Christmas story

December 8, 2016 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Creating a Christmas Story for Your Family {by Amy Parker}

I just—today—turned in a manuscript for a new Christmas book! And I’m going to have to wait a whole year before I get to hold it in my hands. But you don’t have to be a professional author to create a Christmas story for your family—and you certainly don’t have to take a whole year to make it happen!

One year, we were at an extended family Christmas when the room grew quiet, and all eyes landed on my sister-in-law. She began to read from a tattered, Christmas-paper wrapped cover with a cotton-ball Santa on the front. The sweet story told of a family who was having a hard time one Christmas. And when she finished reading, she revealed that it was a story my husband had written decades ago in school. That book is now displayed in our house every Christmas so that our sons can read their dad’s childhood Christmas story.

So if you’re looking for a priceless Christmas gift that will be treasured for generations, here are a few tips—from one author to another—to create your own Christmas story for your family.

Tips for creating your own Christmas story for your family via @amyparker on @triciagoyer’s blog

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Use your gifts.

What kind of story would be most valued by your family? What type of storytelling would put your natural gifts into action? Maybe it’s a fictional tale that reminds us of the true spirit of Christmas. Perhaps it’s the story of the Nativity with your own illustrations. Maybe it’s an ancestral story of your family’s first Christmas in the United States. Or maybe it’s a family recipe with the story behind it. (You’ll get super-extra-bonus points if the story is served with a side of Grandma’s Carrot Cake!) We are all gifted storytellers—we just use different gifts to tell our stories. Find yours.

Do your research.

Call Grandma and ask for her side of the story. Re-read Luke 2 for any details you may have missed. Search for photos or illustrations from the time period in which your story takes place. You’ll find all kinds of details that you can use to build into your story and bring it to life.

Use your senses.

Be sure to add sensory detail by thinking about how something would feel, taste, smell, sound, and look (of course). “A sweet, cinnamon-y scent wafted down the hallway,” or “an icy, feathery snowflake cooled the tip of my tongue.” Those kinds of details will help bring your readers into the story by letting them experience the moment for themselves.

Construct it with care.

Even though I’m usually only writing the words, I love the creativity of crafting an entire storybook. When making a book of recipes for my husband one year, I laminated the cover (printed cardstock) and sewed the pages down the middle (embroidery floss will do) for a sturdy binding. Chances are you have everything you need around the house to craft and bind your own beautiful storybook.

Share it with love.

For me, the most valuable part of a good story is the family I share it with. So, don’t let them rip the wrapping and run. Settle in and snuggle in. Relish the story together. And let the sharing of this story be the beginning of a new one together.

Whatever your story looks like this Christmas, I pray that it is one filled with love and memories that will forever tell the story of your own special family.

Happy Christmas to you all.

{About Amy Parker}

Amy has written and co-written more than thirty books for children, teens, and adults, with over a million copies sold. She has collaborated with authors ranging from New York Times bestsellers to her very own son. Two of these collaborations—Firebird and Courageous Teens—are recipients of Christian Retailing’s Best Awards. But Amy’s greatest reward is being a wife to Daniel and a mom to their amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.

Visit Amy at her website, Facebook, and Twitter to learn more.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

December 22, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 7 Comments

Simple Christmas Memory-Making {+Christmas Story Printable!}

We love Simple Christmas Memory-Making ideas. And since Christmas for the Goyers means large family gatherings, my husband, John, came up with this simple and interactive idea to help the kids truly integrate the Christmas story into their hearts and minds. It was so fun that we’ve continued the activity and made it a yearly tradition. The kids love it and look forward to it every year!

Simple Christmas Memory-Making

Christmas for the Goyers means large family gatherings. My husband, John, came up with this simple and interactive idea.

Below is the Scripture passage of the birth of Jesus. Notice some of the words are bolded. Each of the bolded words have a “sound effect” that goes with them.

Instructions:

Print the story and the sound effects on slips of paper and have family members draw them from a jar. Then as the Bible story is read, everyone must pay attention and say their sound effect at the right time.

When a bolded word in the story is spoken, the reader must pause to allow the participant assigned the word to call out their part. For instance, when the word Jesus is read, pause to allow the assigned participant to call out, “God Saves.”

This allows readers and listeners to participate in the Christmas story. Feel free to change the call-out phrase to fit the audience of participants.

It’s a fun way to share the Bible Story and get family members of all ages involved!

