Sunday, December 29, 2013

Born For a Purpose


Mark 16:15-16 - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

We've just celebrated the birth of Jesus. He was born for the most important purpose of all...to introduce Himself to us that we might be delivered from our sins and secure eternal life. He told His disciples to do the same. I call myself a believer but calling myself a disciple, a follower of Christ, is also in order...and along with that comes the same command of a disciple.

I read this the other day and although I was sure I misunderstood it I had to respond based on my "narrow" thinking: In the modern era, Santa delivers. Merry Christmas. It was a message sent from a smart phone. And I understand now it was meant as in the modern day of technology, quick message delivery is possible. But I read it over and over not understanding because, as I responded, Santa does not deliver but Jesus does. That's just how my mind works...most times!

We've all been born to this world for a purpose. God creates a being in a womb hoping it will live the life He has planned for him/her. Situations in life change the course most times, trials come, blessings come, but it's how we respond, the choices we make, to what's placed before us that makes or breaks us.

We can live with or without God in our lives and be successful in the world, it's true. On the other hand a person with very little in this world but have a strong faith in Christ, can be wealthy in what counts the most. There is a difference in the end however. Without Jesus our lives are not eternal. And that is my purpose in my blogs...to help people understand this world is nothing without Jesus. That our goals, our dreams, our life are nothing...nothing...without Him. We might think we're happy without Him in our lives, that we're doing fine on our own, but that's believing a lie.

God has created us first to be in relationship with Him that we would live in the right kind of abundance, in Christ. Our success, in Christ, isn't the same as in the world. Less is more, being happy with what we have and not what our peers have is more rewarding, if we understand things God's way. I'm not saying He won't give abundantly to some Christians. But it's what they do with it, how they steward that abundance, that is important.

A very great part of our purpose in Christ is sharing the gift we've received through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to worship God, live to glorify Him and share our beliefs in the truth of His Word with others. While I'm not as vocal as some I do like to write. Given an opportunity to speak out loud (!) when the Spirit moves is amazing for me!

I watched It's a Wonderful Life, a classic Christmas movie, the other day. It's based on a book called The Greatest Gift, surprisingly.

Many know the story. As brief as possible: George Bailey had always been a dreamer wanting to see the world but circumstances in his life changes his plans and he decides to settle down in his little hometown with his wife, raise a family and go about his father's building and loan business in order to help others. He'd been helping others most of his life. This is who he is. He gave up his plans in life so others would be able to have their own dreams fulfilled.

He had a fierce and greedy adversary, Henry F. Potter, whose thoughts were only on his own success at the expense of others, those George helped.

George's business crumbled when a sizable amount of money is accidentally lost...into the hands of Potter. George is beside himself, all hope of security for his friends and family lost. He attempted to take out a loan from Potter but was flatly refused. His world in a downward spiral, he realized he was worth more dead than alive (insurance)...and decided to take his life.

He has Clarence, though, his guardian angel, watching over him. When George decides to jump off a bridge Clarence beats him to it so, just like the guy George can't help being, he jumps in to save him. Clarence then reveals himself and runs George's life backwards to show all that might not have happened if it had not been for him...deaths that occurred instead of saved, failure instead of success, illness instead of health. It's the thing that turns George around. In the end he chooses not to take his life but go home where his friends have taken up a collection to save his business.

The great line from the movie is this from Clarence: You've been given a chance to see what this world would be like without you.

Imagine if we could all be given the chance to see what might have happened. What might God reveal to us? First of all, might He reveal we did not know Him? Will He reveal times we missed opportunities, people's lives we might have saved for the Kingdom but failed? Did we live our lives for Him? Did we glorify Him in what we accomplished? Ask yourself that question. Right now. I know I have failed at times. This is how we should look at life. But there's a difference between doing good from the world's perspective and God's. It starts with Him. It starts with this relationship. Then in Christ we are to point people to Him and often we begin by doing good and living a life in Christ, being selfless in our efforts.

