A Love Song For Mary Series

Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks

THE MINISTRY OF S.A.R.A.H.

Lyons, Georgia

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father,

As we quickly approach the time of year when all believers will give reverance to the annointed birth of Your son Jesus Christ, we want to take acknowledge the men of God who are in love with Your daughters.

Being a man of God is not always easy, but we give thanks to those who are true to you. Uphold them God and keep them strong in Your Word. Let them be an example to other boys and men who need to witness how Holy men treat their loved ones and their brethern.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

SCRIPTURE: (Luke 1:78-79 and 2:1-6 (nlt)

(78) BECAUSE OF GOD’S TENDER MERCY, THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN IS ABOUT TO BREAK UPON US. (79) TO GIVE LIGHT TO THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, AND TO GUIDE US TO THE PATH OF PEACE. (2:1) AT THAT TIME THE ROMAN EMPEROR, AUGUSTUS, DECREED THAT A CENSUS SHOULD BE TAKEN THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE. (2) (THIS WAS THE FIRST CENSUS TAKEN WHEN CYRENIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA) (3) ALL RETURNED TO THEIR OWN TOWNS TO REGISTER FOR THIS CENSUS. (4) AND BECAUSE JOSEPH WAS A DESCENDANT OF KING DAVID, HE HAD TO GO TO BETHLEHEM IN JUDEA, DAVID’S ANCIENT HOME. HE TRAVELLED THERE FROM THE VILLAGE OF NAZARETH IN GALILEE. (5) HE TOOK WITH HIM, MARY, HIS FIANCE WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY PREGNANT BY THIS TIME. (6) AND WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE TIME CAME FOR HER BABY TO BE BORN.

TEXT:

As we quickly approach Christmas, I want to bring your attention to the obstacles Joseph faced and how deep his love for Mary was.....

The scripture highlight is on Luke 2:4-5," and because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiance who was obviously pregnant by this time."

Joseph and Mary were in love with each other and were committed to each other in the promise of marriage. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit! As impossible as that seemed to be, Joseph had to at least try to understand it. After all, he had met Elisabeth, Mary’s older cousin who had never bore a child before, and look, she was pregnant too. As the story goes, Elisabeth’s child leaped for joy when Mary came to tell her cousin of her " miracle child " , the Messiah.....but Joseph was faced with a dillema!

You see, perhaps it would have been easier if they could go on, get married and stay in Nazareth, Mary’s hometown, but Joseph, being a just man, had to fulfill his obligation to his native land of Bethlehem. He had to go there, stand up and be counted! He knew he had to serve God and his country, but what about love????

Joseph decided to break his engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace Mary publicly.

I don’t believe Joseph prayed before making that decision, for the Book of Psalms 119:105 clearly tells us that, THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH......but obviously Joseph thought about Proverbs 28:14 which says, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE A TENDER CONSCIENCE, BUT THE STUBBORN ARE HEADED FOR SERIOUS TROUBLE.

The scripture in Matthew tells us that as Joseph considered his decision to break the engagement, he knew he loved Mary and he had a conscience- he fell asleep and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream," Joseph, son of David ", the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." All this happened to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:

LOOK! THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE A CHILD! SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON AND HE WILL BE CALLED IMMANUEL (MEANING, GOD IS WITH US!)

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. And in my spiritual imagination, I believe Joseph woke up praising God because he had a change of mind and he wrote this:

Love Song For Mary

I know that love is blind

I never thought that I could find

Someone so pure and so kind!

I’ve been like a helpless and lonely child,

Feeling so trapped in my denial

Lost and confused, and I didn’t know what to do!

But the strength that God provide,

Gave me a peace of mind,