Advent is my all time favorite season of the year. There is a magic in the air anticipating Christmas coming. This anticipation has been around long before we were even a thought in our momma’s eyes. The Shepherds that were keeping a watch over their flock were visited by an angel of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The Holy word tells us 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 2:10-14

Can you imagine being one of the Shepherds? How would you process what you had seen and been told? They were frightened yet comforted by the news. After the angel left they responded. They GOT up and they WENT to SEE the baby in the manger. After they saw with their own eyes they continued to GO and spread the good news to all people. I am so grateful for those Shepherds!

I am frightened by what I see in our world. Yesterday’s news in California was similar to the news a few weeks before in Colorado and a few weeks before that in Paris. This world is a scary place, BUT our Lord is COMING! He is coming again and this time He is coming to RESTORE and make things NEW.

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making EVERYTHING NEW!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and TRUE.” Romans 21:3-5

This is why I LOVE CHRISTMAS! It’s the anticipation and hope of the 2nd coming of our Savior that I desire the most. As we wait in eager anticipation we have a call to do something just like the Shepherds. What will we do with what we have seen and heard? We CAN NOT allow fear to stop us. We have to continue to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and be a blessing to those around us. So who will you bless this Christmas? Who needs to hear some good news? Who needs comfort in their mourning that one day their tears will be wiped away? We can bring them the HOPE they need to hear. Let’s get to telling it and be the blessing.

“And at the last, this is what will determine a fulfilling, meaningful life, a life that, behind all the facades, every one of us longs to live: gratitude for the blessings that expresses itself by becoming the blessing. ” Ann Voskamp