When Angels Appeared Bringing the Good News (Revisited from 2013)

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." Luke 2:8-20

Can you imagine being one of the shepherds that holy night?  Can you imagine taking care of your flock (as this Child would one day) and being interrupted by an angel of the Lord?  And then a 'multitude' of heavenly host appear and in heavenly choir sing praises of glory to the Lord?  Can you imagine the depths of wonder your soul would experience?  In the light of the stars and moon and in the glory of the angels, you must be unbelievably scared!  But you are told to not be afraid but instead to know that a Savior is born and He will take care of you forevermore!

So after the angels disappear, imagine standing there in the field with your sheep and your friends and wondering what was going on!  Your life is changed completely!  You didn't see just one angel, as Abraham and Jacob did, you saw a multitude of heavenly host!  A multitude!  How do you catch your breath after that?  After the honor that was bestowed on you to be a witness to such a miracle!

And then you do what they told you and you journey to the cave that houses an infant who will save the world!  How do you even comprehend all that?  You see His young mother cradling the Savior of the World and His earthly father watching nearby, protecting them both.  You fall on your knees and you worship the Babe.  You tell about what the angels told you, and you see His mother listening intently.  What an amazing honor to be chosen to be one of the first to see this and to bring a message from heaven to Mary!

You know how when we see a newborn baby we always marvel at the perfection of their lips and their eyelashes and tiny fingers?  Can you imagine seeing Jesus just hours old?  Knowing, because the angels told you, that He would save the world?  That He was the King of kings?  Do you dare to touch His little hand so that His fingers rest around yours?  What would it be like to touch the Son of God? 

Dear Reader, we can touch the Son of God anytime we want to!  He is in each one of us.  He is in your wife, your child, your husband, your friend, your co-worker.  He is in the guy down the street that doesn't bring his garbage can up right away.  He is in the homeless, he is in the downtrodden, he is in the teacher, the fireman, the executive, the secretary, he is in us!  Bless someone today with a hug.  If that is too uncomfortable for you, than bless them with a smile right from your heart!  Think of that person as Jesus, your Savior!  Love your fellow man; today do something extra special for someone you don't know.  Let the angels sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men." 

Have a beautiful day, and God bless you today and always.  Wrap yourself in the miracle of Jesus' birth!  Please enjoy the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qsDeHE1mw

Going to the Birds or, Another God Moment!

After a very wet autumn and a cold, damp winter, spring has returned to Central Texas. The bluebonnets and colorful wildflowers are blanketing the area in a splendor of living color. What roadsides just a few weeks ago were dead and barren is now painted blue, white, pink, coral, and green. It is a joy for the eye to behold. A God moment, if you will.

A few days ago while having lunch with my husband on our back porch, a hummingbird flew right to the table, stopped above it, about eye level and 18 inches or so from my face. It turned its black head on white body (I’d never seen one like this before) to look at me. Yes, there was a black and white hummingbird about 18 inches from my face and it turned its head to look me straight in the eye. I smiled and said, “well hello there!” and it flew off. Another God moment.

This was the Lord’s way of telling me that His tiny ones have returned and needed to be fed, so get the feeders out and in place. I know this because it wasn’t the first time He has used a hummingbird to get my attention. Several years ago while doing the dishes, a hummingbird flew right to the window, looked at me, turned and looked at its empty feeder hanging on a shepherd’s hook behind it, looked once again at me, then flew away. How obvious can you get? I mean, when God wants to get a message to you He’ll take whatever means possible, and with me, many times it is through His creations. I had been meaning to clean and refill the feeders but kept putting it off or forgetting. Another God moment.

God, however, doesn’t forget, not even about the smallest of birds, so He would never forget our needs. Sometimes we just have to remind ourselves (or take note of His reminders) to place it all in His great hands, settle into the peace that surpasses all understanding, and watch Him work. He will either do it himself or send someone else to help you. It is humbling and exciting when we put two and two together and enjoy the God moment.

So, dear Reader, enjoy the beauty of Spring, and be sure to thank our Father for His unending love and provision for us and all the rest of His creation. Keep an eye out for those God moments, they are all around you! Oh yeah, and don’t forget to feed the birds!

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26