The Beautiful Story

Here's how it happened. 

Listen to this podcast here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/259f8bc4/the-beautiful-...

Do you feel it? For me, there is a hush in the air as I consider the birth of my Savior. 

I never tire of hearing it ...                               

I never tire of remembering how it happened ...

Tis wonderful to think and imagine the night-sky above the shepherds on the rugged hillside, and not far away, the rough-hewn manger.

Luke records the events:

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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, good will toward men!  Luke 2.1-14 

This poem by Christina Rossetti means so much to me, sung by James Taylor: In the Bleak Midwinter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278y1yTr83w

In the bleak mid-winter                                                                             

Frosty wind made moan,                                                                           

Earth stood hard as iron,                                       

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,                                

Snow on snow,                                                                                           

In the bleak mid-winter                                                                                 

Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold him,                                                    

Nor earth sustain;                                                                                     

Heaven and earth shall flee away                                

When he comes to reign.

In the bleak mid-winter                                       

A stable-place sufficed                                      

The Lord God Almighty                                        

Jesus Christ.

Enough for him whom cherubim                                                        

Worship night and day,                                                                            

A breastful of milk                                          

And a mangerful of hay

Enough for him whom angels                                

Fall down before;                                          

The ox and ass and camel                                 

which adore.

Angels and archangels                                                                                

May have gathered there,                                                                        

Cherubim and seraphim                                                                           

Thronged the air.

But only his mother                                          

in her maiden bliss                                                                           

Worshipped the Beloved                                    

with a kiss.

What can I give him,                                                                                    

Poor as I am?                                                

If I were a shepherd                                            

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man                                           

I would do my part--                                        

Yet what can I give him?                                        

Give my heart.

I pray you experience the blessing of knowing Jesus~

Merry, merry Christmas!

Christine

PastorWoman.net

Below is a picture of me holding a sweet little lamb, ‘Rosa’, right above the Shepherd’s Fields in Bethlehem