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46: Christmas Reflection Day 7 - God With Us
169 Plays3 years ago
How many times have you let Christmas come and go without reflecting on what actually happened that first Christmas long ago? It’s a story of wonder AND it's a story that causes us to wonder. Each day of the week before Christmas, these 5 minute daily reflections from Laura Fleetwood will transport you to the time of Jesus’ birth and help you reflect on the miracle that happened in your midst.
God with us. The only gift we need. Scripture: Luke 2: 7-20
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction by Jill Devine
00:00:00
Speaker
The following podcast is a Jill Devine Media production.
Is Christianity Judgmental and Exclusive?
00:00:04
Speaker
Christianity has become known for judgy people, strange words, ancient stories, confusing rules, and a members-only mindset. This is why I stayed away from the church for so long, but it's not supposed to be that way.
Jill Devine's Journey to Podcasting
00:00:17
Speaker
I'm Jill Devine, a former radio personality with three tattoos, a love for a good tequila, and who's never read the entire Bible.
00:00:24
Speaker
Yet here I am hosting a podcast about faith. The
Faith and Real Life: Conversations
00:00:28
Speaker
Normal Goes Along Way podcast is your home for real conversations with real people using real language about how faith and real life intersect. Welcome to the conversation.
The Birth of Jesus: A Biblical Story
00:00:40
Speaker
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
00:00:54
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
00:01:00
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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. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in claws and lying in a manger.
00:01:25
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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Spreading the News: Shepherds Visit Jesus
00:01:38
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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.
00:01:48
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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 shepherd said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.
00:02:09
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for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
What Kind of Peace Did Jesus Bring?
00:02:23
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The secret is out. The angels have come and shared the news with the shepherds. The shepherds have gone to see it with their own eyes and then they have turned around and spread the news to everyone that they knew. Wonder.
00:02:44
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angels, a multitude, a heavenly host of angels appearing in the sky to share the news that God's Son had been born, that peace had come. Now, peace to God's people probably meant something different than what we would come to understand as the peace that Jesus came to actually bring.
00:03:11
Speaker
God's people probably thought that he was coming to bring peace in their lives, rescue from Rome, a nation again where they could gather a place to call their own.
Jesus: Eternal Peace and God's Presence
00:03:30
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But Jesus came to give a different kind of peace. He came to give an eternal peace.
00:03:37
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He came to usher in a different kingdom than the kingdom that we often think we belong to in this world. God's peace is an eternal peace. It's a peace that comes in the midst of chaos. It's a peace that is there even in sadness, even in fear. It's a piece of knowing that God is the creator.
00:04:07
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that God sent a Redeemer, Christ, to be the bridge between us and God so that we no longer have to be separated with God. Jesus is God with us. Just like he was God with Mary and Joseph. Just like he was God with those shepherds who came to see him. Just like he was God with the disciples who he taught and led.
00:04:35
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Just as he was God with the Roman authorities as he was crucified, died, and was buried. And just like he was God with his loved ones when he rose again and showed that he was now alive before he ascended into heaven this whole time, Jesus was with them.
Jesus' Presence: From Birth to Resurrection
00:05:00
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And through his death and resurrection, he is with you.
00:05:05
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today and every day. He is with you in your spirit, in your heart. And it all started that wonderful, humble, beautiful day when Jesus Christ was born. Merry Christmas and be still.