We got into this last week, but let’s refresh. Work is late getting a check into your account. You hope the bank will understand why your payment is late and not penalize you. Which do you do - worry or sing? Your son breaks a leg in a car accident. You’re racing to the hospital. Do you turn to your favorite station and belt out a song or play out horrendous scenarios in your mind? The Dow keeps slipping, the $ losing value and more people you know/care about are being laid off.  What comes to your lips – words of fear/sadness or a song? Easy, right? When bad/unexpected/nerve wracking things happens, we don’t sing. Songs are reserved for church, when for at least 1 hour, all is well. Songs are sung when we are at peace. Songs come because we’re happy, cheerful to the point we can’t keep it in. Singing in tough times feels out of place.

Take Zechariah from last week. He sang for a good reason. He just had a son. He got his voice back, the one he’d lost doubting the angel’s promise his wife would give birth. And his main reason for singing was that he, and all people, had a Savior. Jesus would come and restore fallen man. Things were good for Zechariah, and it doesn’t surprise us a bit he sang.

But look at our lesson. An angel appears to young, unmarried Mary. I know in movies people see angels and are drawn to the lovely glow. It never happens that way in Scripture. Bible people bow low before angels, terrified - as did Mary. The angel had to say point blank: “Don’t be afraid.” But he goes on to tell her news that would’ve made anyone very afraid. He tells this young, unmarried, but engaged girl she’ll have a son. Know what they did to unwed mothers back then? Stoning was the worst. The best was she was the disgrace of the town, mocked by all, esp. family. There was no welfare then. Joseph would drop her quickly. Who wants to marry her if she’s having a guy’s kid? Mary, really, had every reason to be afraid at this news.

And there’s more.  Being pregnant would be bad enough news, but the angel tells her that what is inside her is not the product of a human being but of the Holy Spirit.  How do you explain that one to mom and dad, to Joseph? And if this is all true, what the angel is saying, how can I do this, see this through, she must have thought.  How can I handle this all by myself? Alone, unwed, no family, no support from friends.  This is the road Mary could have taken.  And would any of us have faulted her? Of course not.  Actually, it would surprise us if anything but words of despair and depression flow from her lips.

But she sings.  Our Advent song this morning is known as the Magnificat, which means “glorifies.” Think about that. God altered her life in a way we can’t begin to imagine. Her plan of a quiet life with Joseph in Nazareth was kaput. All was now upside down. But she sings. And not just any song. She sings what might be the most glorious song sung by a human being.

And her song is all about God.  1st she thanks him he’d use a humble servant like her. But right away her song, like Z’s, turns to what God has done/will do for his people. He brings down those who oppose him and lifts up those bowed down.  He is merciful, not just to a few people, but to generations. He uses his almighty power to defend, encourage, protect and save his people. For those who are lacking, he provides.  Those who fearing, he comforts. Those who discouraged, he lifts up.

And in a beautiful ending, she speaks of how what will happen, what God will do, is the fulfillment of a promise made long ago.  God promised Abraham he’d have a giant family, as numerous as stars and sand. That happened. And best of all, God promised that through his offspring, all people of the earth would be blessed. That was a direct prophecy about Jesus.  He is the one from Abraham’s line who had/has an impact on the life of every person who has ever lived. He brings salvation.  He restores man to God. He gives life, and light and peace and joy. And he’ll take people to be w/his Father forever in heaven.

Mary sings, and her song is glorious, magnificent.  So wonderful is the news of a Savior being born it trumps all else. The angel answered her questions. His responses were enough for her. She’s able to put aside any fear and focus solely on the good news. The promise of Eden was about to come true. Christ, Savior, Messiah, promise of the ages, was about to be born.

Wow!  There is no other word but “wow!” So many things could’ve thrown her off track. So many things could’ve clouded her mind. So many things could’ve been seen as ripping her nice, quiet life apart, but all she does is praise God.  Isn’t that humbling? All this going on, and yet Mary was able to focus on the good, leaving all else behind. Can you do that?  Me?

I wish I could say I always can, just as you do. That would be a lie. The boss tells us we are being promoted.  Good news, right? But we start worrying what the extra hours will do to our family. Joy is overcast w/fear. The doctor gives us a clean bill of health and says we’re the healthiest person she’s seen all week.  But to be sure, she wants to run tests. Where’s our focus, on the good news or that the test might reveal X or Y disease, ailment or condition? A girl asks you to the dance, one you’ve cared about for awhile. But after you say yes, palms get sweaty, you wonder what to wear and fear making a fool of yourself.