[While this blog was actually written yesterday, at church this morning our pastor's sermon was on Contending For the Faith, based on Jude 1:3. He explained several things we must do in these, what he would call, latter days. In the last days there are things we see in the world, where the world is spiraling downward into outright rebellion against God. And what do we as Christ followers do? We contend for the faith. We do not back down on our beliefs, but dig in our heels and continue to look up for Him. And pastor gave us examples. One, of course, is never straying from the truth of God's Word. It's why I write. Now, back to my blog...]

One way I attempt to point people to Christ is here. To show the truth of God's Word, as best I can, and sometimes the words are not always pleasing to others. Differences of opinion...which mostly would be cleared up with this relationship with Christ, not our religious beliefs. Remember, Jesus was not liked by those who were stuck in their religious laws. His words and ideas were a threat, offensive. It's pretty much the same today between the relationship crowd over the religion crowd. Jesus maintained it was about going to Him, seeking Him and His Word, which shows us what truth is.

That is what we are called to do...part of our purpose...open the eyes and minds of people being held captive in world beliefs not God beliefs. Setting captives to sin and the lies of the world free. Realizing we need God as our foundation. [As a member of our church said this morning: You can have two houses side by side. They can look the same but it's how their foundation is laid that will determine the strength of the house.] This is our purpose. In Christ we are born anew. He should be our Foundation. In Him we can better understand His Words. We can better understand what's important and what is not. Better understanding and greater wisdom are ours through a relationship with Christ. Preach the Gospel...that others might know and respond to His call and our calling.

Like George Bailey, we are not to think we are not worth anything, that we've failed, even if we feel we have. Sometimes I think my writing does nothing. But only God knows if that's true or not. And what counts is what God thinks. If this is to be my "ministry," then I will continue as long as the Lord allows me. That for me is a wonderful life!

2Timothy 1:8-9 - Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord...but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began...

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Begotten Again

1Peter 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...

Great Christmas Eve message from our pastor and part of it was what I had been thinking about the day prior! My words: While we celebrate this time of the season the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am continually reminded why He came. He came to die for our sins. There is no way we can look at one and not think about the other. He came to preach the truth both in love and in firmness that we might know Him who is able to give us life. He was born that we might experience a new birth ourselves. He lived and died for that very purpose...that we might live and not die spiritually.

Pastor's message: We cannot stay focused on that Baby in a manger. He didn't remain there. He grew into His purpose and so must we. He mentioned Moses, who was born with a purpose. His life was spared for that purpose...that he would be a deliverer of his people, Israel. (Without their being saved, Jesus would not exist today to bring about our new birth in Him.) Samuel was born out of the fervent prayers of his mother...and she gave him to God to be used of God. This is like our second birth. Someone may have prayed fervently for this new birth. Now we have a purpose also...to be steadfast in Christ and, as Samuel did, lead others to God.

I got to thinking about how we celebrate birthdays. We celebrate the here and now, not us as babies. It's what we need to do with Jesus too. He IS no longer in that manger. He did grow, He did live, He taught about Himself and He fulfilled His purpose...to die that we might have eternal life if we so choose to believe and follow Christ. And He is alive today to do that. When we are born again we cannot stay there. We must grow in Christ and fulfill our purpose in Christ.

Praise God for His birth, but remember it is not just about that. Praise God He was born to give us second birth (Hark the Herald Angels Sing). It is His desire that we become begotten again.

2Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas Eve


Isaiah 9:6-7a - For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end...

My prayer this year for Christmas is that there would be a change in the hearts of many toward our Lord. That the true meaning of Christmas would surround them and woo them into a relationship with Christ...even in the midst of all the ways of "political correctness" that we are experiencing. Christ can enter into any heart despite all this.

If God says He holds those faithful to Him in the palm of His hand, He does. No one can take away this relationship with Christ, unless we choose ourselves to do this. No one can take away something secured within our hearts...the words of life stored there.

