December 26th, 2023
I want to share a website I just discovered. Amy’s work is phenomenal and I just wanted to share it. I knew Amy when she was just a kid! So very proud of her and her work.
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
Christmas Day has arrived! How are you feeling? This season is filled with the full spectrum of emotions. Breathe them all in, sit with them because YOU matter. YOU matter because you are a child of the living God. Long, long ago…God’s son, Jesus came to earth to be born so that you and I would have life eternal. This season is about the a baby, a manager, a virgin having a baby, and a man whose faith was firm in believing God and His plan for his life. Joseph doesn’t get a lot of attention in the Christmas story, he’s more of a “behind the scenes” character, but is he really?
Joseph, is a supporting character in the Christmas story. He trusts God, believes in Mary’s virginity and accepts the role of being Jesus’ earthly father. He taught Jesus in his trade as a carpenter and provided essential for sustaining His earthly body. The Bible refers to Joseph as a “righteous man.” I reviewed several translations of Matthew 1:19 and most say, “And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.”
Here’s a link if you are interested in reading a few: https://biblehub.com/matthew/1-19.htm
This Christmas, I am thankful for my earthly parents. God blessed me beyond measure and I’m so thankful to have had them as role models, caregivers and the purity of their love for all people. A solid foundation of the meaning of family was instilled in and upon me from the first breath I ever breathed. My parents, along with so many of my friend’s parents are now in Heaven, celebrating with Jesus this very day!
As much as I miss my parents, I know they are exactly where God wants them to be. I am choosing to love on those God has placed in my life. In this, I am truly blessed. Don’t let opportunities pass you by; love deeply, laugh out loud, be present with others and share yourself and your blessings with others.
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is fromthe Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” – Matthew 1: 18-23
“Jesus is called Emmanuel, which means “God-with-us.”
The great paradox of Jesus’ life is that he, whose words and actions are
in no way influenced by human blame or praise but are completely dependent
on God’s will, is more “with” us than any other human being. Jesus’ compassion,
his deep feeling-with-us, is possible because his life is guided not by human respect
but only by the love of his heavenly Father. Indeed, Jesus is free to love us
because he is not dependent on our love.”
– Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
To read all the Advent devotionals for 2023 from the Henri Nouwen website, click the link below.
https://wp.henrinouwen.org/?page_id=2224
Thank you for your continued support through this “unlikely advent.” Incredible, here we are the night before Christmas, the beloved Christmas Eve. The eve marking the birth of Jesus, the birth of true Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. You and I can have all four at the same time because of Jesus and because of this, we can face any battle set before us with confidence.
It is my earnest desire that you have a beautiful Christmas and that Jesus is your Savior, guiding your steps through life. He is the Light of the World. Life, my friends can be cruel but even in the midst of our trials, disappointment and even our grief…we can be set free and give thanks to God. There are always something to be thankful for, we only need to open our senses to them. When was the last time you thanked God for creating you(?). You are divinely created by God with purpose and a plan, God has not made a mistake.
Jesus’ Birth Foretold by Isaiah the Prophet
The people walking in darkness
— Isaiah 9:2-7
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his governmentand peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.”
This advent, the “unlikely advent” has not been as I had planned in my head or even on paper, yep I still use paper and pen! I love to give, I’m a giver of things and of myself and this year I’ve been on the receiving side of other givers in God’s enormous family and I am so grateful for this experience.
I have the privilege of reading part of the Christmas story from Luke at my church’s Christmas Eve service today. My work keeps me away during Sunday morning services and recently family responsibilities have kept me away from home. It is my sincere hope to start attending other church activities in the coming year. Connecting with God’s extended family is good for the soul, plus it can be a lot of fun as well. Just as our bodies need food for survival, our soul/spirit needs nutrition to grow as well.
This is what God wants us to know…
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
— Micah 6:8
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
God wants a relationship with all His children and it may look different from someone else’s relationship…AND THAT’S OKAY! Unless, God specifically ask you to walk around with a poster of Himself declaring you are a follower…try just being KIND! Hold a door for someone, return a smile or better yet, smile at someone you just might make their day! I love this last week of Advent for many reasons but most importantly because of LOVE. The single most important thing we can do as Christian’s; as human-beings is to love one another. Not because any of us deserve it but because we can.
