Delayed, Belated, and Sincere Christmas Greetings!

And I might as well add Happy New Year, since I probably won't post again before then! My poor, neglected blog. Baby #5 has me moving very slowly, especially in the evenings; then there's been our Christmas celebrating, which was rather minimal, but still special, this year; lastly, there's our trip to Far Far Away to have Christmas with our families, which is where we are now. Anyway, I hope you had a happy, joyful Advent and Christmas season!

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And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

(Merry Christmas from me, at 5 years old - 1980! Love the fat cheeks!)

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 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. Luke 2:8-11

(Tried to take several pretty ornament photos...only this one was decent)

 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalm 23:1

(CA is never still, even during Christmas morning Advent reading)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

(CA had the coveted privilege of putting the baby Jesus figure onto the Advent calendar)

In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12

(Thinking back on Christmas day, one of my favorite memories is the girls' reactions to the presents they gave each other. EG left, receiving MK's gift to her)

 (Quite a reaction, isn't it, the loving tackle!?)

(LC was clearly pleased with the Littlest Pet Shop creature EG gave her. EG worked hard around the house for weeks to earn money to buy gifts for her sisters. They all worked, but EG really worked!)

(Priceless! MK, thrilled at her new hairbows. She loves to accessorize!)

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I am grateful to the Lord for His gift of Christ to us at Christmastime, that He has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus. But I've had a hard time deciding what to write for and about Christmas. I prayed about it, and this is what He gave me:

Certain words are in bold print in the scriptures above. This is because of a common thread I never really took note of in the past. While listening to our Christian radio station, one of the hosts pointed out the fact that Jesus, our Shepherd, and also our Lamb, was born in a barn (where lambs may have lived). He was visited by shepherds. It's a very simple thing, this connection: Shepherd-Lamb, born in a barn, welcomed to the world first of all by keepers of sheep. It's a profound thing - this combining of roles, the humility of His Advent, the reality of a Shepherd God who sends His Lamb Son to draw His sheep to Himself and make them holy, and the Lamb, born into a people who sacrificed lambs in obedience to God in order to symbolize the forgiveness of their sins. What did John say when he saw Christ approaching? "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" And then, the best of all, the end, when the saints and angels will all cry out together "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!" He came lowly and gave up His glory so we might be made right with God, but when He comes again, He will be the conquering and glorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Amen!