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Better Together

God's Christmas Promise to YOU! - Episode 1121

December 15, 2025 | S7 E1121 | 52:34

God's Christmas Promise to YOU! - Episode 1121
Why did Mary say "yes" to God? During a season of darkness and oppression, God launched His rescue mission to save a hurting world. On the first Christmas, our Eternal Hope was born--Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000
#Christmas #Jesus #Worship #Faith #Miracles #PromisesofGod #Messiah #Hope #Eternity #Humility #Submission #Redemption #Gratitude #VirginBirth #Prophecy #Surrender #TrustGod #Timing #Obedience #LaurieCrouch #CeCeWinans #SheilaWalsh #LisaHarper #KalleyHeiligenthal

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Better Together | God's Christmas Promise to YOU! - Episode 1121 | December 15, 2025
  • - for thousands of years, the world waited for the messiah,
  • 00:00:00.723 --> 00:00:04.194
  • And then a young woman says yes to god's plan, and a
  • 00:00:04.194 --> 00:00:08.231
  • Savior is born.
  • 00:00:08.231 --> 00:00:09.632
  • Christmas reminds us that god always keeps his promises.
  • 00:00:09.632 --> 00:00:12.869
  • Come on, let's talk about it.
  • 00:00:12.869 --> 00:00:14.537
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:00:14.537 --> 00:00:41.931
  • - so when i found out that i was pregnant with our first little
  • 00:00:43.199 --> 00:00:46.069
  • Baby, it was right before christmas time, 2014, wow,
  • 00:00:46.069 --> 00:00:53.476
  • It's a little blurry now, but you get that test back and
  • 00:00:53.476 --> 00:00:56.779
  • There's nothing like it because you know conceptually
  • 00:00:56.779 --> 00:00:58.214
  • Having a baby changes everything.
  • 00:00:58.214 --> 00:01:00.750
  • But when you're holding that test, you realize in a whole
  • 00:01:00.750 --> 00:01:05.788
  • Other way, i'm-- something, everything's
  • 00:01:05.788 --> 00:01:07.657
  • About to change here.
  • 00:01:07.657 --> 00:01:08.925
  • And i'll never forget going to my first appointment and
  • 00:01:08.925 --> 00:01:13.096
  • Thinking, is there something wrong?
  • 00:01:13.096 --> 00:01:14.697
  • I don't have the bump yet.
  • 00:01:14.697 --> 00:01:15.732
  • Where's the bump?
  • 00:01:15.732 --> 00:01:16.766
  • You know, i'm only, what, seven, eight weeks
  • 00:01:16.766 --> 00:01:18.801
  • Along, you know?
  • 00:01:18.801 --> 00:01:19.969
  • But conceptually, mentally, i'm aware everything's
  • 00:01:19.969 --> 00:01:23.273
  • Changing, but on the outside, nothing looks different.
  • 00:01:23.273 --> 00:01:25.608
  • Everything else is the same, and i'm holding this secret on
  • 00:01:25.608 --> 00:01:29.479
  • The inside.
  • 00:01:29.479 --> 00:01:30.713
  • Well, i go to the appointment, and i was shocked through
  • 00:01:30.713 --> 00:01:33.283
  • Every pregnancy, it never gets old.
  • 00:01:33.283 --> 00:01:35.485
  • They go in, they listen to the heartbeat, you know, they
  • 00:01:35.485 --> 00:01:38.121
  • Measure your belly, and then they kind of say, well, good.
  • 00:01:38.121 --> 00:01:41.424
  • Everything looks great.
  • 00:01:41.424 --> 00:01:42.392
  • Any questions?
  • 00:01:42.392 --> 00:01:43.560
  • And i just thought, surely there's something else we
  • 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:46.663
  • Should be covering here.
  • 00:01:46.663 --> 00:01:47.764
  • I'm growing i don't know how to do this.
  • 00:01:47.764 --> 00:01:51.501
  • I'm not, tell me, what am i doing wrong?
  • 00:01:51.501 --> 00:01:53.803
  • What should i do differently?
  • 00:01:53.803 --> 00:01:55.071
  • And it's this miracle that starts so small and you expand
  • 00:01:55.071 --> 00:02:00.210
  • And you grow with it.
  • 00:02:00.210 --> 00:02:02.312
  • And i think there's so many profound parallels as we're
  • 00:02:02.312 --> 00:02:05.582
  • Talking about christmas this week that jesus would come
  • 00:02:05.582 --> 00:02:10.019
  • In that way.
  • 00:02:10.019 --> 00:02:11.354
  • And i think mary getting this proclamation, you know, she's
  • 00:02:11.354 --> 00:02:14.424
  • This visitation from angels and you know, in luke 1 we
  • 00:02:14.424 --> 00:02:18.127
  • Have, "greetings oh favored one, the lord is with you" and
  • 00:02:18.127 --> 00:02:21.931
  • She is understandably you know terrified but i think about
  • 00:02:21.931 --> 00:02:25.735
  • How mary fostered this information this promise that
  • 00:02:25.735 --> 00:02:29.472
  • Came as a seed.
  • 00:02:29.472 --> 00:02:31.074
  • The seed form and you know when you're pregnant before
  • 00:02:31.074 --> 00:02:35.345
  • You're even showing you begin to make these life changes
  • 00:02:35.345 --> 00:02:38.147
  • Your diet needs to adjust, you rest and you sleep more, and
  • 00:02:38.147 --> 00:02:41.451
  • You're not lifting heavy things, you're checking in
  • 00:02:41.451 --> 00:02:45.555
  • With the right people, doctors.
  • 00:02:45.555 --> 00:02:47.223
  • And mary's progression here of being visited by you know this
  • 00:02:47.223 --> 00:02:51.527
  • Angel and she asks a really great question i think i would
  • 00:02:51.527 --> 00:02:55.331
  • Be asking as well, so how?
  • 00:02:55.331 --> 00:02:57.533
  • How is this going to happen?
  • 00:02:57.533 --> 00:02:59.402
  • And she ends with, "i'm the servant of the lord let it be
  • 00:02:59.402 --> 00:03:05.908
  • Into me according to your word." - wow, right.
  • 00:03:05.908 --> 00:03:07.810
  • - and then we get to this glorious song, mary's song.
  • 00:03:07.810 --> 00:03:10.847
  • But i think about what she must have done between the
  • 00:03:10.847 --> 00:03:14.917
  • Fear that would have been there.
  • 00:03:14.917 --> 00:03:18.154
  • Well, i'm a young girl, i'm not married.
  • 00:03:18.154 --> 00:03:20.123
  • How is this all going to happen?
  • 00:03:20.123 --> 00:03:21.991
  • And the answer is kind of not the step-by-step guide of how
  • 00:03:21.991 --> 00:03:26.329
  • She's going to live the whole rest of her life this way.
  • 00:03:26.329 --> 00:03:29.465
  • And she, with openness, embraces this promise.
  • 00:03:29.465 --> 00:03:35.571
  • - it's so interesting that at the end of the old testament,
  • 00:03:35.571 --> 00:03:38.207
  • There's 400 years of silence, you know, of jewish people who
  • 00:03:38.207 --> 00:03:42.979
  • Were waiting for messiah, who were praying.
  • 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:47.216
  • But god wasn't speaking anymore.
  • 00:03:47.216 --> 00:03:48.651
  • It wasn't speaking through the prophets.
  • 00:03:48.651 --> 00:03:50.353
  • There was just the silence from god.
  • 00:03:50.353 --> 00:03:52.922
  • But when the angel came and made the announcement on the
  • 00:03:52.922 --> 00:03:56.893
  • Hillside that christ was about to be born, it was the answer
  • 00:03:56.893 --> 00:04:02.131
  • To prayers from generations of people who had poured their
  • 00:04:02.131 --> 00:04:05.635
  • Tears into the ground, and god had finally spoken again.
  • 00:04:05.635 --> 00:04:09.972
  • And that one night split history into two.
  • 00:04:09.972 --> 00:04:14.610
  • That's how we recognize we have before the birth of
  • 00:04:14.610 --> 00:04:16.879
  • Jesus, and we have after the birth of jesus, his birth
  • 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:20.583
  • Changed everything.
  • 00:04:20.583 --> 00:04:22.752
  • - what did she do to create this ecosystem for the promise
  • 00:04:22.752 --> 00:04:28.324
  • And the way that we do when we're carrying these babies?
  • 00:04:28.324 --> 00:04:31.894
  • What did she do to go from this place to this soul
  • 00:04:31.894 --> 00:04:36.699
  • Magnifies the lord, this prophetic declaration from the
  • 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:40.436
  • Deep of her.
  • 00:04:40.436 --> 00:04:41.738
  • And she is declaring who this messiah is and it's not the
  • 00:04:41.738 --> 00:04:45.408
  • Messiah that was expected.
  • 00:04:45.408 --> 00:04:47.377
  • I mean, but she's sensing this, picking up on this,
  • 00:04:47.377 --> 00:04:50.813
  • Prophetically about jesus, the messiah, who's growing
  • 00:04:50.813 --> 00:04:54.951
  • On the inside.
  • 00:04:54.951 --> 00:04:56.185
  • And i can't help but think her ecosystem of asking the
  • 00:04:56.185 --> 00:04:59.522
  • Question, how, but with an eagerness to listen, an
  • 00:04:59.522 --> 00:05:04.026
  • Eagerness to, i'm not this contrary, not resistant, but
  • 00:05:04.026 --> 00:05:08.197
  • Listening, and then this open-handed, let it be unto me
  • 00:05:08.197 --> 00:05:11.200
  • As you've spoken.
  • 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:12.568
  • I don't get how, i don't know the details here.
  • 00:05:12.568 --> 00:05:15.238
  • What's another ecosystem that she did?
  • 00:05:15.238 --> 00:05:17.039
  • She went to elizabeth and she's surrounded by people who
  • 00:05:17.039 --> 00:05:22.111
  • Had a vision for this promise where others maybe didn't.
  • 00:05:22.111 --> 00:05:26.048
  • How do we know that?
  • 00:05:26.048 --> 00:05:27.250
  • Elizabeth addresses her the same way the angel did.
  • 00:05:27.250 --> 00:05:30.686
  • "blessed are you among women, favored one." elizabeth is
  • 00:05:30.686 --> 00:05:35.591
  • Picking up on the supernatural nature of this seed form of
  • 00:05:35.591 --> 00:05:41.030
  • The promise on the inside and mary burst forth
  • 00:05:41.030 --> 00:05:45.368
  • With this proclamation.
  • 00:05:45.368 --> 00:05:47.003
  • And i just think what an example for us when we're
  • 00:05:47.003 --> 00:05:50.473
  • Carrying these promises, these declarations from the lord,
  • 00:05:50.473 --> 00:05:54.243
  • Where we may think this sounds crazy and how are we going to
  • 00:05:54.243 --> 00:05:57.747
  • Get from the promise to the fruition?
  • 00:05:57.747 --> 00:06:00.349
  • What does this look like?
  • 00:06:00.349 --> 00:06:01.784
  • I think there's so many points in here of how she carried
  • 00:06:01.784 --> 00:06:06.956
  • Herself that would result in mary's song of magnifying the
  • 00:06:06.956 --> 00:06:11.260
  • Lord, of declaring who this christ child is before he's
  • 00:06:11.260 --> 00:06:15.731
  • Even out in the world.
  • 00:06:15.731 --> 00:06:18.134
  • There's just something so extraordinary about mary's
  • 00:06:18.134 --> 00:06:20.570
  • Heart, this surrender of, i don't know what this all looks
  • 00:06:20.570 --> 00:06:24.240
  • Like and the cost could be really great, but i trust you.
  • 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:28.077
  • And not only do i trust you, i am bringing this exaltation,
  • 00:06:28.077 --> 00:06:33.316
  • This magnifying of the lord with gratitude, why?
