For about ten years, my husband served on the elder board of a local church. After every meeting, he would describe to me some of the items discussed and decisions made. Almost every time, I would think of something the all-male board had not considered.
Mary of Nazareth
Childbirth
Christmas is, after all, about giving birth. And childbirth is raw and painful, bloody and messy.
Speak Well Of
In Favored, Blessed, Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth, we discover that Mary was blessed—makarios—which means “to be well off.” But another Greek word also translated "blessed” describes Mary too: eulogeo.
Ezer Kenegdo
As a woman who strives to live according to the word of God, I am always looking for clues in scripture that help me understand myself, my value, and my gifting. Recently, some authors alerted me to a wonderful discovery regarding the traditional role of "helpmeet", in Hebrew "ezer kenegdo."
Mary’s Parents
I have two young adult sons. During their teen years, my husband and I frequently prayed that we would not have to hear a report such as Joseph had to share with his parents.
Mindful
Mindfulness is popular these days. Used in the context of therapy and meditation, it encourages people to be present, focused, conscious and aware. I am grateful that God demonstrated mindfulness long before science caught on.
Devotional Reading
I wrote this journal entry more than ten years ago. While "Favored, Blessed, Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth" has given me new insights, this post demonstrates how to take a passage of scripture and pray it back to the Lord.
Child-Like
Mary was between 13 and 16 years of age when the angel visited her (according to most scholars) because that's the age girls got married in those days. But I wonder if my friend isn't onto something? I wonder if God chose a young girl because she also had child-like faith?
