Merry Christmas!!!

Oh how I love Christmas time! All of the lights, musics, smells, sounds.... and "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Our family loves to watch Charlie Brown - we have 3 of the holiday videos and it's a tradition. Obviously not a spiritual one but a warm memory one. Traditions are an important part of holidays, there is a sense of familiarity and continuity to them.


Imagine on that night that Christ was born how the shepherds were doing what was routine and familiar to them out in the fields keeping watch by night. The familiar sounds of the cattle lowing or the sheep bleating, the sounds of the animals bells tinkling as they grazed, maybe the wind was gently blowing or possibly the shepherds sang songs to bide the time. The sky must have been magnificent with all the stars in the sky especially the one great star that was to guide the wise men to the Messiah.

All of a sudden an angel of the Lord appears before them! Not only that but the glory of the Lord shone about them! Can you imagine? They were very afraid - I would be too! Then the angel speaks, telling them that great news of great joy - the Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born in the city of David. Suddenly an angelic host appears singing praises to God, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men with whom He is well pleased."

What an amazing narrative! It is such an awesome thing that the angels brought the greatest news of all history to shepherds first. Their lives must never have been the same. Immediately they went to see the Christ child but they didn't keep it to themselves... they told everyone! Luke tells us in Luke 2:18 that "all who heard it wondered at the things that were told them by the shepherds." Maybe they had a tradition of recounting their story every year at the same time - celebrating the good news.

Isn't that what Christmas is about? Sharing Christ and His birth, why He came. Truly this season is one of great news of great joy!

I pray we would not get lost in the bustle so much that the simple beauty and wonder of Christmas is missed. "Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Praise God for His Christmas gift!!