The faith of a child: Mary, mother of Jesus

Luke 1:26-38

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

I bet this story from Luke 1:26-38 is one of the most well known stories in the Bible. Especially at this time of year, we’ll hear the plight of this young woman named Mary, whom God chose to be the mother of the Savior of the world. Can you imagine? Can you even fathom what went through this young girl’s mind during this entire scene? Let’s take this step by step and journey through this time and season with Mary.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

One of the first things we learn about Mary is that she is highly favored with the Lord. Mary was a woman that walked in faith already, probably followed God’s laws and decrees to the best of her ability. She was a sinner like we all are, but she followed God and obeyed him. And an angel of the Lord came to visit her. How many of you have been graced by an angel who had been to the throne of God and was sent to give you a message?

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Mary had probably been startled with the presence of this angel. I am sure that Mary knew well the stories of the Old Testament where God spoke to Moses, or through a prophet such as Elijah, but what did he mean by this? Why was he here?

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

That is a lot to take in for a young girl…..

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The woman of faith has doubt. Gosh, guys, we all on this website know what it takes to get pregnant….you gotta have sex! And if you are a virgin, that just isn’t going to happen, ya know? I mean…in that time period to be engaged to a man, to be found pregnant…that had some HUGE consequences. Women were married young to older husbands, their betrothals often being arranged in childhood. Being betrothed during this time period was seen like being married, so if she was pregnant, and it wasn’t Joseph’s baby, she was considered an adulteress.

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

The angel reminds her that God can do things that we mortal people know to be impossible. He tells her that her cousin, Elizabeth who was known to be barren, is also bearing a child. Considering Elizabeth’s age, this was a miracle in itself as well.

For nothing is impossible with God.

Nothing, dear one. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you think that it is impossible to fix your marriage? For nothing is impossible with God. Do you think that your marriage bed is in shambles beyond repair? For nothing is impossible with God. Do you think that you cannot let go of lust, adultery, pornography, or an other sin in your life? For nothing is impossible with God.

Nothing is impossible for God. Nothing. And to this, we should all reply just as Mary did… “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Thy will be done, Lord. Thy will be done. Is the Lord calling you to do something that you feel is impossible? In faith, just like Mary, call on the Lord and tell him “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Amen.

Now did it look easy for Mary after that? Known now to be an adulteress… her betrothed husband ready to set her free of the contract they had to marry…. It wasn’t easy. Some of the things God will ask us to do are not easy. Abraham leaving his home to follow God to some unknown land…not easy. Nehemiah rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem…not easy. Moses leading the people out of Egypt…not easy. But Mary had faith that God knew what he was doing in all of this, just like Abraham, Nehemiah and Moses. Thy will be done, Lord.

When you pray for help in your marriage or in your marriage bed, be ready, open and willing to what God will ask you to do. His way is always the best way. He may ask you to march around the walls of Jericho, and it may seem stupid, but it’s God’s way. He wants us to trust him in all that we do. He will not lead us astray. We do a good enough job of that anyway. I am hoping that these Bible studies will spark an interest in wanting to crack open your Bible and learn more. Allow God to speak to you through these ancient words. They are just as applicable today as they were in the days they were written.

Have faith. Follow God. Do His will. May God bless you abundantly.

December 2, 2008
Categories: Biblical Studies . . Author: spicynutmeg . Comments: 1 Comment

Monday’s Mission #39

Your mission for this week is a FUN one!  I want you to draw a picture of your husband and label it.  Yes, you read that right.  I want you to draw a nice big picture of your man, and include as much detail as you can.  Then raid your child’s crayons and add some color.  Then, I want you to label the entire picture (as many body parts as you can).  Draw a line to his arms and say:  Nice large biceps to hold me with! Draw another line to his eyes and say something like:  Gorgeous Blue Eyes! Label his lips by writing something like:  The most perfect lips in the world. And I’ll let you decide what you want to say about his um… goodies! 😆

When you finish, place your drawing somewhere that you know he will find it and your kids won’t.  (I would put mine on the top of our toilet lid!)  This should give your husband something to smile about!  It will make him feel good to read all the nice compliments that you labeled his body with.  Now, go get started!

