GABRIEL WAS RIGHT

 

Of course, the angel of God would be right.  Elizabeth,. even in her old age, became pregnant.  The baby was conceived the old-fashioned way. 

A BABY…A BABY BOY 

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Luke 1:24

Can you see her?  Elizabeth is looking out the window.  “A son,” she said out loud.  “A son we are to name John.  After all these years, the Lord has done this for me.  His favor has taken away my disgrace.  No longer will the people look at me as if I am being punished by God.” 

The Lord has granted the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  She is pregnant.  I believe she chose to stay in seclusion for the first five months, because she was past childbearing years and was not sure how this pregnancy would change her body.  During this time, I am sure Elizabeth offered many prayers of gratitude.  I am sure Zechariah saw her instant faith in the news Gabriel delivered instead of his doubt and questioning.  This seclusion would give them time to say prayers of gratitude for this gift:  a son.  

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:39-45

Can you see Elizabeth touching her stomach?  Can you see the wonder and questioning in her eyes?  Can you see her go to Mary and wonder why she is so blessed that Mary came to her?  Do you think she realized her child was destined to ….. 

At this point, I do not believe Elizabeth or Mary truly understood the future of the children they carried.  BUT, I can see two women, with great faith, sitting and sharing their emotions and their questions.  I can picture them sitting in a garden, offering prayers, and wondering what was ahead of them.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai told Esther, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this.”  As I read articles about John The Baptist, I realized Elizabeth had not previously conceived a child because she was being punished by God.  Elizabeth had not conceived because she was to carry a child who was being born for just such a time as this. 

IT IS TIME

Elizabeth was ready and gave birth to a son.  On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and Elizabeth said, “He is to be called John.”  Zechariah, still not able to speak, wrote, “His name is John.”

 

You Will Always Be My Son, Caleb and Kelsey

https://youtu.be/FUsLT0hIOus?si=CITwAF-M6OGgMYK4

THE BIRTH OF A BABY FORTOLD

 

I want to introduce you to Zechariah, a Jewish priest, and his wife, Elizabeth.  This couple was righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all the Lord’s commandments and regulations.  Elizabeth had never conceived and was now very old.

NOT A NORMAL DAY

Elizabeth sent Zechariah on his way.  It was a great day for him.  What an honor to be the one serving God.  She could picture him entering the sanctuary of the Lord.  It would be a long week until she welcomed him home, and they would discuss his week over the evening meal.

Zechariah looked back one more time.  He knew she would still be watching him.  She always watched until he was out of sight.  He pictured her beginning the day's household chores.  Taking a deep breath, he turned his mind to his task.  The order of Abijah was on duty this week, and he was chosen, by lot, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.  This was an honor and each priest was only assigned this task once in his lifetime.

Turning the corner, he saw the crowd was gathering.  Today, the crowd seemed rather large.  He knew they would be praying during the burning of the incense and nodded to them as he closed the door.  His service to God would now begin.

The ketoret was a special blend of eleven herbs and balms, which was measured precisely.  This would be burned twice a day on the golden altar that stood in the Temple.  Ketoret means “bonding.”  The incense brings a pleasant odor to the temple, boosts the dignity and respect of the Temple, and represents the essential connection each person has with God.  With great reverence, Zechariah took the ketoret and placed it on the incense altar. 

As he looked up, he saw an angel of the Lord standing to the right of the incense altar.  He was overcome with fear, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.”  The angel continued to tell him that Elizabeth would have a son.  A son they were to name John. 

Zechariah listened as the angel told about the life John would have.  This is where things go a bit off track for Zechariah.  He questions the angel, Gabriel.  The angel that stands in the presence of God.  The angel God sent to bring the good news about the future birth of his son.  Gabriael, being more than a bit upset, caused Zechariah to be silent.  Silent until after the birth of baby John.