God's Word (both written and born in a manger) is truth. His Word will not return unto us void. What He has proclaimed through the ages will happen. I rejoice in this because with all the lack of peace and joy and turmoil of the world, I have an inner joy and peace that cannot be taken away. Jesus has given that to me. He has given me the peace to realize that all we see snipping away at the Christian beliefs will only bring Him sooner to that great and glorious end. And His Word says this.

A Child was born, a Son given for all of us that we might be part of that end. And YES, the government will finally be upon HIS shoulder. He is Wonderful, my Counselor, our Mighty God, the Everlasting Father...and Prince of PEACE. He will reign with judgment and justice. It is good to know He for whom Christmas is all about.

I invite all who do not know Christ, to seek Him like the shepherds and wise men. Let Him do a new thing in you. Let Him open your spiritual eyes to His truth that His peace and joy might forever be with you. Bow before Him and worship Him. Don't worry about what others think. What He thinks is most important. And His desire is for you. Let this Christmas be special this year. Let He who was born into this world to become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, become your Savior...the Savior of the world.

Merry Christmas. Love You, Jesus.

Isaiah 43:19 - Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Declared and Proclaimed


Isaiah 48:3,5 - I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, lest you should say, "My idol has done them, and my carved image and my molded image have commanded them."

I've said this before. Our God has used His Word to give an account of who He was, is and will be. He has given it to us for a very good reason...that we should know Him and His glory. We should know that He is who He says He is and will do as He says He will do, as He has done throughout the pages of His Book. He has done this that we know there is no one else...no idol or image...and an idol can be something we trust so firmly in...money, entertainment, sex, food, alcohol, religion. We are to trust only in Him.

God has shown us examples of people who have believed, received, trusted and obeyed Him. And He has shown us what happens to those who do. He also has shown us people who have not heeded His Word and how He has reacted toward them. If our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, how can we even consider that this does not apply to us today?

He is more powerful than we can imagine. Life has gone on year after year in what seems to be our own power. But remember that He is Sovereign. He can use both good and evil to allow His plans to succeed...or fail, if it is in His better interest that it does.

Our God never slumbers nor sleeps. He is fully aware of all things. He knows evil is growing by leaps and bounds. He is calling people...He is invading their lives and spirits in ways we cannot understand but, if we know what this God is capable of, we can only be in awe of Him.

Let me give you an example! A friend was telling me how her sister led a coworker to Christ. She asked him to see the Passion of Christ several years ago. He was deeply moved. He did not want to watch as Jesus was being whipped and bloodied and as he turned his head away in his spirit he heard, I don't want you to turn your head away. Turn back and see what happened to Me for your sake. As he got into his car he began to weep and when got home he gave his life to the Lord. Oh that more would weep for God's presence.

This man has a father in his 90's who is an atheist. I'm certain this son has talked to his father about Christ and has been met with resistance, which in many cases between believers and unbelievers happens. One day not long ago the man was visiting his father when his dad very seriously shared: I had a dream last night. I was told, "I am coming soon." In the dream I asked, "When?" I was told, "Very soon...and My wrath will be upon those who have done evil." This old man knows, or knew, nothing about God nor the fact that He will return and will pour out His wrath. But God....

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:17). Don't think He won't or can't. We cannot know just what our God is capable of. If He can cause a donkey to speak (Numbers 22), He can do anything....all things are possible with God.

The world is spiraling down toward those last days. We are close but we are told two things: we cannot know the day and...yet it will come quickly. He will pour out His Spirit in ways we couldn't possibly invent. Some will get it, some will reject it. We need to be ready, receptive and know just who this God is...now...not when it's too late. When the last days are solidly here we need to have our belief in Him and trust in Him settled already so anything that will happen won't come as a surprise and we will know how to put complete faith in Him for our needs in those days. It's what we should be doing even in better times.

He has declared the beginning from the end. He has proclaimed it. Has it been received? Has it penetrated spirits? Our minds are to be kept on Him. We are to know His ways, commands, promises...good or bad. We must understand salvation is of the Lord and no idol, image, person or religion...only in in Jesus Christ. That means relationship.