Negative creatures. The best news in the world could be told to us and we’d find something to worry about, fret over, or get worked up for.  We’re often so anti-Mary, opposite to her. And that, sadly, is true in spiritual matters. Every Sunday, every time you open the Bible, you’re told Jesus loved you so much he came, lived, died and rose so all your sins are forgiven. No news is better. Repeat, no news is better. But even with that glorious truth we seek the bronze, not the silver, lining.

He can’t mean me says a heart that knows all too well its sins.  He can’t forgive that sin.  It is too terrible, big and public says a heart filled with guilt. I couldn’t have sinned more vs. him if I’d tried, screams out a part of us.  It can’t be that simple, that easy. What Mary sang about, I can’t be included in that group. Or there’s the other end.  Yes, Jesus paid for my sins, but my kid is sick and getting worse. Sure, all my sin is gone in Christ, but right now I could really use Jesus showing up with $500 to see me and the family through the week. Or, sadly, this: I hear over and over what Jesus did for me, but I still ache, hurt and fear and things are crazy.  What’s the message of sins forgiven ever done for me?  What burden, what pain has it lifted?

Either way you look at it, the simple, pure, sweet Gospel message gets interrupted, relegated to the back room.  And if that happens, then yes, we have no reason to sing.  If we take God out of the picture and focus solely on ourselves, what hope do we have?  Is there anything good we can expect?  Do we really feel we can handle not just everything but anything?  Is the guilt of the past taken away?  Is fear about what will happen alleviated?  No.  It is downward spiral, and each problem, each issue only speeds up the process. Faith is nowhere to be found.  Sadness is imminent.

If only we could have the faith of Mary, right?  If only we could just focus on the good and only the good!  How could she, considering all that was going on in her life?  It’s an easy answer: God.  Mary was not able to get through this and rejoice as she does because she was so strong.  She was a sinner, just like us.  She called Jesus her Savior as we do.  The one and only reason she can say and does say what she says here is because of God, because God worked in her a faith that was able to look past any fears and concerns and rejoice in the good news, the message of the coming Savior.

And that is our answer as well.  It’s not the power of positive thinking.  It is not surrounding yourself with the right people.  It is not just having the right mindset. God grants us such a faith. How? The same way he did with Mary. He speaks to us in his Word. He builds us up in faith that we are able to handle whatever happens and still keep our eyes on Jesus.

Oh, that sounds so simple!  God will take care of it?  Isn’t that a cop out?  Well, go back into your memory banks.  Your grandma, father, child, whoever, passed away.  God called them home.  How were you able to keep going?  God comforted you in his word, picked you up. You were diagnosed with that. How did you keep plugging forward? God was with you, that’s how. How did you pick up the pieces after a spouse betrayed you, a friend stabbed you in the back or work dismissed you without a moment’s notice?  Because God was there, guiding you.

And we say all this not in the sense that the world means, that God makes everything come up roses.  We say it with the same understanding Mary has.  We do not just rely on God.  We rely on our Savior God.  We rely on the Jesus who had and does show mercy to us, in spite of all our failures.  We rely on the Jesus who had such love he gave his life that we’ll be with God forever. We rely on the Jesus who, even though w/o sin, gave up all that all our sins are taken away. And that’s the case.  We don’t appeal to or call on some higher power. We call on the God who calls us his own through Christ, the God who works on our behalf because of what Jesus did and the God who has a spot reserved for us right now in heaven, because Jesus took our place at the table that was the cross.  That is the higher power we rely on.  And that is the higher power that will see us through, enable us to set aside all our fears and move forward.  That is the God of our salvation.

Of course, this will be a lifelong struggle. But that’s why we are here, why we take time in his word and why we encourage and seek encouragement from others. We know what our hearts want to think and focus on, and we know that not where our attention ought to be.  It ought to be on God and his love for us in Jesus, and as we are here, as we are in his word, as we call on him in prayer, God helps us, as he helped Mary, keep our focus on the one thing necessary - the Savior, the Christ, Jesus.

Things are getting crazier out there every time we wake up.  And it will only get worse these harried days before Christmas.  But take the time to sing, to sing the song of Mary.  Sing of God’s glory. Sing of his grace.  Sing of his love. With our focus there, everything else just seems to fall into place.  For if God is for us, who can be against us?  No one, that’s who.  May God bless us that our eyes of faith are on him and his son and on them alone… always. Amen.

