Christmas Eve

On this Christmas Eve, 2021, I want to look at the beauty that God has given us in this world. Although it's so easy to see the mess that sin has made in it, tonight, instead, let's ponder the beauty of all He has made.

 As I gaze at the stars in the still of the night,

and the smile of the moon, with its silvery light,

as I reach with my eyes 

to the mountain’s white crown,

and the trees that become its evergreen gown,

then I wonder

why God who created it all, 

would consent to be born on this earth.

I wonder why one with the stars in his hand would surrender that power with his birth.

I marvel at clouds playing games with the sun,

and the snowflakes that fall, unique every one.

And sometimes I watch as the lightning streaks by

with the power of God, as He scorches the sky.

And I wonder

why God, who created it all, 

could be found in a manger of hay.

And I wonder why majesty, power and might, 

lie constrained in a vessel of clay.

Was it concern for the creature He made long ago?

Was He born as a man so the whole world would know

of his love and compassion – his power to heal,

or to help man to see that God truly is real?

Yes!  Sometimes I wonder,

but at Christmas I see the awesome Creator 

who loves you and me.

He came as a baby to fulfill heaven’s plan.

The angels proclaimed Him – the Unblemished Lamb!

Just as prophets foretold – born in Bethlehem’s cave

he brought us the answer in the life that He gave.

Yes!  Sometimes I wonder, as I look at this world, 
so big and so grand with God’s power unfurled

Until I see Christmas – the baby, the child;

the picture to us

of God – as He smiled.

May you spend a wonderful evening close to His smile.

 "These my Christmas Dreams" 

Diane Gruchow 2008 Xulon Press

He's No Longer a Baby

This Christmas we're focusing on God in the human body of a tiny baby.  We're looking at the promised Messiah that the Father brought into the world to do amazing things.  

He was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.

Luke 2:4-7 KJV

 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, 

into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;

 (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 And so it was, that, while they were there, 

the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, 

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid him in a manger;

 because there was no room for them in the inn.

But let's look at the hands on the Baby lying in the straw. 

They were tender little hands, perfectly formed, able to grasp the fingers of the ones that held him.  They would grow and develop into large hands that could do the things planned for him, but now they were soft and tender and just a little helpless.

That is no longer the case.

They are not tiny and not helpless.

God’s hands are strong. God's hands are here to help you.  He cradles you in them.  He holds you in the palms of his hands.  He even engraves you on the palms of those hands

Isaiah 49:13-14 I will not forget you!  

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

Isaiah 41:13  For I am the LORD your God 

who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 

Do not fear; I will help you.

And he will always be near to hold on to us.  He will never forsake us.  He will not be out of sight or sound of or hopes and dreams and prayers. David explains in this Psalm that no matter when (on the wings of the dawn) or where (the far side of the sea), God will be there to guide us and hold us.

Psalm 139:9-11 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast.

Yes, Jesus' hands are strong enough for anything.

A Whole Different Kind

When God sent His Son to be born on the earth, 

In Bethlehem town, the place of His birth - 

He didn't have opulent beauty in mind

He planned for Christ's birthplace a whole different kind.

Picture the colors - not gold or pure white;

picture instead the black of the night, 

black where old fires left dark stains on the wall 

a place for the sheep, a manger and stall.

The drab and the brown of the dirt all around, 

see the droppings of animals there on the ground.

Not a beautiful picture it seems you would see, 

but if you look closer 

it truly will be.

For it’s not in surroundings that beauty abounds,
it's not in the use of the place it is found,
not having clean walls, or fresh rugs on the floor,
nor bright colors, fresh linens, or a wreath on the door.

True beauty we see in an unsightly place

when we look on that innocent sweet baby’s face.

Because beauty is love, God’s love for each one   

given to us with the birth of his Son. 

May you have a beautiful Christmas and a beautiful life because He loves you!

Healer of Broken Hearts is Born

 

Imagine 

You’re in Bethlehem town
in a cave near the inn
watching our Savior’s great mission begin. 
He’s the one who was promised,
the babe in the straw.
 
