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1 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. 4 So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. 5 He went with Mary, his fiance, who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. 8 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. 9 Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. 10 The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: 11 A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. 12 This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." 13 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: 14 Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. 15 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." 16 They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. 18 All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. 19 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. 20 The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told! (Luke 2:1-20 The Message)
A blessed and joyous Monday to you all, ConCafe Familly, and especially for you, dear Friend. We can count the days to Christmas on one hand and the days left in this year are also fleeing fast; let us pray for a safe, sacred, sane, and super New Year! Please continue to pray for those who need blessingss of healing; God know who they are, as do you. Pray for one another and for yourselves.
The other day we covered the Annunciation of the coming birth to Mary, I struggled with a way to describe what was taking place, and this morning it dawned on me; a catchy title could be From Beards to Beauty, but that in and of itself does not do the entire thing justice. How do we describe what God was doing from the dust of the floor of Eden, which God used to form the first people; to the sands of the Exodus, the miles used in the forming of this spiritual nation; the battles, the defeats, the setbacks, the victories; the kings, the fertile soil of the land flowing with milk and honey, more drama, more defeats, all laced with the rejection of God, the leaving of God behind, and yet, the ever present need for God, truth be told, your story and mine. Finally, it comes down to a small out-of-the-way village, to a maiden many believe was only fourteen years old. To her came the news of the most significant event in human history; and the fulfillment comes to this night. And it was a political night, no less; the known world was uprooted for a time because of the desire of the Caesar, Caesar Augustus, to count them; all having to return back to their hometown to be counted there.
This meant that Joseph, the carpenter, noble and faithful man, espoused to Mary, traveled from Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, to be counted there with his pregnant wife; pregnant even with a child that was not even his. The traffic was terrible, the crowds were as one would imagine would go with a mandatory census, and the inns were full. There were not that many to begin with, but those who did rent rooms for the night, were full. The hour of their arrival also did not help them secure a space. Born in a manger, the Lord Jesus, surrounded by farm animals, a more common, identifiable scene could not be possible. Yet, in the common, comes the cosmic, the divinity in a merger of what was to come; God's angel stands before the couple and child and shares the Word, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master." And note that he does not say, "Look in the Roman Palace for this child, or not even the palace where Quinrinius lived; this baby has been born right here, right now, for you and the entire world in this manner. "A baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." The same news were shared not with legions of Roman soliders, the finest in the known world, nor with the legion of philosophers who held court in the leading cities of the world; but with sheepherders, who went and witnessed and believed what they had heard. They "let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned ouf exactly the way they'd been told!"
The birth has impacted a number of people too numerous to count, and the most significant religious event that can still happen is when a world-perceived insignifcant person comes to faith in Jesus; the way it did in you, and to me!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the message of the angels still bears the weight of that same night in the hearts and spirits of those who receive the for themselves as it did in us. May our hearts still burn with joy and hope and more so with the challenges of life that seek to destroy or dampen our spirits. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share the eternal Good News with someone today!
Receive my blessing of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