If God is going to come and pour out His wrath, we need to understand that many who say they are not wicked compared to someone else, are believing a lie. None are righteous, not one. Wickedness can be worded this way...sin...and that can be even in the security we place in our own wisdom, power or strength, believing we do not need God's help. He knows and sees even if no one around us does. If we rely more than we ought in ourselves and believe that nothing can harm us, we have no wisdom. He is calling people. Praise God He is because He wishes none to perish...yet many still will. And remember, He calls Himself I AM.

While the verses I've chosen talk about people bound in forms of witchcraft, I see how it also relates to other scriptures about people in the last days (1Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 9:20-21, 17:2) and about anyone who trusts in themselves, things and/or others over God.

Isaiah 47:8-11 - “Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’; but these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries... “For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.'"

Thursday, December 12, 2013

John's Account of the Christ


John 1:1-5, 14-15 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

John did not speak of the birth of Jesus. He grew up with Him. He proclaimed the reason why Jesus was born, His purpose. He was to share all he had learned, I think, being so close to Him. Though they were cousins, their bond probably more like brothers.

John's account gives me goosebumps. Jesus, the glory of God, seen. Jesus, the Word, the Light, the Truth, the Way, God's plan, from beginning to end of His life. John's poetic words flowed to proclaim who this Man was...and still is. Imagine the preparation of John's heart and spirit for this incredible accounting.

John knew that it was not about his delivery of the message but the Message Himself. He prepared the way for One greater. The Message come to life. When asked if he was the Messiah John emphatically said no and that he himself was not even worthy to untie the sandal straps of this Man, Jesus (even if he was His cousin). He knew the importance of Jesus.

John would proclaim Jesus had been born for one purpose...to be the Savior of the world. He was born to die so that others would live. To redeem the world.

John's message was the sovereignty of this Man. The Word of God who was God, supernaturally born of flesh. As Oswald Chambers wrote: Jesus Christ was born INTO this world, not FROM it...showing His separation from the world, yet it in. God incarnate. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Who can understand?

The people who first viewed the baby Jesus, an infant boy child, beheld His glory. Did they understand? Did they realize the impact this little Baby would have someday? We are to have childlike faith. When it comes to this, that's all I can have. When it comes to salvation, it's all anyone can have.

Jesus was born to show Himself to the world in the form of a baby born by humble circumstances. Mary, a virgin, humbled herself while people whispered. Joseph humbled himself in the same way. Jesus was born in a stable in a manger filled with straw. Humble shepherds were first to see Him, then followed by kings and He became our good Shepherd, not a king in the world but a Man who will be King of the world someday soon. His life was lived humbly and people, even His own, did not accept Him for who He said He was. He ultimately was rejected to the point of humiliating death. He was not some great-in-the-eyes-of-the-world person. He was what He wants us all to be and what He wants us all to do...become humble and come humbly to Him and receive Him.

This was the whole reason Jesus was sent...for us...that we may have life...in Christ...through Christ...not through anything we can do...but by humbly submitting to Him.

This Christmas dwell on true meaning. Jesus came to give the greatest gift, that of salvation. He is not Santa; He is the Truth. Put Christ in the Christmas spirit. It's really not about our gift giving. It's about our receiving the Gift that Christ is. Will you do that this year? Think about the Christ. If you want to give something special, give yourself to Christ. Enjoy the return gift of real salvation through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. That's what He is. Again, the Light of the world who takes us out of oppression, burden and death and into real life. Let these be made real this year. Count yourself along with the people mentioned below. Obtain the hope and security from all the world believes is secure. The only hope, security and true joy is in our Lord. Receive Him this Christmas.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor... For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7)

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Real Story Begins


Matthew 1:18-23 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 

Life begins...in the natural and in the Spirit. It happened to Jesus and it can happen to us too.

Jesus was conceived first by the Holy Spirit. He was born as a natural baby. His name is significant because of its meaning, that He will save people from their sins. We are born naturally to start out but later if we are receptive to God we are born by the same Spirit of God and through Jesus and His Holy Spirit saved from our sins.

