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As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 
"Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 
And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:20-21 NLT
More angels, but this time not a terrifying "in person" visit, but in a dream. 
Lesson: God connects with people in different ways. 
The first thing the angel does is remind Joseph of who he is, the ancestors who he belongs to. 
Lesson: our whakapapa matters.
The angel seems to know Joseph's plan to break up with Mary. What's implied but not said is that Joseph is needed, he's got an important part to play in Mary's life and Jesus' life, and the angel is asking him to change direction, not to walk away as his culture might allow and even expect him to do. 
Lesson: sometimes our family is formed in ways we might not expect or even choose. 
Embrace it. 
Love the people God has put in your orbit, connected you with, even if (or perhaps especially if) your "culture" doesn't get it, it might be easier or make more "sense" to walk away. 
Love people anyway. 
#christmas2023
#youmatterinGodsBigStory

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