We have arrived at the end of Christmas in 25 Minutes. For the last 25 days I have been on a journey through Christmas- its past, its traditions, its sights, and its sounds. And while I feel like a journey is coming to an end, it really is just beginning. The Mindful Minute will return as I bring a weekly look at the problems, struggles, and insights that God lays on my heart. I will also, be starting a new segment of my blog called Life: Minute by Minute. This will be a time where I offer my experiences as a husband, a father, a teacher, a pastor, and a general child of the one true King. I want to take this time to thank all of the people who have taken time out of their day to read these articles. I have to admit, my purpose for writing this blog is to write for an audience of one, our Lord and Savior; but I can’t help but enjoy the fact that people are actually interested in what I have to write about. Thank you for your support. I thank you for sharing my links on Facebook and Twitter, and I thank you for the words of encouragement that you have given me over the past month. I plan to take a couple days off from writing, but I will debut Life: Minute by Minute later this week.
Now, many of your are asking, what does this have to do with Christmas? Well, my final post doesn’t really come from me. It comes from another author. I wanted to end this segment with the Christmas story, and there is no one that tells this story better than the physician that was close friends with Paul…..Luke. Some may say that this is a cop out on my part, that I cheated on the last one- eh that’s ok. As an author, I know my limitations and I certainly know when someone tells a story much better than I can. So, I hope that you have enjoyed your Christmas day with your family and I hope that you have enjoyed being on this journey with me during the Christmas Season. May God richly bless you this upcoming year and Merry Christmas:
The Birth of Jesus Christ
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:1-21 ESV)
In Christ Alone,
Rev. Bro. Coach
RBC 