A Night of Praises!

If you live in an area within +8 GMT (Taiwan, HongKong, Manila, etc), it will only be at least 12.5 hours more to go before Christmas Eve. It is in our culture (Filipinos) that when Christmas Eve comes, many preparations have to be made especially today (24). One has to contact several relatives to get together for "Noche Buena", a feast celebrated during Christmas Eve or people rush to the mall to avail products on sale for last-minute gift givings. You can hear your neighbor's component set fully blast in full volume playing Christmas songs. I remember when I was little when I still lived in the suburbs, the whole neighborhood got together in front of the street, the men set up tables and chairs, each family brought food to the table, pot luck style and there'll be music, dancing, singing. You can feel the warmness of the fellowship as everyone greeted each other good tidings.

I'm wondering how the first Christmas was celebrated, it is said the Bible that angel choirs sing, wise men homage bring and shepherds came to the humble stable where the humble King lay fast asleep. Luke 2:8-16 (NIV) gives us this account:

The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The night Jesus was born is a night of praise, the angels bring "good news" to all men.


When Christmas Eve comes, I would like to find myself prasing God for sending Jesus. I would worship and sing in His presence for because of Him, I am set free and saved from sin. I would let myself be lost in His presence and cherish every moment of Him. I would make tonight a night of praise for Jesus. Just like the song above says: "Here I am worship, here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You are God... and I never know how much it costs to see my sin upon the cross.". Thanks to you Lord Jesus. You certainly ROCK!