[continued from previous message]   
      
   God's, that he was the Stupendous One, and that he was to be hallowed. She was   
   the humble recipient of God's exalted treasures, and she ached for everyone to   
   share in her ecstasy.   
      
   Prayer   
      
   Thank you, Lord, that Mary demonstrates unpretentious thankfulness.   
   Fill us with similar acquiescent gratitude and tremendous adoration. Amen.   
      
   Read Luke 1:46-55.   
      
   The Song of Mary   
      
   46 And Mary said:   
   "My soul magnifies the Lord,   
   47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.   
   48 For He has regarded   
   the low estate of His servant;   
   surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.   
   49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,   
   and holy is His name.   
   50 His mercy is on those who fear Him   
   from generation to generation.   
   51 He has shown strength with His arm;   
   He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.   
   52 He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones   
   and exalted those of low degree.   
   53 He has filled the hungry with good things,   
   and the rich He has sent away empty.   
   54 He has helped His servant Israel,   
   in remembrance of His mercy,   
   55 as He spoke to our fathers,   
   to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”   
      
   From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler   
      
   SECOND SATURDAY   
   AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AGING!   
      
   One generation shall praise Your works to another   
   and shall declare Your mighty acts. PSALM 145:4   
      
   Advent helps us to affirm that aging is a gift from God! Our society too   
   often sees aging as a burden rather than as a blessing. l am convinced   
   that God really, really loves old people. You know how can tell? Because   
   he continues to make more and more of us!   
   A favourite banner of mine states: 'Aging is the ONLY way to live!" How true,   
   how true!   
   Today's Scriptures catch the joy and the responsibilities of aging. In Mary's   
   song of praise. she rejoices in the fact that God had chosen her to bring   
   Jesus to the world. And she proclaims that his mercy is for everyone,   
   through all generations.   
   Psalm 145:4 the psalmist again picks up the fact that "one generation   
   shall laud your works to another!" We ambassadors of aging (and we ALL   
   are, regardless of our age. because the one thing we are all doing at the   
   same time is aging!) are called to share the same message that Mary   
   shared--Christ Jesus is for all people!   
   That is why Advent arid Christmas are not just for the little children but   
   -ether for all of God's children! That is why the Lord put us together in   
   families and congregations and communities where we can rub ministry   
   shoulders with those younger than us and also those older than us.   
   Perhaps during Advent or on Christmas Eve, if your congregation has a   
   children's message, you should also have an old folks' message. Invite a   
   the 80+ people to shuffle up to the front . . . and lie down,   
   lust like the little   
   kids do! Someone will help them up! (Just a suggestion, but no need to   
   tell your pastor l suggested it!)   
   Lord of aging; thanks for the gift of older people around us. They are   
   truly blessings from you, and not burdens. Keep us focused on how you   
   continue to love and work through all people. Empower us to listen and   
   share, to laugh and cry with people of all ages And thanks for the gift of   
   life as we all grow old grace-fully In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!   
   Read Luke 1:46-56 and Psalm 145:4-7.   
      
   Luke 1   
      
   The Song of Mary   
      
   46 And Mary said:   
   "My soul magnifies the Lord,   
   47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.   
   48 For He has regarded   
   the low estate of His servant;   
   surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.   
   49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,   
   and holy is His name.   
   50 His mercy is on those who fear Him   
   from generation to generation.   
   51 He has shown strength with His arm;   
   He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.   
   52 He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones   
   and exalted those of low degree.   
   53 He has filled the hungry with good things,   
   and the rich He has sent away empty.   
   54 He has helped His servant Israel,   
   in remembrance of His mercy,   
   55 as He spoke to our fathers,   
   to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”   
   56 Mary remained with her about three months   
   and returned to her own house.   
      
   Psalm 145   
   4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One generation shall praise Your works to another   
   and shall declare Your mighty acts.   
   5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) I will speak of the glorious honor of Your majesty   
   and of Your wondrous works.   
   6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) They shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,   
   and I will declare Your greatness.   
   7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) They shall abundantly declare the fame of Your great   
   goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness.   
      
   From  On Eagle's wings December 6   
      
   3 (Jn 12:26; 14:28) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again   
   and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.   
   4 You know where I am going, and you know the way." John 14:3-4 (MEV)   
      
   [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and   
   receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   
   [4] And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. John 14:3-4 (KJV)   
      
   "You're going away?" Evan's smile disappeared as he looked down   
   at his feet in sadness. It was our last day of Bible Camp in a   
   Northwest Territories community, and he had just found out that   
   we would be leaving the next day to return to Edmonton.   
   "Will you come back?" He didn't look at me, as his voice quivered   
   with tears. I sat beside him on the steps and put my arm around   
   him. "I hope so," I said. "I promise I will write to you, and I will put   
   your picture on my fridge so I remember to pray for you every day."   
   During Advent we anticipate the birth of Christ into our world as a   
   baby. And though his time on earth was very short he left his   
   disciples with a promise that he would come back. We also   
   anticipate with great hope the day when Jesus will physically return.   
   No matter what is happening in our world, if we ground our faith in   
   Jesus we can hold firmly to the hope that he is preparing a   
   wonderful place for us to live in fellowship with him for all eternity!   
   And that is a promise that he will surely keep!   
      
   Darlene Koop   
   Bible Camp Volunteer   
      
   Conclusion:   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to him to guide you in every step you take.   
      
   Pray to the Lord: "Dear Father, thank You for   
   assuring me that You see what I'm going through."   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord is working in you.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to favour the cause if the Lord.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,   
   and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.   
      
   Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach   
   their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.   
      
   - Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you   
   - Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving   
   Christ among Muslim people -   
   Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."   
   - When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims   
   throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!   
      
   Pray for a more effective witness by the church in every Canadian community   
      
   Pray: Lord Jesus, give us a hushed excitement at your coming,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)