Good News....Great Joy

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was a governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." - Luke 2:1-14 Any of us who have been in church for a long time can be so familiar with these words that they lose their impact. I was thinking that this morning as I sat in church. And then I looked around. I saw everyone there, and I saw miracle after miracle. Lives that have been completely changed. People smiling that have no other reason to smile. People who give everything because of their love for that small baby. I can't explain the feeling that came over me then. I am still getting goosebumps when I think of it. All those miracles I was looking at began in a manger. Right there in Luke 2. Good news. Great joy. A Savior. Glory to God!

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