WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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 Amen. Thank you all so much. Amanda especially. It's a wonderful, powerful song. It really puts

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 you there that first Christmas night, especially from Mary's perspective. It gives you a close-up view

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 of Jesus' birth. That's my heart for us this Christmas, that we would get that kind of view,

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 that we would really experience up close and personal this history-altering event, this

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 life-changing, world-changing baby. That's what I mean by what Christmas means to me. Of course,

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 that's a Stevie Wonder Christmas classic, but I don't mean it in some sort of new-agey,

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 like you-can-have-Christmas-mean-whatever-you-want-it-to-mean-to-you kind of way.

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 I also don't mean for us to talk for several weeks about what Christmas means to Will,

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 to me. That's not super helpful to you. But what I mean by it is I rather want each of us

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 to be able to contemplate the impact of Christmas in our lives by considering its impact on real

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 people, on those who were there in the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth, like Mary. As we've

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 just seen from Delilah and acknowledged together this morning, some of us have different experiences

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 with the holiday season in general. For some of us, holidays are hard.

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 If that's true for you, we'd love to know and be able to pray with you, care for you. There are men

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 and women in the prayer room following the service this week and every week. They'd love to pray with

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 you. If you just write your name down on one of the prayer cards in the pew in front of you and

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 drop it in a box back there, one of the pastors will call you this week to pray with you. You don't

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 have to explain. You can just tell us you'd like to pray sometime. And sometimes that can be distracting.

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 Those difficult emotions that we have can be distracting and they don't help us grasp the

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 impact of Jesus' incarnation. I think I'm on record as being a little bit different personally.

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 I'm a big fan of Christmas, right? You know, you've heard that from me more than once. I just show up

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 this week and the church is being decorated like this and we start singing songs like this and

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 I just love Christmas. I start to get this warm, fuzzy feeling. It's all full of sentiment and

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 tradition, which is my personality. I just love that. In fact, it really threw me off this year when a

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 stomach bug delayed our annual Christmas tree picking out trip, which happens during the Iron Bowl

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 every year when nobody else is there. And it just threw everything off. I love to do things the same

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 way. I could sing the same songs, eat the same food, watch the same shows, play the same games every

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 year. Lighting candles at Christmas Eve just feels like Christmas to me. That's what we do. I love

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 preaching about Christmas, all of it. And all those things can be good things and they can be helpful

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 to my heart engaging with Christmas. They can. But if you're like me, sometimes I can allow my

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 experience of Christmas to stop there with the sentimental warm feelings and traditions. And I've

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 gone many Christmas seasons with it being nothing but sentiment and exhaustion. Where all it is is

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 extra pressure to shop well and make all the parties. And many of my Christmas seasons, my heart has been

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 there. Anybody else? Spent whole months perhaps with that being what all Christmas is. And that's not

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 helpful either. That's why we're going to look at Christmas through the eyes of Mary and Joseph and the

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 kings and the shepherds and others. See, for the characters in the Christmas story, that was not a problem

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 for them. The birth of Jesus was not always positive, but it was way more than mere sentiment and tradition.

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 It was life-changing reality. They saw the extraordinary gift or the supreme disruption that Jesus' birth was.

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 Christmas is not to them just cute like it sometimes can be to me. Mary will help us see that it is the

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 culmination of thousands of years of world history in one moment. Kingdoms clash. Worlds

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 collide. Lives are turned upside down all because of this baby. All in that one moment.

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 Last thing I'll say about our series this Christmas season. Just like all the characters in this graphic,

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 we will focus and have our attention turned toward Jesus. I'm not interested in learning

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 with you merely a few facts about Mary and Joseph and so forth. The Bible gives us their stories

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 to help us focus on Jesus, to help us see the glory of Jesus and grasp the impact of Jesus on real people

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 like you and me. Understanding what Christmas means to them can help us consider what Christmas means for

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 each of us. And that is one Christmas tradition I don't want to apologize for. I want all of us to have

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 that regardless of what you feel about the sentimental stuff, whether it's painful or helpful or distracting

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 to you. All of us need to consider the impact of the birth of Jesus on us.