  • 00:06:33.316 --> 00:06:36.886
  • Because i know the works of your hands.
  • 00:06:36.886 --> 00:06:38.888
  • I don't know how this one's going to end, but i know that
  • 00:06:38.888 --> 00:06:41.624
  • It's good because i've seen the god of abraham,
  • 00:06:41.624 --> 00:06:44.160
  • Isaac, and jacob.
  • 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:45.461
  • I've known your faithfulness in that story, and i know that
  • 00:06:45.461 --> 00:06:49.165
  • It's going to be true for me.
  • 00:06:49.165 --> 00:06:50.466
  • And you see her pulling from this past and singing it as if
  • 00:06:50.466 --> 00:06:55.171
  • It is her story because it is.
  • 00:06:55.171 --> 00:06:58.641
  • - there's so much to be gleaned from mary as this word
  • 00:06:58.641 --> 00:07:02.812
  • Is given to her and not an easy one.
  • 00:07:02.812 --> 00:07:05.815
  • And it makes me wonder today, what has it been like for you
  • 00:07:05.815 --> 00:07:10.620
  • Carrying promises when nothing's showing?
  • 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:14.290
  • There's no evidence to the world around you.
  • 00:07:14.290 --> 00:07:17.693
  • And you're entrusting the lord to do.
  • 00:07:17.693 --> 00:07:20.663
  • He is doing the work to create and to form on the inside.
  • 00:07:20.663 --> 00:07:25.935
  • But we need to kind of posture ourselves in agreement.
  • 00:07:25.935 --> 00:07:31.574
  • What has that process been like for you?
  • 00:07:31.574 --> 00:07:34.443
  • - you know, one of the things i think is fascinating is when
  • 00:07:34.443 --> 00:07:36.846
  • I was a teenager, i was in a classical choir.
  • 00:07:36.846 --> 00:07:39.315
  • And so we sang that magnifica.
  • 00:07:39.315 --> 00:07:40.850
  • "my soul doth magnify the lord and my spirit rejoices in god,
  • 00:07:40.850 --> 00:07:43.953
  • My savior.
  • 00:07:43.953 --> 00:07:45.187
  • For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden."
  • 00:07:45.187 --> 00:07:47.557
  • And i think her response to the angel isn't, well, how
  • 00:07:47.557 --> 00:07:53.195
  • Incredible am i?
  • 00:07:53.195 --> 00:07:54.430
  • Her response is, i have no clue how that could happen.
  • 00:07:54.430 --> 00:07:59.702
  • And it doesn't change who i am.
  • 00:07:59.702 --> 00:08:01.637
  • It just helps me understand more who god is.
  • 00:08:01.637 --> 00:08:03.940
  • Because i think the lord usually asks us to do things
  • 00:08:03.940 --> 00:08:06.576
  • That we think, there's just no way, lord.
  • 00:08:06.576 --> 00:08:08.044
  • For me, the key to mary is one thing, and it's she said yes.
  • 00:08:08.044 --> 00:08:12.148
  • To me, saying, yes, changes everything.
  • 00:08:12.148 --> 00:08:14.850
  • Changes everything.
  • 00:08:14.850 --> 00:08:15.718
  • - and it's an immediate, yes.
  • 00:08:15.718 --> 00:08:18.588
  • I love to compare and contrast hannah's song.
  • 00:08:18.588 --> 00:08:22.625
  • You know, hannah's struggle with infertility, totally
  • 00:08:22.625 --> 00:08:25.328
  • Different story, because everybody wanted her to get
  • 00:08:25.328 --> 00:08:27.263
  • Pregnant.
  • 00:08:27.263 --> 00:08:28.431
  • Because her sister wife, panina, was fertile myrtle,
  • 00:08:28.431 --> 00:08:30.900
  • And had all these kids.
  • 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:32.001
  • And hannah's like, i just want one child.
  • 00:08:32.001 --> 00:08:33.836
  • I just want one child.
  • 00:08:33.836 --> 00:08:35.137
  • But the parallel is between when god hears hannah cry and
  • 00:08:35.137 --> 00:08:40.076
  • She became pregnant with samuel she sings a song that
  • 00:08:40.076 --> 00:08:43.279
  • Is so similar to mary's magnifica and both of them
  • 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:47.283
  • Were just astounded by the goodness of god.
  • 00:08:47.283 --> 00:08:49.919
  • I can get it in hannah, because she's older and she's
  • 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.823
  • Spent a long time waiting on the lord.
  • 00:08:53.823 --> 00:08:56.559
  • Mary's response you know, to have that kind of faith that
  • 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:00.296
  • Young i think that will always be one of the wrinkles in the
  • 00:09:00.296 --> 00:09:04.166
  • Chirstmas story that slays me and i will tell you there's
  • 00:09:04.166 --> 00:09:07.470
  • Times when i see missy at 16 with this fresh faith that if
  • 00:09:07.470 --> 00:09:12.375
  • I'm not careful in mine, mine becomes rot.
  • 00:09:12.375 --> 00:09:14.944
  • So i do love you talking about how do we, how do we steward
  • 00:09:14.944 --> 00:09:20.149
  • That miracle when no one else sees it yet.
  • 00:09:20.149 --> 00:09:23.319
  • And i think hannah and mary in those songs show us the first
  • 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:27.189
  • Step is thank you.
  • 00:09:27.189 --> 00:09:28.824
  • Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • 00:09:28.824 --> 00:09:30.793
  • This is not on my deservedness.
  • 00:09:30.793 --> 00:09:32.762
  • It's because you are a good god.
  • 00:09:32.762 --> 00:09:35.765
  • I love that phrase, to steward a miracle.
  • 00:09:35.765 --> 00:09:38.968
  • First of all, it means you recognize you didn't give
  • 00:09:38.968 --> 00:09:41.437
  • Birth to the miracle.
  • 00:09:41.437 --> 00:09:42.772
  • To steward a miracle is almost like shepherding a miracle.
  • 00:09:42.772 --> 00:09:45.941
  • You know, god was the author of the miracle.
  • 00:09:45.941 --> 00:09:48.377
  • And you just want to carry it in a way that gives him glory
  • 00:09:48.377 --> 00:09:52.615
  • And allows other people to recognize that is a miracle.
  • 00:09:52.615 --> 00:09:57.253
  • There's no way that person gave birth to that.
  • 00:09:57.253 --> 00:09:59.488
  • But look at why they're stewarding.
  • 00:09:59.488 --> 00:10:01.691
  • So it's being a conduit for the glory of god.
  • 00:10:01.691 --> 00:10:05.995
  • - and i think the best way to see anything come to full
  • 00:10:05.995 --> 00:10:08.964
  • Fruition is to keep your eyes on him.
  • 00:10:08.964 --> 00:10:11.467
  • I think that's what she shows us, you know, to look
  • 00:10:11.467 --> 00:10:16.405
  • At his greatness.
  • 00:10:16.405 --> 00:10:17.540
  • You know, like you said, i don't know how this is
  • 00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:19.775
  • Going to happen.
  • 00:10:19.775 --> 00:10:21.077
  • And what i love what you said when you found out you were
  • 00:10:21.077 --> 00:10:24.513
  • First pregnant, it's like the miracle is going to happen.
  • 00:10:24.513 --> 00:10:27.917
  • God is in control of that.
  • 00:10:27.917 --> 00:10:30.219
  • And a lot of times we think we have to do something, you
  • 00:10:30.219 --> 00:10:33.656
  • Know, but it's keeping our eyes on him.
  • 00:10:33.656 --> 00:10:35.991
  • And saying yes, but worshiping your way through.
  • 00:10:35.991 --> 00:10:39.795
  • - and prophesying, prophesying.
  • 00:10:39.795 --> 00:10:45.434
  • You hear the word of the lord and standing on that and
  • 00:10:45.434 --> 00:10:47.703
  • Prophesying.
  • 00:10:47.703 --> 00:10:49.338
  • You know declaring what i love so much about it is it's
  • 00:10:49.338 --> 00:10:53.809
  • Also joy filled.
  • 00:10:53.809 --> 00:10:56.979
  • So the first thing she says, my soul rejoices and god, the
  • 00:10:56.979 --> 00:10:59.482
  • Angels declared joy to the world.
  • 00:10:59.482 --> 00:11:02.918
  • You know, all the, jesus was bringing joy to the world.
  • 00:11:02.918 --> 00:11:09.925
  • For all people, the good news of the gospel of jesus.
  • 00:11:09.925 --> 00:11:12.695
  • I think declaring and believing and prophesying,
  • 00:11:12.695 --> 00:11:20.002
  • Like mary did, mary took that word.
  • 00:11:20.002 --> 00:11:23.105
  • She pondered that in her heart.
  • 00:11:23.105 --> 00:11:25.307
  • She probably spoke with her mouth so many times.
  • 00:11:25.307 --> 00:11:28.377
  • It wasn't probably just that one song.
  • 00:11:28.377 --> 00:11:31.013
  • She probably sang that all the time, and that's what we
  • 00:11:31.013 --> 00:11:33.783
  • Need to do.
  • 00:11:33.783 --> 00:11:35.017
  • When we get something from god, we need to declare it.
  • 00:11:35.017 --> 00:11:37.386
  • We need to sing it.
  • 00:11:37.386 --> 00:11:38.287
  • We need to believe it.
  • 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:39.421
  • We need to throw our everything into it, because
  • 00:11:39.421 --> 00:11:41.824
  • That's what he has planned for us.
  • 00:11:41.824 --> 00:11:44.059
  • It's not a question.
  • 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:45.327
  • God told mary, this is what's going to happen to you.
  • 00:11:45.327 --> 00:11:48.464
  • And so when we throw our hands up and say yes, we can change
  • 00:11:48.464 --> 00:11:51.834
  • The world.
  • 00:11:51.834 --> 00:11:53.502
  • - i do love that she says, how can it be?
  • 00:11:53.502 --> 00:11:56.839
  • And so i do love that luke tells us, she was a little
  • 00:11:56.839 --> 00:11:59.575
  • Discombobulated at the beginning.
  • 00:11:59.575 --> 00:12:01.076
  • But then, yeah, her response, may everything that you've
  • 00:12:01.076 --> 00:12:05.047
  • Said be unto me.
  • 00:12:05.047 --> 00:12:06.282
  • I might say, may the easiest stuff you've prophesied be
  • 00:12:06.282 --> 00:12:09.251
  • Unto me, but she just, this, i mean, extraordinary faith.
  • 00:12:09.251 --> 00:12:13.589
  • I love that you brought up elizabeth, because i think
  • 00:12:13.589 --> 00:12:16.225
  • Sometimes in my life, i have not been as wise, and god has
  • 00:12:16.225 --> 00:12:20.162
  • Given me the seed of a miracle.
  • 00:12:20.162 --> 00:12:22.031
  • And i've been too quick to show the seed to people who
  • 00:12:22.031 --> 00:12:25.968
  • Didn't speak life over it.
  • 00:12:25.968 --> 00:12:27.536
  • And i think that it's simple, but it's profound that she
  • 00:12:27.536 --> 00:12:31.507
  • Knows, i need to go to an older, wiser believer who will
  • 00:12:31.507 --> 00:12:36.846
  • Steward the miracle.
  • 00:12:36.846 --> 00:12:39.481
  • You know, sometimes like i saw a woman recently at a women's
  • 00:12:39.481 --> 00:12:41.550
  • Conference she had a baby it was three weeks old she had
  • 00:12:41.550 --> 00:12:45.321
  • Brought the baby to the conference, and i didn't get
  • 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:48.424
  • To carry missy i mean i'm so grateful i became a mom
  • 00:12:48.424 --> 00:12:51.994
  • Through the miracle of adoption but even as a woman
  • 00:12:51.994 --> 00:12:54.697
  • Who's never carried a child i wanted to go don't bring that
  • 00:12:54.697 --> 00:12:58.167
  • Three week old around these two thousand women like get
  • 00:12:58.167 --> 00:13:00.536
  • That baby to safe place.
