When John saw his vision on the isle of Patmos, he said he was "in the Spirit" on the Lord's day.  I imagine that he was in his normal worship routine.  Then heaven opened and John describes a magnificent setting.  One of the things he noticed were lampstands.  Then he describes who was among the lampstands.
13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
Praise God! 

We may not be familiar with His name, but Asa knew how to pray:

God hears us when we pray!  Praise God! 

Joseph and Mary were in Jerusalem.  Jesus was too.  They were  there to celebrate the festival of Passover like they did every year.  This year, they didn't notice that Jesus stayed behind.  For 3 days they searched for 12 year old Jesus.  Mary's anxiety is evident when she asked her young son:  "“Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
The answer Jesus gave can be found in Luke 2:49. 
I feel certain to say that Joseph and Mary didn't want an experience like that again.  His understanding of it was so profound that it defied logic.  Luke tells us that His parents did not understand.  Sometimes we don't either.  One thing we can know with confidence is that God understands the whole grand picture and sees things we can't know.  He superintends all the circumstances of our life for His glory.  Praise God! 

We have the word of God in so many formats, that access to His revelation is a blessing!  Finding the way you process better will help you stay engaged with His word!   ​

Praise God! 

164 times!  From Genesis to Revelation the words for hope are translated in the word of God.  Here they are!
Ruth 1:12; 1 Kings 20:33; 1 Chr. 29:15; Ezra 10:2; Job 4:6; 5:16; 6:8, 11, 13, 19; 7:6; 8:13; 11:18, 20; 13:15; 14:7, 19; 17:15; 19:10; 27:8; 41:9; Psa. 9:18; 31:24; 33:17, 22; 37:9; 38:15; 39:7; 42:5, 11; 43:5; 52:9; 62:5, 10; 65:5; 69:6; 71:5, 14; 119:43, 49, 74, 81, 95, 114, 116, 147, 166; 130:5, 7; 131:3; 146:5; 147:11; Prov. 10:28; 11:7, 23; 13:12; 19:18; 23:18; 24:14; 26:12; 29:20; Eccl. 9:4; Is. 20:5; 21:4; 38:18; 49:23; 51:5; 59:9, 11; Jer. 14:8, 19, 22; 17:13; 29:11; 31:17; 50:7; Lam. 3:18, 21, 24, 29; Ezek. 19:5; 37:11; Hos. 2:15; 12:6; Zech. 9:5, 12; Matt. 12:21; John 5:45; Acts 2:26; 16:19; 23:6; 24:15; 26:6–7; 27:20; 28:20; Rom. 4:18; 5:2, 4–5; 8:20, 24–25; 12:12; 15:4, 12–13, 24; 1 Cor. 9:10; 13:13; 15:19; 16:7; 2 Cor. 1:7, 10, 13; 3:12; 5:11; 10:15; 13:6; Gal. 5:5; Eph. 1:12, 18; 2:12; 4:4; Phil. 1:20; 2:19, 23; Col. 1:5, 23, 27; 1 Th. 1:3; 2:19; 4:13; 5:8; 2 Th. 2:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 4:10; 5:5; 6:17; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Philem. 1:22; Heb. 3:6; 6:11, 18–19; 7:19; 10:23; 1 Pet. 1:3, 13, 21; 3:5, 15; 1 John 3:3; 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14
Hover your mouse over each reference and see the Scriptures that mention hope! Praise God! 

The noble and wise scholars in Southern Mesopotamia had to conclude that their suspicions were more like evidence.  Num. 24:17     I see him, but not now;
    I perceive him, but not near.
 A star will come from Jacob,
  and a scepter will arise from Israel.
Their conversation with Herod and his scholars indicated they had not known about Bethlehem and needed more information. (Matt 2:7-9) They followed this information and found the child, presenting Him with gifts. This intersection of the temporal and the eternal brought rejoicing (Matt 2:10)  Their searching hearts had brought them to glorious and historic conclusion. (Matt 2:10-11).
They made another conclusion when the Angel of the Lord warned them to not go back to Herod. (Matt 2:12).  The conclusions of the wise brought wonder, amazement, a historical record and a profound protection for the salvific newborn.  Praise God! 

When Luke told Theophilus that he "carefully investigated everything from the beginning", he began a narrative that would be substantiated by eyewitnesses.  His focus on the shepherds is one for the ages.  These shepherds were doing what they had always done. (Luke 1:1-5). They were faithfully watching over their sheep.  That Angel of the Lord conveyed the fearless message:

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
It was good news. It was for all people.  The message was specific.  "This will be a sign for you..."
The whole grand narrative is found in (Luke 2:8-20).  The response of the shepherds would foretell the growth of the church to the Gentiles.  The Gospel was truly for everyone.  Praise God!