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 So back to Mary today. I'll read you the beginning of her story in Luke chapter 1 verse 26. God's holy word.

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 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David,

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 and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.

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 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

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 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

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 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

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 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

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 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house

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 of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel,

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 How will this be, since I am a virgin? And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

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 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called

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 holy, the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son,

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 and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.

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 And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.

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 And the angel departed from her. Let's pray.

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 Father, we thank you for your word, because what we need is to hear from you.

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 And you've given it to us that we might hear your voice.

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 And we might see our Savior.

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 And that we might be forever changed.

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 And so, Father, I need that this morning. We need that.

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 Speak to all of us by your Spirit, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Luke famously tells us in chapter 2, that we haven't gotten to yet,

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 after Jesus is born and angels and shepherds and all get involved,

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 that Mary treasures up all these things and ponders them in her heart.

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 I've never been a new mom, but I've visited many a new mom in the hospital.

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 A really amazing, special moment.

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 Many times just treasuring those special times.

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 Overwhelmed with emotion.

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 Dreaming sometimes of the future of this new child.

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 What will life be like now?

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 Never the same, certainly.

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 Many joys and struggles already starting within hours of birth.

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 And Mary is similar to that.

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 But even so much more than normal.

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 This baby that she holds really will fulfill all of her longings.

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 For herself.

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 For all God's people.

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 And Mary, by that moment, knows that.

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 And it's soaking all that in.

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 She's going to help us see, as she works through these months,

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 that Christmas means God gracing the undeserving.

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 Let's look at how that unfolds in Mary's story.

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 It starts, of course, as we just read, with an angel showing up to an ordinary teenager.

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 In fact, you might even say Mary's less than ordinary.

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 She's really clear that she is no one special.

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 Probably about 14, give or take a couple of years.

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 Very poor, we find out later.

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 And from nowhere, Nazareth.

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 Look how Luke describes it to his readers.

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 Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth.

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 Even then, many of them know where it was or what Nazareth was.

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 Luke's saying it's like you're saying to someone, I'm from nowhere, Alabama.

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 You know, it's this place where the closest town is.

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 Well, no, you probably haven't heard of that either.

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 You haven't heard of Nazareth, Luke says.

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 And if you have, it's probably because you know the saying,

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 can anything good come from Nazareth?

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 That was a saying back then.

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 So to this nobody from nowhere, the angel announces what?

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 Grace!

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 Verse 28.

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 Favored one, the Lord is with you.

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 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

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 Favored one means graced one.

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 Recipient of God's grace.

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 God's special blessing and God's presence are promised to her.

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 You have found favor with God is again saying,

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 God has graciously determined to bless you.

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 That's the message Mary's getting.

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 These words have often been misunderstood as talking about Mary's inherent greatness.

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 But Mary clearly knows better.

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 The angel is emphasizing not her merit, but rather God's grace.

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 It's not so much Mary so full of grace that attracts God,

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 but God so full of grace that he pours out on Mary, right?

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 Mary hasn't won a pageant.

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 God has graced a peasant.

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 Of course, so much so that she is indeed full of grace.

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 She will bear the Son of God, the eternal King, the promised Messiah,

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 the one they've all been waiting for.

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 It's all a bit overwhelming and confusing to Mary, isn't it?

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 Can you blame her?

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 Me?

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 How?

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 What the angel says troubles her.

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 Perhaps she didn't feel much like a grand recipient of God's grace.

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 Suspects she felt pretty normal, even insignificant most days.

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 Nonetheless, the angel tells this unsuspecting young girl

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 that the person of greatest significance ever will come through you.

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 One of seeming insignificance.

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 She says, me?

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 A mother?

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 How is that even possible?

