A Cheery Countenance

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.”
Proverbs 15:13(NKJV)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

My husband’s father, David Michael, and his uncle, Graham Michael, were athletes at Brown University. They played two sports - soccer and wrestling. Graham ‘50 and David ‘51 have both been inducted into Brown’s Athletic Hall of Fame. And while at Brown, they were friends with the now legendary football coach, Joe Paterno of Penn State who was also a student and fellow athlete at Brown.

Many years later, one of Graham’s sons in law, John, needed to travel to Penn State for an education conference since he was a teacher in Pennsylvania. He thought it would be nice to bring his family along and show them Penn State while he was there. One of his older sons called Penn State’s Athletic Department, introducing himself as the grandson of Graham Michael - a college friend of Coach Paterno, and asked if he and his family could meet Coach Paterno while they were there. Permission was granted but the coach did more than just meet them.

Much to their surprise, the family was given a private tour of the facility, including the coach’s office, trophy area, and weight room. In addition, they were also introduced to some of the players. At the end of the tour, Coach Paterno asked the family, “Do any of you have any questions?” To this, the youngest child, four year old David, responded in all sincerity, “Yes, I have a question…Why do you have so much trouble beating Notre Dame?”

The gracious coach responded, “We are working on that.” …And Coach Paterno knew the little boy’s granddaddy.(Graham was always a character) So I suppose the coach just laughed at how much the little guy was like his grandfather.

The Two Edged Sword

The Christmas Story from the Old Testament and the New Testament

Baby Jesus
Old Testament: “For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

New Testament: “…while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 (KJV)

Joseph
Old Testament:“Behold the days are coming declares the Lord when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch and He will reign as King…’” Jeremiah 23:5(NASB)

New Testament: “And 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 linage of David.” Luke 2:4 (NASB)

Mary
Old Testament: “…behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

New Testament: “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin…and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:26-28 (NASB )

Bethlehem
Old Testament: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.” Micah 5:2 (NASB)

New Testament: “And 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 linage of David.” Luke 2:4 (NASB)

Star of Bethlehem
Old Testament: “…a star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel.” Numbers 24:17 (NASB)

New Testament: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2 (NASB)

Wisemen
Old Testament: “The wealth of the nations will come to you. A multitude of camels...of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord.” Isaiah 60: 5b-6 (NASB)

New Testament: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him. And they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1- 2, 11 (NASB)

But what about the shepherds and the angels? Are they prophesied in the Old Testament? Well, if they are, I was not able to find the verses. However, I did find an abundance of references to shepherds in general in both the Old Testament and New. Shepherds played such an important role in God’s plan for the ages, it is no wonder He told the good news to them first!

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” Psalms 23: 1 (KJV)
(Jesus speaking) “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” John 10:11 (NASB)

And the angels, well…they filled the air above the shepherds causing the heavens to “tell of the glory of God…(and)…declare His handiwork.” Psalms 19:1 (NASB)