The people were waiting when Zechariah came out and wanted to know why he had been inside so long.  Zechariah couldn’t tell them.  Have you ever played the game Pictionary?  That is what I picture him doing.  All sorts of motions … until they realized he had seen a vision.

When his week was completed, he returned home.  Soon afterward Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed.  “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

 

Angels Among Us, Alabama

https://youtu.be/y_4Xfj2LRSA?si=bz3lQGe0rm37m-C6

 

 

 THE CHRISTMAS STORY — THE OTHER BABY

 I love to write Christmas blogs.   Who doesn’t like Christmas?  A baby!  Angels!  A miracle!  Christmas songs.   So much to pick from.   

Every year, I try to find a way to tell the Christmas story that points out something new.  A way to help you see each character as real.  A living, breathing person.  I want you to see their hopes and dreams.  I want you to realize they learned to read and write and do math.

A while back, something popped into my thought process:  Read the Christmas story again.   Really read it.  Slowly.  Picturing it.  Seeing everything as if you were there.

This year, as I slowly read the Christmas story, I saw another baby.  A baby named John:  John The Baptist.  As I have read and found articles, I realized how strong in faith, how dedicated to God’s plan, and how humble this man was.  My goal will be to have you understand his role.   We picture him standing on a rock, wearing weird clothes, and eating honey.  We see him baptizing Jesus.  That is about it.  Oh, yeah, and that he was later beheaded.

I hope by the end of the series, you will be able to “see” John.  You will find his story important.  His story does not begin when he baptized Jesus.  His story began when Zechariah entered the Temple to burn incense.  His story began when Zechariah questioned how he and Elizabeth could have a baby.

Each week, you will find the scripture I posted on our church’s Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/urbanayokeparish/ .  At the end of the blog, you will find a song or story that ties into the spirit of the blog.  I have enjoyed working to tie the Monday Scripture, the Wednesday Pick-Me-Up, and the blog together.  Please join me next week, as a five-part series begins. 

==========

I am famous for my terrible spelling, but before you try to point out that I have misspelled the names of John’s parents, Zechariah is also spelled Zachariah.  In one article, it is spelled Zachary.  Elizabeth is also spelled Elisabeth.

THANKSGIVING VS GIVING THANKS

Bet you are thinking, “There is no difference.”  But let’s be honest.  When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, the Norman Rockwell painting comes to mind.  We see a family sitting around a table, a very large, perfectly cooked turkey, dressing (stuffing), smiles and the mother still wearing her apron. 

When we hear the word “Thanksgiving”, we think about having the day off work (except for the people in the kitchen working for hours to prepare a meal that will be consumed in ten minutes), taking a nap after eating that turkey, football games, a dog show, and the long drive home with tired children.  Somewhere in there, we might actually go around and have everyone tell something they are thankful for.  That is, if we can get it in during halftime or a commercial.

Thanksgiving:  The fourth Thursday in November.

vs

Giving:  To make a present of

Thanks:  Expression of gratitude

When I read the meaning of the words giving and thanks, I wondered if I had been doing it wrong all these years.  Over the years, I have made it about me.

·                  I am so thankful for indoor plumbing.

·                  I am so thankful for family.

·                  I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets.

·                  I am – I am – I am.  It was all about me. 

But now?

TO MAKE A PRESENT OF OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Can you hear me Lord?  Is my voice rising to your heavenly realm?

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

My soul is smiling.  Can you see it reflected in my eyes?  Lord, God, I come before you with a song so full of joy it cannot be contained 

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

You made me.  I am yours.  Shepherd, I rest in your pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

My thanksgiving is so strong no gate can keep me out and your courts will echo my praises.

I will raise my hands as I give you thanks and praise your name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lord, as my grandmother prayed, so shall I pray.  Your faithfulness surrounded her and that faithfulness will surround my children and their children and their children.

AMEN.  AND AMEN.

Happy Giving Thanks Day!!!

 

 INVISIBLE

The Old Farmer’s Almanac said the ancient Greeks believed that topaz (November’s birthstone) could make a wearer invisible.  I am a November baby and I have a ring, with a topaz setting, on my finger at this very moment.