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 And the point is, nothing is impossible with God.

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 This is about something he's going to do.

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 That this birth is going to prove that to you and everybody.

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 That this chasm God will cross to reach all the way down to Mary

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 will prove no one is beyond his reach.

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 His grace will stop at nothing to reach the lowly.

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 You need to know, Mary, that God is powerful and gracious enough

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 to overcome your insignificance, your youthfulness, your life situation.

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 He rescues people because of his great power.

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 And isn't this just like God?

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 To condescend to Mary?

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 Isaiah tells us, God indeed is high and exalted,

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 dwells in high places,

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 but he meets with the lowly.

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 He meets with young, undeserving Mary in Nazareth

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 and gives her through Gabriel the message of grace

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 and through his Holy Spirit the child of grace.

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 Perhaps even more humbly than you or I could have ever responded,

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 Mary receives that grace.

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 Verse 38,

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 I am the servant of the Lord.

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 Let it be to me according to your word.

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 Boy, I need to learn a lot from her here.

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 I'm not the hero.

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 I'm not the focus.

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 I'm the servant of the Lord.

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 Whatever he says, I'll trust.

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 Whatever he has planned is, I want to happen.

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 However he will use me, I'll be willing.

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 And you can only imagine that there she is then,

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 but the weight of what's happening,

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 the glory of this,

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 the magnitude of this pregnancy,

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 this new role as mother of the Son of God,

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 takes some time to settle in.

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 What's happening?

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 What is God doing here?

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 In fact, I don't have time to stop here this morning,

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 but I love that the Holy Spirit starts opening Mary's eyes

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 to what God is doing and the glory of this,

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 that he uses Elizabeth,

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 a woman probably three or four times Mary's age,

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 to open Mary's eyes to what he's doing,

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 to the glory of this,

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 to encourage her faith in this gracious God.

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 God uses older women like that.

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 Delilah does that for me when I talk to her.

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 So do many of you.

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 If you think you're too old

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 to encourage the faith of someone much younger

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 to be instrumental in someone God loves,

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 knowing his glory and greatness,

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 you're not reading his story.

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 If you think you've served your time

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 and it's time to take it easy,

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 you're missing how God works

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 and you're robbing others of that treasure.

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 On the other hand,

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 if you young people think you're too savvy,

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 too busy to learn of God from someone much older,

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 you're missing the beauty of how God works.

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 You're robbing yourselves and others

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 of the treasure of the family of God.

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 And Mary meets Elizabeth,

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 hears words from God through Elizabeth,

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 and look what Elizabeth prompts in Mary.

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 It's one of the great songs of praise of all time.

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 Bach calls it the Magnificat.

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 And Mary shows us the glorious vision

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 of God through this baby,

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 gracing not merely one undeserving person,

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 but truly a myriad of undeserving people.

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 Listen to it.

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 It's beautiful.

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 My soul magnifies the Lord,

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 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

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 For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

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 For behold, from now on,

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 all generations will call me blessed.

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 For he who is mighty has done great things for me,

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 and holy is his name.

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 This is her story, Mary's story,

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 how God has graced undeserving me.

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 And then, and then Mary turns

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 and invites all of us

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 into the same experience of God

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 that she's had in this unique way.

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 Verse 50,

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 And his mercy is for, not just me,

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 for those who fear him

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 from generation to generation.

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 He has shown strength with his arm.

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 He has scattered the proud

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 and the thoughts of their hearts.

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 He has brought down the mighty

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 from their thrones

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 and exalted those of humble estate.

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 He has filled the hungry with good things,

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 and the rich he has sent away empty.

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 He has helped his servant Israel

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 in remembrance of his mercy

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 as he spoke to our fathers,

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 to Abraham,

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 and to his offspring forever.

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 God, gracing the undeserving.

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 It's not new with Mary, is it?

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 In fact, Mary says this goes

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 all the way back to Abraham.