  • 00:13:00.536 --> 00:13:01.971
  • Because i think that that's still so precious and i think
  • 00:13:01.971 --> 00:13:06.175
  • For people who are listening to our conversation this week,
  • 00:13:06.175 --> 00:13:10.646
  • And maybe are new believers or they have something in their
  • 00:13:10.646 --> 00:13:13.716
  • Life that feels real precious but kind of small that's in
  • 00:13:13.716 --> 00:13:16.886
  • Seed form, be careful not to take that to people who will
  • 00:13:16.886 --> 00:13:20.923
  • Speak words of death.
  • 00:13:20.923 --> 00:13:22.291
  • Take that to older believers.
  • 00:13:22.291 --> 00:13:25.527
  • Take that in confidence to people who are safe, who will
  • 00:13:25.527 --> 00:13:28.297
  • Steward that, who will pray with you and for you, because
  • 00:13:28.297 --> 00:13:31.634
  • Sometimes i'm not wise about god whispers something to me,
  • 00:13:31.634 --> 00:13:35.704
  • And then i use a megaphone and tell the world.
  • 00:13:35.704 --> 00:13:37.873
  • And it's like, wait and let it grow.
  • 00:13:37.873 --> 00:13:40.476
  • - and i love too, like, elizabeth's posture here is
  • 00:13:40.476 --> 00:13:44.313
  • One that's so profound to me as well.
  • 00:13:44.313 --> 00:13:46.782
  • It was somebody with more wisdom, with life behind her,
  • 00:13:46.782 --> 00:13:50.986
  • But you look at her journey with zechariah, and it's,
  • 00:13:50.986 --> 00:13:53.789
  • Again, it's very different from mary's.
  • 00:13:53.789 --> 00:13:56.158
  • And i just think how profound that instead of this thing
  • 00:13:56.158 --> 00:14:00.796
  • That could turn cold or like, oh, look how easy it was for
  • 00:14:00.796 --> 00:14:03.332
  • You even though i did get the promise, my
  • 00:14:03.332 --> 00:14:05.334
  • Story was different.
  • 00:14:05.334 --> 00:14:06.135
  • I could withhold.
  • 00:14:06.135 --> 00:14:07.236
  • - she could have been kind of elder brother
  • 00:14:07.236 --> 00:14:09.038
  • And been jealous.
  • 00:14:09.038 --> 00:14:12.341
  • - that could have happened.
  • 00:14:12.341 --> 00:14:13.575
  • And in fact, she concludes with and blessed is she who
  • 00:14:13.575 --> 00:14:15.711
  • Believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken
  • 00:14:15.711 --> 00:14:18.414
  • To her from the lord.
  • 00:14:18.414 --> 00:14:19.915
  • Now, where was the point of contention before it was in
  • 00:14:19.915 --> 00:14:24.219
  • The belief?
  • 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:25.187
  • It was in that, could this really be?
  • 00:14:25.187 --> 00:14:27.556
  • Could god really do this?
  • 00:14:27.556 --> 00:14:29.258
  • And the recognition, the wisdom, maturity of elizabeth
  • 00:14:29.258 --> 00:14:32.895
  • To regard her, to encourage her.
  • 00:14:32.895 --> 00:14:35.164
  • And i'm like, i do think that immediately after that, mary's
  • 00:14:35.164 --> 00:14:39.335
  • Proclamation, i think it has a lot to do with elizabeth
  • 00:14:39.335 --> 00:14:43.305
  • Partnering in that way, the humility of elizabeth to see,
  • 00:14:43.305 --> 00:14:47.943
  • Because, i mean, humility is all over in this song.
  • 00:14:47.943 --> 00:14:52.081
  • It's all over in this story.
  • 00:14:52.081 --> 00:14:53.415
  • It's, you know, mary being this humble servant, and
  • 00:14:53.415 --> 00:14:57.453
  • Toward the end, he brought down the mighty from the
  • 00:14:57.453 --> 00:15:00.155
  • Thrones, exalted, those of humble estate, he's filled the
  • 00:15:00.155 --> 00:15:03.225
  • Hungry with good things, and the rich he's sent away.
  • 00:15:03.225 --> 00:15:05.961
  • He's remembered to help israel, that there's, the
  • 00:15:05.961 --> 00:15:09.999
  • People who are privy, the people who are holding this
  • 00:15:09.999 --> 00:15:13.769
  • Miracle are the humble ones, whether they were born into
  • 00:15:13.769 --> 00:15:17.406
  • That or they've fought for something and had to step
  • 00:15:17.406 --> 00:15:21.310
  • Into, this was different than i expected, but i celebrate
  • 00:15:21.310 --> 00:15:24.546
  • Your victory as i celebrate mine.
  • 00:15:24.546 --> 00:15:27.149
  • You can see where the lord is hovering.
  • 00:15:27.149 --> 00:15:30.219
  • You can see what he's highlighting, and it's the
  • 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:34.156
  • Humble, given over reality of the people at play here.
  • 00:15:34.156 --> 00:15:38.827
  • - i love the fact that god picked mary of all people, and
  • 00:15:38.827 --> 00:15:43.899
  • She knows it.
  • 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.967
  • She's like, who am i that you would choose me?
  • 00:15:44.967 --> 00:15:48.170
  • What it means to me is that god will use anyone with a
  • 00:15:48.170 --> 00:15:51.940
  • Willing yes.
  • 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.808
  • God will use anyone who surrendered.
  • 00:15:52.808 --> 00:15:55.344
  • Mary's posture, like, i don't really know how this is going
  • 00:15:55.344 --> 00:15:57.746
  • To work, but let it be unto me as you have spoken, that's the
  • 00:15:57.746 --> 00:16:01.884
  • Qualification is just a laid down, surrendered heart.
  • 00:16:01.884 --> 00:16:05.788
  • And the beautiful thing is, anyone can do that.
  • 00:16:05.788 --> 00:16:08.557
  • I can do that.
  • 00:16:08.557 --> 00:16:09.558
  • That doesn't matter where you came from.
  • 00:16:09.558 --> 00:16:11.026
  • It doesn't matter your education.
  • 00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:12.828
  • Doesn't matter what you make annually.
  • 00:16:12.828 --> 00:16:14.763
  • Anyone can give a yes to the lord and say, i don't know
  • 00:16:14.763 --> 00:16:18.367
  • What this looks like, but i trust you.
  • 00:16:18.367 --> 00:16:20.469
  • And may it be, as you have said.
  • 00:16:20.469 --> 00:16:22.671
  • So the fact that god chose mary to me, should be a great
  • 00:16:22.671 --> 00:16:27.042
  • Encouragement to any one of us.
  • 00:16:27.042 --> 00:16:29.578
  • - one of the things i love most about elizabeth, and we
  • 00:16:29.578 --> 00:16:33.382
  • Read about her in luke's gospel, is that even though
  • 00:16:33.382 --> 00:16:37.019
  • She was going through some really difficult things in her
  • 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:39.288
  • Own life, she obviously was a woman who kept her heart open
  • 00:16:39.288 --> 00:16:42.791
  • To the lord.
  • 00:16:42.791 --> 00:16:44.093
  • So whenever mary showed up on her doorstep with her news,
  • 00:16:44.093 --> 00:16:48.330
  • There was an instant celebration, an instant
  • 00:16:48.330 --> 00:16:51.066
  • Recognition, this is god at work.
  • 00:16:51.066 --> 00:16:54.136
  • Sometimes god's timing is confusing, you know you kind
  • 00:16:54.136 --> 00:16:56.572
  • Of look at how the lord is working in somebody else's
  • 00:16:56.572 --> 00:16:58.740
  • Life and you think well lord what about me, i've been
  • 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.110
  • Waiting for a long long time, i just want you to know it
  • 00:17:01.110 --> 00:17:04.246
  • Does not mean god loves you any less.
  • 00:17:04.246 --> 00:17:06.682
  • And as you look back i promise you will find god's
  • 00:17:06.682 --> 00:17:09.918
  • Timing is perfect.
  • 00:17:09.918 --> 00:17:13.455
  • - celebrate christmas with our community.
  • 00:17:13.455 --> 00:17:15.591
  • - we want you to join the conversation and connect with
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  • Us on social media.
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  • - ask a question, share a prayer request, and make
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  • Friends with women all over the world getting
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  • Better together.
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  • - let's keep the conversation going.
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  • You can find the better together podcast on your
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  • Favorite listening platform, subscribe today.
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  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:17:36.009 --> 00:17:40.517
  • - and i think god's timing too, just, there's so much
  • 00:17:40.517 --> 00:17:44.020
  • Between mary and elizabeth to understand about god's timing.
  • 00:17:44.020 --> 00:17:47.790
  • Because mary was not expecting this, when suddenly
  • 00:17:47.790 --> 00:17:50.994
  • Came upon her.
  • 00:17:50.994 --> 00:17:52.295
  • Elizabeth had been persevering for a year after year, after
  • 00:17:52.295 --> 00:17:55.999
  • Year, after year.
  • 00:17:55.999 --> 00:17:57.300
  • And even the fact that zechariah was in the temple,
  • 00:17:57.300 --> 00:18:00.637
  • Was making the offering at that particular point.
  • 00:18:00.637 --> 00:18:02.972
  • I mean, there were thousands of priests that went with a
  • 00:18:02.972 --> 00:18:04.641
  • Lottery, the fact that god throws him on that day to
  • 00:18:04.641 --> 00:18:08.778
  • Be in there.
  • 00:18:08.778 --> 00:18:10.046
  • It just makes me think, as long as we have to wait a lot
  • 00:18:10.046 --> 00:18:12.515
  • For the fulfillment of what god has spoken to us, but to
  • 00:18:12.515 --> 00:18:15.185
  • Keep showing up and to keep being faithful and to keep
  • 00:18:15.185 --> 00:18:18.621
  • Believing.
  • 00:18:18.621 --> 00:18:19.556
  • - because it'll come right on time.
  • 00:18:19.556 --> 00:18:21.457
  • - yes, it'll come on time.
  • 00:18:21.457 --> 00:18:23.326
  • - yeah, i wonder how much the kind of the pivot point of
  • 00:18:23.326 --> 00:18:27.230
  • Such surrender from mary, to me, it almost feels like that
  • 00:18:27.230 --> 00:18:31.301
  • Verse 38, and mary said, behold, i'm the servant
  • 00:18:31.301 --> 00:18:34.470
  • Of the lord.
  • 00:18:34.470 --> 00:18:35.505
  • Let it be unto me.
  • 00:18:35.505 --> 00:18:37.273
  • According to your will, i wonder how much he even began.
  • 00:18:37.273 --> 00:18:41.244
  • Yes, there's a stewardship reality, but that surrender to
  • 00:18:41.244 --> 00:18:44.113
  • That level.
  • 00:18:44.113 --> 00:18:45.748
  • I wonder how much he just began to work.
  • 00:18:45.748 --> 00:18:49.052
  • The things where our posturing could never even get us there.
  • 00:18:49.052 --> 00:18:51.721
  • Even the ecosystems are important to set up, right,
  • 00:18:51.721 --> 00:18:54.691
  • For the promises for all that, but ultimately, this is the
  • 00:18:54.691 --> 00:18:58.194
  • Work of the lord.
  • 00:18:58.194 --> 00:18:59.462
  • I think our most important moment here, our joining hands
  • 00:18:59.462 --> 00:19:03.766
  • With god, is in whatever you say and everything you say.
  • 00:19:03.766 --> 00:19:08.771
  • Let's do that one, you know?
  • 00:19:08.771 --> 00:19:11.040
  • And i just think, and she didn't wait and
  • 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:13.409
  • Debate with him.