We got into this last week, but let’s refresh. Work is late getting a check into your account. You hope the bank will understand why your payment is late and not penalize you. Which do you do - worry or sing? Your son breaks a leg in a car accident. You’re racing to the hospital. Do you turn to your favorite station and belt out a song or play out horrendous scenarios in your mind? The Dow keeps slipping, the $ losing value and more people you know/care about are being laid off.  What comes to your lips – words of fear/sadness or a song? Easy, right? When bad/unexpected/nerve wracking things happens, we don’t sing. Songs are reserved for church, when for at least 1 hour, all is well. Songs are sung when we are at peace. Songs come because we’re happy, cheerful to the point we can’t keep it in. Singing in tough times feels out of place.

Take Zechariah from last week. He sang for a good reason. He just had a son. He got his voice back, the one he’d lost doubting the angel’s promise his wife would give birth. And his main reason for singing was that he, and all people, had a Savior. Jesus would come and restore fallen man. Things were good for Zechariah, and it doesn’t surprise us a bit he sang.

But look at our lesson. An angel appears to young, unmarried Mary. I know in movies people see angels and are drawn to the lovely glow. It never happens that way in Scripture. Bible people bow low before angels, terrified - as did Mary. The angel had to say point blank: “Don’t be afraid.” But he goes on to tell her news that would’ve made anyone very afraid. He tells this young, unmarried, but engaged girl she’ll have a son. Know what they did to unwed mothers back then? Stoning was the worst. The best was she was the disgrace of the town, mocked by all, esp. family. There was no welfare then. Joseph would drop her quickly. Who wants to marry her if she’s having a guy’s kid? Mary, really, had every reason to be afraid at this news.

And there’s more.  Being pregnant would be bad enough news, but the angel tells her that what is inside her is not the product of a human being but of the Holy Spirit.  How do you explain that one to mom and dad, to Joseph? And if this is all true, what the angel is saying, how can I do this, see this through, she must have thought.  How can I handle this all by myself? Alone, unwed, no family, no support from friends.  This is the road Mary could have taken.  And would any of us have faulted her? Of course not.  Actually, it would surprise us if anything but words of despair and depression flow from her lips.

But she sings.  Our Advent song this morning is known as the Magnificat, which means “glorifies.” Think about that. God altered her life in a way we can’t begin to imagine. Her plan of a quiet life with Joseph in Nazareth was kaput. All was now upside down. But she sings. And not just any song. She sings what might be the most glorious song sung by a human being.

And her song is all about God.  1st she thanks him he’d use a humble servant like her. But right away her song, like Z’s, turns to what God has done/will do for his people. He brings down those who oppose him and lifts up those bowed down.  He is merciful, not just to a few people, but to generations. He uses his almighty power to defend, encourage, protect and save his people. For those who are lacking, he provides.  Those who fearing, he comforts. Those who discouraged, he lifts up.

And in a beautiful ending, she speaks of how what will happen, what God will do, is the fulfillment of a promise made long ago.  God promised Abraham he’d have a giant family, as numerous as stars and sand. That happened. And best of all, God promised that through his offspring, all people of the earth would be blessed. That was a direct prophecy about Jesus.  He is the one from Abraham’s line who had/has an impact on the life of every person who has ever lived. He brings salvation.  He restores man to God. He gives life, and light and peace and joy. And he’ll take people to be w/his Father forever in heaven.

Mary sings, and her song is glorious, magnificent.  So wonderful is the news of a Savior being born it trumps all else. The angel answered her questions. His responses were enough for her. She’s able to put aside any fear and focus solely on the good news. The promise of Eden was about to come true. Christ, Savior, Messiah, promise of the ages, was about to be born.

Wow!  There is no other word but “wow!” So many things could’ve thrown her off track. So many things could’ve clouded her mind. So many things could’ve been seen as ripping her nice, quiet life apart, but all she does is praise God.  Isn’t that humbling? All this going on, and yet Mary was able to focus on the good, leaving all else behind. Can you do that?  Me?

I wish I could say I always can, just as you do. That would be a lie. The boss tells us we are being promoted.  Good news, right? But we start worrying what the extra hours will do to our family. Joy is overcast w/fear. The doctor gives us a clean bill of health and says we’re the healthiest person she’s seen all week.  But to be sure, she wants to run tests. Where’s our focus, on the good news or that the test might reveal X or Y disease, ailment or condition? A girl asks you to the dance, one you’ve cared about for awhile. But after you say yes, palms get sweaty, you wonder what to wear and fear making a fool of yourself.