But did you see by that stable a worshipper kneeling,
one in need of a savior, in deep need for God,
in humble submission,
in reverence and awe?

A woman with tears of surrender and gratitude
a woman with hands reaching up as she prays
a woman whose life has brought nothing but sorrow
has at last found the answer - the child in the hay. 

Did you see by the stable, yourself, standing near her?
Did you hear her breath catch as she looked on the scene?
Did you see her face glow in the wonder of worship?
Did you feel what she felt – her hearts fervent dream?
 
The one who was born in that stable in Bethlehem
was the one she’d been searching for all her life through
The Son, the Messiah, the Savior was born for her,
to live and to love and to die for her too.
 
If you think a broken heart might be healed just by seeing the Christ Child there in the manger, then can you imagine what might be done by the babe grown up to be a man.  He healed the sick, touched the untouchable, loved the unloveable and died for the sins of all mankind. 

If you can imagine.... The Healer of Broken Hearts is here

Celebration?

Christmas!  A time of gladness!   A time to celebrate.  A time for Peace on Earth.

But Sometimes, even in the glad times, a shadow intrudes on our lives.  and our peace, while not shattered, shows a little crack.  Sometimes, we have the feeling that something around the corner will change our lives and the path we’re on will become rocky.  And at those times, we begin to worry.  We don’t even know why that worry and uneasiness fills our minds. 

So my friend, please remember that your unnamed worries are known by God.  Your troubled heart is perfectly clear to him.  He feels your hurts and your joys.  Give them to him.  He will be with you.  This verse covers a lot of territory.  

If you wonder whether there is anything God cannot control, listen to what He says.  He doesn't say you won't pass through rivers, or fires, or trouble.  But He does tell us who He is and He does say He will not leave us. He will protect us.

And that gives us reason to celebrate.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you: 

and when you pass through the rivers, They will not sweep over you.  

When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; 

the flames will not set you ablaze. 

For I am the LORD, your God, 

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior." 

Isaiah 43:2 and 3

God Uses People

Shepherds and women, old men and wise, Mary and Joseph with their own eyes, met the promise of ages – the Father’s delight, a promise fulfilled on this wondrous night.

Shepherds came quickly to see where He lie
when God’s royal heralds brightened the sky.
Then on the eighth day Simeon held God’s own son
and he praised God on high cause the promise had come.

Wise men in humility brought gifts we are told.

But there’s something I’ve noticed

– a picture so bold.

Yes, God used his miraculous almighty power,

but He also used people to point to this hour

 

He uses us now:

When our voices we raise his praises to sing,

When on our knees we bow down with the shepherds and kings,

When our gifts for his work, with humility place,

And we speak hope and joy to the whole human race.

 

What do you think about People? 
Sometimes we have this warm feeling in our hearts for “mankind”, and sometimes definitely not.  Or maybe you aren’t like me, and you love people in general – the ones we know and the ones we don’t know - all the time.  Jesus told us to love God and love each other.  Many times, we qualify the “each other” to include just the people we relate to.  But Jesus said to love the ones He loves and that isn’t always easy. 

But God will use us! 

Consider the people in the Christmas story. How different they were – We had kings and shepherds, the old and the young, all being used by God to work His plan as He brought Jesus to earth.  What does that tell us?  It tells me that there is NO ONE God cannot or will not use to do His will.  We are needed!  We are worthwhile!  We are God’s workmanship. 

If sometimes you don’t feel like God can use you, please remember

Ephesians 2:10 (NASV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

So, as I think about Christmas and the beautiful story of the manger in Bethlehem, I think about the people who were there to help and do, and worship at his bed. I thank God for them, and I thank God for you.

 

What a Name

The tiny baby born in Bethlehem, cradled in a bit of hay arrived in our world and rested in a cold stable more than 2000 years ago. His names are recorded.

King and Lord and Savior and Immanuel - Jesus.

This helpless baby boy born from a virgin's womb; this baby probably not over 8 or 9 pounds in weight, and less than 21 inches long; this baby dependent on a mother's care.