  • 00:19:13.409 --> 00:19:14.577
  • She didn't say, you know, give me all this time, she
  • 00:19:14.577 --> 00:19:16.512
  • Surrendered herself, submitted underneath the word without
  • 00:19:16.512 --> 00:19:20.783
  • The comprehension or understanding.
  • 00:19:20.783 --> 00:19:23.653
  • - so by surrendering our will, saying, not my will, but thine
  • 00:19:23.653 --> 00:19:27.657
  • Be done, that's how he gets his promises through us, to
  • 00:19:27.657 --> 00:19:31.894
  • Us, and it's just a beautiful thing.
  • 00:19:31.894 --> 00:19:34.364
  • But surrender takes a lot, because we've got to lay it
  • 00:19:34.364 --> 00:19:37.834
  • All on the line and just give it to him and watch
  • 00:19:37.834 --> 00:19:40.136
  • What he can do.
  • 00:19:40.136 --> 00:19:42.171
  • - i always wonder, you know, the verb there when it says,
  • 00:19:42.171 --> 00:19:45.074
  • Y'all know what a word nerd i am, but when the angel
  • 00:19:45.074 --> 00:19:47.910
  • Promises the holy spirit will come upon you.
  • 00:19:47.910 --> 00:19:50.813
  • Because in that culture, the pagans believed in virgin
  • 00:19:50.813 --> 00:19:54.817
  • Birth, kind of virgin birth.
  • 00:19:54.817 --> 00:19:56.085
  • They believe that the pantheon, the greek little
  • 00:19:56.085 --> 00:19:58.755
  • Gods would have relations with human females and
  • 00:19:58.755 --> 00:20:03.826
  • Get them pregnant.
  • 00:20:03.826 --> 00:20:04.794
  • And so that was a type of virgin birth.
  • 00:20:04.794 --> 00:20:07.263
  • So we hear in our culture virgin birth and we're like oh
  • 00:20:07.263 --> 00:20:09.999
  • Well that's only in the christian tradition, in mary's
  • 00:20:09.999 --> 00:20:12.835
  • Culture they actually there were legends of virgin births
  • 00:20:12.835 --> 00:20:17.173
  • With zeus and a woman etc. you know hercules was a
  • 00:20:17.173 --> 00:20:21.144
  • Technically a virgin birth but where gabriel says no this is
  • 00:20:21.144 --> 00:20:24.747
  • Not going to be like anything you've ever heard of, is when
  • 00:20:24.747 --> 00:20:27.417
  • He says when the holy spirit will come upon you it's not a
  • 00:20:27.417 --> 00:20:30.420
  • Physically intimate term.
  • 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.688
  • It's he will come alongside you and it's the exact same
  • 00:20:31.688 --> 00:20:35.358
  • Verb that he gives the disciples at pentecost in
  • 00:20:35.358 --> 00:20:38.628
  • Acts chapter 2.
  • 00:20:38.628 --> 00:20:39.829
  • And so i always wonder, because luke doesn't give us
  • 00:20:39.829 --> 00:20:43.966
  • All the details, i always wonder what happened in the
  • 00:20:43.966 --> 00:20:46.803
  • Immediacy of gabriel saying, the holy spirit is going to
  • 00:20:46.803 --> 00:20:51.574
  • Eperachomai you.
  • 00:20:51.574 --> 00:20:52.442
  • He's going to come alongside you.
  • 00:20:52.442 --> 00:20:54.310
  • And i wonder what in that moment spiritually happened to
  • 00:20:54.310 --> 00:20:57.747
  • Her mind and our heart if there was a little bit of an
  • 00:20:57.747 --> 00:21:02.185
  • Unveiling and she went like i don't need to know any more
  • 00:21:02.185 --> 00:21:04.987
  • Answers i just felt the presence of god in my spirit
  • 00:21:04.987 --> 00:21:07.824
  • In the same way john did backflips in elizabeth's tummy
  • 00:21:07.824 --> 00:21:11.461
  • For joy and she knew this isn't gas.
  • 00:21:11.461 --> 00:21:13.596
  • He's jumping for joy.
  • 00:21:13.596 --> 00:21:15.798
  • I wonder what wasn't written that mary experienced that
  • 00:21:15.798 --> 00:21:20.303
  • Settled her to go whatever you say, i'm in.
  • 00:21:20.303 --> 00:21:23.106
  • That, i don't know, that eperachomai clue always makes
  • 00:21:23.106 --> 00:21:27.343
  • Me curious.
  • 00:21:27.343 --> 00:21:28.244
  • No more questions, just let it be.
  • 00:21:28.244 --> 00:21:29.879
  • - but also, i'm in awe.
  • 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.981
  • Because i think sometimes we forget how young she
  • 00:21:31.981 --> 00:21:34.417
  • Was, you know.
  • 00:21:34.417 --> 00:21:35.885
  • And both her and elizabeth, it shows that there was a
  • 00:21:35.885 --> 00:21:40.323
  • Relationship.
  • 00:21:40.323 --> 00:21:41.324
  • They had to have a relationship.
  • 00:21:41.324 --> 00:21:43.092
  • That just doesn't come out of, oh, okay.
  • 00:21:43.092 --> 00:21:46.863
  • Because you don't get to that level of surrender just from
  • 00:21:46.863 --> 00:21:50.633
  • An experience.
  • 00:21:50.633 --> 00:21:52.902
  • - but relationship is key, isn't it?
  • 00:21:52.902 --> 00:21:54.337
  • - but you're right.
  • 00:21:54.337 --> 00:21:55.671
  • The lord must have been moving on her heart from when she was
  • 00:21:55.671 --> 00:21:57.273
  • Just a little girl.
  • 00:21:57.273 --> 00:21:58.508
  • It would be fascinating to know what she was like, just
  • 00:21:58.508 --> 00:22:02.779
  • As a little lamb when she was just growing up and how god
  • 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:04.113
  • Was molding her and seeing in her.
  • 00:22:04.113 --> 00:22:05.615
  • Preparing her for that miracle.
  • 00:22:05.615 --> 00:22:07.583
  • Someone who would say yes.
  • 00:22:07.583 --> 00:22:09.118
  • There was somebody a couple months ago and said something
  • 00:22:09.118 --> 00:22:12.355
  • That really challenged me.
  • 00:22:12.355 --> 00:22:14.023
  • He said, courage is not hard.
  • 00:22:14.023 --> 00:22:15.758
  • And i'm listening, thinking, what else are you
  • 00:22:15.758 --> 00:22:18.027
  • Going to say?
  • 00:22:18.027 --> 00:22:18.895
  • He said, it's simply saying yes.
  • 00:22:18.895 --> 00:22:21.030
  • When it comes to feeling god is speaking something to you,
  • 00:22:21.030 --> 00:22:24.467
  • The courage is simply saying yes.
  • 00:22:24.467 --> 00:22:26.736
  • - that's right.
  • 00:22:26.736 --> 00:22:28.604
  • - yes to someone who you totally trust.
  • 00:22:28.604 --> 00:22:30.840
  • But you're right, mary must have started
  • 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:33.176
  • That journey earlier.
  • 00:22:33.176 --> 00:22:35.044
  • - well, and there she's echoing hannah and deborah.
  • 00:22:35.044 --> 00:22:39.449
  • - she knew the stories.
  • 00:22:39.449 --> 00:22:42.885
  • - so she knew the stories of the scripture.
  • 00:22:42.885 --> 00:22:44.887
  • And cece it would be interesting to know how she
  • 00:22:44.887 --> 00:22:49.058
  • Was raised, because you better bet she knew the oral
  • 00:22:49.058 --> 00:22:52.094
  • Tradition, because she was surprised by gabriel.
  • 00:22:52.094 --> 00:22:55.531
  • But most i would have fallen out and she engaged, she had
  • 00:22:55.531 --> 00:23:00.536
  • The presence of mind to ask the question, her belief
  • 00:23:00.536 --> 00:23:04.006
  • Didn't just start in luke 1.
  • 00:23:04.006 --> 00:23:07.143
  • I bet as a little girl, she did love temple.
  • 00:23:07.143 --> 00:23:10.112
  • She did love the psalms.
  • 00:23:10.112 --> 00:23:11.547
  • She did love going to the high holy feast.
  • 00:23:11.547 --> 00:23:13.916
  • - because you have the maturity of saying yes, but
  • 00:23:13.916 --> 00:23:16.886
  • Also the childlike faith of saying yes.
  • 00:23:16.886 --> 00:23:19.922
  • They're working together.
  • 00:23:19.922 --> 00:23:21.791
  • - i can put myself in her shoes and wonder if there was
  • 00:23:21.791 --> 00:23:25.495
  • This oscillating between, as you mentioned, like, i'm the
  • 00:23:25.495 --> 00:23:30.066
  • Chosen one of all of everyone, and that could, you know, that
  • 00:23:30.066 --> 00:23:33.603
  • Could get to your head.
  • 00:23:33.603 --> 00:23:34.904
  • I also, for me, if it was me, i'm, i would be sitting here
  • 00:23:34.904 --> 00:23:38.441
  • Wrapped up and what are they going to think about me, fears
  • 00:23:38.441 --> 00:23:40.743
  • Of being misunderstood, misinterpreted, and like, is
  • 00:23:40.743 --> 00:23:44.247
  • There a scarlet letter?
  • 00:23:44.247 --> 00:23:45.581
  • I mean, stoned in her culture.
  • 00:23:45.581 --> 00:23:47.550
  • They would call them married because they were considered
  • 00:23:47.550 --> 00:23:50.553
  • Married when we would call it in our culture engaged.
  • 00:23:50.553 --> 00:23:53.856
  • So it's like he had put a ring on it, but they hadn't
  • 00:23:53.856 --> 00:23:57.193
  • Consummated their relationship.
  • 00:23:57.193 --> 00:23:59.061
  • And so during that point of the marriage progression, she
  • 00:23:59.061 --> 00:24:04.133
  • Had every right to be stoned civilly by their culture.
  • 00:24:04.133 --> 00:24:07.303
  • So that's the other thing is, she's saying yes, and death
  • 00:24:07.303 --> 00:24:10.773
  • Could be imminent.
  • 00:24:10.773 --> 00:24:13.943
  • He chose a young woman who was betrothed to a guy named
  • 00:24:13.943 --> 00:24:18.147
  • Joseph but wasn't married.
  • 00:24:18.147 --> 00:24:20.516
  • Knowing it would take a lot of faith to say, yes.
  • 00:24:20.516 --> 00:24:25.187
  • I will lean into your plan, and so of course in the
  • 00:24:25.187 --> 00:24:28.891
  • Sovereignty of god he knew what his response would be.
  • 00:24:28.891 --> 00:24:32.461
  • But big picture, he always chooses the unlikely to pull
  • 00:24:32.461 --> 00:24:36.933
  • Off these incredible miracles and i think part of that is to
  • 00:24:36.933 --> 00:24:41.203
  • Dismantle our idea that you have to be perfect, and you
  • 00:24:41.203 --> 00:24:43.940
  • Have to really be good at what you do in order to be used in
  • 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:48.411
  • God's kingdom purposes.
  • 00:24:48.411 --> 00:24:51.314
  • - and that the lord would ask that of her.
  • 00:24:51.314 --> 00:24:54.383
  • I know.
  • 00:24:54.383 --> 00:24:55.718
  • It's just, if i'm not careful, sometimes i can look at these
  • 00:24:55.718 --> 00:24:58.621
  • Stories and kind of the very glowing sort of, like,
  • 00:24:58.621 --> 00:25:01.824
  • Nostalgic, happy, cozy way.
  • 00:25:01.824 --> 00:25:04.694
  • But this is like, i mean, there's so much
  • 00:25:04.694 --> 00:25:07.296
  • Going on in this.
  • 00:25:07.296 --> 00:25:08.297
  • There's genocide.
  • 00:25:08.297 --> 00:25:09.599
  • I mean, there's like, herod is going after every firstborn.
