Advent - day 11 and 12

Dec. 11 Luke 1: 39-45

 In those days  Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When  Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped  in her  womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child  in your womb! And who am I  that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears,  the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by  the Lord would be fulfilled.” 

Dec. 12 Luke 1: 46-56

Mary’s Hymn of Praise

And Mary  said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,

and my spirit has begun to rejoice  in God my Savior,

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.

For  from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

from generation to generation he is merciful  to those who fear him.

 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.

 He has brought down the mighty  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; 

he has filled the hungry with good things,  and has sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering  his mercy, 

 as he promised  to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants  forever.”

 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Activities: clean the house for showing Sat. afternoon; watch a Christmas movie; make snow cream (if fresh snow falls as predicted)

Prayer focus: selling the house; our pastor and his family;