Meditations on Elizabeth 1&2

 This is a two part meditation on the biblical character Elizabeth. Her story is found in Luke 1.

Elizabeth-1

When there's a question mark about my life because nothing seems to be working,

When all the marks of success seem to elude me and all I have are a long string of failures and question marks,

When I have prayed for so long that it seems better to stop praying because there has been no response,

When your faithfulness seems not to extend to the one thing I am trusting you for,

When your word clearly shows that this blessing should be mine but it seems to elude me,

When tears have been my food and there is nothing I can do about my "issue",

When my trust in you is unwavering yet I have no answers,

When it seems that I must have done something wrong,

When it seems that there are no answers,

When I have trusted you like the women of old yet have not received any answers,

Even then, my faith in you remains unwavering.

You are faithful who has promised and I believe I shall see your completion of it.

Increase my faith in you.

Help me to continue to believe.

Elizabeth-2

He has answered!

Yet in a way I did not expect.

He has taken away my disgrace and lifted me up.

My husband is temporarily mute but what a visitation!

And what a dramatic way to announce the birth of our son, John!

Imagine my son being the fore runner of the Messiah!

And one of the few children whose birth was announced by an angel.

Imagine the announcement of my pregnancy being the sign that nothing is impossible with God!

I laughed as hard as Sarah must have laughed!

And when Mary came to visit, I was stunned!

I couldn't imagine how she knew...only for her to come with a tale stranger than fiction.

And John leapt in my womb at the presence of the Messiah!

I had no choice but to cry out words of blessing in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant.

My household has been blessed in these three months as the household of Obededom was when the Ark rested there.

For every tear, he has given joy and laughter!

And it's super exciting to have the privilege of raising a prophet.

I cannot wait to teach him all the prophecies and to prepare him for his work.

How glad I am to know the scriptures!

Waiting eagerly for you baby John...I wouldn't have had it any other way.

How else would all these strange things have happened.

In all things, I praise you LORD!

 Angela Azumah Alu, 14/12/2020

Image from: http://nataliesnapp.com/2011/12/07/friendship-the-elizabeth-and-mary-way/

Christmas!

23 December 2018
05:32

Christmas is about unexpected gifts that always don't seem like it,
A turning upside down of your world that you don't quite understand,
Sometimes a taking away of shame, sometimes the possibility of ridicule and rejection from those who do not understand God's actions,
Sometimes you become mute, sometimes you burst into praise,
Babies in the womb leap for joy at encountering the messiah...even when he's less than a month old incarnate!
Christmas is about dreams with seemingly strange instructions that demand obedience,
Christmas is about how even world events work together to fulfil to the letter God's promises about the birth of the messiah,
Christmas is about faith and about believing that what God said will come to pass because He said so!
Christmas is about riff raff like shepherds encountering the baby Jesus because of an angelic visitation.
Christmas is about angels leaving heaven to come and proclaim the birth of the Messiah.
Christmas is about Wise men leaving everything to encounter the new born king.
Christmas is about enemies trying to kill the new born king but finding themselves fulfilling scripture.
Christmas is about the scribes and Pharisees who knew all the scriptures but failed to recognise the visitation of God.
Christmas is about you and I embracing all that Christ brings and living life joyfully because we know God is with us (Emmanuel!)
Will you be a Mary this Christmas and believe God's word?
Will you be a Joseph this Christmas and obey God's instructions?
Will you be the shepherds and visit the baby Jesus?
Will you be the wise men and leave everything to encounter the new born king?
Will you, unlike the Pharisees and scribes, see the Messiah in the scriptures you are so familiar with?
Will you, like the angels, sing a song of joy at the incarnation?
Will you have faith that all of God's promises to you will be fulfilled?
Will you trust?
Will you have a Mary Christmas...regardless of whatever may be happening around?

Cheers!
Angela Azumah Alu
23/12/18

Image from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Christmas-Nativity-Scene-Jesus-Birthday-Edible-Cake-Topper-1-4-FROSTING-sheet-/252371282086

Merry Christmas!

He gave me love at Christmas!
Pure undeserved love:
God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten son; to save a sinful world.
Love is the reason for Christmas.
He gave me love at Christmas!


He gave me joy at Christmas!
The joy that comes from surrendering to Him;
from laying everything at His feet and saying:
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Like Mary did.
He gave me joy at Christmas!


He gave me peace at Christmas!
The peace that surpasses all understanding.
Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth
And goodwill to all men.
The message to the shepherds.
He gave me peace at Christmas!


He gave me hope at Christmas!
Hope  that leads you on a journey
Even though you may not know the end.
They presented their gifts to Him.
The magi who travelled.
He gave me hope at Christmas!


He sent angels at Christmas!
Angels in dreams and visions.
Angels singing and praising God.
Angels protecting the Christ Child.
Because His promise is sure,
He sent angels at Christmas!


He gave me himself at Christmas!
And that was the best gift of all.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us
To make us right with God.
And He still does so in his word and as
bread and wine.
He gave me Himself at Christmas!


I give myself at Christmas.
I give my fiat; I say yes to Jesus.
My dreams and hopes; joys and sorrows
My plans and wishes; I give them all.
My family and friends; all my loved ones I give.
I give myself at Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Angela Azumah Alu

Christmas message

He is the restorer.
He gives beauty for ashes;gladness for mourning.
He clothes us in garments of salvation and gives us a robe of righteousness.
He gives us joy unspeakable!
He renews and revives us!
He is the Lord incarnate; Emmanuel-God with us.
He is redeemer, saviour friend.
He rolls away the reproach and makes all things new.
He fills our life with good things and renews our strength.
God has come to dwell among us.
To restore us to friendship with Him and with others.
Bringing peace on earth and good will to all men.
Tis the season, now and always...to restore sight to the blind, heal the broken hearted and free the captives.
Tis the season now and always to proclaim good news to the poor and afflicted.
Christ is with us;let us rejoice and be glad!
Merry Christmas!

Image from:http://hiltonchurch.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Emmanuel.jpg