  • 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.301
  • So there is so, there's so many dynamics at play here,
  • 00:25:12.301 --> 00:25:15.771
  • Death and in the midst of it, this promise of life, who
  • 00:25:15.771 --> 00:25:18.774
  • Ultimately is coming to bring life forevermore.
  • 00:25:18.774 --> 00:25:21.744
  • But the context here is savage.
  • 00:25:21.744 --> 00:25:24.347
  • It really is.
  • 00:25:24.347 --> 00:25:25.448
  • And i just, i think, yes, on a reputation level.
  • 00:25:25.448 --> 00:25:28.050
  • And then as you're saying, the implications here, it's not
  • 00:25:28.050 --> 00:25:31.854
  • Just shame.
  • 00:25:31.854 --> 00:25:33.155
  • There are far reaching, you know, potential consequences.
  • 00:25:33.155 --> 00:25:37.560
  • And i just, i don't know, sometimes it can be easy for
  • 00:25:37.560 --> 00:25:40.162
  • Me to think, well, if god calls me to something, well,
  • 00:25:40.162 --> 00:25:42.765
  • Then it's gonna feel comfortable, and then i'll go
  • 00:25:42.765 --> 00:25:44.867
  • Viral, and then everyone will applaud me and finally see how
  • 00:25:44.867 --> 00:25:49.038
  • Amazing i've been this whole time.
  • 00:25:49.038 --> 00:25:51.107
  • And it's like, really, this is not the storyline, and the
  • 00:25:51.107 --> 00:25:54.543
  • Lord's not afraid of that.
  • 00:25:54.543 --> 00:25:56.212
  • But we can pull away, i think, from that reality.
  • 00:25:56.212 --> 00:25:59.315
  • We can let things become very glowy, very nostalgic.
  • 00:25:59.315 --> 00:26:03.285
  • And then when it comes to us, we rebuke the thing that the
  • 00:26:03.285 --> 00:26:05.855
  • Lord is doing.
  • 00:26:05.855 --> 00:26:07.089
  • We can say, surely it's not, and do all of our everything
  • 00:26:07.089 --> 00:26:10.393
  • To cast it down.
  • 00:26:10.393 --> 00:26:11.694
  • He's like, no, i've worked for a long time to get you here.
  • 00:26:11.694 --> 00:26:13.663
  • This is exactly the place.
  • 00:26:13.663 --> 00:26:15.498
  • This is the plan.
  • 00:26:15.498 --> 00:26:17.533
  • And i am in this.
  • 00:26:17.533 --> 00:26:19.268
  • And i just think, man, the wisdom to know the difference,
  • 00:26:19.268 --> 00:26:23.139
  • Just because something is uncomfortable, just because
  • 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:25.574
  • Death feels like it's looming, my reputation completely
  • 00:26:25.574 --> 00:26:28.377
  • Slayed out in front of me.
  • 00:26:28.377 --> 00:26:30.613
  • It doesn't mean that the lord's not in it, and there's
  • 00:26:30.613 --> 00:26:33.015
  • Not this plan that's so much more far-reaching.
  • 00:26:33.015 --> 00:26:36.686
  • That's such a great point.
  • 00:26:36.686 --> 00:26:39.822
  • - you know, probably what i love about mary's story is she
  • 00:26:39.822 --> 00:26:42.558
  • Was saying yes to something that was really
  • 00:26:42.558 --> 00:26:46.295
  • Unknown to her.
  • 00:26:46.295 --> 00:26:47.363
  • She had probably no idea what was going to happen
  • 00:26:47.363 --> 00:26:50.733
  • In her life.
  • 00:26:50.733 --> 00:26:52.134
  • She gives birth to the messiah.
  • 00:26:52.134 --> 00:26:54.970
  • And to say that her life was just beautiful from then on,
  • 00:26:54.970 --> 00:26:59.175
  • Yeah, she got to walk with jesus all those years.
  • 00:26:59.175 --> 00:27:01.744
  • But then it ended in a very terrible, horrible way for her
  • 00:27:01.744 --> 00:27:06.082
  • With jesus dying on the cross.
  • 00:27:06.082 --> 00:27:08.417
  • But her yes was everything.
  • 00:27:08.417 --> 00:27:11.520
  • It meant everything for the world because jesus was going
  • 00:27:11.520 --> 00:27:15.124
  • To rise again.
  • 00:27:15.124 --> 00:27:16.425
  • And so we never know what our yes says yes to, when god is
  • 00:27:16.425 --> 00:27:24.333
  • Asking for us.
  • 00:27:24.333 --> 00:27:26.368
  • And just to know that it can change the world.
  • 00:27:26.368 --> 00:27:29.338
  • So give him your yes today.
  • 00:27:29.338 --> 00:27:31.974
  • I love the walk of faith that we all get to live.
  • 00:27:31.974 --> 00:27:36.278
  • And it's not easy, and it's a narrow way, right?
  • 00:27:36.278 --> 00:27:39.381
  • But it's almost like god says, i'm going to do this.
  • 00:27:39.381 --> 00:27:43.953
  • And you say yes.
  • 00:27:43.953 --> 00:27:46.222
  • Perfect, let's go but then he's going to strip everything
  • 00:27:46.222 --> 00:27:50.059
  • Else away.
  • 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.127
  • And it's going to look completely impossible to
  • 00:27:51.127 --> 00:27:53.996
  • Everyone around you.
  • 00:27:53.996 --> 00:27:55.331
  • And you're like the only one standing there going,
  • 00:27:55.331 --> 00:27:58.400
  • I still believe.
  • 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.202
  • Because he is going to get the glory.
  • 00:28:00.202 --> 00:28:02.404
  • Whether we like it or not.
  • 00:28:02.404 --> 00:28:04.774
  • You know, and our job is to stand and believe.
  • 00:28:04.774 --> 00:28:06.776
  • But i love that we get to do that because then it shows god
  • 00:28:06.776 --> 00:28:11.580
  • In such a magnificent way.
  • 00:28:11.580 --> 00:28:17.386
  • And that, i think, is where mary found herself.
  • 00:28:17.386 --> 00:28:19.421
  • She said, this is impossible that you would stoop down and
  • 00:28:19.421 --> 00:28:23.492
  • Choose me.
  • 00:28:23.492 --> 00:28:24.727
  • Only me and i am the least likely, and you're going to
  • 00:28:24.727 --> 00:28:32.034
  • Birth god in me.
  • 00:28:32.034 --> 00:28:34.937
  • - and i love that you brought that up, and you said it is
  • 00:28:34.937 --> 00:28:38.440
  • Not always comfortable because we are 2,000 years plus past
  • 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:42.344
  • The incarnation, and now mary is just painted in some
  • 00:28:42.344 --> 00:28:46.949
  • Circles as almost deified herself.
  • 00:28:46.949 --> 00:28:49.318
  • But she wasn't then, because we forget his own town, his
  • 00:28:49.318 --> 00:28:54.857
  • Own village, he grew up in nazareth, 200-300 people.
  • 00:28:54.857 --> 00:28:57.359
  • They rejected him.
  • 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.694
  • You better bet they rejected mary too.
  • 00:28:58.694 --> 00:29:00.196
  • Then she loses her firstborn to a cross.
  • 00:29:00.196 --> 00:29:03.132
  • And so her life was hard.
  • 00:29:03.132 --> 00:29:05.201
  • We see her now through the lens of modernity and go, oh,
  • 00:29:05.201 --> 00:29:08.037
  • Blessed is mary.
  • 00:29:08.037 --> 00:29:09.972
  • Can you imagine how much side-eye she got for the rest
  • 00:29:09.972 --> 00:29:13.976
  • Of her life, but yeah, an angel.
  • 00:29:13.976 --> 00:29:16.445
  • The rest of her life was difficult for saying yes.
  • 00:29:16.445 --> 00:29:20.249
  • Carrying the miracle cost her everything.
  • 00:29:20.249 --> 00:29:22.985
  • - so let me ask you this then, people watching, thinking how
  • 00:29:22.985 --> 00:29:27.223
  • Do you develop that kind of heart in this world, that
  • 00:29:27.223 --> 00:29:31.227
  • We're living which is so bizarre and so full of hatred,
  • 00:29:31.227 --> 00:29:36.332
  • And anger, and competition, and polarization, how do we
  • 00:29:36.332 --> 00:29:40.536
  • Develop a mary heart like that so that when god does come and
  • 00:29:40.536 --> 00:29:46.575
  • Lay something on us, we say yes?
  • 00:29:46.575 --> 00:29:49.945
  • And even when it looks like it's all going wrong, we
  • 00:29:49.945 --> 00:29:52.047
  • Continue to stand and say yes.
  • 00:29:52.047 --> 00:29:54.650
  • How do we do that?
  • 00:29:54.650 --> 00:29:56.819
  • - for me, it's not forgetting what he saved me from.
  • 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:59.788
  • I don't bring much to the table, but gratitude.
  • 00:29:59.788 --> 00:30:03.525
  • And in his kindness, he has never allowed me to forget
  • 00:30:03.525 --> 00:30:07.663
  • What he's redeemed me from.
  • 00:30:07.663 --> 00:30:08.964
  • And even in his discipline, he's been merciful.
  • 00:30:08.964 --> 00:30:11.734
  • And so i think as long as i'm always able to recognize what
  • 00:30:11.734 --> 00:30:16.071
  • A wretch i was, it's amazing grace, it keeps me saying yes
  • 00:30:16.071 --> 00:30:20.175
  • Because i wouldn't have chosen me.
  • 00:30:20.175 --> 00:30:22.177
  • I've heard too many sermons on "don't look back," and i'm
  • 00:30:22.177 --> 00:30:25.014
  • Like what are you going to do, throw out deuteronomy?
  • 00:30:25.014 --> 00:30:27.182
  • All of deuteronomy is look at what god has done, look at
  • 00:30:27.182 --> 00:30:29.551
  • What god has done, look at what god has done.
  • 00:30:29.551 --> 00:30:31.287
  • I don't want to ever forget what he's redeemed in my life.
  • 00:30:31.287 --> 00:30:35.491
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:30:35.491 --> 00:30:37.593
  • - it is so important to live a life of gratitude because when
  • 00:30:37.593 --> 00:30:42.197
  • You're living a life of gratitude, you understand, you
  • 00:30:42.197 --> 00:30:46.869
  • Get a chance to see how wonderful god is, because
  • 00:30:46.869 --> 00:30:50.406
  • You're more focused on what he's already done, who he is,
  • 00:30:50.406 --> 00:30:55.210
  • And for some reason we love to focus on what we're waiting on
  • 00:30:55.210 --> 00:31:01.183
  • Or what we're praying for.
  • 00:31:01.183 --> 00:31:03.018
  • But today i want to encourage you to look at who god is, and
  • 00:31:03.018 --> 00:31:06.455
  • What he's already done.
  • 00:31:06.455 --> 00:31:08.457
  • And that will give you a spirit of gratitude and also
  • 00:31:08.457 --> 00:31:14.129
  • Allow you to see the kindness and the goodness of god.
  • 00:31:14.129 --> 00:31:17.099
  • - you look at a promised messiah.
  • 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:21.904
  • You look at the joy of heaven murdered on a tree and i'm
  • 00:31:21.904 --> 00:31:25.140
  • Never going to be cost to that degree, i'm not going to out
  • 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:32.781
  • Passion that, i'm not going to out surrender that.
  • 00:31:32.781 --> 00:31:35.584
  • But jesus did and i think exactly the holding current,
  • 00:31:35.584 --> 00:31:39.488
  • The o god will you show me again the scars on your hands
  • 00:31:39.488 --> 00:31:45.227
  • And the length you went for me, and let it be personal,
  • 00:31:45.227 --> 00:31:48.364
  • That was for me, that was so that i can live this life
  • 00:31:48.364 --> 00:31:52.501
  • Different, and then i go on and i'm with you.
