Pastor chuck’s 2014 christmas countdown blog 12 16

Pastor Chuck’s 2014 Christmas Countdown Blog #9 – I love that Christmas really does change everything. It was an ordinary night like the thousands that preceded it. The black sky was clear as the stars shined in the distance. It was a chilly night as a group of lowly, anonymous shepherds sat down to rest from a long day of work. The shepherds were sitting by the fire surrounded by flocks of bleating sheep. One stayed awake as the others one by one began to fall asleep by the warmth of the flames. The lone shepherd that wasn’t sleeping scanned his eyes back forth over the sheep. As he forced himself to stay awake, he heard something that caused him to look up into the sky. He thought he was dreaming as he saw angels in the sky – more angels than he could ever imagine. And he was scared to death. He ran to where the others were sleeping and woke them up. The Bible describes it this way: That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!” When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child . . . All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2 – Living Bible)