Do You Hear What I Hear? ~10 Days Away

         "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

10 Days Away

Ten days! I hope that anticipation--and peace--are filling this holiday season. It is exciting--each and every year. We imagine and anticipate the sounds, the gifts, the foods, the fellowship of this blessed time of year as we celebrate the birth of Christ the King. 

While we do anticipate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day--the day we Christians celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, there is so much that we often miss or can not even comprehend.

Have we ever considered the role of the angels? They hear the plan in heaven--they are given their orders. Go, speak with Mary. Go, speak with Joseph. Go, announce to shepherds. These angels knew the magnitude of the event. 

Music: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

"Glory to the newborn King."

Meditation: "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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'.'"                 ~Luke 2:8-14

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God, 

the great King above all gods. 

In his hand are the depths of the earth, 

and the mountain peaks belong to him. 

The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land. 

Come let us bow down in worship, 

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. " ~Psalm 95:1-7

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 
Who, being in very nature God, 
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 
And being found in appearance as a man, 
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! 
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, 
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
and very tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father." ~Philippians 2:5-11

"Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled...With angelic hosts proclaim: 'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'...Born that man no more may die...Hark! The herald angels sing 'Glory to the newborn King!'"

Let us make sure that we are reconciled with our Creator. Let us declare our faith in Jesus as God's Son. Let us declare it with the confidence of the angels. Let us offer glory and reverence to our Savior and Lord!

Almighty God, What a scene! The angels bursting forth and breaking the stillness of the shepherds' evening to declare the long-awaited Good News! "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! As we anticipate all the festivities of the holiday season, let us not take for granted the humbling sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Lord, we now humble ourselves before You. Forgive us our numerous sins. Let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker; let us surrender our lives to live to glorify Your Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.