  • 00:31:52.501 --> 00:31:54.837
  • Like, you did that for me, you did that for my family.
  • 00:31:54.837 --> 00:31:57.506
  • And it will never cost me even close to the sacrifice that
  • 00:31:57.506 --> 00:32:01.210
  • The son of heaven made in coming like this, human form,
  • 00:32:01.210 --> 00:32:06.415
  • Like enduring contractions to be delivered into this mess of
  • 00:32:06.415 --> 00:32:11.487
  • A manger, living life the way that he did and then
  • 00:32:11.487 --> 00:32:14.857
  • Crucified, like, as a criminal, i'm never going
  • 00:32:14.857 --> 00:32:18.293
  • To get close.
  • 00:32:18.293 --> 00:32:19.595
  • And if it feels like my ego is like a big cost to me, then
  • 00:32:19.595 --> 00:32:21.964
  • Let it be.
  • 00:32:21.964 --> 00:32:22.731
  • Do you know what i'm saying?
  • 00:32:22.731 --> 00:32:25.267
  • Like, let, then if it feels like we live misunderstood or
  • 00:32:25.267 --> 00:32:28.370
  • There's, there's things in life that we wouldn't have
  • 00:32:28.370 --> 00:32:30.406
  • Asked for, but it's for the glory of jesus.
  • 00:32:30.406 --> 00:32:32.441
  • It's our honor when we hold that present in our lives,
  • 00:32:32.441 --> 00:32:37.713
  • What jesus did, exactly like you're saying who he's been to
  • 00:32:37.713 --> 00:32:41.817
  • Us, but what he endured for my sake, i will never outdo him,
  • 00:32:41.817 --> 00:32:45.954
  • I will never outdo him.
  • 00:32:45.954 --> 00:32:47.656
  • - no way, no way, no way.
  • 00:32:47.656 --> 00:32:49.591
  • And i just think, i think you just have to, in order to have
  • 00:32:49.591 --> 00:32:53.162
  • That heart and to be able to say yes and be yielded, you
  • 00:32:53.162 --> 00:32:58.067
  • Just gotta get to know him.
  • 00:32:58.067 --> 00:32:59.601
  • - absolutely, and you gotta keep getting to know them.
  • 00:32:59.601 --> 00:33:02.271
  • You know what i'm saying?
  • 00:33:02.271 --> 00:33:03.739
  • No matter how long you walk with them, there's still so
  • 00:33:03.739 --> 00:33:07.009
  • Much of him that you have to learn.
  • 00:33:07.009 --> 00:33:09.411
  • And i just think that because even here sitting here
  • 00:33:09.411 --> 00:33:12.381
  • Talking, we think about, like you said, looking at jesus,
  • 00:33:12.381 --> 00:33:15.651
  • When you say we've withdrawn ourselves, it's like we
  • 00:33:15.651 --> 00:33:17.920
  • Stopped looking at him.
  • 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.188
  • But even for mary, it was before jesus.
  • 00:33:19.188 --> 00:33:21.457
  • So having that relationship with the father god is most
  • 00:33:21.457 --> 00:33:25.694
  • Important.
  • 00:33:25.694 --> 00:33:26.995
  • You know, because that is the only way you're going to be
  • 00:33:26.995 --> 00:33:30.933
  • Able to yield and keep yielding without hesitation is
  • 00:33:30.933 --> 00:33:36.939
  • Knowing that he is who he says he is.
  • 00:33:36.939 --> 00:33:40.409
  • He will do what he says he will do and that he loves us
  • 00:33:40.409 --> 00:33:44.046
  • With that everlasting love.
  • 00:33:44.046 --> 00:33:45.514
  • And that's the thing.
  • 00:33:45.514 --> 00:33:46.782
  • I just love it when we're all faced with stuff like this
  • 00:33:46.782 --> 00:33:51.019
  • Makes no sense at all.
  • 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:53.288
  • But you know what?
  • 00:33:53.288 --> 00:33:55.157
  • You know the end from the beginning, i don't and there's
  • 00:33:55.157 --> 00:33:58.193
  • Some things he will not show us yeah it's going to take
  • 00:33:58.193 --> 00:34:02.064
  • Total trust, total love, total knowing.
  • 00:34:02.064 --> 00:34:08.337
  • Knowing that he's faithful, he would never do anything
  • 00:34:08.337 --> 00:34:15.010
  • Without purpose he would never do anything to hurt you
  • 00:34:15.010 --> 00:34:17.412
  • Everything, is for your good.
  • 00:34:17.412 --> 00:34:21.583
  • - i think one of the hardest things in life is when you
  • 00:34:21.583 --> 00:34:24.386
  • Don't understand what god is doing.
  • 00:34:24.386 --> 00:34:26.755
  • Maybe you prayed for something in particular, and as far as
  • 00:34:26.755 --> 00:34:29.424
  • You can tell, god has said no or just hasn't answered, and
  • 00:34:29.424 --> 00:34:32.294
  • You don't know what to do, and it doesn't make human sense.
  • 00:34:32.294 --> 00:34:36.598
  • That's one of the greatest challenges.
  • 00:34:36.598 --> 00:34:37.933
  • It's why we're called to live by faith and not by sight or
  • 00:34:37.933 --> 00:34:42.004
  • By feeling.
  • 00:34:42.004 --> 00:34:43.272
  • And that's why i think it's such a gift to the lord when
  • 00:34:43.272 --> 00:34:45.774
  • You and i can determine, even in the midst of a storm, that
  • 00:34:45.774 --> 00:34:48.944
  • We're going to worship him, even before we see the dawn
  • 00:34:48.944 --> 00:34:51.713
  • Break, because we know who he is.
  • 00:34:51.713 --> 00:34:55.484
  • - just to kind of put it in today's world, how important
  • 00:34:55.484 --> 00:34:59.321
  • It is to train your children up in the ways and the
  • 00:34:59.321 --> 00:35:02.858
  • Knowledge of god.
  • 00:35:02.858 --> 00:35:04.359
  • I mean, mary even says at the end, she says, because he can
  • 00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:07.262
  • Never forget to show mercy, she knew that he has helped
  • 00:35:07.262 --> 00:35:12.000
  • His chosen servant she was a servant already.
  • 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:15.170
  • Israel keeping his promises to abraham and to his descendants
  • 00:35:15.170 --> 00:35:20.509
  • Forever so she knew there was a promise.
  • 00:35:20.509 --> 00:35:22.978
  • She knew we need to raise our kids knowing the god of
  • 00:35:22.978 --> 00:35:26.548
  • Promise, knowing his word, to where that yes is like
  • 00:35:26.548 --> 00:35:32.921
  • Absolutely i'm here for it, let's go.
  • 00:35:32.921 --> 00:35:34.790
  • - and they know why they're saying yes and they know who
  • 00:35:34.790 --> 00:35:37.426
  • They're saying yes too.
  • 00:35:37.426 --> 00:35:38.727
  • - i think david really had it right when he said, i would
  • 00:35:38.727 --> 00:35:44.633
  • Bring you an offering or a sacrifice if that's what you
  • 00:35:44.633 --> 00:35:47.636
  • Wanted, but what you really want is a broken and contrite
  • 00:35:47.636 --> 00:35:50.639
  • Heart, one that is available, you want a yes from me.
  • 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:54.910
  • And i look at the story of jesus, we see mary, we see
  • 00:35:54.910 --> 00:35:58.547
  • Elizabeth, anna and simeon it's all of these yeses, and i
  • 00:35:58.547 --> 00:36:02.117
  • Think that's what moves the heart of god as people willing
  • 00:36:02.117 --> 00:36:04.686
  • To to look and say whatever it is may it be unto me as
  • 00:36:04.686 --> 00:36:08.290
  • You have spoken.
  • 00:36:08.290 --> 00:36:11.260
  • And so i think what we do is is the reminder of we could
  • 00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:16.365
  • Give him all of these grand things all these things that
  • 00:36:16.365 --> 00:36:17.966
  • We assume he would want.
  • 00:36:17.966 --> 00:36:19.935
  • But really the one thing he's asking for is our hearts is
  • 00:36:19.935 --> 00:36:23.805
  • Our availability, our trust, and our leaned in, yes.
  • 00:36:23.805 --> 00:36:25.574
  • Let's give him what he's asking for.
  • 00:36:25.574 --> 00:36:30.379
  • - be the first to know all the latest better
  • 00:36:30.379 --> 00:36:33.248
  • Together updates.
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  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:36:40.222 --> 00:36:42.009
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:36:42.009 --> 00:36:49.766
  • - trusting god's promises will give you a fresh perspective
  • 00:36:49.766 --> 00:36:52.168
  • Because it really has a way of eliminating all of the other
  • 00:36:52.168 --> 00:36:56.606
  • Voices, all of the other noise that will bring confusion,
  • 00:36:56.606 --> 00:37:01.010
  • That will discourage you.
  • 00:37:01.010 --> 00:37:03.346
  • When you just begin to just take god at his word and
  • 00:37:03.346 --> 00:37:06.816
  • Totally trust him.
  • 00:37:06.816 --> 00:37:08.785
  • Then the pressure lifts because you understand that
  • 00:37:08.785 --> 00:37:11.621
  • God is faithful, he is not a man that he should lie, and if
  • 00:37:11.621 --> 00:37:14.424
  • He said it, he's going to do it.
  • 00:37:14.424 --> 00:37:16.793
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:37:16.793 --> 00:37:22.632
  • - i love everything about this.
  • 00:37:22.632 --> 00:37:23.833
  • You know, mary's song is the longest spoken words of a
  • 00:37:23.833 --> 00:37:26.869
  • Woman in the new testament, you know, and it was forbidden
  • 00:37:26.869 --> 00:37:30.440
  • To be saying in places.
  • 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:32.442
  • The history of it is just kind of shocking, isn't it?
  • 00:37:32.442 --> 00:37:34.944
  • And then you just read it.
  • 00:37:34.944 --> 00:37:36.846
  • And i love the part in it where it says the mighty one
  • 00:37:36.846 --> 00:37:39.949
  • Has worked a mighty miracle for me, his name is holy.
  • 00:37:39.949 --> 00:37:45.955
  • Holy is his name, he's bringing jesus.
  • 00:37:45.955 --> 00:37:50.493
  • Man that's the biggest miracle of all.
  • 00:37:50.493 --> 00:37:53.529
  • - for me practically at the moment like this week this
  • 00:37:53.529 --> 00:37:56.766
  • Week in terms of keeping that kind of heart i was telling
  • 00:37:56.766 --> 00:38:00.603
  • Cece this morning when we're kind of getting ready that we
  • 00:38:00.603 --> 00:38:03.005
  • Just have had a busy week.
  • 00:38:03.005 --> 00:38:04.340
  • I think we're probably all had a busy week.
  • 00:38:04.340 --> 00:38:06.509
  • I was tired coming in here and then yesterday my flight from
  • 00:38:06.509 --> 00:38:10.113
  • Dallas was cancelled.
  • 00:38:10.113 --> 00:38:11.314
  • And then the next flight was cancelled and then it was
  • 00:38:11.314 --> 00:38:13.049
  • Like, you'll have to move from dfw to lovefield, go to a
  • 00:38:13.049 --> 00:38:15.685
  • Different airport, this would be the better airport
  • 00:38:15.685 --> 00:38:17.353
  • To get in.
  • 00:38:17.353 --> 00:38:18.554
  • And then i wake up this morning and i'm just tired,
  • 00:38:18.554 --> 00:38:20.823
  • You know, i'm just like, lord, i'm tired.
  • 00:38:20.823 --> 00:38:22.191
  • So what i've learned is the power of worship in the midst
  • 00:38:22.191 --> 00:38:26.596
  • Of the what's not working.
  • 00:38:26.596 --> 00:38:27.930
  • So, cece, on my iphone, i have all your albums, but this one
  • 00:38:27.930 --> 00:38:32.802
  • Song, is he worthy?