Mary was minding her own business.  She was going to draw water from the well as she always had.  Then eternity stepped into time. It's all recorded in Luke chapter 1.  The angel actually gave a friendly greeting in Luke 1:29 when he said "Greetings favored woman!  The Lord is with you!"  As she wondered about it, the fearless message came:

 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
To this grand message came a question that would anchor our theology of Christ's nature. Mary's question is found in Luke 1:33.  The angel's specific answer in Luke 1:34 shows that there was no surprise on the eternal scope, but that God had orchestrated everything for our redemption.  The fearless message is found in Luke 1:31-33.  He will be named Jesus.  He will reign on the throne of David forever.  His kingdom will never end.  Praise God! 

Joseph was privileged to be the husband of Mary and the earthly influential father of Jesus. God came to share a message with him through Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord.  The message was clear.  Do not be afraid.  This was a supernatural statement.  Joseph had many reasons to be afraid.  There was the social stigma of Mary's pregnancy before their wedding.  The oppression of the Romans was universal and widespread.  The difference was God was with the young newly minted father. Following the command to fear not, the angel told him exactly what to do. 
Matt. 1:20        But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
It's the oddest and most magnificent thing. Joseph would name him Jesus.  The name meant "he will save His people from their sins".  Praise God! 

When God showed up near Zechariah, it startled him.  The Angel of the Lord said to "fear not".  The message was good news.  "Your prayers have been heard and your wife Elisabeth will bear a son." (Luke 1:13) There are times when God speaks and we have already concluded He failed.  The issue has moved from hard to impossible.  This is the case with Zechariah.  God had intervened in a special way.  He shows up with good news.  The solution is certain. Zechariah's attitude concluded otherwise.  This passage fascinates me because the answer was guaranteed.  It would happen.  Zechariah's response caused drama.  The angel declared that he wouldn't speak for 9 mos.  He didn't speak for 9 months. The answer came. John the Baptist was born and Zechariah learned the hard lesson that God can do the impossible.  Praise God! 

rZachariah, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds have one phrase in common.  It came from the Angel of the Lord, also known as Gabriel.  The phrase is Fear Not. It carries the assurance of confidence and peace.  Change is coming, but God will help them.  
Matt. 1:20        But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John
Luke 1:30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
​Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Praise God! 

Luke gave a gift to the church in his careful investigation of everything from the beginning. (Luke 1:1-5).  Christmas is the result of that critical research and thought under the inspiration of the Spirit. 

Joseph is mentioned at crucial moments in the life of Jesus.  He was the reason they had to go to Bethlehem, (and that fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2).  He is described by Matthew as a "righteous man" (Matt 1:19).  God met Joseph in a dream to help him process the miraculous pregnancy of Mary.(Matt 1:20),  I love what happens next and the way that Matthew describes it:

Matt. 1:24        When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her.

Joseph understood from the Lord the necessity of a trip to Egypt under the threat of Herod. (Matt 2:13).  He and Mary took Jesus to the temple to fulfill the law and received guidance through prophecy. (Luke 2:27).  We may never know who was responsible for losing Jesus for 72 hours, but Joseph was with Mary when they found him discussing the word of God with the teachers of the law. (Luke 2:41-50).  Later in life, he is identified by reputation in John 6:42. I'm impressed as I reflect on Joseph that God works with us through our trials, , challenges, and all the phases of life. Praise God!

Isaiah says so much about Jesus.  There are some often used passages.  There is the grand one about the virgin birth.  (Isaiah 7:14) There is the one about the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:4-6).   Then there is the often quoted few verses from Isaiah 9:2-7.  His "Name is Wonderful" comes from that passage.  It's included in the Hallelujah chorus. It's absolutely grand and glorious.  There is, however two verses that make the rest of the passage pop.  The last 2.  Consider the amazing promises in this text. 
The dominion will be vast,
    and its prosperity will never end.
    He will reign on the throne of David
    and over his kingdom,
    to establish and sustain it
    with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
    The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.
Praise God! 

Cecil Alexander's hymn is powerful in it's poetic lines and great theology.  Thanks to hymnary, here are the lyrics:
1 Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.
2 He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor and mean and lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.
3 And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love,
for that child, so dear and gentle,
is our Lord in heav'n above,
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.
4 Not in that poor, lowly stable
with the oxen standing by
we shall see him, but in heaven,
set at God's right hand on high.
Then like stars his children crowned,
all in white, his praise will sound.
Praise God! 
Cecil Alexander, 1881-1895 (author); Henry Gauntlett, composer; Arthur Mann, Arranger
Source, www.hymnary,org; Christian Worship hymnal.