Yet His name is Messiah (Savior)

And she shall bring forth a son, 

and thou shalt call his name Jesus: 

for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

This baby who was introduced by the awesome army of heaven to working folk, tending sheep on a hillside. This baby who was ignored by the world He created is with us still.

His name is Immanuel (God with us)

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, 

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is, God with us.

This baby who did not look like anyone special, just a beautiful new born Jewish boy, No crown on His head or power that we could see,

And He IS The King.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, 

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

 Of the greatness of his government and peace 

there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne 

and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding 

it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

               No earthly crown

of gold He wore.

But still He reigns forevermore!

Considering the Magi

There are so many things to consider at Christmas time.  

I was reading a fictional story about the Wise Men.  The story I read was  filled with imagined details of the trip, the number and motivations of the Wise Men.  

But the account of them coming from the East to find the "King of the Jews" is clearly written in the Bible. The gifts they brought, Gold and Frankincense, and Myrrh were reported in scripture, as well.  

We read in Matthew 2:11.  "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh".

In the fictional story, the writer compared those gifts to the ones we offer to our Savior. What do you think?

your thoughts - conjectures - ideas - history

Gold                                     As befitting a King

Frankincense                      Jesus the High Priest

Myrrh                                   Representing His humanity and death

Expensive and rare, but likely available to most anyone with the money to buy them, and unlike THE GIFT that we find in the stable in Bethlehem.

Were these gifts truly considered to be suitable for the Christ Child?  The King of the Jews?  

And why consider the gifts at all?  There was certainly some reason that God saw fit to make sure the account was recorded in Scripture.  For my part I believe that He wanted to make sure that I saw Jesus as King, the King who would ransom us from this sin filled world.

If I believe He is the Eternal King!

I'll know He is Creator, Redeemer, and King of my heart

who ransomed me totally, not just in part;

He deserves to be King of our heart's highest throne,

to be robed in devotion, with love ever shown,

to be crowned with our worship, our hearts as His home.

He saved us and made us His own.

Notice

 My friends,

Do you ever have days when you feel you don't connect with the world?  I do.  Do you have days when you truly do not notice the  needs and feelings of others.  I'm sorry to say, I do, even at Christmas time.

I read a story this morning about a mother who was not connecting either.  She didn't see what was right in front of her.  Someone was trying hard to catch her attention.  That someone was a scruffy, tattered old man, but she was so concerned with her image and her life that she chose not to notice the stranger.  She chose not to see that person who was so much in need of attention and affection.  

Maybe as we walk though our lives there are people we see, but we really don't notice. 

As it turns out, the writer tells us that the woman's small toddler did notice, and He opened his little pudgy arms to that stranger.  The mom was forced to notice, and to respond to this man's need for a little kindness.

God was not forced to notice our need for affection and kindness, in fact He is the source of affection - the source of all that is kind and good.  And He sent that love in the package of a tiny baby with pudgy arms as well.  That baby, God's Son, Jesus continues to reach out to everyone who is in need of acceptance, of love and kindness.  

Jesus was born on earth to reach out in closeness to us.  He was born as a man and He knew our feelings as a real human person.  He cared - because He knew.  And He knew because He cared.

To touch a life we have to care.

We have to see the needs are there,

and open both our heart and eyes

and listen to their anxious cries.

To help someone along the way, 

to lift him up this Christmas day

Remember Jesus born that night 

because He came to set things right.

And hand in hand with Him you'll dare

to touch that life, to help and care.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship him.”  (Matthew 2:1-2)

We’ve all heard about the Wise men from the east, and the journey they took to find the Christ.  They knew He was to be King of the Jews, but the scriptures don’t tell us how they knew that.  We know that the book of Micah tells where He was to be born, but do you wonder just what these Magi expected to find?  

And why?  Why did they seek Him?  We keep asking the question, why did they make that journey, and why did they bring such rich gifts? How did they know to follow the star?  We have so many questions! 

Maybe - possibly because of who they were – “Wise Men.” Of course, if you ponder on that, you know that wisdom is NOT a high IQ.  Wisdom is not a college degree.  It’s not given to any particular type of person or someone with a special occupation.  You don’t have to be a preacher or a Bible scholar to be wise enough to search for God.  That wisdom is something higher.  It’s a gift from the mind of God. 

