Merry Christmas to all!  I realize it has been a long time since I posted.  Life has certainly had its ups and downs for us this year.  First we traveled to Australia in the spring.  Then we had to catch an emergency flight home because my mom-in-law suffered a severe stroke.  Three months later, we were at her graveside.  Two weeks later, David had rotator cuff surgery.  He is still in his sling until mid-January.

Please understand, I am not disappointed in the year. In many respects it has, in fact, been a whirlwind adventure.  My mom-in-law was 97.  I know she is no longer suffering and is in Heaven with Jesus, her beloved husband, and two of her children.  David’s surgery appears to be a tremendous success.  On top of all of this, I was able to have close encounters with some of God’s amazing animals, including wombats, kangaroos, platypus, Tasmanian devils, and wekas.

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who made all things great and small (John 1:1-4).  Jesus came as Immanuel (God with us) and pitched His tent among us (John 1:14).  (I also dare to wonder if His camping here on earth felt anything to Him like it did for us camping across Australia!)

Let’s go back for a moment and put ourselves in the shoes of shepherds (Luke 2:8-15) on that dark and starlit night:

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

I have often stood beneath the stars, wondering how those shepherds must have felt that night so long ago.  I invite you to join me this night, lifting our small voices to join those heavenly armies in praise once again, as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.