Merry Christmas!

Hello all!

I apologize for not writing for so long and being away. From hospital visits to school to dialysis it has been a busy and crazy last few months. At the same time that is not an excuse for not having posted anything lately. So, I hope to and plan this year to spend more time here in creating content and posting it. I want to not only get more set in what I post here in the blog but also in other social media and look into getting a podcast or YouTube page going. The more content that can be produced the better.

Before I get into a brief Christmas thought for the moment, I want to simply give a personal update. I have been busy with two online schools. One Bible College the other my mental health counseling degree so that has kept me busy. Also, in October I had to start Dialysis. Thankfully I am able to do all of those from home and don't have to go to a clinic for hemo. This along with all my other issues has made for a very tiring last few month. I am very thankful for ability to do it from home, and I thank God for that! So, while it has been a struggle I can still say God has been good!

(Luk 2:7)  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Luk 2:8)  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

(Luk 2:9)  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

(Luk 2:10)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

(Luk 2:11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

(Luk 2:12)  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(Luk 2:13)  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

(Luk 2:14)  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(Luk 2:15)  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

(Luk 2:16)  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Not only did God send Jesus by a poor family the first people to hear of His birth where poor men working in the field watching sheep! Consider the symbolism here as well. The first people who knew of Jesus the Lamb of God where shepherds! Those are the people that first heard a savior was born! This is another great example of the fact that God uses the poor of this world to spread the message of the Gospel.

Imagine being one of the shepherds though in this passage. You are simply sitting alone on a hill with the sheep and the other shepherds working with you. Suddenly the angel and heavenly host appear! Then you hear the message they give, and you go to the location they said, and you find exactly what they said. It makes me wonder if later on and any of them still lived if they followed Jesus' ministry. Did they keep tabs on the young boy as he grew up? Did they hear of Jesus ministry and think back to that night on the fields around Bethlehem and realize they are the same person. Did any of them travel to Jerusalem when He was crucified and sorrow in His death? Did any of them hear Peter or John preach in Jerusalem that He arose! We never hear of these men again. They had fulfilled their duty for scripture. However, it is one that you can't help but wonder what they lived to see still.

In case I don't get another one in before Christmas have a Merry Christmas!