We heard the most beautiful song at last Sunday’s church service.  The song is “Wise Men still seek Him”.  When wise people find they are missing something, they wonder, and they search! 

Oh God of the mountain, the river and glade,
oh God of the raindrops, the sunshine and shade,
oh God of the flowers, the springtime and fall,
oh God of creation - are you like them all?

I didn't see Him in the stable lying in the manger bare,
but I’ll see Him in the world He made when my heart is searching there. 

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

 “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart.”  (Deuteronomy 4:29)

 

                                   

Bethlehem Wasn't Insignificant

                                                                                                                                                 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.” Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

Where do you think that a king should be born?

In a fine golden palace on a warm summer morn,

with servants there hurrying and royalty worrying

and the citizens waiting to hear of his birth?

Or 

Where do you think that God’s Son would be born?

In the home of the lightning, the lair of the storm?

Would God’s thunder and glory shout from the mountains?

Would the four winds proclaim the good news to the earth?

But that wasn’t God’s plan.  

Because we are His children, each one of us, not just the mighty, the rich, and the royal.  We are His children, the lowly, the poor, the old and the unborn. 

God’s Son was born in Bethlehem – a little town.  He was born far from home.  He was born in a dirty stable.  It was promised.  It was planned.

Why was that the plan?

 I believe God wanted us to know that our hometowns are never too remote, our homes are never too small.  The money in our bank accounts or the reflection in our mirror, will never have any bearing on two facts. 

We are children of The King.  And He loves us so much that He would give His life to save us, and He did.

Bethlehem seemed insignificant, but it wasn’t.  We may feel insignificant, but we aren’t.

It was promised.  Jesus, our savior was promised.  Eternal life is promised for those who believe. 

And for sure, God keeps His promises

 

Today, let's think about where our focus should be this Christmas and always. 

 Let's consider the scripture, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  Philippians 2:3 ESV 

And then let’s listen to a young child who thinks she should be the star of the Christmas play and see if we can learn anything about ourselves. 
 

Pageant practice starts today.

Children’s hands wave in the air,

“Pick me! Pick me! Pick me,” they say.

The teacher is choosing the cast for the show.

 

I’m waving my hand there in the front row.

 
She thinks she would make a great "Mary," or the angel who announces Jesus’ birth.  And failing to get picked for those starring roles, she places her hopes on being a wiseman, or Joseph or the innkeeper.  But no, the teacher has other ideas.  The roles for the shepherds are left, and the little girl is really not too thrilled about that position. 
 
But then she stops to think about the shepherds’ role in the real story and says,
 

"I think about the part they played when Jesus came to earth.

shepherds were the ones who heard the news of Jesus birth,

 

And though they don’t wear halos, 

and they don’t have golden wings

and even though it seems they don’t have special songs to sing,

and even though they look a little tattered, it’s alright.

‘cause the shepherds had a special part to play 

that Christmas night.

 

So, I raise my hand again and say,

“Teacher, please pick me!

A little shepherd girl is what I truly want to be!”

 

The teacher smiled and said she’d always hoped that I would see

the shepherd girl is just like someone I should want to be -

a girl who ran to see the babe

and bowed there in the stall

with eyes for HIM and not herself, 

and a heart of LOVE – that’s all.

 
May we see the Christ Child rather than ourselves this Christmas, and like the little girl in the poem, may we realize that we don’t need to be the star of the show for God to give us a special job to do.  
 

Christmas 2021 - The Dove

Do you ever have fanciful ideas about what animals or birds see or think?  

This poem is from a writing in "These my Christmas Dreams."  Of course it's not scripture, but the event of Christ's birth 

is true and the feelings are deep.  I pray that it will be a blessing to all who can put themselves in my dream. 

From a perch high on the stable roof 

a small gray dove looked ‘round.

The evening sky looked extra bright.

From somewhere came a heavenly light,

and a strange unworldly sound.

It wasn’t music  like she made, 

a cooing gentle trill.

It wasn’t like the song of man.

It wasn’t like the cow or lamb,

But, oh how beautiful!

