Elizabeth

"...and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless...Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years...But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb...(Elizabeth said) 'Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.'"
~Luke 1:5-7, 13-15, 25~

Patience and Faith
Oh Elizabeth, I can only imagine how she must have felt; being barren in a time when family lineage was so important, being a woman who desires to rear her children in fear of the Lord. I think of ALL those years spent praying for God's blessings, with no sign of children to come. She states that she was shamed among the people. She lived her life right and yet the blessings of children was not given to her. I am sure she often wondered why.

But then a messenger from God says she will bear a child in her old age, and not just any child, 'for he will be great in the sight of the Lord!' Again, the joy that filled her I can only imagine...!!

I think of the great faith Elizabeth had throughout her life. I think about her patience while she waited. I've learned a lot this past year that waiting is not kicking back and passing time until 'it's God's time', but rather embracing every moment that God blesses us with, embracing life and living it to the fullest; glorifying God all along the way. Elizabeth is a wonderful example of patience and faith for us women (and men); to stay ever prayerful, full of hope and full of joy. God's timing is perfect. 'God is not interested in time, but rather timing!'

"And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."
~Luke 1:41-45~

Mentors and Friends
What a gift Elizabeth gave to Mary. Here this young virgin receives a message from God that she will bear His Son, the Messiah. 'Let it be to me according to your word.' I think about the fear that must have engulfed her, fear of the stigma and even death. And yet she embraced God's will and trusted in Him perfectly. What a blessing she received when she went to stay with Elizabeth and she didn't have to explain ANYTHING...! Elizabeth immediately began to say how blessed she was to be in the presence of the mother of her Lord!

Although this was Elizabeth's first time as a mother, she was 'well advanced in years'. Based upon her age and 'righteousness before God', I think of what a wonderful mentor she must have been to Mary; guiding her in faith and trust in the Lord. I also think of what a wonderful encouragement Mary must have been to Elizabeth as she lived out her trust in the Lord as well!

Elizabeth and Mary were blessed with not only sharing in their faith, but also in their companionship. It is so important for us women to have other women we can share life with; encourage one another, share in each other's joys and sorrows, provide wisdom and counsel; one to laugh with and cry with and just be with. I think of the dear women in my life, family and friends, and thank God for each of them. I am thankful for those that I can lean on for guidance, sound advice and wisdom. I am thankful for those I can laugh and be silly with. I am thankful for those I can cry with and be encouraged by. I am thankful for those who strengthen me and take the time to truly know me. While each woman in my life is special to me, I am extremely thankful for the ones who are all the above and more. As my friend Julie and I were talking about yesterday, if you go through your whole life and have only one true and close friend, you are a very blessed soul!

The Lord has blessed me and I am thankful! I love you girls!

Through God's grace and presence, may our hearts too leap for joy!!