Lessons from Mary, the virgin mother.

"The angel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1 :28
No one else in history had a greeting quite like this one. A teenage middle-eastern girl, engaged to Joseph was being greeted by an angel. Not many people in history have been greeted by an angel. No one has be greeted in this manner.
I like The Message version which says: "God has a surprise for you"! Sure did.
God certainly had a surprise and God was certainly with the young girl Mary.
Part of the wonder now for me though is that I can say The Lord is with me. That is why He came - Immanuelle - God with us. Jesus, God's son incarnate - in flesh. He came that we might know Him. "God has moved into the neighbourhood" as The Message says. More than that, God has moved into our lives. Jesus from the throne of heaven into a virgin's womb and then into every willing, longing, available heart.
God with you at home, at work, at school maybe even Christmas shopping!
The Lord is with you - not some fictional Jedi force but the very real living presence and power of Jesus.