11.16- All people need hope.

 11.16-

All people need hope. When there is no hope there is depression and a lack of fuel for thriving. Wise men have written that human beings were created and designed with something in their hearts that us unique to them. Hope for eternity. Life beyond this life.

One dark night there were some shepherds, some of the most humble and common of workers who were watching over their sheep and the most dramatic birth announcement ever given on earth came to them.

They were told to not be afraid at the amazing angels who came to announce the arrival of a baby that would change the direction and history of the world.

His path was one of humility. Born and layed in a manger. This would be sign of God coming into the world for all people. Not just the rich, but also the poor. Not just the powerful and wise, but also for the lowly and powerless.

If you live in a house built of random boards or of cardboard. If you house has expensive tile roof or a blue tarp you house is not forgotten by God. He sent the Son of Man into a very dirty, messy environment. The love of God is for all.

He grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man and showed a path of growth for all humans. He became independant and caused his mother some frustration, but make all moms and their sons know that there is nothing wrong with a boy becoming a man.

A man must be a man. There are two questions a man must answer. (1)Where am I going and (2) who is going with me. I don't think the writer Sam Keen was the first to realize that to get these question in proper priority gives order, but to get them reversed gives chaos. This young man knew where he came from and where he was going and has helped billions of others find their way..

This night all learned that God is not against us but for us. What a night.

Luke 2.

2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was [d]betrothed to him, and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the [e]time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [f]manger, because there was no [g]room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [h]Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [i]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly [j]army of angels praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among people [k]with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [l]manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.