Humility of Total Devotion

      This past Christmas season passed so quickly because of all the joy I experienced with the family, but I'm still quite determined to write a post for the month of December before time runs out.  I know there were some cousins and aunts/uncles wondering about me updating my blog, so here goes nothing!
      I was especially blessed this past Christmas by Mary's humility and grace in which she took the news that she, a virgin, would bear a son, quite unexpectedly and miraculously.  I was especially curious of how she viewed herself compared to God.  First, lets look at a part the conversation that the angel had with her...(Luke 1:34-38)

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

      Two miracles were occurring at the same time which must have filled Mary with awe and wonder at the same time.  That last phrase that the angel said to her "For with God nothing shall be impossible" must have quieted all her fears and doubt.  Then in her humility she surrendered to God's will completely.  She referred to herself as his handmaiden.

(this is where the fun begins)

      I was curious as to what she meant when she called herself that, so I looked it up in the Interlinear which shows the original Greek translation.  The Greek word for Handmaid is DOULE. Doule is a femine noun which translates to (1) a female slave or (2) bondmaid.  The male noun, which is from the same root noun, means (1) a slave, and (2) devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests.  I love that last definition; it sums up Mary's intent so fully. She was devoting herself completely to God and (with God's help) disregarding the human nature to be terrified.  She called herself his slave/servant as a way of showing her complete devotion and surrender.  That was her humility in it's full and most precious form.  And because of her unwavering devotion she gave birth to God's own son, Jesus.

God Bless you all in the New Year and may we come before God with Humility of Total Devotion!

     

An Act of Courage...for Christ!

Courage..it can tear your life apart and build you up, all at the same time. I never knew what it meant to have courage, until I read "The Pastor's Wife" by Sabrina Wumbrand. Twelve years ago she passed away, but her story still lives on and is very inspiring. There is one specific story that I will always remember:
     Her and her husband, Richard, agreed to go to the parliament building (where there was a meeting called the Congress of Cults) to speak out against the Romanian government who wanted to make it a "religiously free" country.  4,000 people of all different religions watched as ministers, rabbis, pastors, and priests came up to speak. Most of them shared how happy they were that the church was coming under one roof. Some shared how scared they were, but then would end up agreeing, with sayings of flattery. 

                  "It was if they spat in Christ's face. I could feel that Richard was boiling. 

                   So, I told him what was already in his heart and said, "Will you not wash

                   this shame from the face of Christ?" Richard knew what would happen:

                   "If I speak , you will lose a husband." 

She replied to that, "I don't need a coward for a husband." Silence fell upon the crowd as he stood to speak and as he spoke the whole atmosphere changed. The audience began to applaud and soon the Minister of Cults cut the wires for that microphone. But the applauding continued for many minutes and during that time Richard and Sabina were able to exist from the building. They had feared arrest after the meeting, but God had his hand on them. Instead of arrest, they had crowds gather in the streets for quick, but moving street meetings. 

I highly recommend reading this book, along with Richard Wumbrands book: "Tortured for Christ."