Life is a Garden Party

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Good Things/Great Things


GOOD THINGS

Mary thanked God for filling the hungry with good things.
I'm sure she was thinking of more than what she was eating.
I'm certain she thanked God often for everything
and everyday added to her prayers of thanksgiving.

Thankful for God providing her husband, Joseph,
who obeyed God in taking her as his wife.
Thankful that he was a righteous, godly man,
who set a good example as a Christian.
I'm sure Mary viewed her husband as a good thing.

Thankful for the safe trip as they traveled
for there were often reports of muggers.
Thankful to see family and friends
as they reached their long journey's end.
Safe travels, friends and family, are more good things.

Thankful for a place to stay,
even though it smelled like hay.
Also thankful there were no complications
when her pregnancy came to its completion.
Shelter and good health are always good things.

Thankful for those encouragers
that came in the form of shepherds
who told her of events too awesome and wonderful to contemplate.
Events that the foundation of society would one day shake.
Those who encourage us bless us with good things.

Thankful that God keeps His promises
in providing a Savior named Jesus,
who is also Immanuel, God with us,
when in faith we believe in God and trust.
God's promises are very good things.

* * * * *
So thankful Mary was, she treasured and pondered all these amazing things
in her spirit, heart, and soul for God had become her everything.
There wasn't anything she didn't thank God for.
There wasn't anyone she could have loved more.

Like Mary, does your soul glorify the Lord?
Like Mary, does your spirit rejoice in God?
Are words of gratitude spoken throughout your day
in praise to the Creator of all your days?

You'll find that if your day starts
filled with a grateful heart
joy will bubble up in you
and last the whole day through.

He has filled the hungry with good things.
Luke 1:53

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19

My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant...
the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.
Luke 1:46-49


GREAT THINGS

A miracle: a great and good work that only the one true God can do – a miracle for sure.
Mary glorified God with rejoicing for the great things God was doing through her.
Not only for choosing her to be the mother
of Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Savior,
but for God's mercy to all generations,
God's forbearance seen everyday in action.

What a great thing God's gift of mercy is!
Undeserved for sure. How gracious God is!
Compassionate.
Faithful. Patient.
Abounding in loving-kindness which endures forever.
And thankfully hearing and, in His time, answering prayers.

Consider what a great thing God's mighty deeds are.
Speaking forth night and day, the sun, the moon, the stars,
vegetation,
animals, humans...
starting with creation -
then bringing salvation!

Great things - lifting up the humble,
causing the proud in heart to stumble.
Great things – filling our hungry souls
while mindful to rightfully bestow.
God does desire the best for us
lovingly honored through faith and trust.

What great things God has done for us!
What great things God has planned for us!
What great things are available when we, like Mary,
rejoice in God, our Savior, and bring God glory.
I know you can say with me, God has done great things.
That God should love you and I, what a great thing!

* * * * *

How God desires that we be like Mary -
that our soul and spirit give God glory!
To be so in tune with God's will for us
that our words and thoughts glorify Jesus!

We all can say like Mary, God has done great things for us.
May we use God's blessings to us to glorify Jesus.
One blessing is God's mercy, God's love for us despite our actions.
This is one blessing that God extends toward all generations.

Every day God performs mighty works, miracles,
when prayer is answered for something that seems quite impossible.
What great thing has God granted you recently?
Like Mary, are you praising and giving God glory?

God will bless you when you worship Him
with words of praise and thanksgiving.
May giving God glory
be your life's story.

And Mary said:
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me -
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things.
Joel 2:21

Take a moment to read the following from Psalm 146.
Quite similar to Mary's prayer starting at Luke 1:46.
A verification of Mary's believing faith
through a spiritual upbringing and her heart of grace.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the seas, and everything in them -
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Psalm 146:5-9

When you read the word "great" throughout the Scriptures daily
perhaps you could transpose great to mean extra-ordinary
and come to realize God's amazing grace, also extra-ordinary.


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