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 The gracing of the undeserving

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 is so much of who God is

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 that it's what he's been doing

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 for thousands of years

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 with all sorts of people

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 leading up to this moment,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.559
 this climax of the whole thing

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:05.899
 through this baby in my womb.

00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:08.880
 He faithfully makes promises

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.980
 and now fulfills those promises,

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.000
 and he does it in such a way

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.440
 that you can't miss

00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:16.620
 that he graces the undeserving,

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.519
 that he meets the lowly,

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:21.300
 that he treasures the insignificant.

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.900
 Commentator James Edwards

00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:28.019
 says it this way

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.019
 about the Magnificat.

00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:29.700
 It's beautiful.

00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:30.380
 He says,

00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:32.320
 It is a hymn not of the proud,

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.380
 but of the powerless.

00:20:34.580 --> 00:20:35.720
 Not of just desserts,

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.880
 but of unexpected grace.

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:40.180
 Not of a world fully controlled

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:42.180
 and determined by human powers,

00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:45.940
 but overturned by divine comedy.

00:20:47.540 --> 00:20:48.220
 He continues,

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.720
 God does not turn away

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.260
 from want and oppression,

00:20:52.260 --> 00:20:54.640
 but toward both in compassion

00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:56.640
 and rescuing intervention.

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.940
 I love this part.

00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:00.019
 In most religions,

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.019
 a meeting with God

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:04.740
 requires the low to ascend high,

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.860
 sinners to become saints.

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.660
 The Magnificat reverses

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.500
 all protocol and expectations.

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.759
 God, who is high,

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:15.519
 becomes low.

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.340
 God, who is high,

00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.400
 becomes low.

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.640
 Yes.

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.480
 Yes, that's what's going on here.

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:27.700
 Let me briefly show you how

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:29.240
 God does this

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.279
 in ways I think will meet our hearts

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.200
 where many of us are.

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:37.420
 This great song that Mary gives us first,

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.779
 God notices.

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.200
 He has looked

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.420
 on the humble estate

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.779
 of His servant.

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.180
 Most of us,

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.740
 most days,

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:52.740
 feel mostly ordinary.

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:57.220
 But if the God of the universe

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:59.000
 sees me,

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:01.880
 that changes things,

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.400
 doesn't it?

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.779
 Have you ever felt invisible?

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.180
 Like, no one sees

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.480
 your situation?

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:15.279
 Like Mary in the middle of nowhere,

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:17.380
 like Israel in captivity

00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:19.339
 day after day.

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.720
 Does anyone realize

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.379
 how hard this is?

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:23.859
 Does no one else

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:25.019
 see how unfair

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:26.539
 this is?

00:22:28.459 --> 00:22:29.599
 God does.

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.419
 God notices.

00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:34.299
 God looks.

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.299
 God sees.

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.039
 Sending His Son

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:39.019
 confirms

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.480
 He has noticed

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:40.879
 us

00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:42.879
 and our need.

00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:46.240
 because God never stops

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.140
 with merely looking

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.120
 and noticing.

00:22:49.020 --> 00:22:49.760
 God also

00:22:49.760 --> 00:22:51.240
 defends.

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.140
 He fights

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.040
 for us.

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.000
 He pursues

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.480
 justice.

00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.700
 He rights

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.740
 wrongs.

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.160
 Are you feeling

00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.960
 vulnerable?

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.560
 Stuck

00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:03.060
 in a bad spot?

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:03.980
 Powerless?

00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:04.560
 Voiceless?

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.920
 You can't change it.

00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:08.060
 Maybe like Mary

00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:08.900
 and the rest of

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.300
 Israel under the thumb

00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:11.740
 of Roman oppression.

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:13.180
 unable to change

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.960
 much of anything

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.120
 about their lives.

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.220
 Can't seem to find

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.180
 a godly leader

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.380
 anywhere around.

