Mary decides to go to her cousin, Elizabeth.  Zechariah, the husband of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, had also received a message from the Angel Gabriel.  Elizabeth, Zechariah’s elderly and formally barren wife would become pregnant and conceive of a son who was to be named John.

Later, perhaps that night, Joseph was visited in his dreams by an angel convincing him to carry this weight alongside Mary.  There was no argument, no delay, or recorded words.  Only action on Joseph’s part— protect Mary and the baby Jesus.

I think it can be easily said that before the event that launched Mary into eternal celebrity, Mary knew obscurity, routine, and submission without spotlight.

“Living Sacrifice” is not a dramatic martyrdom, it is a daily surrender.  Find your gift, we all have different gifts (I can wiggle my ears! Really!).  Use your gifts for good, for righteousness.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The book of Romans was a letter from Paul to believers in Rome.   Both Jewish and Gentile Christians were starting small churches. Paul was also aware that Jews were being allowed back into Rome after six years of forced exile.  Can Paul unite the faithful among the Jews and the Gentiles?

Is the Sophia described in Proverbs 8:12 an entity embodying wisdom who sits with God?  Or is Sophia, the woman speaking in Proverbs 8:12 (a poem), a metaphor for Wisdom?  Trust me, a lot of people have tried to figure this one out, and it isn’t easy— maybe it’s not truly possible to figure out so go with your own intuition, I guess.  

Find a way to dance through the pain— by “dance” I mean do it within your heart.  Recognize that the struggle can build an indestructible foundation for your Soul!  Try to see your struggle as a gift from God who is likely letting you know he seeks you for a higher purpose and wants you to come closer!

Psalm 4:8 is a reminder to put the phone away.  Stop scrolling through the memories of the day behind you.  Rest now— be renewed so you may be “prayed up” for what is to come tomorrow.

The wilderness strips from your comfort, distractions, ego, and self-reliance. If you stick to the Word, pray, and contemplate those things are replaced with Identity rooted in God, Scripture as a guide, Humility and obedience, Vision, and finally authority forged in fire.

Just as in our last daily, God didn’t smite Rome and have Jesus send lightning bolts into the Roman Legionnaire army. He sent Jesus to put us on the right path toward faith, wisdom and love. Starting to see the pattern?

ourage is not a flame you must manufacture—it is a gift received when you realize who goes before you. Where God sends you, He accompanies you. Where He commands you to walk, He equips you to stand.

Isaiah served Kings— he was not just some kook wearing a sign on the street corner.  He served for at least four kings and walked into their courts like a boss!  He was considered to have divine insight.  Isaiah is the second most quoted  book in the Old Testament (after Psalms).

Prayer means connection, presence, relationship.  Supplication means requests, concrete needs.  This is “God, here I am” then “God, here’s what’s going on.”