Blessed Mary

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. (Luke 1.28)

Why was Mary blessed among women?  We assume the reason to be that she was the mother of our Lord. However, the scriptures indicate another specific reason.  She believed.  She believed the words spoken to her.

Open the scriptures.  Look at the words spoken to you.  Do you believe? 

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And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.  [Luke 1:45]

God's Will in All Circumstances

Sometimes we talk about discerning God's will in a particular situation.   The scriptures give us a basic recipe for God's will:  Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

What if things aren't going our way?  What if we are being mistreated?  Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? [Romans 8:31]

Turning Fear into Fear

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10)

Three times this is stated in the scriptures!   When life's monsters loom in front of us, it is easy to become afraid.  Let us turn the scared type of fear into the scriptural type of fear: respect for the Lord. As we do this, our inner human fears can be replaced with godly fear:  confidence in the One who is stronger than the monsters.

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The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? [Psalm 118:6]

The Angel of His Presence

In all their distress he too was distressed,and the angel of his presence saved them. (Isaiah 63:9)

There are times when we feel distressed.  How comforting to know that God, in his love, is distressed with us.  He sends us the angel of His presence.  I know not whether it is a heavenly angel that emanates the presence of the Lord, or whether it is the Lord himself who's presence is angelic.  Either way, how beautiful to know that we have the angel of His presence.

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Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  [Isaiah 53:4]

Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy

"He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him."  (Psalm 126:7)

Relational conflict, particularly with a spouse, can cause us to weep.  Within our pain, anger and frustration, we must be careful to sow good attitutes, actions and words of peace and kindness.  This will produce future joy in that same relationship and bring much good fruit from our own personal tree of life.

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They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [Psalm 126:6]

Becoming Agape

Remember this well-known exchange from John 21?
 
"Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep."

When Jesus said love, he used the Greek word agape, meaning selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.  When Peter said love, he used the Greek word phileo, meaning benevolent, kindly love that is found in friendship.

Peter may have started as a phileo lover of Jesus, but he eventually became an agape lover of Jesus.  Tradition tells us that he was crucified upside down as a martyr for Jesus Christ.

Likewise, one may start out as a phileo and eros (physical) lover of one's spouse, but can grow to be an agape lover.  Christ brings about that change as we stay in close communion with Him.  He did it for Peter.  He can do it for us.

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For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he comes. 
[I Corinthians 11:26]

Downward Spiral

Scenario:  She feels hurt about something that has happened.  When she tells him about it, he gets angry and defensive which makes her feel more hurt.   To protect herself, she decides not to tell him how she feels in the future, creating emotional distance.  He throws up his hands in frustration, "She's never happy," and turns his back, creating emotional distance. It's a cycle that only can be broken by stepping aside from the downward spiral and looking up to God.

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I was in misery and he helped me. [Psalm 116:6]