Negative creatures. The best news in the world could be told to us and we’d find something to worry about, fret over, or get worked up for.  We’re often so anti-Mary, opposite to her. And that, sadly, is true in spiritual matters. Every Sunday, every time you open the Bible, you’re told Jesus loved you so much he came, lived, died and rose so all your sins are forgiven. No news is better. Repeat, no news is better. But even with that glorious truth we seek the bronze, not the silver, lining.

He can’t mean me says a heart that knows all too well its sins.  He can’t forgive that sin.  It is too terrible, big and public says a heart filled with guilt. I couldn’t have sinned more vs. him if I’d tried, screams out a part of us.  It can’t be that simple, that easy. What Mary sang about, I can’t be included in that group. Or there’s the other end.  Yes, Jesus paid for my sins, but my kid is sick and getting worse. Sure, all my sin is gone in Christ, but right now I could really use Jesus showing up with $500 to see me and the family through the week. Or, sadly, this: I hear over and over what Jesus did for me, but I still ache, hurt and fear and things are crazy.  What’s the message of sins forgiven ever done for me?  What burden, what pain has it lifted?

Either way you look at it, the simple, pure, sweet Gospel message gets interrupted, relegated to the back room.  And if that happens, then yes, we have no reason to sing.  If we take God out of the picture and focus solely on ourselves, what hope do we have?  Is there anything good we can expect?  Do we really feel we can handle not just everything but anything?  Is the guilt of the past taken away?  Is fear about what will happen alleviated?  No.  It is downward spiral, and each problem, each issue only speeds up the process. Faith is nowhere to be found.  Sadness is imminent.

If only we could have the faith of Mary, right?  If only we could just focus on the good and only the good!  How could she, considering all that was going on in her life?  It’s an easy answer: God.  Mary was not able to get through this and rejoice as she does because she was so strong.  She was a sinner, just like us.  She called Jesus her Savior as we do.  The one and only reason she can say and does say what she says here is because of God, because God worked in her a faith that was able to look past any fears and concerns and rejoice in the good news, the message of the coming Savior.

And that is our answer as well.  It’s not the power of positive thinking.  It is not surrounding yourself with the right people.  It is not just having the right mindset. God grants us such a faith. How? The same way he did with Mary. He speaks to us in his Word. He builds us up in faith that we are able to handle whatever happens and still keep our eyes on Jesus.

Oh, that sounds so simple!  God will take care of it?  Isn’t that a cop out?  Well, go back into your memory banks.  Your grandma, father, child, whoever, passed away.  God called them home.  How were you able to keep going?  God comforted you in his word, picked you up. You were diagnosed with that. How did you keep plugging forward? God was with you, that’s how. How did you pick up the pieces after a spouse betrayed you, a friend stabbed you in the back or work dismissed you without a moment’s notice?  Because God was there, guiding you.

And we say all this not in the sense that the world means, that God makes everything come up roses.  We say it with the same understanding Mary has.  We do not just rely on God.  We rely on our Savior God.  We rely on the Jesus who had and does show mercy to us, in spite of all our failures.  We rely on the Jesus who had such love he gave his life that we’ll be with God forever. We rely on the Jesus who, even though w/o sin, gave up all that all our sins are taken away. And that’s the case.  We don’t appeal to or call on some higher power. We call on the God who calls us his own through Christ, the God who works on our behalf because of what Jesus did and the God who has a spot reserved for us right now in heaven, because Jesus took our place at the table that was the cross.  That is the higher power we rely on.  And that is the higher power that will see us through, enable us to set aside all our fears and move forward.  That is the God of our salvation.

Of course, this will be a lifelong struggle. But that’s why we are here, why we take time in his word and why we encourage and seek encouragement from others. We know what our hearts want to think and focus on, and we know that not where our attention ought to be.  It ought to be on God and his love for us in Jesus, and as we are here, as we are in his word, as we call on him in prayer, God helps us, as he helped Mary, keep our focus on the one thing necessary - the Savior, the Christ, Jesus.

Things are getting crazier out there every time we wake up.  And it will only get worse these harried days before Christmas.  But take the time to sing, to sing the song of Mary.  Sing of God’s glory. Sing of his grace.  Sing of his love. With our focus there, everything else just seems to fall into place.  For if God is for us, who can be against us?  No one, that’s who.  May God bless us that our eyes of faith are on him and his son and on them alone… always. Amen.