Simple Christmas Memory-Making

Here’s the Key to

Key

Gabriel = Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Joseph = a righteous man & daddy
Mary = blessed among women
Jesus = God saves
Birth = ouchie ouchie
Immanuel = God is with us
Baby = wwaahhh!
Census = More Taxes
Bethlehem = Town of David
David = Heart after God
Manger = Chomp Chomp Chomp
Shepherds = baaa baaa
Herod = I am evil (in an evil voice)
Wise men = hmmmm (stroking chin)

Simple Christmas Memory-Making

The Story: The Birth Of Jesus

(from The Message)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”

Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But Gabriel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Mary said to Gabriel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

Gabriel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “ Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. “

Then Gabriel left her.

Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, displeased but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

While Joseph was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. Gabriel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and give birth to a son; they will name him Immanuel.

Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what Gabriel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.

This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, Gabriel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. The shepherds were terrified. Gabriel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David‘s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once Gabriel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what Gabriel had said about this baby. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem—this was during Herod‘s kingship—a band of wise men arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religious scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this baby. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

Instructed by Herod, the wise men set off.

Then the star appeared again, the same star the wise men had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the baby. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

The wise men entered the house and saw the baby in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then the wise men opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, the wise men were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

After the wise men were gone, Gabriel showed up again in Joseph‘s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the baby and his mother Mary and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this baby, and wants to kill him.”

Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the baby and his mother Mary under cover of darkness.

They were out of Bethlehem and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod‘s death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: “I called my son out of Egypt.”

Share the #Christmas story and get your #family involved! @TriciaGoyer

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Download the story and sound effect key here and read the Christmas story as a family!

December 21, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Unwrapping the Gift | The Angels

Unwrapping the Gift – The Angels

In our household, Christmas doesn’t seem like Christmas until the tree is set up and the angel graces the top. Dressed in a white dress with feathery wings, our ceramic angel looks a bit like Elsa from Frozen. She’s a total sissy if you ask me.

During the Christmas season it may be easy to forget about how awesome angels were when we’re surrounded by chubby cherubs or Elsa look-alikes, but, Moms, we’d be doing our sons a disservice if we didn’t reveal angels according to the true Biblical account. We have a lot we can teach our boys about this. The real angels were very cool dudes who ushered in the answer for the greatest mystery of the universe.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.” Luke 2:8-9 (ESV).

Church Christmas pageants aren’t complete without adorable children dressed in angel costumes declaring, “Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth and good will to men.” The angels sent by God, however made the shepherds very afraid. These were no princesses in pretty dresses–they displayed the power and glory of their Creator.

Message Delivered

When the shepherds headed to the hills with the sheep that night, they didn’t expect to meet eternal messengers. Angels in the Bible are exactly that: messengers. They take the words of God and deliver them to men. Their words are not their own. They only speak what God tells them.

These messengers were eternal beings. They were created by God and were witnesses to the earthly struggles. Angelic messengers were sent many times in history, but never with good news such as this:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger,” (ESV).

That was their message: God was coming to earth as a man. The immortal was becoming mortal. An unbelievable message indeed!

The Mortal Discovered

Can you picture the angel’s whispered awe when they witnessed the babe in the manger, “He has his Father’s eyes.” Jesus was everything they knew God to be, and something completely new too: flesh.

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,” says Colossians 1:19 (NLT). Christ in His human nature was the visible essence of the invisible God. The very angels who worshipped God on His throne witnessed God cloaking himself in flesh by becoming a frail babe.

God-come-to-earth became alive as a man. As everyone knows, what lives can also die. God, who was eternal became mortal. But why? What would make God lower himself in such a way? The clue was in the words they proclaimed.

Mystery Solved

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14 (ESV)

The reason for the birth was peace on earth. Not the peace like men and women have prayed for—begged for. Even 2,000 years after Jesus’ birth there are still fights and wars and battles between (and within) men.

Instead, because God chose to live as a mortal, and die as one too, sin and death were overcome.

The mystery was that the angel’s praises weren’t just for that night, but for all time … and for all people. Angels were sent to deliver the best news ever: God made into mortal man made a way for all men—not just Jews during that generation—to become children of the one and only God.

Read the rest of the post and find out who the mystery is for over at themobsociety.com!

The angel’s praises weren’t just for that night, but for all time & people @TriciaGoyer

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December 3, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 112 Comments

Simplifying Christmas | Simple Family Memory Making (Plus a Giveaway!)

