It is a frigid Christmas Eve 2022. I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I was sitting at my computer resting having finished the day’s preparations and running through the list of things yet to be accomplished before bed. For a moment I panicked thinking I hadn’t taken care of Sunday school then remembered our church isn’t holding in person events tomorrow and I got the week off. Then I thought about not sending anything to you all. I can’t let the birth of Jesus go by and not send you something.
Here is the account of that birth so many years ago in Luke. For them, the season of Advent was over. The babe lay in the manger. Mary rested. Joseph stood over them both, and visitors in the know filed in and out.
For us, we still sit in preparation and waiting for our Lord’s return. It could very well come tomorrow morning as the sun comes up. It could also not come tomorrow morning. Whenever it comes I hope it finds us all diligently being about our Master’s business.
Stay warm. Stay in His love, and enjoy the blessings around you. God bless you all, and Godspeed.
"Merry Christmas to All My Flickr Friends and Family" by prayerfriends is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Luke 2:8–20 (NASB95)