Heavy fog this morning.  As I looked out my window it was so thick I could barely make out the trees across the street – little of 300 feet away.  Slowly it rose where I can now see the orchards on Cherry Heights.  No rain, yet, but it is in the forecast.

Had a good conversation with Norm this morning, he is doing okay even though a bit bored.  Letty was leaving during my call and she made it clear to him that he had everything he needed and NOT TO GET UP.  So he sat in his chair and we talked a bit.

The garden calls him, but he cannot answer, yet.

Luke 1:36-38 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

We know Mary’s story.  A young girl, one that had no formal background, one that was not a member of the elite in society, one that went about her day as every other young girl in that day and age.

If the Son of God’s mother was to be chosen by men – back then or even today – the first requirement would be she had to be a virgin.  She had to be a ‘good’ person.  She had to come from some background that made her stand out from others.  She would have to be a member of the ‘ruling’ Jewish leaders; she would have to have a pedigree.

There would be a calling together of those that would decide who was going to be chosen, they would question them, look into their background, see who they associated with and make sure they were of the ‘right’ source.

The discussions would be going on for days, many would be looked at and ‘maybe’ someone would be selected, based on outward appearances and observation of their general character.

Then, once the selection was made, they would sit her down and make her sign a job description and procedures she was to follow in raising God’s Son.

Man looks at the outside of a person and can only go so far in predicting what that person’s heart truly is – so they do the best they can, but they can be wrong.

Most would look at Elizabeth, (except for her age), the wife of a priest and from all we can tell a ‘good woman’ as a more appropriate mother for the Son of God.

God works a little different.

He did choose Elizabeth to have a child, even though she had been barren all her life; a child that would grow to proclaim the Son of God – but not the mother of His Son.

There was something special about Mary, and God, who knows all, knew her heart and chose her to be the mother of His child on earth.

When we chose a deputy or police officer, we took great pains to make sure we got the best candidate.  They tested, they went through an interview with an Oral Board of people familiar with what we wanted in an officer.

They had an interview with the top person, Sheriff or Chief, and then told that they would be offered the job – ONLY if they passed a rigorous back ground check.  We went over every part of their lives, we had physical fitness exams and psychological exams, we did all we could to insure we were getting the best employee we could. 

But we weren’t always right.

Under our process, Mary would have been chosen for the mother of God’s Son.

God works a little different.

We may look around us and see others who we feel are more qualified to preach the Gospel or share His Goodness to others, but if God is telling us to witness to others; to stand fast for Him and His Word – then we are qualified.

God makes that determination, not us.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Who are we to question the direction of the Holy Spirit when He tells us to do something?  We may feel inadequate, but if God tells us then we are qualified and He will use us to His Glory and benefit.

God’s Word is full of stories of God using the least of those around them and making them mighty men of God who led His people in the darkest of times.

They obeyed, some with great fear, but they obeyed, because they trusted Him. 

May that be our legacy, too.

Later, Art :-)