Greetings dear readers! Yes, our tree has been in storage since January first, 2016. I asked if we could put up some lights outdoors and while John was looking for lights in the garage, he found the tree in the way. He brought it in and told me to put it up one last time before we get rid of it and find a smaller one. It’s such a bright, comforting, joyous addition to our living room! You may have noticed I have a bunch of angels at the top of the tree and I’d like to share them with you. John just saw what I’m doing and asked if I’m also telling about his little blogging angel!

• This angel topper is holding two candles and lit up like God’s glory. This reminds me of the one that may have been above Jesus’ manger.

• John’s sister Barb made this one several years ago. I think it’s made out of a doily.

• The one with the red bow is another one crafted at home; on the upper right is a finger puppet crafted by Elaine at the Historical Society. The small one in the middle says, “I heart Grandma”. The star surrounds Bethlehem; I like that it commemorates the Star that led the Magi to the Christ child and the town where He was born.

• Next we have two on the bottom that say Heidi and John; the love bird angels. My cousin Mary T. created the cross stitch one

• This angle in red with the guitar brings back memories from when my children were quite young.

• The tin angel is another family heirloom I loathe getting rid of; it has a lot of quietly fond memories attached.

• This needle point gem has a clothes pin base. I love the little blue birds on the dress and the lace trim.

• Lastly, I share the one I picked up at the Dollar General store yesterday. I like the lacy dress and flowing golden braids and the sweet face.

Now, I know our depictions of angels are not quite accurate, according to those who have actually seen angels, or what the Bible says. The Apostle Paul warned believers not to worship angels; angels in Revelation told John not to bow to them. Jesus told us we will be like the angels in heaven; neither marrying nor given in marriage. God made angels as a separate creation from human beings. I also want to note; we do not sit around on clouds and you can have wings, but you don’t automatically get wings when you reach heaven. Dr. Kevin Zadai relates seeing angels over seven feet tall. None of the reports I’ve heard from others with revelation from heaven were female in looks. But as Jesus said; don’t forget to welcome strangers, you may entertain angels in disguise! Which means some of them may take on female guise when necessary. According to the online dictionary, the title angel actually means messenger:

“A spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe.”God sent an angel to talk to Gideon” ·”

Kris Vallotton said one night when he was battling spiritual oppression, a huge angle that looked angry, dressed in a wrestling suit came into his room; when he talked to Bob Jones, Bob told him, “That’s Michael; he’s always angry!” Michael is head of the warrior angels. This reminds me of Kat Kerr talking about the angle hosts; they’re warrior angels who are fierce!

Luke 2:12 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Somehow, we are conditioned to think this was just a nice little feminine angel choir. Well, it was a MULTITUDE! Just remember; the one-third of fallen angels that followed Lucifer were the worshiper angels he led. That wouldn’t leave many -if any- worshiping angels to sing at Christ’s birth. The hosts are actually warrior angels dressed for battle! No wonder the first angel had to tell the shepherds not to be afraid!

Luke 2:9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid…“

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly swinging o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo https://genius.com/Christmas-songs-angels-we-have-heard-on-high-lyrics

As the website says, “Long ago in the hills of southern France, shepherds had a Christmas Eve custom of calling to one another, singing “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” each from their own hillside.”

I’m hoping this brief foray into angels adds to your celebration of the ages; Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem, the Lamb of God born in the city of David; the House of Bread. The light of God shone upon the earth at just the right time! May His advent on earth bring you joy. Now for those wondering what I’m reading:

Amish Christmas Miracles Collection is the best book I’ve read this month. Fourteen different Amish romance authors contributed their best Christmas stories to this anthology. I enjoyed each story as they portray different Amish communities and fourteen different heart-wrenching/heart-warming tales. As we enter the last week of this Christmas season, I pray you find new meaning in the word Emmanuel-God with us- which has been my word for the year 2020. Also praying you experience the fullness of Shalom, only found in the riches we have in Christ Jesus! Hallelujah!