Love~
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
https://wp.henrinouwen.org/?page_id=2224
December 17th, 2023
Today, I want to share a daily devotional from the Henri Nouwen Society. I have provided the link at the bottom of this post.
https://wp.henrinouwen.org/?page_id=2224
Friends, I take no credit for the above and it is my sincere hope that it provides you joy in both the physical and spiritual.
As mentioned above, there are many things that can provide temporary “joy” but what about lasting joy. Our faith and trust in God is the only true, lasting and fulfilling joy! Daily, we can be drawn into the temporary and self-servicing joy that the world offers and quickly escapes our grasp. There is nothing wrong with the temporary joys in our lives, they can help us to continue to grow and develop goals to be successful in life. Lasting joy has to be planted in fertile soil, tended and pruned and be absent of conceit and falsehood. Lasting joy comes from within, it takes discipline and sacrifices. When we have accepted God as the Lord and Savior of our lives, He provides for all our needs and increases our abilities to live and love like Jesus. Have you ever observed someone going through difficult circumstances and yet they find ways to be positive, even joyful (?) and ever wondered why? With much certainty, I can say that those individuals have the love of God in their hearts and persevere because of their faith in God, they trust in the promises of God; therefore, JOY is always with and in them.
My prayer for you this week is for you to know and trust in the one true JOY, that no matter what situations you face in life you will always have a reason to have joy in your heart. I may never meet many of you in this temporary life on earth but I am looking forward to meeting you in Heaven and we will certainly experience JOY beyond anything we could ever imagine.
It is my sincere hope that others see me as kind, funny and committed to being a good person. I want my faith to be seen through my actions and not my words.
For a large portion of my adult life I had tried to emulate the value and character of my parents and grandparents. In recent years, I have realized that those people that I loved and admired would want me to be my own person. They would want to me to use all my life lessons and formulate my own values.
We all need to assertive ourselves and invest in ourselves. We are all uniquely created by God with a purpose and a plan. We have the ability to seek guidance from our Heavenly Father regarding our purpose and plan at any time.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
—Ephesians 2:10
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11
In closing, I did mention more than one thing I hope people say about me, so to honor the question, kind…I hope people will say that I am kind.
December 12th & 13th, 2023
I am delayed yet again in posting but am glad you stopped by today. As in the title of the book I chose for advent, “An Unlikely Advent,” my real life advent continues to be unlikely as well. The feeling of being overwhelmed weighs on my heart but I endeavor to make Christmas joyful! My heart is excited for this time of year of celebrating and honoring the birth of Jesus; however, my “behind the scenes” activities cause me to feel the void of the absence of my parents this season. I would not describe my feeling as sad necessarily, and I will miss them terribly. No, this Christmas for me is about connections with family. God, the main character of this season is also “behind the scenes” working within my life. By no means am I placing God in the shadows, or casting as a minor character; God makes all things work for good. We, mere mortals often do not recognize the hand of God working within our lives but when we do “WOW” it is beyond any imaginable possibility of our comprehension.
During this second week of Advent, the theme is that of “Peace.” In what ways are you experiencing “Peace” this week? I can say that yesterday and today, I have an overall feeling of “peace” unfolding from the inside out. I am experiencing less chaos and turbulence within my daily activities. I’ve been able to relax and enjoy significant people in my life. Just yesterday, with so many things on my “to do list” I allowed myself some grace to be present with myself and those around me. My time is limited with my work schedule and living an hour and a half from my parents home; of which, I’ve been traveling back and forth on my weekends to pack up the house for selling. Yesterday, I had the privilege of having coffee and breakfast with my brother, to start my day. Then, my second cousin, Kayla, who has been staying in my parent’s home just happened to have the day off. I suggested we go shopping specifically for her dietary needs. I suggested “Trader Joe’s” as they carry many organic and gluten free items. After a quick google search the closest was over an hour away, so we decided after we had finished a few tasks to make the journey. God presented us with a gorgeous sunny day for the drive. We listened to classic Christmas songs on Pandora radio and engaged in so many topics of conversation. We shared some of our struggles in life, our accomplishments of overcoming those struggles. We discussed how God has and continues to work in and through our lives. I was able to share some “life lessons” I’ve learned so far in life. We shared challenges we have faced in life and how during difficult times we often can’t see how God is working and making a way for us. Most importantly, God does not delight in our pain and struggles. He loves us and if we are honest with ourselves, the struggles we face are based upon not so great of decisions on our part. Hence, the conversation of “free will” was discussed. What a blessing to be able to share my faith and my less than perfect life. None of us are perfect, we are sinful humans living in an imperfect world. I’m not saying this as an excuse for my decisions or the paths I have traveled so far in life. What I am saying is, I’m thankful for the grace and mercy of God, for my salvation which was paid for by Jesus. Jesus, the baby we celebrate this season who became one of us, to save all of us. Let that just simmer on your heart; “Jesus, the baby we celebrate this season who became one of us, to save all of us.”