This saving is not just an act of knowing and believing in Him. We must have a new Holy Spirit birth. When we receive this new birth, our second birth, we know the goodness of it, the peace that comes with it. Something changes in us. Yet, sometimes that new birth causes others to be wary of us, like Mary's husband Joseph was at first...until or unless they understand it is of God.

When this new birth happens we are then able to say that "God is with us" also. Praise His holy name this Christmas season for all He has done for us...in birth, in life and in death. We celebrate His birth now...


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Preparing the Way


Mark 1:1-3 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.” “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” 

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus; made His paths straight. We call Jesus the Way and rightfully so. He is the Way. And the path to Him is also straight, direct and He will make our paths straight.

While this is a time to celebrate His birth, we must remember that He became the Way to the Father by way of the humiliating cross. The Mediator between God and man...the Way. Picture the cross spanning a chasm.  God is on one side, we on the other. The crossbeam where He was hung is the only means of getting from one side to the other. The Way.

The preparation for Christ was accounted in the Book of Mark. Mark wrote about John the Baptist who was Jesus' cousin, just a few months older than He. He was born that he would, by faith, prepare the way for the coming of the Way.

People around the world do the same. It shouldn't be any different. Everyone needs to be prepared for the way to Christ. We are messengers of today, voices crying in the wilderness of others' lives that there is a way, not just for the birth we celebrate at this time of year, but a new birth in your life.

Prepare the way of the Lord this Christmas. Prepare as you would for this day on earth only prepare your heart along with that. Look not at Christmas in the usual way. Seek it with the idea of Jesus in your heart. Prepare yourself for straighter paths. Let the season of his birth be a season with a new birth in your life.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Preparation for Preparation!


Luke 1:5-9,11-17 - There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias... His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Hah. I felt led to write about the events leading to Jesus' birth in the Gospels. So I started with Matthew, writing. Then I went to Mark and realized that should precede Matthew, writing some more! As I went to Luke, the same thing happened.

So...here we see the preparation to the preparation for the Way! And this is interesting, like most accounts in the Bible.

We have Zacharias, a priest in the temple. Little did he know this particular day he would be greeted by an angel of the Lord and told some incredible thing. Sounds like a recounting of Abraham and Sarah's encounter with a bearer of good news...they both were going to be a father, even though it had not happened yet...but it would.

Zacharias and his wife were old, like Abraham and Sarah. Maybe not as old because Elizabeth still prayed for a child. Being barren in those days was a disgrace. Z was given some heady information...their son would prepare for the Way.

They knew of a coming Messiah, had a preconceived idea He would be a strong warrior. Zacharias should have been excited at the thought of being a participant in all this. As I recently heard, here's an angel of the Lord speaking to Zacharias but instead of, like Mary's response of being a willing servant in the plan of a lifetime, he questioned:  “How shall I know this?” (Luke 1:18)  Well, ummmm, there's an angel...his name is Gabriel, telling you these things. How could you even doubt?

And there was a consequence for this doubt. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (Luke 1:20)

I love the story of Elizabeth and Mary, who of course was also entertained by an angel of the Lord. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45) Mary receives word of Elizabeth's news and to escape any stares and whispers of the people in town, she went to stay with Elizabeth. As she approached, Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb. For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. (Luke 1:44) The Spirit of God came upon both mother and child. I'm guessing it was the nearness and power of a yet to be born Savior of the world which empowered baby John for the great thing he was to do some thirty years later.

A whole lot of Spirit going on here. The Spirit prepared the way for the Way back then and He does so still today when one seeks the Christ and truly believes on Him. He's as active today as then in Elizabeth's womb. Rejoice and be glad if you have it. Ask and receive if you have not. Listen to some of Mary's praise for her Son and Her own Savior. Trust that if you receive Him and His mercy upon you, what He has done for her he will do for you.

Luke 1:49-50 - For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.