December 6, 2017 Wednesday

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Luke 2:8–14

            It seems that every time in the Bible a person saw a heavenly being their first words were “Do not be afraid”.  It seems that fear is something humans burden themselves with.  And anger is just the other side of fear and so each can be the beginning of the other.  Maybe that is why the Bible teaches that perfect love casts out all fear! 

            The angel declares that we no longer have to fear because God’s loves us so much that He sent His only Son to become human and take on our flesh to offer us peace with God!  This Child wrapped in bands of cloth came to wrap us in God’s grace and love!  This Child laid in a manger to show our poverty without God.  This Child was born so that we could be reborn into a new, abundant and eternal life.

            The angels coming and celebrating with the shepherds teach us that in and through the Christmas Child heaven and earth are now united and with the second coming of Jesus there will be a new heaven and a new earth!

            And so we join with the angels and proclaim:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

            Praise God I was able to do some things around the house.  It helps me to be able to do something and I hope to as long as I can.  After supper we watched some baking shows together.  During that time the pain in my right leg became incredible!  I cannot describe it but I tried to use my hands as back pressure