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Each year during the Christmas season , I like to read the Gospel records of Jesus’ birth. This year, I’ve been reading about Mary and reflecting on the great favor God gave to her–the privilege of giving birth to Jesus Christ, his beloved Son. I’ve been focusing on what it means to have God’s favor.

Blessing, acceptance, and grace are a few of the things that favor implies. The realization that she was carrying the Christ in her womb caused Mary’s heart to overflow with joy, she said, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed”(Luke 1:46-48 NLT).

What extraordinary favor! What blessing! What joy! Yet, Mary’s joy was mixed with sorrow. When she brought the babe Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to God, she received this word–“A sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:46 NLT). Although she did not know on that day about the kind of death that her son would suffer, she knew that pain would be involved.

Mary was a “commoner”; she did not have a college degree; she was not rich and famous. Yet God called her to do unimaginable things. She responded with a heart of faith, receiving the honor of birthing Jesus and staying with him at the foot of the cross. 

Reflecting on this, I wrote the following song.


In a Town Called Nazareth (audio)

IN A TOWN CALLED NAZARETH

VERSE ONE:
In a town called Nazareth
Lived a girl named Mary
She was just a commoner
Like you and me.

But the Lord saw her heart of faith
And he sent an angel
With a message marvelous
These words he said

CHORUS
Highly favored
You are highly favored
And I have for you

Something unbelievable
Something inconceivable
Something far beyond
Your highest dreams

Something you could never do
Something only I can do
How will you respond?
Will you believe?

VERSE TWO
It was such a strange request
With her mind she couldn’t grasp
What the angel said to her
All that it meant

But she said, “I’ll agree to it.
For I know my God is true
The one who created me
Would never lie.”

CHORUS
Highly favored
I am highly favored
And God has for me

Something unbelievable
Something inconceivable
Something far beyond
My highest dreams

Something I could never do
Something only he can do
How will I respond?
I will believe!

VERSE THREE
In the time  called “here and now”
Lives a girl like Mary
She is just a commoner
Not known for much.

But the Lord sees her heart of faith
And the voice of his Spirit
Has a message marvelous
He says to her

CHORUS
Highly favored
You are highly favored
And I have for you

Something unbelievable
Something inconceivable
Something far beyond
Your highest dreams

Something you could never do
Something only I can do
How will you respond?
Will you believe?

VERSE FOUR

Now to you who are wondering
To you who are asking
Where is that woman?
Who can she be?

Put away your questioning?
Come out of your hiding?
Dare to believe
That girl is youImage result for free religious images of angel and mary

CHORUS
Highly favored
You are highly favored
And God has for you

Something unbelievable
Something inconceivable
Something far beyond
Your highest dreams

Something you could never do
Something only he can do
How will you respond?
Will you believe?

12/15/2016  Jane Ault

 

16 Responses

  1. Your poem takes us from the Bible to the present and makes us think about how relevant those words of long ago are to us today and how important we really are to our loving father. Debbie

  2. Beautiful, Jane… Love this. Merry Christmas to you and John and your family and great blessings in the year to come.

    1. Thank you Ellen! You have been a great blessing to me in the last few years. May God bless you and yours with much joy in the year to come.

  3. So beautiful Jane! I just love the poem! I was thinking about you this morning because I wanted to share a poem God gave me. He gave me the thoughts last Christmas but I never did anything with them. I happened upon my scribbled notes a few weeks ago, wrote the poem and put a simple tune to it. Will be singing it at our Christmas Eve service tomorrow. I’ll email the words to you.

    Anyway, I just love how I can see the depth of your thoughts in the way you expressed them in your poem. You amaze me in how you have grown through the years in your writing. You have truly honed your craft and it’s beautiful!

    Merry Christmas to you & John!

    1. Thank you Robyn. I am grateful that the Lord encouraged you through the poem/song that God gave to me. Your comment means a lot to me.

      I am eager to receive your email so that I can read the words to your song. I wish that I could be there in person to hear you sing it. I will be sending you our Christmas letter, eventually! Merry Christmas to you and Wayne!

  4. Wow Jane, your song is beautiful and anointed! I was touched and convicted in several ways: 1. Mary was just a commoner but had faith in God and God chose her to carry His Son! I needed to be reminded it’s not about all the education and feeling like I need more; but, it is about my faith in Him; 2. She was highly favored. This ordinary girl became His extraordinary vessel for Him to use . It’s true I am highly favored too as He lives in me by His Spirit. This is so amazing and so wonderful that the living God lives in this ordinary, common woman. And 3. Will I believe that God has something unbelievable and unconceivable far beyond my wildest dreams in store for me. Yes I believe ! Beautiful, thanks Jane and I loved hearing it sung by you!!! God bless you!

    1. Marlene, thank you so much for your encouraging comment. My songs and poems are truly a gift from God; Often, the Holy Spirit gives me the words and tune at the same time. And as I write, he is speaking to me through the words I am singing/writing–instructing me on how I need to live. Lately, he’s been teaching me about faith. God bless you Marlene in believing!

    1. YES, Gloria! Do believe. Jesus has inconceivable and unbelievable things for you. I appreciate your heart of faith.

    1. I’m glad you found the audio. My prayer is that everyone who reads/hears this song will consider what God has for them to do.

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