December 1, 2008
Categories: Monday's Mission . . Author: cumingirl . Comments: 2 Comments

Interview with Covenant Spice

Covenant Spice is one of the sites we have listed in our blogroll. They offer a variety of sexual aids for married couples in a non-threatening atmosphere where you won’t be exposed to pornography. I highly recommend them as a company that offers great products and reasonable prices. I recently asked them if they would be available to answer some questions regarding sex toys and they graciously obliged.

1. What kinds of sex toys are available to couples these days?

There are a few basic categories that cover the vast majority of available items:  vibrators, dual vibrators which are insertable and also have clitoral stimulation, rings, eggs, and novelty shapes.

2. What about toys for men? It seems like so many of the toys are for the woman’s added pleasure, so what are the options for enhancing the man’s pleasure?

In general, women have more difficult achieving orgasm, so much more effort has been placed on meeting their needs.  However, there are a lot of options to help men to.  First of all, the generic “egg” vibrator, when placed on the woman’s clitoris during intercourse, will also provide stimulation to the man.  There are also “cock rings” that have vibrators attached, which benefit both the husband and the wife.  Some men many also want to explore anal stimulation, and there are many options for this, including some that vibrate, and others designed to stimulate the prostate.  Finally, there are several types of “masturbation sleeves” which can be used by the wife on the husband, which is useful for when the husband has needs, and the wife is not in the mood.

3. How should we care for our sex toys?

Most toys can simply be washed off with soap and water.  It is important to keep any wiring and connections dry that are not waterproof.  After the toys are dry it is a good idea to keep them wrapped in a soft cloth.  Some toys will meld to other toys if they come in contact with each other.  Another alternative is a disinfecting toy cleaner spray.  The advantage with these are that the toys never have to leave your bedroom and can be kept from little eyes.

4. What are the top 5 most popular sex toys that are sold at Covenant Spice and what are their features?

The Inner Desire Egg (second item listed) ~ It has multiple speeds and is completely waterproof.  It is easily incorporated during intercourse.
White nights Pleasure kit (bottom of page) ~ This kit has everything a couple needs to get started and comes in an attractive package.  It contains a vibrator, an egg, a pocket rocket and some massage oil.
I-vibe rabbit (top of page) ~ this toy is waterproof, has multiple speeds and functions, and has pleasure beads that add extra stimulation.
Double ring wireless enhancer (towards the bottom of page) ~ This waterproof ring is worn by the man and provides hand free stimulation for both husband and wife.  It has multiple speeds and functions.
Perfect Touch Satisfy Her (middle of page) ~ An inexpensive basic waterproof vibrator.

5. What are some ways to present the idea of incorporating sex toys when a husband or wife is hesitant about it?

It’s not a good idea to surprise your spouse with one of these in an effort to push them into using it.   Talk the issue over ahead of time with out pressure and honor the feelings of your spouse. If you want purchase a toy as a gift for your spouse, we recommend purchasing several romance-oriented products, such as massage oil, romantic games, CDs, etc. and include one simple inexpensive toy such as the Inner Desire egg.

6. Some people are concerned about becoming addicted to or dependent on sex toys. What do you say to these people?

This is a common fear but research has not borne it out.  For women that are already capable of achieving orgasm, the toys just add a new dimension to lovemaking.  Some women find that a vibrator brings them more in tune with their bodies and make them more orgasmic even with out a vibrator. In general a couple will find that they have sex more often. A woman may not feel she has the energy needed to make love on a certain evening but knowing her husband can use a vibrator if necessary is freeing and empowering.   Many women have their first orgasm with a vibrator after years of trying fruitlessly without one, and then as they learn the cues and responses of their body they are able to have one independently.

7. Some men are concerned that his wife will begin to prefer a vibe over his penis. What do you say to these men?

Women tend to be more relational than men.  They want to be “connected” to their husbands.  A cold hard vibrator is no replacement for the intimacy and connection of sex. Men also need to realize that, because it is difficult for a woman to achieve an orgasm, he should be somewhat flexible in his approach, doing whatever he needs to in order to make his wife happy.  Many men though initially hesitant are overjoyed by theirs wives newfound interest in lovemaking when it is equally satisfying for both partners.

Through December, Covenant Spice is offering our readers free shipping when you purchase $25 from their site. Use the coupon code “December” if you wish to take advantage of this promotion. It is recommended that you place your order by December 15 if you want your order by Christmas. Please contact them directly if you have any questions about the products or ordering.

December 1, 2008
Categories: Interviews . . Author: cinnamonsticks . Comments: Comments Off on Interview with Covenant Spice

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