“Bill, can you see me?” I asked.

He replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

I hate to tell the learned Greeks, but it doesn’t work.  Besides, I don’t want to be invisible.

I want people to see me!!  I want my Sunday morning hug!  If Terry could not see me, he could not give me a hug.  If I were invisible, no one could smile at me and I could not talk to them.  (Oh my.  Not talk.  That might be a big problem.)  My kids and grandkids would not know where I was and the grandkids might trip over me.  Compared to them, I am more than a bit short.  If I were invisible, how could my actions show people God’s love?

BUT (You know the capital BUT means I am going to turn this around.).  BUT … are there people that are invisible to us?

Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Do we look right through them?  Often, we don’t want to see them, because then we would have to be an example of Jesus.  Do we see:

• the homeless man or the person sleeping in their car?
• the single parent struggling with a tired child?
• the person cleaning the restrooms or the floors, at a business?
• the person sitting in the back pew?
• the “different” student who no one will sit with?
• the person who wears strange clothes or is covered with tattoos?

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

“when did we see” ….  Do we even see them?  Do we turn away?  Or are they invisible?

 

CHANGING PLANS

I keep a monthly calendar on the refrigerator.  Meetings, haircuts, doctor’s appointments, activities I want to do, activities I might do, and birthdays.  As soon as I have it printed off, the phone will ring, and I will have to make a change.  The month never turns out like I think it will.  The calendar starts neatly with different colors for each type of activity.  By the end of the month, it is a mess.  How can so many plans change?  I am sure your life is like that too.

I wonder what Jesus’ calendar looked like.  Actually, I can answer that.  Every day — think of that: EVERY DAY — would be the same.  When Jesus looked at his calendar to see his schedule, it would read the same day in and day out.  Sunday: Do my Father’s will.  Monday: Do my Father’s will.  Tuesday: Do my Father’s will.  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Do my Father’s will. 

“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”            John 6:38-40

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.           John 3:16-17

  And that is just what Jesus did.  He did the will of His Father.

  Bless his heart.

  Question: Is doing God’s work written on your calendar?

 

 COMING IN DECEMBER

There is a plan running around inside my head.  That is usually a dangerous sign. This plan means I will have to do a lot of research and google  overtime.  It means I will have to tie three things together.

I manage Urbana Yoke Parish’s Facebook page and website.  Website is no problem.  But, the Facebook page has a Monday Scripture and a Wednesday Pick Me Up.  Those would tie into the Friday Blog.  All this to have December about ______???_____.  (You will have to wait until December to find out.). All this to bring _______???____ to life.  Hopefully, to show this person as real.  As a person who had dreams, goals, and trials.  A person who  fulfilled God’s plan for his life.

I finished the Monday Scriptures.  Those were easy.  Then I started on Wednesday Pick Me Up.  This is usually a skit or song.  YouTube here I come.  Search came up with a lot of songs.  They were okay, but they were songs that we learned in Sunday School.   I needed something better.  I went from one song to another.  I listened to lessons about this person and that person.  I quit after two hours and still had nothing that would qualify as a Pick Me Up.  I tried again.  I read the scriptures.  I went down the list on YouTube.  

This was not working.  Maybe my plan is just a crazy idea.  Maybe.  Maybe, I needed a new perspective.  I went back to the scriptures.  What was in the scripture that applied to today?  That changed my perspective.  I went back to YouTube.  Took each of the scriptures I was using in December and, in 45 minutes, had a Pick Me Up for each Wednesday.

Two of the three tie ends are ready.  The next will be to pray over this plan.  Research.  Study.  Listen.  Write.  Five blogs on one man.  Even I do not know how this will turn out.  I have no preconceived idea.  No plan other than to make this person and his actions mean something.  To make this person real and not just words on a page.

I am excited and a bit nervous.  BUT…. I sure do enjoy a challenge.