Getting back to the biblical “behind of scenes” of an unlikely advent, I had previously shared the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth. In the moment of disbelief, Zachariah was suddenly stricken with the inability to speak. I can easily see where this could be viewed as a punishment from God; but “behind the scenes” God use’s Zachariah to bring glory to God at the moment of the naming of his son.
“Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” —Luke 1:18-20
“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcisethe child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” —Luke 1:57-64
As you progress through the rest of this week, it is my prayer that you experience “Peace” in a multitude of ways. Be attentive to God working in and through you to be an ambassador of “Peace” with those you come into contact with. May you be watchful to God foremost that He is the One true God, creator of all things, the center of all the universe; and also works “behind the scenes” in all our lives.
Until next time… Charlotte!
What’s your favorite cartoon?
“The Flintstones”
Some of you are acutely aware that I love the “Flintstones!” I have been collecting memorabilia for over three decades and two relationships. The memorabilia is all that survived. I have many items from the 1960’s and 1970’s, as well as some more recent items. I had them displayed in the past, but currently they are all boxed up and sitting in my garage. I’ve attempted to sell the collection in its entirety but nothing has ever come to fruition. It’s funny that this prompt showed up today because I found a Christmas cartoon called, “A Flintstone Family Christmas” on a streaming channel tonight. I had never seen this particular Christmas cartoon which originally aired December 18th, 1993.
A Flintstone Family Christmas is a 1993 animated Christmas television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on ABC on December 18, 1993. The special was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1994 for Outstanding Animated Program.
—Wikipedia
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
December 6th & 7th, 2023
Dear friends,
I am delayed in posting but am glad you stopped by today. As in the title of the book I chose for advent, “An Unlikely Advent,” my real life advent is unlikely as well. I’m feeling overwhelmed and bit uneasy, this will be the first Christmas without both of my parents. My inner emotions have been chaotic and I keep them very much undercover when possible. My heart is excited for this time of year of celebrating and honoring the birth of Jesus; however, my “behind the scenes” activities cause me to feel lost. I would even go as far as comparing myself to Zachariah and his doubt in God’s Will. In Zachariah’s case, God made him mute until 8 days after the birth of his son. My muteness is more self-induced, insomuch as I don’t share my deep grief outwardly, too much. Oh, don’t worry I have plenty of friends and family I trust and could share my grief with but I am guarded. It’s a tug-a-war between heart and mind, my heart (soul) rejoices that my parents are now filled with everlasting joy free of pain and worry. That same heart now has a void, a reserved space for only mom and dad. In my head, that is my mind wants to fight the joy my soul revels in. I know my soul will win this battle, grief is a journey not a destination!
Yesterday, as I was working on emptying out my parents home of sixty plus years I found something I was hoping to find among the Christmas decorations, an advent set made of glass. I am not sure how old it is but I have vivid memories of setting it up every year. I brought it home and set it up in my empty stable. The beautiful part about it is, because they are frosted glass figures, the word that came to mind was HOPE. Hope of what is to come, the figures seem almost ghostly, not fully there yet. In this broken world, there is always hope for those who believe in Jesus. As I sit here in my living room, looking at the glass figures, they all believed in the Christ child, Mary & Joseph, and the wisemen who travel from far away, they all had hope.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
—1 Corinthians 13:12
“And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.” —Luke 1:20-21
I am challenging myself and inviting you as well, as I go about my day I want to be attentive to the opportunities placed before me and choose to trust God. This may sound like an easy task, but the evils of this world try to confuse us and cause us to doubt “truth.” My prayer for all of us is to consciously choose to follow “what would Jesus do” some may think that’s a “corny” saying; I would then say, okay, “Not my will Lord, but Your Will be done!” They mean the same, so you choose what works best for you.
