Luke 1:46

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour...

Mary calls herself blessed, chosen to bore Jesus even though she is unmarried.  Not only that, she says that from that time onwards all generations will call her blessed, not because she borne Jesus, but because the Mighty One has done great things for her! She, an unmarried woman, is pregnant! As all generations, they who are pregnant and unmarried are shunned by the community.  They will/may be condemned to death! Yet, she says that the Lord has done great things for her, trusting that all generation to come will call her blessed instead.  Oh, what trust she portray to you oh God... so amazing, in total acceptance, she accepts your Word.  Will I ever be able to do as what she did?  I really am not sure oh Lord.  Yet, in any manner that I can, I will learn to place my trust in You oh Lord.  For I know, I will be called blessed because of You, OH Lord.

Luke 1:39

...the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

Even before Jesus was born, the people of God are also filled with the Holy Spirit! Look here, it is stated that Elizabeth is filled! What's more, out of her mouth she shows knowledge that is not of her own.  Mary - a virgin, yet, Elizabeth, when filled with the Holy Spirit, displays this knowledge that there is a baby in Mary's womb, and that baby is her Lord.  Likewise, why do we doubt that Holy Spirit give us knowledge and wisdom that is beyond our mind?  God is omniscience, so do not be surprised to know that the Holy Spirit will tell us things that that we do not know of.  That's why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us, to teach us of things of God, things that we do not know about.  Praise God for this gift.

Luke 2:32

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

You may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

Which you prepared in the sight of all nations,

A light for revelation to the gentiles,

And the glory of your people Israel.

Amazing to know that God have shown Simeon his salvation plan.  What’s more amazing is the fact that he has planned for Jesus to be the light to the gentiles. Amazing.  God has mended for all to be saved! And He, in His sovereignty knows that the gentiles too need such revelation.  After all, Abraham was also a gentile.  The chosen father of faith, and now in full circle, all will come to know Christ as Saviour, disregarding your nationality.  This is for God has chosen all, forgiving all, reconciliaing all!

Hallelujah praise the Lord!

Luke 1:62-64

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.

After rejecting and doubting the angel in the beginnin, and seeing that Elizabeth really got pregnant, Zechariah's faith must have increased tremendously.  What's more, he has to endure at least nine months of silence, of not being able to speak to anyone.  Would he speak to God during those nine months?  Maybe he did, and maybe all the while, after knowing that Elizabeth is pregnant, he's been praising God in his heart and soul.  And by faith, he named his son John! Amazing how God works.  I don't know how it would be like to not be able to speak, let alone for nine months would my faith be like Zechariah?  I'm not sure.  But by the grace of God, I want to have faith like Elizabeth, Zechariah and Mary, who places their  trust in God to the extent that their lives were changed tremendously from the encounter with God.

Luke 1:26-38: Bigger Faith

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

Mary at that time was feeling afraid: as could be detected when the angel told her that there isn't a need to be so.  Yet, this is different from Zechariah's reaction; he expresses fear and doubt whereas all Mary expresses was sort of like a disbelief, similar to Zechariah; for she was a virgin and do not understand how she can conceive at that time.

"I am the Lord's servant", Mary answred. "May it be to me according to your word."

Her reaction from Zechariah's again is totally different.  Instead of questioning such possibility, she accepts the news from the angel.  She chose to be obedient to God and places her faith in God and His word instead of questioning further.  Her question was not of doubt, but more of wanting to gain an understanding; for by nature, only through sexual intercourse does one conceieve.  Although she would have a good future with Joseph, she trusts the Lord enough not to worry about Joseph.  Her initial obedience to God was even bigger than her concerns on what may happen if Joseph found out.  She just accepts God's will in this time of her life just as it is.

Her faith, is bigger than her situation... amazing....

Psalm 1

Psalm 1: They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whole leaf does not wither - whatever they do prosper.

The Lord blesses those who choose to delight in the Law of the Lord and choose to meditate on His law day and night.  This person ~ establishing his/her foundation in the Lord, choosing to be soaked in God's word and choosing to be delighted with this choice.  Clearly, the joy of the Lord is upon Him.  He who hungers the word of the Lord shall be fed and be blessed.  The word of God is like the stream of water, for from God flows the spring of life.  When we choose to meditate on God's word, we get soaked, so wet with God's word that we will never ger dry! Jesus is the water of life.  If/ When we choose to drink from Him, we shall never be thirsty! And God will bless that person by:

• not getting thirsty ever
• propser that person's life (financially, spiritually, in all aspect). Actually, prosper because spiritually God has filled us.

Chaff - straw/ hay cut up finely
Another definition: worthless matter; refuse.

So the wicked are like a worthless matter; to be thrown away, blown away - that's why they would not even be before the Lord.  They have been thrown out already!  God says: "But the ways of the wicked will be destroyed..."