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.460
 He has scattered

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.740
 those proud

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.900
 in their hearts

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:28.500
 and brought down

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.039
 the mighty

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.940
 from their thrones.

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.960
 Those who

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:33.299
 wield authority

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.759
 that's not theirs.

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.480
 The bully

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.539
 at school.

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.599
 The manipulative

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.640
 friend.

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.319
 And those who

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.400
 unmercifully

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.460
 and abusively

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.660
 use the power

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.599
 that they rightfully

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.539
 have.

00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.880
 A parent,

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:51.400
 a politician,

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.759
 a boss,

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.460
 a preacher.

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.000
 All of them.

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.660
 Both

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.839
 kinds

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.980
 of high

00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.900
 and powerful

00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.579
 people

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.240
 God

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.059
 is taking

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.000
 down.

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.660
 Why?

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.980
 Because He

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.819
 exalts

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.200
 the humble.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.600
 they are the

00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.019
 ones

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.420
 He fights

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:11.720
 for.

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.200
 The ones

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:13.759
 He defends.

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.940
 And Jesus

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.960
 enters into

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.080
 this unjust

00:24:17.080 --> 00:24:17.720
 world

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.620
 to turn

00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:19.519
 things upside

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.100
 down

00:24:20.100 --> 00:24:20.880
 and make them

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.400
 right again,

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:21.880
 doesn't He?

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.680
 The ordinarily

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.559
 insignificant

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:26.039
 are treasured

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.140
 and defended

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.620
 by Him.

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.900
 Next,

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.940
 God satisfies.

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.420
 He has

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.100
 filled

00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:36.240
 the hungry

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.720
 with good

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.660
 things.

00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.380
 You ever feel

00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:40.799
 empty?

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.820
 Be honest.

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.039
 No deep

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.700
 sense of

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.360
 purpose

00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:49.420
 or fulfillment?

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.279
 Longing to be

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.480
 significant in

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.140
 some way that

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.799
 you feel like

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.539
 you ought to

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:54.880
 be?

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.720
 Mary knew

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.420
 that and

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.539
 she found

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.460
 God to be

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.160
 the only

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.080
 one who

00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:01.960
 satisfied

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:03.620
 her longings.

00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:04.680
 We often

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.220
 try to fill

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.880
 ourselves other

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.220
 ways,

00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:06.660
 don't we?

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.779
 And Jesus

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:10.160
 comes because

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.160
 He knows we

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.740
 will keep

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.420
 coming up

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:12.900
 empty,

00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.279
 chasing every

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.180
 other drug

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:15.900
 looking for

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.740
 satisfaction.

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.519
 He meets

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.700
 our deepest

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.500
 needs.

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.200
 God

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.460
 satisfies

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:24.019
 the hungry.

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.560
 Finally,

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:26.960
 here,

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.400
 God

00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.440
 delivers.

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.240
 He has

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.779
 helped

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.840
 His servant

00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:32.740
 Israel in

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.299
 remembrance

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:34.700
 of His

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.100
 mercy.

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.340
 He actually

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.400
 keeps His

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.440
 promise to

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.039
 His people,

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:39.740
 not just

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.380
 makes it,

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.079
 He keeps

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.420
 it.

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:42.900
 Do you

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.360
 feel helpless

00:25:44.360 --> 00:25:45.799
 somewhere?

00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:47.500
 Maybe you

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.900
 feel you

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.400
 don't have

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:48.740
 what it

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.440
 takes to

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:49.920
 save your

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.380
 marriage.

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.840
 Maybe you

00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.360
 feel like you

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.059
 want to

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.299
 give your

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.940
 kids some

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.840
 relief,

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.299
 but it's

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.980
 beyond you.

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:58.680
 You can't

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:58.900
 help.

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.400
 Maybe you're

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.319
 confused about

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.120
 the next

00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.759
 steps in

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.120
 life and

00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:04.259
 you're

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.160
 exhausted from

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.200
 trying everything

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.920
 you can think

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.460
 of to try to

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.360
 regain control

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.019
 of things.

