then retrieved Paul and Silas from their hiding place and sent them to Berea.

Paul’s subsequent letter to this church is filled with encouragement and hope, instruction in godly living, and these three amazing verses:  Always be joyful, make prayer the bedrock of your life, and give thanksgiving and praise to God in every circumstance. 

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come   Mormon Tabernacle Choir

 

I Am Thankful For: The Victory!

 

But thanks be to God! 

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

My father was the kindest, funniest, wisest man in my small world of childhood.  He could also swear like a drunken sailor, and I – who was attached as closely to him as I could get - absorbed that vocabulary like a thirsty sponge.  Gaining that dubious proficiency was automatic.  Getting rid of it?  That’s been another matter altogether.

The Lord and I have had many talks about my speech over the years.  I wish I could tell you that no longer need to have those talks, but that would not be the truth.  What I have learned in my long struggle with my tongue is that victory is a daily gift.  There is now a small voice that alerts me, “Ooops.  Bad word approaching!”  Some would call that my conscience.  I prefer to think of it as Jesus’ gentle voice, saying: “Come on, Sherrie, get a grip.”  Every victory gives the strength to conquer the next.  Thanks be to God!

I Am Thankful For: A God Who Listens

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Have you ever had a time when it seemed like no one was listening to you?  Whether on the job or in the home, you had something to share, and the world turned a deaf ear.  Even those closest to us – spouse, child, best friend – are occasionally guilty of shutting us out.

The Apostle Paul says, Hey!  Whatever you have to say, whatever it is that you need - talk to God!  He is always there, always listening, always open to hearing your voice.  He listens, processes, understands, and cares.  And on top of all that – He promises peace.

I'm not just hopin', I'm not just wishin'
I know I'm prayin' to a God who listens
I know He hears me, I know He's livin'
Yes, I am prayin' to a God who listens

I Am Thankful For: My Children

 

O Lord, my God, I will give You thanks forever.

Psalm 30:12b

I have been given many blessings in my life – none greater than my three daughters.  I am in full agreement with Solomon, when he wrote in Psalm 127:  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

I distinctly remember a woman coming up to me at church, right after one of my girls had stalked away from me in high dungeon.  She patted my shoulder in sympathy and said: “It is perhaps hard to imagine, but 20 years from now, she will be your best friend.”  How true her words!  Our kids can be tremendously frustrating at times, but they also fill our lives with love and great joy.  Thanks be to God for our children!

I Am Thankful For: A White Robe

 

I will give thanks to the Lord for His righteousness

And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17

Throughout the Bible, God speaks to us about our heart’s “clothing.”  Isaiah reminds us that all of our attempts at right doing – our efforts at righteous living - are nothing more than a pile of dirty rags.  Matthew relates Jesus’ parable of the wedding guests who need to put on a special wedding garment that will cover their inadequate clothing.  Jesus advises the Laodicean Church to obtain from him white clothing to cover their “shameless nakedness.”    The Apostle John saw a huge multitude in heaven, from every nation, tribe, people and language, wearing white robes.

David thanked God, not for his own rightness, but for God’s perfect righteousness, which covered him from head to toe.  The Lord offers to us freely – without money and without price – not the couture of the world, but the shining white cover of His righteousness and love.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

And His righteousness,

And all these things shall be added unto you.

Allelu, alleluia.

I Am Thankful for: The Music of Choirs

 

For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,

there had been directors for the singers,

and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Nehemiah 12:46

I was working with the chairman of the Music Department at Pacific Union College, putting together the classes I should take for my Master’s Degree., when Dr. Jim realized a glaring deficiency in my undergraduate work:  I had not taken any classes in choral conducting.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, as it turned out), none of those classes would fit in my schedule.  So Dr. Jim signed me up for a series of Independent Study classes, and taught me himself – one on one.

It has been my privilege to be a choral conductor for almost fifty years, enriching my life more than I can say in these few words.  Congregational singing is wonderful, but choral singing takes that experience to new heights.  If you have the opportunity to sing in a choir, give it a shot!  It will be, as Nehemiah wrote, one of the best ways to proclaim your praise and thanksgiving to God.

 

Shout to the Lord  Hillsong Worship

I Am Thankful For: What God has Done for Me

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him,

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

There is an old saying – feed a cold, starve a fever.  It makes good sense, for when you have a fever, you are miserably uncomfortable and the thought of food is the furthest thing from your mind.  When you have a cold, you might be miserable with the sniffles and congestion, but your stomach is still demanding something to eat.

Whether we’re talking about plants or children, or sick adults, they don’t flourish unless they’re fed. We could say the same about love, or knowledge, or faith. Nothing becomes better or stronger unless it’s nurtured, practiced, developed.

Your faith can be fed by reading stories of faith in His Word, daily remembering what the Lord has done for you in the past, and thanking Him for the compassion, love and guidance He showers on us every single day. 

