women. One a young virgin girl, Mary, who said, in faith, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me according to your word." Another is the older woman, Elizabeth, (the angel said she was in her OLD age), barren for so long, who is also carrying a miracle baby who says, "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."

Two women. One young, one much older. And God in His amazing grace and mercy, puts these two women together.

Tucked in this story are some powerful lessons for us. Right after Mary's encounter with the angel and she says yes to this virgin miracle, yes to carrying Jesus, the Savior and King, scripture tells us:

"In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. . . . And Mary stayed with her three months; and then she returned home." - Luke 1:39-40 & 56

Here are 4 leadership lessons we can learn from these two women:
1.  God provides.
God is truly the great provider. I don't know all that was going through Mary's head and heart after the angel left her, but soon after scripture says she "hurried" to Elizabeth's house. I imagine her running all the way. God provided an older woman who was pregnant also, with a miracle baby, to be the safe place for Mary. Scripture says they spent three months together. Scripture doesn't tell us all they talked about, but I am sure it was personal. Girl stuff. Baby stuff. Husband stuff. God provided. He provided richly and personally. As leaders we must never forget that our God provides and we must lead in such a way that those that follow us believe that God provides.
2. God puts people in our lives that require focused time.
Three months. Elizabeth and Mary spent three months together. Scripture doesn't give us the details, but it does tell us the time. I can only image how very important this time was for both of these women. I believe Mary left Elizabeth's home a stronger and more confident woman in her faith and in her future. There are people in your life right now that need more time. God has placed them there for you to specifically pour into, to do life with, to encourage, to strengthen their faith, to invest in deeply. There are coffee moments with people and then there is the investment of more time. There may also be people that you need to "hurry" to see that will invest in you and pour into you. In the rush of our culture, don't miss the beauty of focused time.
3. We should be ready to give a blessing.
The first words out of Elizabeth's mouth when Mary walked in her home was words of blessing:

"You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed."

We need to carefully watch our words. We need to be ready to speak words of blessing in the lives of others. Words of life.

There were so many words Elizabeth could have said:

"Girl, what are you going to do?"

"What will people think?"

"Are you afraid?"

I am sure all these were running through Mary's mind, but Elizabeth didn't speak these words, she spoke words of blessings.

For us to speak words of blessing to others, we must spend time with God who blesses. It requires time in prayer and time in scripture. People are so hungry for someone to bless them.
4. We should give others a reason to sing.
​Elizabeth's words of blessing to Mary caused Mary to break out in praise to God (Luke 2:46-55). I image she sang these words as an expression of her worship and praise.  Beautiful and powerful words of praise.

When people are with you, do you make them want to sing? Do you so encourage their hearts that they are ready to praise God? Have you fanned the flame of their faith? Do they leave you, ready to boldly worship God and sing His praises? Ready to face the future because they trust God?

We need more people singing! We need leaders who give others the gift of a song.  Lead as one who gives people a reason to praise God.
Wherever you are this Christmas season, soak up the amazing truth of Jesus. Emmanuel - God with us! As the angel said to the shepherds,

"Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David."

Are you a leader who gives people a reason to praise God?

My happiest Christmas memory is the time each year that my aunt Nancy directed my cousins and me in a reenactment of the nativity. The youngest among us--a girl--was always baby Jesus, and as Mary, my main job was not dropping her when I placed her in the manger. That and avoiding wayward staffs twirled by the ragtag band of shepherds played by my boy cousins.

When I reflect on those memories, the principal player was my aunt Nancy. The yearly play was her idea, so of course we looked to her for to take the lead and to direct us as to when to proceed solemnly into the living room for our performance. But more than that, we followed her lead because she cared. She was enthusiastic about the story we were reenacting, so we naturally were too.

My happiest memories as a child, and the ones imprinted most indelibly on my heart, typically involve a happy or enthusiastic adult--a teacher who taught my class to dance the Virginia Reel during our Civil War unit, a softball coach who infused fun into every practice, and a band director who loved his job.

But the happiest of happy moments always involved my parents. When my dad laughed or my mom got excited about something, time stood still and my heart threatened to burst. I delighted to see them delighted; their enthusiasm and joy instantly and naturally transferred to me because I loved to see them happy.

Kids learn to love what makes their parents light up. I see it in my own kids now. My oldest son brings me the Sunday comics, points out a good strip, and waits expectantly to hear me laugh. All of my sons are adamantly loyal to my college team only because they know that I am. And when I ask them what they’re thankful for, they’ve learned to add a spiritual element, because they know Who it is that I love.

So what does this speak to me and to all parents during this Advent season?

Sometimes Christmas can feel like pressure to a young mom who wants her children to be well-versed in all things Jesus. There are countless (wonderful) Pinterest pins, blog posts, activities, and books about how to make the most of the season and communicate the meaning of Christmas to our children. This year I have felt this pressure acutely, for I can count down on one hand the years my oldest remains in our home. I want to make Christmas special and say all the right things that will imprint its meaning on each of their hearts.

I imagine, however, that what they’ll remember about this Christmas and all the Christmases of their childhood combined will not be coloring sheets or books or a lit candle on the Advent wreath, although these will certainly hover with warm connotations in the background of their minds. No, if they are like me, I imagine that what will have the most impact are the happy and enthusiastic adults in their lives, namely my husband and me, who have the story of Jesus joyfully tumbling around in their hearts throughout the year and the Christmas season.

Am I happy in the story of Jesus? Am I contemplating what His coming has wrought? Am I looking expectantly for His return? Am I enthusiastically speaking of it as I sit with my children in our house, and when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up?

This is what our children will remember about Christmas, long after the presents are opened and the Advent calendar is put away. They will not remember the details of their December experiences, but they will remember what delighted us. And because it delights us, it will delight them too. ​

​What delights you about this Christmas season?

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In a grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a silver star marks the traditional site where Jesus was born. But two thousand years ago, his birthplace looked nothing like this.

Mary labored in a lowly stable, and laid the Son of God in a feed trough meant for livestock. However fresh the hay, there was nothing clean about the place, nothing pleasant, nothing fragrant.

Even so, God came to us. Cast his lot with us. Became one of us.
“She gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (Luke 2:7). A handful of words, as simple and humble as her surroundings. Mary wrapped him in strips of cloth, cocooned him in linen, and held him close.

Surely she wiped away tears of joy and relief, kissed his brow with trembling lips, counted his fingers and toes, then took him to her breast.

Everything about this birth was both ordinary and extraordinary.
The Son of God wasn’t born to a princess; he was born to a poor, uneducated young girl. His first bed wasn’t covered in gold; it was stained with dung. He didn’t come in power; he came as a helpless newborn...

...Mary had treasure on earth: the Son of God, nestled in her arms. We have an even greater treasure: the Spirit of God, residing in our hearts. He is the One who urges us to value what is truly valuable, and let go of things that aren’t treasure at all, but trash. Disposable, unnecessary.
​
An interesting lesson for the Christmas season, isn’t it? While we spend, spend, spend on gifts that are quickly forgotten, neglected, discarded, the Lord is gently reminding us, “The gift that matters is my Son, who came to earth with nothing.”

Comment on this blog post. That's it!  You're now entered to win a Refresh Breakaway 2018 package valued at $99 (includes registration, lodging and three meals). 

Each time you comment on a weekly blog post, your name will be entered into the drawing. Drawing ends January 31, 2018. A winner will be announced February 1, 2018 and notified by email by February 5, 2018.

So, come on! We'd love to hear from you and see you at Refresh Breakaway 2018!