Monday, December 19, 2016

December 20, 2016

Christmas often brings with it as much stress and tension as it does hope and joy. Honestly, maybe even more.

Even as a pastor I feel pressure to find fresh ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior on the Sundays of December. It's such a significant story it's impact must be preserved from year to year.

This morning I took a fresh look at how Mary praised God when the wonder of the Christmas Angels fully settled into her spirit. It is often called "The Magnificat" but I just call it powerfully sincere worship!

Feel free to compare it with your worship this Season.

"Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You’re so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!
And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news;
    I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
    I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
    the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
    on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
    scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
    pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
    the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
    he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
    beginning with Abraham and right up to now."

Luke 1:36-55

That's what true worship looks like!

True worship is spirit-inspired, sincere and simple!

Keep this in mind as you worship during this Christmas Season!