Angels & Baby!

 For Thursday, January 8, 2026:

Luke 2:8 NLT: “The night of Jesus’ birth, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.”

These are the luckiest shepherds ever! God sent his messenger angel to them with the Good News of Jesus’ birth. It can get quite dark in the countryside away from the city, but – not to be missed – the angel shone with the radiance of God’s Glory! The shepherds were terrified!

But the Angel told them to not be afraid. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Swaddled, wrapped up tightly in a package improvised from a small blanket. Baby warm, safe and secure!

Turns out that one angel wasn’t enough to herald this colossal event. A host of others showed up, all praising the Lord and declaring Peace on Earth! The angel armies had gathered to share the Good News! And having seen and heard this show of heaven’s strength, the shepherds had to check it out for themselves. “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

In the city, they found Mary, Joseph and the baby in a manger, just as they had been told. Before returning to their flocks, the shepherds told everyone about the angels and that everything was just as the angel said it would be. The angel told them that this was the promised Messiah, and there he is, lying in a manger! Praise God!

This baby was the Redeemer for all time, for those present and for believers 2,000 years later. This baby is our friend, the author of forgiveness. Jesus made it possible for forgiven believers to see heaven from the inside!

Thank you, Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Arrival!

December 23, 2024 Monday Message:

Luke 2:7 NKJV: “Mary brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Birthing a baby is no easy task, especially in a stable! There’s no mention of a midwife or doula assisting the young couple. God’s Son came to earth without pomp and circumstance, a rather mundane event, especially if you consider its colossal significance in mankind’s future!

Do you know how to swaddle a baby? First you lay the baby on a pointy-side-up blanket with that top corner folded down just a little, and then pull a side corner over baby’s body, tucking it tightly under baby. Raise the bottom corner and tuck it in as best you can. Then, wrap the remaining corner of the blanket around everything. Success is when baby and blanket are as one, a warm, secure package. Mary and Joseph must have known that the birth was imminent, since they had packed swaddling clothes for the trip!

Since they had no crib or bassinet, a feed trough or manger would have to do. Baby was safe in there and couldn’t roll out, although newborns don’t tend to roll much!

Now Jesus was in the world. That changes everything!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship