GREAT THINGS

 

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. God is so gracious!

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 (miracles) 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.

God sees, God hears, God is concerned, God knows,

God can fill the longing of our soul;

while also enacting His justice

on those who pervert righteousness.

Great things – filling our hungry souls -

including heart, mind - and spirit also.

God does desire the best for us

lovingly honored through faith and trust.

Like Mary, pray a prayer of thankfulness to God

then look for God’s blessings on the journey you trod.

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

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people...

I have heard them crying out...

and I am concerned about their suffering.

So I have come down to rescue them...”

Exodus 3:7-8

This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God...

He has delivered us... Past

He will deliver us. Present

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. Future

II Corinthians 1:9-10

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Psalm 103:2-5

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 extraordinary

and come to realize God's amazing grace, also extraordinary.

God's Gift to Us - Christmas

is available via Amazon.