ONLINE MAGAZINE

Epiphany

Author: Betsy Nelson

Epiphany is my favorite day in the church year.  It is the 12th day of Christmas – the one of the 12 drummers drumming.  It celebrates the day that the Magi arrived in Bethlehem and saw Jesus, Emmanuel, God-With-Us.

The birth of Jesus was unremarkable. It happened to two weary travelers, swept up in the hubbub of a random government mess.  There was a census.   Everybody had to go to their birth-towns to be registered, without any consideration of ability or inconvenience.  Here were these two ordinary people, doing what they had to do.  There was no place to stay for them, even though the woman was very noticeably pregnant.  Nobody took mercy on them.  They weren’t special.  They weren’t anybody to look twice at.

The child was born without any midwives or even friends around.  The story could have ended here, with this tiny new family just doing their duty in a strange town, strangers themselves.

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ONLINE MAGAZINE, WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

The Savior is Born!

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. Luke 2:4-21

ONLINE MAGAZINE

Are You Ready?

Author: Betsy Nelson

People are asking me one question right now. It is the same question they always ask this time of year. “Are you ready for Christmas?”

Are we ever?

Really?

Even if you’ve cleaned your house well, even if you’ve bought every relative and friend a present (or two), you might still not be ready.

…and that is just fine.

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ONLINE MAGAZINE

Be Someone’s Blessing Today!

How great is it that our random acts of kindness and good deeds can make someone else’s entire day?

Here are 5 random acts of kindness and good deeds that can help you carry out kindness daily and become an everyday hero.

1. Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.

2. Speaking of flowers — Why not take flowers to the nursing station at a hospital — for the nurses.

3. Say “thank you” to someone who made a difference. . . .Send a card to people who dedicate their lives to helping us – soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and teachers to name a few.

4. Donate your stuff. Instead of saving things in case you need them in 10 years, consider giving stuff to someone who needs it now.

5. Sometimes we shy away from people when we know they’re having a rough time. We assume we should wait for them to approach us, so we’re not intruding. Instead, ask them how they’re doing. If they don’t want to talk, they’ll say they’re “fine.” Many people will be relieved to have someone to talk to. If you don’t ask, they might never mention anything to you. They might not want to burden you with their problems.