Jesus praying to God, the Father
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
—Luke 22:42
There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for who I am, where I’m at, what I’m doing or to whom I belong. No one person has a perfect life, everyone is struggling with something. Life is not about comparison but about compassion. Love is free to share, spread some of it today. 💜
December 5th, 2023
Today I want to share some thoughts on the people not so popular but are essential people involved in the Advent story. I want to shine a light on Elizabeth and Zachariah and how they are working “behind the scenes” in preparation of the birth of Jesus.
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” —Luke 1:5-15
I love verse 6, “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” Here are two people joined together as a married couple and were childless. It would have been a custom and a dream to have children, heirs to the family name within their community. I would venture to say that many gossiped about Elizabeth and Zachariah as to the causes for no children. Verse 6 tells us about the character of Elizabeth and Zachariah, they were “blameless” in observing the Lord’s commands and decrees. Zachariah served as a priest in the Temple and belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. These two were faithful servants of and to the Lord.
There are three distinct individuals “behind the scene” that precede the birth of Jesus. You guessed it, Elizabeth, Zachariah and John, their son. God, the Creator of all things, and makes all things work together for good; and so, setting the stage, if you will for Jesus’ arrival into our broken world.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28 (NIV)
As one can imagine, the news of becoming a father was quite surprising; in fact, the Bible tells us that Zachariah was “startled” and “gripped with fear.” This priest and faithful man of God, reacting in such a way! How many of us have had similar reactions to God’s power in our lives? God, loving Zachariah did not take the gift of having a son away, no but there was a price for his faith wavering, he became silent unable to speak. He was unable to speak until 8 days after the birth of his son while at the Temple for the circumcising and naming of the child.
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve himwithout fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” —Luke 1:67-80
I believe that God is working through all circumstances of my life, no matter what. I know for certain that God has never given up on me, through all my mistakes, bad choices and even the good choices. Because, like Zachariah my faith has wavered, I’ve had to learn lessons the hard way and I’m better because of the lesson. How about you (?) is God giving you a gift of something dreamed for or wished upon and you are a bit fearful (?), my friend…don’t be fearful, trust in God and you will see just how awesome our God is! We are all special and significant in God’s plan. Some of us are minor characters “behind the scenes” while others may be major character; makes no difference to me as we are all children of God, created by God, and made for God’s purposes. This life is not and never was about us, it’s about God and His gift to us. This season is not about gifts and pretty trees decorated, no not at all, the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus.
See you all tomorrow!
December 4th, 2023
As promised today I want to talk about the nativity. Do you have a special nativity set that you like to display during this season of hope?
I used to keep my nativity set/scene on display year around. Unfortunately, I moved a year and a half ago and I have yet to discover the box the characters and animals are packed in. I do have the stable sitting out and it’s probably just as dusty as the one Jesus was born in was dirty. The nativity gives me meaning and assurance, the meaning that Jesus was born among us and experienced life as we do now. The assurance that God loves me, no matter my place in life. I am loved simply because God created me, on purpose! Below is a picture of my nativity from two years ago…
As I am reflecting, on the emptiness of my stable, I’m reminded that in this season I want to empty myself of all the tangles in my life, to be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. To seek hope, peace, joy and love within Advent and carry it with me all year long.
Most nativity scenes have the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus), shepherds, magi/wisemen, angels, and an assortment of livestock. Some scenes/sets are rugged and plain, some are made of glass or marble and others may be made of gold and silver, shiny and bright.
How about you? Which kind of nativity brings meaning to you? Do you have more than one nativity scene?
Have you ever wondered why churches re-create the birth/nativity scene of Jesus? Do you or have you re-created any other historical figures birth or circumstances of their birth? The nativity is very popular during Advent and Christmas season for a number of reasons. There is definitely something about the nativity that draws people in. Maybe because it’s so relatable, people can see themselves in similar situations of just needing a little help and shelter.
Many places around the world even have “live” nativity’s where people can come and observe others playing the parts of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, angels, shepherds, wisemen, and live animals as well.
There’s no right or wrong answer to the kind of nativity you decorate, create and re-create. I can only share my experience and I love my set, it’s not necessarily made from quality craftsmanship nor is it shiny and bright, but it does remind me of life, specifically my own. It’s a work in progress, not perfection. I am thankful to have a personal relationship with Jesus, who is also my personal Lord and Savior. Without Jesus, I am nothing, I would not exist, as I was created by God. God’s grace is sufficient. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he (Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
I have one more photo to share, it was a special gift from my friends, Greg and Margaret. It’s a beautiful figurine of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Lucky for me, it is on display year around in my living room.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
DISCOVER 
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