In waves it came, as if the sea sang joy in perfect tune,

and somewhere high,

in Bethlehem’s sky

it bounced right off the moon.

From her perch high on the stable roof 

the small gray dove looked down.

Beneath her in the stable bare

a baby boy was lying there

the shepherds gathered round.

Their faces shown with wonderment.

They bowed with awkward grace.

Their eyes fixed on the baby boy.

Their voices silenced by a joy

unbound by time and space.

Again the hills with anthems rang and music filled the earth

as angels high

in Bethlehem’s sky

announced our Savior’s birth.

May this Christmas fill you with boundless joy and wonderment as you sing about the gift that God has given us in Jesus' birth a long time ago in Bethlehem.

Christmas 2021 Immanuel

The Christmas Child, Immanuel!

The King!  

     The Great I AM!

Who left the glory of His throne,and came to earth to lead us home.

Holy Child, Immanuel, You came to save the lost.

As human Child and God Divine

You came to trade your life for mine,

But Oh! How great the cost!

In the beginning God created this world of ours.  He placed man in a garden home full of goodness, where every creature lived in harmony and peace.

 The time came however, when man chose to disregard the one rule that God had given him, and the diamond of peace, pure as it was, shattered. 

The unthinkable had happened.  Nothing man could do would put the shattered diamond back together.  

Man could not – but God could.

Since God is perfect, only perfection could put those pieces back together again, and the perfect Son of God would pay the price.  Death was the price that this Christmas Child would pay – His death instead of yours and mine.  

The plan was made.  And when the fullness of time had come, Immanuel was brought to earth to be placed in a drab stable and held in the arms of a woman.  God would dwell with us.  He would live on this earth, constrained in the body of a man.  God would be with us, as His name “Immanuel” signifies.  He would walk in our world and would demonstrate True Love. 

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (which means "God with us")

The healing had begun.  

He is with us!

Christmas 2021 - He is The Light

I sat one late night wondering, 

"What was in God's mind

when He sent His Son 

to live on earth, 

and leave His throne behind?"

As I sat that night a-wondering.  

The strangest thing occurred.  
The lights went out, t’was awfully dark, 

and not a sound I heard.

The darkness seemed oppressive, so total was the gloom.
No stars to see, no light for me,
and blackness veiled the moon.

As I sat alone and waited there, for lights again to shine,
I asked again that question,
“What was in God’s mind?”

What if this world would always be as black as this dark night?
What if to stumble in our sin would ever be our plight, 
and sin without forgiveness then, would take away our sight?

These words came racing through my mind, 

“Christ said He was the light!”

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)

I questioned this, there in the dark, “I am The Light,” Christ said.
But how did that describe the baby sleeping in that manger bed?

And then - so clearly echo'd there – 

a phrase heard long ago

"Christ came to earth that Christmas night

so that the world would know

what God is like, 

and the love He feels 

for stumblers in the night.

‘cause in this dark world we’d stumble yet, 

if He’d not been “The Light.”

That baby born in Bethlehem was sent to set things right.

The baby pushed the dark away.

Christ Jesus is The Light!

What does Christmas mean to me?  I asked myself one day – My answer now is simply this, “Christ came to LIGHT THE WAY.”  

From "These my Christmas Dreams,"

by Diane Gruchow Published 2008 Xulon Press 

Rev Dec 2021

 

Christmas 2021 - Joy To The World

🎜🎝🎜🎝🎝🎜🎜🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜

 

"Joy to the world!  The Lord is come

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing."

Joy is one of the most common words used in Christmas cards.  It's also one of the most common feelings we express when we're happy.

But where does that feeling, that word, come from?

Joy comes from God to our hearts and our minds.
It’s not something we search for and so seldom find.
 
When you wake up each morning and begin every day
by counting your blessings and kneeling to pray,
and giving up thoughts that breed discontent,
and accepting what comes, it's a gift – heaven sent.
 
That joy comes from God, it’s born deep in his love.
It’s rained down from heaven, it’s sent from above.
We find joy in this morning when we look for God’s face.
We find joy in His love, His compassion and grace.
 