  • 00:38:32.802 --> 00:38:36.472
  • So i'm sitting at the end of the bed and i'm like, lord,
  • 00:38:36.472 --> 00:38:39.709
  • I'm tired, and i listen to the words, and it's like, i mean,
  • 00:38:39.709 --> 00:38:43.212
  • By the end of it, i'm on my feet because,
  • 00:38:43.212 --> 00:38:45.815
  • Yes, he's worthy.
  • 00:38:45.815 --> 00:38:48.351
  • And it's good for us to remember these things.
  • 00:38:48.351 --> 00:38:49.752
  • Yes, it makes such a difference for me
  • 00:38:49.752 --> 00:38:51.788
  • At the moment.
  • 00:38:51.788 --> 00:38:53.756
  • - that's awesome.
  • 00:38:53.756 --> 00:38:54.624
  • It's awesome.
  • 00:38:54.624 --> 00:38:55.491
  • So thank you.
  • 00:38:55.491 --> 00:38:56.826
  • - in my own life, worship is a huge part of my faith journey.
  • 00:38:56.826 --> 00:39:01.197
  • Even like this morning before i came over to the studio,
  • 00:39:01.197 --> 00:39:05.334
  • Better together.
  • 00:39:05.334 --> 00:39:07.503
  • I was really, really tired.
  • 00:39:07.503 --> 00:39:08.604
  • It's been a busy few days, a busy few weeks, a
  • 00:39:08.604 --> 00:39:11.507
  • Busy few years.
  • 00:39:11.507 --> 00:39:14.110
  • And i found myself kind of struggling a little bit, but
  • 00:39:14.110 --> 00:39:17.713
  • Wanting to be here and wanting to be able to share whatever
  • 00:39:17.713 --> 00:39:20.883
  • God puts in my heart with you guys.
  • 00:39:20.883 --> 00:39:22.885
  • And so what i did was i put on worship music in the room
  • 00:39:22.885 --> 00:39:26.756
  • Where i was staying.
  • 00:39:26.756 --> 00:39:27.990
  • And there's just something about joining in with others
  • 00:39:27.990 --> 00:39:31.461
  • And remembering how awesome god is, no matter
  • 00:39:31.461 --> 00:39:34.664
  • What's going on.
  • 00:39:34.664 --> 00:39:36.098
  • I love that.
  • 00:39:36.098 --> 00:39:37.400
  • I love that when jesus taught his closest friends to pray,
  • 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:39.936
  • He said to them, pray our father who art in heaven,
  • 00:39:39.936 --> 00:39:43.606
  • Lord, hallowed be thy name.
  • 00:39:43.606 --> 00:39:44.974
  • Before we ask for anything else, before we do anything
  • 00:39:44.974 --> 00:39:48.044
  • Else, we tell god how much we love him, and it shifts
  • 00:39:48.044 --> 00:39:51.914
  • Something inside of us.
  • 00:39:51.914 --> 00:39:53.649
  • - but i think the word of god, communication with the lord,
  • 00:39:53.649 --> 00:39:58.354
  • To me, prayer is like, it used to be on my to-do list, now
  • 00:39:58.354 --> 00:40:02.458
  • It's on my who i am list.
  • 00:40:02.458 --> 00:40:04.560
  • Because it's just, you know, it's relational.
  • 00:40:04.560 --> 00:40:07.230
  • That's right.
  • 00:40:07.230 --> 00:40:08.531
  • And then, because i think to the level that you trust god,
  • 00:40:08.531 --> 00:40:12.034
  • I think trust is what love looks like.
  • 00:40:12.034 --> 00:40:14.237
  • It's like i can say i love you, lord, but you know what?
  • 00:40:14.237 --> 00:40:17.440
  • I trust you.
  • 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:19.242
  • I don't get any of this.
  • 00:40:19.242 --> 00:40:21.010
  • And apparently those around me don't get it either.
  • 00:40:21.010 --> 00:40:23.346
  • But i've heard you speak and i trust you.
  • 00:40:23.346 --> 00:40:27.250
  • - and obviously that's why elizabeth didn't have
  • 00:40:27.250 --> 00:40:30.653
  • Any pushback.
  • 00:40:30.653 --> 00:40:31.888
  • It wasn't i've been faithful and, you know, but she had
  • 00:40:31.888 --> 00:40:35.258
  • Trusted god in the dark.
  • 00:40:35.258 --> 00:40:36.726
  • And she knew he's a good god.
  • 00:40:36.726 --> 00:40:39.328
  • So i will give him immediate obedience because you don't
  • 00:40:39.328 --> 00:40:42.098
  • See any hesitancy with her saying, blessed are you, who
  • 00:40:42.098 --> 00:40:46.836
  • Carries the christ.
  • 00:40:46.836 --> 00:40:47.937
  • You see this immediate response to her cousin.
  • 00:40:47.937 --> 00:40:52.408
  • Which would make it almost if there was going to be
  • 00:40:52.408 --> 00:40:54.911
  • Jealousy even worse.
  • 00:40:54.911 --> 00:40:56.178
  • It would be different if it's this kid she's never before
  • 00:40:56.178 --> 00:40:58.281
  • And she goes, oh, she's, she's just of a different, you know,
  • 00:40:58.281 --> 00:41:01.484
  • Some different tribes, some different, she knows mary.
  • 00:41:01.484 --> 00:41:04.520
  • And she had to have spent so much time in god's presence
  • 00:41:04.520 --> 00:41:08.791
  • When she wasn't getting what she prayed for.
  • 00:41:08.791 --> 00:41:13.763
  • That she went, far be it for me, to tell god what to do.
  • 00:41:13.763 --> 00:41:18.067
  • He has always been a good god, even when i couldn't see
  • 00:41:18.067 --> 00:41:20.436
  • Around the corner.
  • 00:41:20.436 --> 00:41:21.737
  • So it all comes back to what you're saying, cece, it's time
  • 00:41:21.737 --> 00:41:24.507
  • With god.
  • 00:41:24.507 --> 00:41:27.176
  • - to anyone who has been given a promise by god and you're
  • 00:41:27.176 --> 00:41:29.779
  • Still waiting because it feels like, i am not seeing
  • 00:41:29.779 --> 00:41:32.415
  • It play out.
  • 00:41:32.415 --> 00:41:33.549
  • This doesn't seem to be happening in front of me.
  • 00:41:33.549 --> 00:41:35.318
  • This all starts in the heart of god, and he is the one to
  • 00:41:35.318 --> 00:41:41.424
  • Carry it to fruition.
  • 00:41:41.424 --> 00:41:43.025
  • That's not on us.
  • 00:41:43.025 --> 00:41:44.360
  • It's on him.
  • 00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:45.161
  • So what do we do in the meantime?
  • 00:41:45.161 --> 00:41:46.662
  • We stay close to him.
  • 00:41:46.662 --> 00:41:48.397
  • We looked to him, we trust his timing is perfect.
  • 00:41:48.397 --> 00:41:51.901
  • He is all that we need, and whether or not this thing is
  • 00:41:51.901 --> 00:41:56.105
  • Happening the way that i thought or in the timing that
  • 00:41:56.105 --> 00:41:58.374
  • I'm hoping for, i can know he still delights in me, just
  • 00:41:58.374 --> 00:42:02.612
  • Like he does in the moment when it all happens, he loves
  • 00:42:02.612 --> 00:42:06.215
  • Me the same, so i'll be held here in his love
  • 00:42:06.215 --> 00:42:09.385
  • In the meantime.
  • 00:42:09.385 --> 00:42:11.721
  • - elizabeth had just experienced a miracle.
  • 00:42:11.721 --> 00:42:14.657
  • And that's why it's so important, like you said, to
  • 00:42:14.657 --> 00:42:17.727
  • Watch who you share things with.
  • 00:42:17.727 --> 00:42:20.296
  • Because when i've just gotten a miracle, and i hear you got
  • 00:42:20.296 --> 00:42:23.866
  • A miracle, there's no room for jealousy.
  • 00:42:23.866 --> 00:42:26.836
  • I'm so ready to rejoice with you, you know what i'm saying?
  • 00:42:26.836 --> 00:42:29.472
  • I'm carrying the same thing you can.
  • 00:42:29.472 --> 00:42:31.140
  • Come on, come on, and so you're in the spirit.
  • 00:42:31.140 --> 00:42:34.043
  • I'm sure elizabeth had to be in a place of gratitude...of
  • 00:42:34.043 --> 00:42:37.213
  • Humility, like understanding how awesome he is.
  • 00:42:37.213 --> 00:42:40.282
  • I think another practical thing, too, is, like, we don't
  • 00:42:40.282 --> 00:42:43.853
  • Know all the nuances of these backstories.
  • 00:42:43.853 --> 00:42:46.389
  • But, again, like we've been saying, we have some hints at
  • 00:42:46.389 --> 00:42:50.326
  • Mary's upbringing, elizabeth.
  • 00:42:50.326 --> 00:42:51.627
  • But i think when we talk about surrender doing great things
  • 00:42:51.627 --> 00:42:55.231
  • For god, we wait for, like, the big one.
  • 00:42:55.231 --> 00:42:56.866
  • We wait for the big mary moment.
  • 00:42:56.866 --> 00:42:58.701
  • But it's like these things in history with god knowing him
  • 00:42:58.701 --> 00:43:01.203
  • Is in the little day in, day out, the small decisions, the
  • 00:43:01.203 --> 00:43:05.474
  • Decisions to turn on the music and say, hey, oh my soul,
  • 00:43:05.474 --> 00:43:08.711
  • Bless the lord.
  • 00:43:08.711 --> 00:43:09.879
  • We will bless the lord today.
  • 00:43:09.879 --> 00:43:11.514
  • It is in getting to know him through tiny steps of trust,
  • 00:43:11.514 --> 00:43:17.019
  • And i do believe he sets us up for that.
  • 00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:19.488
  • And we can miss them, he gives us so many chances.
  • 00:43:19.488 --> 00:43:22.224
  • He's so good at it, but all these little daily moments, i
  • 00:43:22.224 --> 00:43:26.362
  • Think tune our heart to stay soft and to be further soft
  • 00:43:26.362 --> 00:43:29.999
  • And so when the big moment comes, we have a history with
  • 00:43:29.999 --> 00:43:33.736
  • God, we have that track record of who he is and a softened
  • 00:43:33.736 --> 00:43:38.374
  • Heart to his voice and a quick movement to follow.
  • 00:43:38.374 --> 00:43:41.677
  • I think day in and day out, even asking him, hey, what
  • 00:43:41.677 --> 00:43:46.048
  • Does it look like to keep my heart so soft to the sound of
  • 00:43:46.048 --> 00:43:49.085
  • Your voice and quick obedience?
  • 00:43:49.085 --> 00:43:51.053
  • Not let me think, i'll get back to you, give me five to
  • 00:43:51.053 --> 00:43:53.389
  • Seven business days.
  • 00:43:53.389 --> 00:43:54.490
  • Fast obedience, i think he sets us up to have a
  • 00:43:54.490 --> 00:43:59.395
  • Heart like mary.
  • 00:43:59.395 --> 00:44:00.563
  • I think he sets us up to have a heart like elizabeth.
  • 00:44:00.563 --> 00:44:03.265
  • And he knows elizabeth's story is going to take something
  • 00:44:03.265 --> 00:44:07.369
  • Different.
  • 00:44:07.369 --> 00:44:08.537
  • Her process to keep her heart soft is going to be
  • 00:44:08.537 --> 00:44:10.840
  • Tailored to her.
  • 00:44:10.840 --> 00:44:12.041
  • And mary's is going to be tailored to her, but he's a
  • 00:44:12.041 --> 00:44:14.877
  • Good shepherd, aware of all of his children and how to
  • 00:44:14.877 --> 00:44:18.647
  • Actually grow us into that maturity, into that place.
