Surprise! You’re pregnant!

FOCUS READING

Luke 1:46-48 (The Message)

And Mary said,

I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!

DAILY BYTE

The Message version of the scripture today says that God took one good look at Mary, and look what happened – she’s the most fortunate woman on earth. God took one good look at her – in her scrawny, peasant, teenage state and said – yes, look how beautiful I can make you.

People often say that there is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman. I’m not sure pregnant women always feel that way, but I have to agree with the general sentiment that pregnancy is beautiful. Women do tend to have a special radiance when they’re pregnant – when there is life actually growing inside of them.

When Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord – she is not asking, does this baby make me look fat? She is not obsessed with her own image and what people will think of her, as an unmarried mother. She is doing everything in her power to point people to the beautiful thing that is happening inside of her, which is that God is growing in her and is literally about to burst out into the world.

The Message says she’s ‘bursting with God-news’ – not the latest tabloid trend – but God’s news about what is good and beautiful in the world. She contrasts how humble she is with how great God is – never boosting her own ego but always putting the focus on the beautiful and amazing thing that God is doing in and through her.

How many of us, honestly, look in the mirror and without worrying about our frizz or age spots or extra lumps and bumps – and without pompously building ourselves up because of our bulging muscles or huge eyes or lovely skin can peacefully and confidently look back, accept what we see, and then turn to face the world, with the knowledge that we are beautiful and that something miraculous is growing inside of us?

My prayer is that we can grasp this, particularly in this season of the year when we’re worried about so many other less important things.

I pray that you can grasp today that we all – even the men, even the barren, even those of you who are too old and too young – all of us are pregnant! We are expecting the birth of Jesus in ourselves.
This truth makes us all radiantly beautiful.


(It is with heavy hearts that we, at Manning Road Methodist Church, announce that this week’s BDC will be our last. With both Anna and Roger moving on and Gareth’s work commitments unable to allow him to continue this service, the decision was taken to bring it to a close.

HOWEVER, all is not lost!

The daily messages of “Faith For Daily Living” are available on an internet site specifically designed for cellphones. If you are able to access the internet on your cellphone and would like to make use of this service, SMS "MOBI FFDL" to 33978 and a link will be sent directly to your phone that you can add to your bookmarks for daily use.

Alternatively, type http://faithfordailyliving.mobi into your phone’s internet browser and access the site directly.

There is no subscription fee for this service, although there is a once-off charge of R1.50 for the SMS and your cellphone provider will apply its usual rates for accessing the web.

For those who wish to receive it via email daily, go to http://faithfordailyliving.org/Apply.html and enter your email address in the relevant box.

Another excellent resource is the Upper Room Daily Devotional available for mobiles and email and can be sourced from http://devotional.upperroom.org/emaildevotional - follow the relevant instructions.

Thanking you all for sharing this journey with us…

Manning Road Methodist Church)