In the third installment of Mary's Song we see how God continues to work in lives. For 400+ years God never spoke to mankind. He was completely silent. This was due to God's supposed people not following Him. Considering this length of time it was surprising that He would choose a young girl from an unknown town to speak to and declare His plan of salvation with the birth of the Messiah. Mary was chosen and God was going to do some mighty things. Things that to us would be impossible, and are impossible. Mary exclaims that God is mighty and holy and has done great things.
   We saw already what Mary thought of herself, she did not think she was perfect, or better than anyone else, she was humble. That humility carries through the next statement regarding the work God was going to do in her. She was going to give birth to a son without any sexual contact. That cannot be done, except for God. God did a miracle in having Mary be pregnant. Not only is God mighty, but holy. The word holy is set apart, God is like no other, He is God, the only God and there is none like Him. Mary's words remind me of Jeremiah's centuries earlier "Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might." (Jeremiah 10:6).
   We can also exclaim Mary's words of God's might and holiness, but we must not forget that in all the blessing that would come from this event, there was the potential of much persecution. She was pregnant and not married and this was condemned by the Jewish society of the day. This was not going to be an easy road for Mary, and yet she still praised God. We have a mighty God who speaks to us through His Word. And he is also Holy. God desires to use us in spite of our weaknesses, and we ought to praise Him for all that He gives us just as Mary did 2000 years ago.
   - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton

   We saw from Mary's Song that she rejoiced in her Savior, that she needed to be  saved like all of us. We also saw that her goal was to make God bigger, to magnify Him, that the whole world would see how great God is.
   As we look more into the words of Mary as penned by Dr. Luke, we see that she was humble. "For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."(Luke 1:48) Mary wanted to magnify the Lord, but she knew that in order for Him to be seen she would have to not be seen. Mary was truly humble, she wasn't pretending to be humble or putting herself down. the word humble means "to think lowly of oneself", and that is true, however it isn't to bring yourself so far down that you disregard who you are. Instead it is giving all the glory to God, to realize that we are nothing compared to Him, and that He deserves all praise, and honor, and worship. Mary could have been proud to give birth to the Lord Jesus, yet she was humble. She knew that this was not of her, there was nothing she had that other women didn't have, she was simply chosen by God.
   We also see that she knew that this event would give her fame. This young peasant girl was giving birth to the Savior, not a queen or rich lady. She would be called blessed forever. We see today that Mary is praised for her role in bringing the Savior to the world, and Mary knew that this was to happen. Praise God for how He works in lives, and how we can be used for His Glory!
   Mary was truly a humble lady, and she was grateful for what she was involved in. This song of praise that is recorded shows to us that Mary wanted to serve the Lord and she was willing to be a part of this great opportunity.
   We also have been given much opportunity to share the Gospel, and for those of us who know Jesus as Savior are to be humble for the Word says "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." (James 4:7)
   - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton

   I spoke on this at Ivey's Terrace last Sunday Afternoon for the seniors, but I would like to take the next few weeks and look at some thoughts regarding Mary and her worship.
   Luke 1:46,47 Mary begins her song with "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." Many times we read this and we don't even think of what she is saying. Mary is pouring out her heart to the Lord and she says that He is to be magnified. Not only is God to be praised and lifted up, but she rejoices in that her Savior has come. We must realize that every Jewish girl hoped for the Messiah to be born of her. So for Mary to now realize that it is her to be the mother of the Lord Jesus must have been astounding and overwhelming for her. She also knows that she has not had and sexual contact with anyone, and so this special miracle of her being found pregnant would have further proven to her that God was with her. Mary knows that this is all of God and not of her, He has done the work not Mary or Joseph or some other person, it was God who brought this miracle to her. Lastly, she states very clearly that this child would not just be her son, but also her Savior! Mary needed a Savior, she was not perfect, or immaculate as some would say, Mary was an average young girl that happened to be blessed by God. These same that teach that Mary was perfect also state that she was perpetually (or always) a virgin, which is not the case (Matthew 13:55,56).
   Though we are not going to give birth to the Messiah, or likely experience this type of miracle, we can worship God for bringing the Savior to us. Without the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we would not have the Death and Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. So as we begin this Christmas Season let's remember that the real reason He came was so that He could die for you!
   - Assi