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.019
 This is the

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.960
 grace of God

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:13.220
 coming to

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.500
 you.

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.259
 He not only

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.680
 notices,

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.480
 He not only

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.220
 defends,

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.279
 He not only

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.079
 satisfies,

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.259
 but He

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.359
 also fully

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.960
 and finally

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.919
 forever

00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:27.519
 delivers.

00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.039
 He is

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.659
 faithful.

00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:31.639
 Our

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.379
 Father knows

00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:32.759
 what we

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.519
 need, yes,

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.819
 and He

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.919
 makes sure

00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:37.299
 we get it.

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.199
 He's promised

00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:40.659
 and He

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.099
 remembers

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.599
 His mercy.

00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:44.259
 Mary rejoices

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.759
 in this,

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.099
 doesn't it?

00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.139
 That's why she's

00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:46.960
 praising Him

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.980
 and we can

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.660
 too.

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.440
 Mary is

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:49.980
 telling us

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.500
 not merely

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.360
 that God

00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:51.940
 is like

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.339
 this

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.019
 generally,

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.099
 but that He

00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:54.940
 has done

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.920
 this actually

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:57.000
 in her life

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.839
 and through

00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.559
 this baby

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.180
 is doing

00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.120
 it for you

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.519
 and me

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.720
 for generations

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:03.120
 of people.

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.440
 God is

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.019
 coming

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.799
 through.

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:08.660
 This baby

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.220
 is the

00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.620
 answer

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:11.480
 to all

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.740
 the hopelessness

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:14.120
 and confusion

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.500
 of people

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.180
 generation

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.500
 after generation.

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.920
 I don't

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.240
 know in

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.799
 what way

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.559
 you feel

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.339
 undeserving

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:23.319
 of God,

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.259
 but that's

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.640
 where His

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.839
 grace shows

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.900
 up for

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.259
 you.

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.220
 At

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.660
 Christmas,

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.559
 He enters

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.259
 in there,

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.160
 comes to

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.799
 us so that

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.140
 we don't

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.640
 have to

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.200
 climb the

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.440
 ladder

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.079
 ourselves,

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.900
 we don't

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.259
 have to

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.860
 figure

00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:37.720
 ourselves

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.500
 out and

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.099
 get life

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.740
 straight.

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.700
 He shows

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.360
 up to

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:43.180
 save so

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.880
 each of us

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.319
 can say,

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.120
 my soul

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:46.460
 magnifies

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.160
 the Lord.

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:51.259
 See,

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.579
 if you're

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:53.259
 a non-car

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.400
 guy like

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.759
 me,

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.880
 who barely

00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.360
 knows where

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:56.819
 the gas

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.360
 goes in,

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.620
 and you're

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.360
 broken down

00:27:59.360 --> 00:27:59.920
 on the side

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.140
 of the

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.880
 parkway and

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.680
 there's smoke

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.460
 coming out

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.140
 from under

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.519
 the hood,

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.980
 it's a nice

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.680
 thing to be

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.299
 able to call

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.880
 a friend

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:08.120
 and have a

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:09.000
 friend say,

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.000
 have you

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.519
 checked the

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:10.880
 starter?

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.900
 What does it

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.640
 sound like

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.200
 when you turn

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.740
 the key?

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.339
 that's

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.920
 nice,

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.599
 but it's

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.259
 quite another

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.400
 thing altogether

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.859
 to have a

00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:22.660
 friend say,

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:24.420
 where exactly

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.140
 are you?

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.599
 And then

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:28.039
 show up a few

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.640
 minutes later

00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.740
 and crawl

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.279
 under the

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.000
 hood with

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.279
 you,

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.720
 right?