 

I Know Whom I Have Believed  Fountainview Academy

I Am Thankful For: A Chance to Worship

 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can not be shaken,

Let us be thankful, and so worship God with reverence and awe…

Hebrews 12:28

I remember it like it was yesterday.  On Friday, March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a nation emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease outbreak.  On Sunday, March 15, my choir sang for the worship service, then shut down for “the foreseeable future.”  We thought it would be a matter of weeks.  We were so wrong.

As churches shut down, I searched for a way to worship:  online, drive-in, and finally, live-streamed.  I watched services here in Virginia, in California, and Michigan.  Lately, I have settled on the Ephesus SDA Church here in Richmond – a service rich with music and wonderful preaching.  Every Saturday morning, I settle down in front of my laptop and prepare to worship.  The pandemic has changed many things.  Our need to worship God is not one of them.

 

I am Thankful for: My Father

 

A wise daughter heeds her father’s instruction…

Proverbs 13:1a

A couple days ago, a young man approached me about cutting back the massive pin oak tree in the backyard to get rid of the branches that are laying on pretty much the entire length of my back roof, as well as pruning my peach and my dogwood trees, and removing a scraggly apple tree. He offered me his spiffy business card and the "today only" price of $2200. He explained that the price was a little higher because someone would have to climb up in that huge tree. Well, duh!

I informed him that my daddy taught me to always get three estimates for any job, so I would be getting two more opinions.. He was visibly unhappy with that choice. Today I had a bonafide tree company (recommended by three of my neighbors) come out to give me an estimate. Their price? $600.

Today is Veteran’s Day, and I want to honor my Navy dad, the wisest man I have ever known.  Nothing was more important to him than family and country – and he served both with heart, and soul. and dignity.  I love you, Dad – now and forever. 

 

 

I am Thankful for: My Friends

 

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Philippians 1:3

It is clear that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi when he was imprisoned under house arrest.  There he proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who visited him.  During his work in the early church, Paul traveled widely and made many friends.  When he was incarcerated – whether in a dungeon, a cell or a house – he had to rely on those many friends to meet his basic needs.  Paul was grateful for their faith and their care for him, and thanked God for his friends and fellow workers.

I worked for 19 years for a large church in my area.  During that time, I made many wonderful friends.  Now that I am retired, I still cherish those friends and enjoy the times, even during a pandemic, when we can get together:  a Facetime call, a chatty email or Zoom, having lunch together, requesting help and offering help.  I, like Paul, am thankful every time I think of my friends. 

I Am Thankful For: God's Love

 

Give thanks to the Lord; call on His name.

Make known among the nations what He has done.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good – His love endures forever.

1^st Chronicles 16:5, 34 

This may sound simplistic, but I don’t know what I would do without the love of God in my life:  knowing that He created me, He loves me like a daughter, and He wants the very best for me.  It is hard, sometimes, to not be able to see Him, or reach out and hug Him.  But I know He is right beside me, every step of my day.

So I give thanks to God today for His love, His patience with my human failings, and His compassion and kindness.  I ask Him for the presence of His Spirit which brings peace.

 

 Open Our Eyes, Lord, We Want to See Jesus

I am Thankful for: The Peace of Christ

 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 

It is November – the month of the Thanksgiving holiday, and a time when we often turn to thoughts of thankfulness.  The pandemic has made the last year and a half difficult for almost everyone.  It can be difficult to be thankful when you are isolated and afraid. 

Between now and Thanksgiving, I want to share Scripture and song that speaks to our need to give thanks no matter what our circumstances.  No matter what life throws at us, there is at least one thing for which we can thank God, and that is His presence and participation in our lives.  Let the theme of our days be:  I am Thankful for… 

Thanks be to God
(Stanley Dickson – P.J. O’Reilly) 

Thanks be to God for roses rare
For skies of blue and sunshine fair;
For every gift I raise a prayer
Thanks be to God!

Thanks be to God for lovely night,
For mystic fields with stars bedight,
For hours of dream and deep delight
Thanks be to God!

Thanks be to God for love divine
The hopes that round my heart entwine;
For all the joy that now is mine,
Thanks be to God!

 

 

A Psalm of David: Psalm 57 & Psalm 142

 

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,

For in You my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 57:1

I cry aloud to the Lord. 

I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need.

Psalm 142:1, 6a 

These two psalms of David are specifically marked as having been written while David was in the wilderness, hiding from King Saul in caves.  1 Samuel 22 says:  David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam.”  David had 400 men.  The king searched for him with an army of 3,000.  This went on for years.  One would think David’s situation was fairly hopeless. Sooner or later… 

But David knew a truth that he staked his life on:  God was his everlasting Father, and his prayers for protection and deliverance would be answered in God’s time and in God’s way.  Are you feeling hopeless today?  Know that God sees your tears and hears your prayers.   He will comfort you, give you strength, and infuse you with the courage to face whatever is ahead.  Trust Him.  He is there for you.