And we find joy when we see that He came to this earth
long ago, as a baby,

 we sing JOY! at His birth.
We sing joy since He loved us enough that He gave
the splendor of heaven for a crib in a cave.
 
As the King of all realms left his throne room on high,
left heaven for earth, and came here to die
for love of God’s children,
He was born as a boy,
leaving splendor and might to bring mankind HIS JOY!
 
 

By Diane Gruchow Dec 8, 2021

Christmas 2021 - The Fortress

Many years ago a king named Herod built several fortresses for defense from his enemies.  One of those he named “The Herodium” after himself.  This vast fortress complex could be seen for miles.  The great buildings sat on the flattened top of a hill about 400 feet above the countryside.  Looking down from this fortress to the west, Herod would see the hills of Judea, including the town of Bethlehem only about 4 miles away.  

That fabulous fortress and palace sits in ruins today.  It still bears the stamp of the one they called “King Herod the Great.”

But now the fortress is gone, 

and Herod is no more.

In the shadow of the fortress which stands atop a mound

comes a cry out of the darkness,

“A resting place is found!”

In that shadow, see the woman,

weary, waiting for the birth

of the promised gift from heaven

sent to all the sons of earth.

Dark the shadow, dark the fortress -

Herod’s shelter from his foe.

Dark and death will soon be conquered.

Woman’s child will strike the blow.

In the shadow of the fortress, 

in a stable ‘neath the inn

lies the mighty King Of Heaven in a human baby’s skin.

Then in the dark, a song surrounds us.

Heaven’s chorus fills the night,

heralding The Son! Messiah! who is born to set things right.

Gone the shadow, gone the fortress, 

nothing left but dirt and stone.

But the babe born in its shadow

sits forever on His throne.

Jesus is the King.  

He sits on the right hand of The Father.  

He is on His throne forever.

by Diane Gruchow Published 2013

Christmas 2921 Angels We Have Heard

 

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8 14 (KJV)

Imagine sitting on a hill watching your sheep, just doing your job, and an angel appears.  That sounds pretty nice.  

But the Bible refers to angels as mighty, spiritual, fearsome messengers of God.  

Daniel 6:22 (NIV) the scripture quotes Daniel as saying, he was saved because “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.” 

In Isaiah 37:36 (NIV) we read, “Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. 

And Psalm 103:20 (NIV) reads, Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

When we think about what the shepherds saw and heard, we would be terrified!  Angels in the sky were not a normal evening’s entertainment.  

The first angel to appear said, “Fear not!”  Right!  But when the angel explained his mission it was more understandable, wasn’t it?  Even then, I would not have been able to get past what I saw there in the sky.  The shepherds did, they got past it.  

What overcame the fear?  Was it the message?  “Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11

That message is still true for us today.  The Savior was born.  The angels said that the Savior was born to you, to the shepherds, and to all of us.  

Or was it the sign?  Sometimes we wish for a sign because we are unsure of what we have heard.  The sign was given to us too.  Jesus was born.  He lived.  He performed miracles.  He died and rose again.  Just knowing Jesus has changed millions of lives.

Or maybe, it was the love of God.  1 John 4:16 and 18  we find that God is Love . . . There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.”  

A shepherd boy stood on a hill outside the city gate,

watching there his sheep and lambs.

The hour was getting late.

His eyes were growing heavy - sleep he had to fight,

but then he heard a distant sound like startled doves in flight.

The little child looked all around until he saw above,

a light - a rare unearthly glow

and then  -  he felt the love.

The strangest feeling came to him - of warmth,

and love,

and care,

all coming from a heavenly place to touch him standing there.

And as the glow began to grow into the brightest light

and voices raised in heavenly praise glorified the night,

he knew that heaven had come to earth,

somehow,

and touched his face.

But he didn’t know that what he saw would change the human race.

What he knew brought to his heart

such comfort,

peace,

and joy.

He knew that God had truly loved this little shepherd boy.

And He loves you.

That’s why He sent Jesus to live, and love, and die for you.

From "These my Christmas Dreams,"

by Diane Gruchow Published 2008

Xulon Press