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.319
 If you've

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.620
 ever been

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.380
 lonely and

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.299
 hurting,

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.059
 you know,

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:37.980
 it's nice to

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.279
 hear a

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.099
 politician or

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.839
 preacher or

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.720
 teacher talk

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.480
 about caring

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.140
 for people,

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.340
 but it's

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.000
 quite another

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.960
 thing altogether

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.800
 to have one

00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:46.759
 knock on your

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.100
 door,

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.180
 sit down and

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.220
 listen to your

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.320
 struggle for a

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:50.560
 while.

00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.800
 If you've

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.720
 ever felt life

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.759
 falling apart

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.560
 and spinning out

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.100
 of control,

00:28:56.280 --> 00:28:57.340
 it's nice to

00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:57.900
 have a friend

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.200
 say,

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.300
 I believe in

00:28:59.300 --> 00:29:00.020
 you and hope

00:29:00.020 --> 00:29:00.720
 you succeed.

00:29:02.780 --> 00:29:03.540
 It's quite

00:29:03.540 --> 00:29:04.120
 another thing

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:05.320
 altogether to

00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:06.180
 have that friend

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.120
 show up and

00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.500
 say,

00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:08.220
 how can I

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.520
 help?

00:29:09.020 --> 00:29:09.540
 What can I

00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:10.100
 pray for?

00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:11.340
 How can I

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.920
 walk with you

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.440
 in this?

00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:15.960
 I want you

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.279
 to go back

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.980
 to Mary as

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.539
 a new mother

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.259
 one last

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.560
 time.

00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:20.980
 She's heard

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.300
 from an

00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:21.539
 angel.

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.220
 She's praised

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:25.039
 God in this

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.900
 beautiful song.

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.660
 She's given

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.940
 birth to the

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.060
 Son of God

00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:32.140
 and now she

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:32.820
 sits holding

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.400
 her newborn

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.700
 and treasures

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.640
 up all these

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.039
 things,

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.400
 pondering them

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.560
 in her heart.

00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.140
 What does

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.779
 she see?

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.279
 uniquely her.

00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:44.320
 Mary as

00:29:44.320 --> 00:29:45.460
 his mother,

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.680
 she sees

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.200
 that God

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.400
 graces the

00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.120
 undeserving

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.500
 by entering

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.940
 in,

00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.460
 in our

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.060
 place,

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.840
 becoming like

00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:55.080
 us,

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.920
 getting under

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.860
 the hood

00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.740
 with us

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.519
 as it were.

00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.900
 Think about it.

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.220
 As his mother,

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.900
 she swaddles

00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:05.180
 him in a

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:06.740
 poor manger.

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:10.359
 she nurses

00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:11.880
 him when

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.660
 he hungers.

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:16.099
 She soothes

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:17.440
 him when

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.180
 he needs

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.720
 help.

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.539
 She sees

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.099
 better, I think,

00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.059
 than anyone

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:26.079
 else, that God

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.740
 is not merely

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.859
 calling out from

00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.940
 heaven that he

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.859
 cares for the

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.519
 undeserving,

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:32.079
 the weak,

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.480
 the insignificant,

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.539
 which would be

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.680
 nice to know,

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.960
 good information

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.920
 to have,

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.339
 but no,

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.440
 God is doing

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.740
 quite another

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:43.360
 thing altogether.

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.480
 God has

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.440
 become like

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.480
 the weak

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.920
 and insignificant

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.140
 to deliver

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:50.220
 his grace

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.319
 to them.

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.140
 At Christmas,

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.299
 in a lowly

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:54.720
 manger,

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.460
 in too little

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.400
 Bethlehem,

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.440
 God declares

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.740
 once and for all,

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.920
 my grace

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.319
 will find

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:03.720
 you.

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.400
 No matter

00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:05.120
 what mess

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.559
 you're in,

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.420
 no matter

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.059
 how little

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.680
 you deserve

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:07.960
 it,

00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:08.720
 it will

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.579
 find you.