 

Under His Wings - Del Delker

A Psalm of David: Psalm 145

The Lord is faithful to all His promises,

and loving toward all He has made.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways

and loving toward all He has made.

Psalm 145:13b, 17 

One summer when I was a kid, my father put me on a roller coaster at the state fair.  It was called The Mighty Mouse and was next to nothing as roller coasters go.  But it was still fast, jerked you around, and took the corners as though my little car was going to fly off the track.  It scared me to death.  In the midst of my terror, I cried out to God, promising Him that I would love and serve Him forever if He would just spare my life from that awful contraption.  As soon as the ride was over, I wobbled over to my dad, all in one piece, and promptly forgot all about promises made.

In this psalm, King David proclaims that God is faith to ALL His promises.  He does not get distracted or too busy.  He does not turn a deaf ear when we call.  He does not forget what He has promised.  He has given His Word, and He who has promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

Great is Thy Faithfulness  Carrie Underwood / CeCe Wynans

A Psalm of David: Psalm 103

 

He does not treat us as our sins deserve,

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is His love for those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

For He knows how we are formed.

He remembers we are dust.

Psalm 103:10-12, 14

This last weekend, I traveled to Goochland County to be a substitute pianist for the worship service at Grace Episcopal Church.  I live in Chesterfield County and traveling west to Goochland is a bit of a hike – 40 miles or so – which felt like a long ways.  However, if I were to hop in the car and head west to Los Angeles, it would be traveling 2600 miles – 38 hours of driving!  In this psalm, David is speaking of infinite east to infinite west – a distance we can’t even imagine. 

Do you have any skeletons in the closet of your life?  Things you wish you’d never done, but unfortunately, you did?  I certainly do. There are sins of my younger years that I know God has forgiven me for, but occasionally they pop up in my mind as a reminder of the frailty of the human experience.   But David says, “Wait a minute!  Those sins are gone!  As far as the east is from the west, they are GONE.”  Praise the Lord!

A Psalm of David: Psalm 86

 

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth.

Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

Psalm 86:11 

Have you ever had a divided heart?  Rather than a division of just the heart, I am used to hearing:  “My heart says one thing, but my head says another.”  When it comes to everyday living, we quite often face issues on which we are hesitant – divided in our thoughts and emotions.  But when it comes to our allegiance to God, we want an inner agreement of both heart, mind, soul and spirit.

King David’s son Solomon expressed it to the children of Israel this way:  "Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."  I Kings 8:61  Today may your soul (heart + mind) be firmly settled in the love of Christ Jesus.

 

 

A Psalm of David: Psalm 122

 

I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 122:1

When the pandemic first raised its ugly head, one of the most difficult adjustments we had to make was the isolation from most other human beings.  Even our families were part of that isolation, if they did not live in the same house as we did.  Gatherings with others, big and small, were advised against then stopped altogether, including attending church. 

Fortunately, churches responded by going virtual, with YouTube channels and live streaming.  I “visited” several houses of worships during that time – searching for quality music and relevant preaching.  I finally settled on two:  The Loma Linda University Church for the outstanding music, and the Ephesus SDA Church here in Richmond for outstanding preaching.  My home office became my “house of the Lord” as those virtual congregations fed my soul. 

I was Glad When They Said Unto Me –C. Hubert H. Parry  

Abendmusik at First Plymouth

A Psalm of David: Psalm 69

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

The Redeemer of the Rain

Who doesn't wish for sunny days?
That the sky above us would never turn grey
But life isn't always sunshine
We have times that leave us asking why
And when the clouds roll in and tears begin to fall
There must be a reason for it all

Redeemer of the rain
The Lord will never waste our pain
He brings beauty out of brokenness
And hope to our heartache
Healing out of every hurt
That invades our shattered world
We never walk through trials in vain
He's the redeemer of the rain

Every problem that we face
Is sifted by the Father
Through hands of grace
He uses sorrow to draw us
To call us closer to His side
It's in the middle of the storm
We learn to trust
That He is always watching over us

Redeemer of the rain
The Lord will never waste our pain
He brings beauty out of brokenness
And hope to our heartache
Healing out of every hurt that invades our shattered world
We never walk through trials in vain
He's the Redeemer of the rain

Dark days we walk through
They lead a path for others
Leading them to

The Redeemer of the rain
He brings beauty out of brokenness
And hope to our heartache
Healing out of every hurt that invades our shattered world
We never walk through trials in vain
Oh, we've known His mercy long enough to say
He's the Redeemer of the rain

- Lee Black, Sharon Phillips, Dixie Lynne Phillips