Merry Christmas!

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

I can remember just a handful of times in my life when I was awestruck by something or someone:

• In worship settings when the love of GOD is evident.
• When I saw my wife walking down the aisle at our wedding (I will admit, there were a few tears).
• When I held my children for the first time.
• A few times when I have noticed the vastness of the ocean or the beauty of the mountains.
• Thinking back about where All Things New started and where GOD has taken us.

It is that feeling that you are weak or insignificant compared to whatever it is staring back at you and all you can do is feel terrified and thankful at the same time that you were allowed to get a glimpse of whatever it is that you are a part of.  For the rest of today and the rest of my life, this fact should strike me with awe and wonder:

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, GOD in the flesh, our Savior came here…to die on the Cross.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

 –Isaiah 53:5-6