He has done great things

15th day of Advent December 17th, 2017 Luke 1:46-55

He has done great things

At one time in my life, I believed I had everything. A wonderful family, a great job, a beautiful home, vacations every year. I was content. At least I thought I was until my world changed. Fifteen years ago, my parents died less than two months apart. I was 41 years old and I felt lost and empty inside. A good friend visited one day along with her pastor’s wife. I had met her many times before but her compassion and love covered me in my grief and I will never ever forget it. God used that moment to reveal Himself more fully to me, and I wanted to know Him more. Never could I have imagined the journey He would lead me on, and the more I open my heart and put my trust in Him, the more I am amazed and humbled by His goodness.

Jesus Saves. As followers of Jesus, we are called to share His saving Love and to bring Hope to a hurting world – to people who hunger for something more. Isaiah 61:1 says:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”

Through Isaiah, God shared His plan to exchange beauty for ashes and gladness for despair. He clothes us in “garments of salvation” because He loves us so much! The greatness of that Love is revealed in how He chose to step down from heaven to earth as a tiny baby.

God chose Mary for this purpose, and Mary’s Song of Praise reminds us of God’s faithfulness. It is a song of trust and obedience, but also one of thankfulness and joy. (Luke 1:46-55)

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:46-49)

How about you? Does your soul magnify the Lord? Is your heart open to God and available for His purpose? The lyrics of the song “Be Born in Me” capture the essence of trust and surrender, not only Mary’s but our own:

And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees

Holy is He; blessed am I. Be born in me…

Glorify Him this Advent season. He is truly Holy…and we are truly blessed.

Guest Blogger: Cathy Edwards, known across the ACrossMission ministries as Mama Mchungaji.

Cathy is a founding member of ACrossMission and truly a pastoral voice. When others focus on the storms of ministry, she speaks of Jesus and raises our eyes to the One who calms the storms.