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.039
 And you

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.599
 can count

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:10.920
 on it

00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.579
 because he

00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.420
 enters in

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.299
 and becomes

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.339
 like us

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:15.059
 there.

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.220
 When God

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.779
 graces the

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.359
 undeserving,

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.220
 it is according

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.660
 to his

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.099
 promises.

00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.960
 It is beyond

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.599
 and even at

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.599
 times against

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.880
 our expectations,

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.740
 but especially

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:28.200
 it is at

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.880
 great

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.819
 personal

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.839
 cost

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:32.220
 to himself.

00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.159
 He doesn't

00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:35.259
 pronounce grace

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.179
 from a distance.

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.720
 He enters

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.099
 in,

00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.259
 becomes like

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.539
 us,

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.679
 sacrifices

00:31:40.679 --> 00:31:41.339
 himself,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.559
 takes our

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.200
 pain

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.139
 to bring

00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:44.720
 us

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.859
 grace.

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:46.839
 Jesus

00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.839
 starts in

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.359
 the manger

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.619
 what he

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.039
 does when

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.299
 he goes

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.579
 to the

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.099
 cross,

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.139
 doesn't

00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.299
 he?

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.059
 I'll

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.519
 take their

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.139
 place

00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:57.039
 to bring

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.779
 them grace.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.679
 I'll be

00:31:58.679 --> 00:31:59.240
 rejected

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.759
 for those

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.259
 who deserve

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.660
 to be.

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.480
 I'll suffer

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.339
 for those

00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:05.039
 who've earned

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.759
 every bit

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.059
 of it.

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.960
 I'll die

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.660
 for those

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.220
 facing

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:10.099
 certain

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:11.220
 death

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:13.059
 so they

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.380
 can be

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:13.779
 welcomed,

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.599
 beloved,

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.720
 and live

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.180
 forever.

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.220
 He comes

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.339
 into our

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.480
 place to

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.299
 bring us

00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:26.099
 his grace.

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.559
 Praise God.

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.139
 May Christmas

00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:29.940
 mean to you

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.639
 wherever you

00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:30.960
 know you

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.559
 don't deserve

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:31.859
 it,

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.779
 that God

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.279
 loves you

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.000
 so much

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.659
 that he

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.440
 enters into

00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.299
 your place

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.200
 that you

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.899
 might know

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:40.159
 his incredible

00:32:40.159 --> 00:32:41.759
 grace for

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.059
 you.

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.740
 Let's pray.

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.200
 Father,

00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:47.240
 your love

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.759
 like that

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.220
 is amazing.

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:52.100
 the fact

00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:52.460
 that in

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.759
 time and

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.480
 space and

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.500
 history you

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:57.279
 came and

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.000
 entered into

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.779
 the pains

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.380
 of this

00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:00.839
 life for

00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.380
 us.

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.319
 It's

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.779
 amazing.

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.500
 Thank you

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:06.980
 for how you

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.880
 love weak

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.960
 and lowly,

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.559
 ordinary

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:12.759
 people like

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.140
 us.

00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.700
 Thank you

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.100
 that the

00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:16.420
 glory of

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.120
 your grace

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:17.740
 is such

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.660
 that you

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.420
 can share

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.819
 it with

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.099
 us,

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.220
 that your

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.599
 glory far

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:23.299
 surpasses

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.099
 anything we

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.920
 comprehend and

00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.660
 that you

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:26.880
 invite us to

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.620
 be a part of

00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.480
 it with you

00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.539
 forever.

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.240
 We don't

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.980
 deserve it.

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:32.660
 I guess that's

00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.019
 why it's

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.680
 grace.

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.000
 And so we

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.660
 just thank you

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.160
 for it.

00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.160
 We rejoice

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:39.779
 in Jesus.

00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.460
 Amen.

00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:45.700
 For more

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.220
 information,

00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:47.019
 visit us

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.519
 online.

00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:47.900
 at

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.819
 southwood.org.

00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.740
 Thank you.