  • 00:44:18.647 --> 00:44:22.485
  • And i just wonder if we asked him every day, how soft is my
  • 00:44:22.485 --> 00:44:27.823
  • Heart to you today?
  • 00:44:27.823 --> 00:44:29.258
  • Where am i at?
  • 00:44:29.258 --> 00:44:30.493
  • Would you make me interrupt my- make me interruptible
  • 00:44:30.493 --> 00:44:33.395
  • To you, god.
  • 00:44:33.395 --> 00:44:34.697
  • Whether it's for a big thing or a seemingly small one, the
  • 00:44:34.697 --> 00:44:38.868
  • Posture of my heart needs to be, let it be unto
  • 00:44:38.868 --> 00:44:41.337
  • Me as he's spoken.
  • 00:44:41.337 --> 00:44:42.872
  • My answer is yes, to the big, to the small you have me.
  • 00:44:42.872 --> 00:44:48.144
  • - you know, it's in those mundane moments that god
  • 00:44:48.144 --> 00:44:50.613
  • Builds you.
  • 00:44:50.613 --> 00:44:51.981
  • And he gives you the character that you need.
  • 00:44:51.981 --> 00:44:54.216
  • And he strips away things that are not like him, and he pours
  • 00:44:54.216 --> 00:44:57.319
  • Things in you.
  • 00:44:57.319 --> 00:44:58.621
  • And so when you yield in the small things, then you're
  • 00:44:58.621 --> 00:45:01.457
  • Ready for the big things.
  • 00:45:01.457 --> 00:45:03.225
  • And a lot of times we want to jump to the big things.
  • 00:45:03.225 --> 00:45:05.594
  • And i believe i heard, i don't know if it was christine kane,
  • 00:45:05.594 --> 00:45:08.631
  • I heard somebody say years ago, how god develops you in
  • 00:45:08.631 --> 00:45:11.801
  • The dark room.
  • 00:45:11.801 --> 00:45:13.369
  • And so many times we want to be seen and we want to get to
  • 00:45:13.369 --> 00:45:17.173
  • The big stuff.
  • 00:45:17.173 --> 00:45:18.474
  • But trust me, trust them in the mundane times and begin to
  • 00:45:18.474 --> 00:45:22.578
  • Say yes and allow him to mold and shape you into what he's
  • 00:45:22.578 --> 00:45:26.882
  • Called you to be so that when the time comes you'll have the
  • 00:45:26.882 --> 00:45:29.752
  • Character to stand when the curtains go up.
  • 00:45:29.752 --> 00:45:34.290
  • - i just think there's so many rich dynamics here that when
  • 00:45:34.290 --> 00:45:38.360
  • We actually pause to dive in and spend a little bit of time
  • 00:45:38.360 --> 00:45:42.498
  • Talking it over and not just the, you know, the fast
  • 00:45:42.498 --> 00:45:45.868
  • Children's book version, there's such depth here.
  • 00:45:45.868 --> 00:45:49.371
  • And not just for the christmas story, but our everyday lives,
  • 00:45:49.371 --> 00:45:53.209
  • Life with god, the mystery of heaven coming here to us.
  • 00:45:53.209 --> 00:45:57.413
  • And i've always thought it's so funny.
  • 00:45:57.413 --> 00:45:59.114
  • These hymns that we sing, these christmas songs are so
  • 00:45:59.114 --> 00:46:03.352
  • Theological, so profound.
  • 00:46:03.352 --> 00:46:05.154
  • I'm like, let's bring them into, let's bring
  • 00:46:05.154 --> 00:46:06.956
  • Them into september.
  • 00:46:06.956 --> 00:46:07.790
  • Let's bring them into april. why?
  • 00:46:07.790 --> 00:46:09.124
  • Because this is pertinent for every day.
  • 00:46:09.124 --> 00:46:11.627
  • Mary's song, magnifying the lord, that sort of surrender.
  • 00:46:11.627 --> 00:46:16.031
  • I need that in the middle of july, just like i need that on
  • 00:46:16.031 --> 00:46:19.635
  • December 25th.
  • 00:46:19.635 --> 00:46:20.769
  • So could i just pray for us and for those watching.
  • 00:46:20.769 --> 00:46:23.806
  • God, we just ask that you would do that in us.
  • 00:46:23.806 --> 00:46:26.809
  • Father, would you make us available to you, god, soft
  • 00:46:26.809 --> 00:46:30.446
  • To your heart?
  • 00:46:30.446 --> 00:46:31.647
  • Father, would you build a history in us with you, that
  • 00:46:31.647 --> 00:46:35.150
  • We would know your voice, we would know the stories of old,
  • 00:46:35.150 --> 00:46:38.354
  • That we would hunger after knowing you in your word, the
  • 00:46:38.354 --> 00:46:41.690
  • God of abraham, isaac, and jacob, who has been faithful
  • 00:46:41.690 --> 00:46:45.728
  • For a thousand generations and that we would see and say with
  • 00:46:45.728 --> 00:46:49.598
  • Full assurance, and you are faithful to me, no matter what
  • 00:46:49.598 --> 00:46:53.836
  • It looks like, no matter the cost, no matter how it
  • 00:46:53.836 --> 00:46:56.505
  • Postures me or what may appear to be happening, that we are
  • 00:46:56.505 --> 00:47:00.976
  • Your servants and you have regarded us.
  • 00:47:00.976 --> 00:47:03.646
  • God, we thank you that because of jesus, we are highly
  • 00:47:03.646 --> 00:47:07.683
  • Favored, we are thoroughly blessed.
  • 00:47:07.683 --> 00:47:10.819
  • We thank you, god, for your son, thank you, jesus, for
  • 00:47:10.819 --> 00:47:15.491
  • Saying yes.
  • 00:47:15.491 --> 00:47:16.558
  • And would you teach us to say yes like you did?
  • 00:47:16.558 --> 00:47:20.062
  • God, the obedience that we see in jesus, the surrender we see
  • 00:47:20.062 --> 00:47:24.633
  • In mary, god, build it in us.
  • 00:47:24.633 --> 00:47:26.802
  • Make it soft in us, father, that we would be tendered to
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  • Your voice interruptable during our day to prize you
  • 00:47:30.539 --> 00:47:33.208
  • Above all other things, god, and to the dreams in your
  • 00:47:33.208 --> 00:47:38.914
  • Heart the promises that you've spoken over our lives, god for
  • 00:47:38.914 --> 00:47:42.685
  • Those of us here and those listening and watching i
  • 00:47:42.685 --> 00:47:45.387
  • Declare full fruition in the name of jesus fulfillment over
  • 00:47:45.387 --> 00:47:49.725
  • Every promise that you've spoken and god that you will
  • 00:47:49.725 --> 00:47:53.996
  • Posture us to give a yes every day of our lives in the name
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  • Of jesus.
  • 00:47:58.167 --> 00:48:01.603
  • - connect with us on social media and let us know how our
  • 00:48:02.838 --> 00:48:04.406
  • Team can pray for you.
  • 00:48:04.406 --> 00:48:07.409
  • ♪ (music playing) ♪
  • 00:48:07.977 --> 00:48:14.149
  • - has it ever bugged you that moses didn't make it in the
  • 00:48:14.149 --> 00:48:16.251
  • Promised land, i mean be honest, we hardly ever admit
  • 00:48:16.251 --> 00:48:18.654
  • This in small group but it always bugged me that moses
  • 00:48:18.654 --> 00:48:22.424
  • And he was a good guy i mean apart from the murder rap.
  • 00:48:22.424 --> 00:48:25.461
  • He faithfully led the israelites for 40 years, and
  • 00:48:25.461 --> 00:48:28.931
  • Then they get right to the promised land.
  • 00:48:28.931 --> 00:48:31.367
  • I mean, he can see it.
  • 00:48:31.367 --> 00:48:33.102
  • It's right there.
  • 00:48:33.102 --> 00:48:34.503
  • And god says, because you hit the rock, and then you showed
  • 00:48:34.503 --> 00:48:40.309
  • Your anger, i'm going to bury you here on mount nebo.
  • 00:48:40.309 --> 00:48:43.145
  • You're not going to make it into the promised land.
  • 00:48:43.145 --> 00:48:45.581
  • I thought, goodness gracious, those israelites were so
  • 00:48:45.581 --> 00:48:47.850
  • Difficult to lead.
  • 00:48:47.850 --> 00:48:49.351
  • I probably would have been whacking israelites.
  • 00:48:49.351 --> 00:48:50.819
  • So it's always seemed unfair to me.
  • 00:48:50.819 --> 00:48:52.554
  • I know god is good and his ways are above ours, but it
  • 00:48:52.554 --> 00:48:54.623
  • Just has never seemed right to me that moses, that great
  • 00:48:54.623 --> 00:48:59.261
  • Leader, didn't make it into the promised land after
  • 00:48:59.261 --> 00:49:02.297
  • Faithfully leading god's people for 40 years.
  • 00:49:02.297 --> 00:49:05.334
  • But then you get to the transfiguration, in mark's
  • 00:49:05.334 --> 00:49:08.637
  • Gospel, chapter 9, and it says jesus, james, john, and peter,
  • 00:49:08.637 --> 00:49:14.777
  • They ascended a high mountain.
  • 00:49:14.777 --> 00:49:16.578
  • That was on the northern shore of the sea of galilee,
  • 00:49:16.578 --> 00:49:18.747
  • Probably mount hermann.
  • 00:49:18.747 --> 00:49:20.282
  • They can see most of the promised land.
  • 00:49:20.282 --> 00:49:22.418
  • It's the most scenic view.
  • 00:49:22.418 --> 00:49:24.153
  • It says jesus became radiant, intensely white.
  • 00:49:24.153 --> 00:49:28.323
  • That's not hyperbole.
  • 00:49:28.323 --> 00:49:30.426
  • Jesus was glowing white, incarnate jesus.
  • 00:49:30.426 --> 00:49:34.096
  • And suddenly there appears next to jesus in bodily form,
  • 00:49:34.096 --> 00:49:39.334
  • Moses and elijah.
  • 00:49:39.334 --> 00:49:42.638
  • So moses did make it into the promised land.
  • 00:49:42.638 --> 00:49:46.708
  • He just got to stand next to a glorified jesus on this
  • 00:49:46.708 --> 00:49:50.479
  • Amazingly scenic spot and see most of the promised land.
  • 00:49:50.479 --> 00:49:55.317
  • Y'all, if we could interview moses right now and say, would
  • 00:49:55.317 --> 00:49:59.588
  • You rather have walked into the promised land with three
  • 00:49:59.588 --> 00:50:02.724
  • Million sweaty ingrates, or door number two, would you
  • 00:50:02.724 --> 00:50:06.395
  • Rather trust than the sovereignty of god, the way
  • 00:50:06.395 --> 00:50:09.465
  • He's written your story is infinitely better than you
  • 00:50:09.465 --> 00:50:12.734
  • Could have dreamt it.
  • 00:50:12.734 --> 00:50:15.070
  • You know that after standing next to jesus, moses would say
  • 00:50:15.070 --> 00:50:18.407
  • Door number two, i trust god.
  • 00:50:18.407 --> 00:50:20.375
  • The way god has authored my story is infinitely better
  • 00:50:20.375 --> 00:50:24.913
  • Than my grandest dreams.
  • 00:50:24.913 --> 00:50:26.849
  • God's ways are always higher.
  • 00:50:26.849 --> 00:50:29.017
  • They're always better.
  • 00:50:29.017 --> 00:50:31.120
  • So god doesn't delay his promises to give us less than.
  • 00:50:31.120 --> 00:50:34.823
  • It's always more than.
  • 00:50:34.823 --> 00:50:38.227
  • - stream full episodes of better together on demand.
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  • Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all of our latest
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  • Conversations.
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  • 00:50:48.403 --> 00:50:48.403