Advent Week 3 theme: Joy – Behind the scenes of the ultimate sleepover

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When you were growing up do you remember the fun of staying overnight with your best friend? Or maybe a group of you got together and had an all out slumber party. Pity the Nght in Bethlemen 2012 22moms the next day when the most of the house looked like the dressing rooms at Macy’s after Black Friday.  If you’re a guy you won’t admit to having a ‘sleep over’ but most of you have to confess that you spent many nights around a campfire talking to dudes then sleeping on the floor of a room called the ‘man cave’.  Come on now grown up boys and girls, wouldn’t you love to just for a time travel back in time to revisit a few of those experiences?
The ultimate sleepover! That’s what I think of when I read today’s Advent story. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months before going back home.  Mary was ecstatic about being God’s chosen one, and knew it wasn’t by accident that she would be the mother Jesus while he lived on Earth. She knows she was set apart and she recognizes the power of God. I think of Mary and Elizabeth talking all day and into the night about the awesomeness of God and remembering times that God showed his power to his people how he was merciful to them. What happened there, didn’t stay there. What happened was the anticipation of the most joyful event to every take place.  Listen in on their conversation as you read the passage for today.

Luke 1:46-56 (the Message translation)

And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened—  I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength,  scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel;  he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
 
Joy Unspeakable Joy – Chris Tomlin

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