Do you break out in hives just thinking about the craziness and chaos that comes with Christmas? It doesn’t have to be that way. Inspirational authors Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin, and Tricia Goyer share about Christmas’ past in their new novella collection Where Treetops Glisten. Their three stories “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” will take you back to war-time 1942, 1943, and 1944. The authors have also teamed up to give tips on simplifying Christmas this year! Join us December 1-6 on Not Quite Amish Living for the Simplifying Christmas series.

Simple Family Memory Making

by Tricia Goyer

Christmas for the Goyers mean large family gatherings. My husband, John, came up with this simple and interactive idea.
Below is the Scripture passage of the birth of Jesus. Notice some of the words are bolded. Each of the bolded words have a “sound effect” that go with them.

Instructions:

Print out the story and the sound effects on slips of paper and have family members draw them from a jar. Then as the Bible story is read, everyone must pay attention and say their sound effect at the right time.

When a bolded word in the story is spoken, reader must pause to allow the participant assigned the word to call out their part. For instance, when the word Jesus is read, pause to allow the assigned participant to call out, “God Saves.”

This allows for reader and listeners to participate in the Christmas story. Feel free to change the call out phrase to fit the audience of participants.

It’s a fun way to share the Bible Story and get family members of all ages involved!

Key

Gabriel = Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Joseph = a righteous man & daddy
Mary = blessed among women
Jesus = God saves
Birth = ouchie ouchie
Immanuel = God is with us
Baby = wwaahhh!
Census = More Taxes
Bethlehem = Town of David
David = Heart after God
Manger = Chomp Chomp Chomp
Shepherds = baaa baaa
Herod = I am evil (in an evil voice)
Wise men = hmmmm (stroking chin)

Stop by NotQuiteAmishLiving.com to read the story and download the printable!

Where Treetops Glisten Gift Basket Giveaway!

My publisher has created three wonderful gift baskets. To enter to win this basket, please use the Rafflecopter form below. Also find the additional giveaways (and read more great tips to simplify Christmas!) on Sarah Sundin’s blog and Cara Putman’s blog!

Each basket contains:

Copy of Where Treetops Glisten
Christmas DVD – Holiday Inn Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire
Christmas CD (includes all the book title songs) – “A Jolly Christmas” Frank Sinatra
Apron made from vintage pattern
Recipe cards from each character

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share the #Christmas story and get your #family involved! @TriciaGoyer

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December 20, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 29 Comments

A Fun Christmas Tradition | 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 8

Christmas for the Goyers mean large family gatherings. My husband, John, came up with this fun and interactive idea.

Below is the Scripture passage of the birth of Jesus. Notice some of the words are underlined. Each of the underlined words have a “sound effect” that go with them.

Instructions:

When an underlined word in the story is spoken, reader must pause to allow the participant assigned the word to call out their part. For instance, when the word Jesus is read, pause to allow the assigned participant to call out, “God Saves.”

This allows for reader and listeners the ability to participate in the Christmas story. Feel free to change the call out phrase to fit the audience of participants.

Share the #Christmas story and get your #family involved! @TriciaGoyer

Click To Tweet

It’s a fun way to share the Bible Story and get family members of all ages involved!

Gabriel = Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Joseph = a righteous man & daddy
Mary = blessed among women
Jesus = God saves
Birth = ouchie ouchie
Immanuel = God is with us
Baby = wwaahhh!
Census = More Taxes
Bethlehem = Town of David
David = Heart after God
Manger = Chomp Chomp Chomp
Shepherds = baaa baaa
Herod = I am evil (in an evil voice)
Wise men = hmmmm (stroking chin)

The Birth Of Jesus

Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But Gabriel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

Mary said to Gabriel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

Gabriel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “ Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. “

Then Gabriel left her.

Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, displeased but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

While Joseph was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. Gabriel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and give birth to a son; they will name him Immanuel.

Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what Gabriel commanded in the dream: He marriedMary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the babyJesus.

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

How do you get your #family involved in #Christmas fun? @TriciaGoyer

Click To Tweet

At once Gabriel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over toBethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what Gabriel had said about this baby. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem—this was during Herod‘s kingship—a band of wise men arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you,Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this baby. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

Instructed by Herod, the wise men set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star the wise men had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the baby. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

The wise men entered the house and saw the baby in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then the wise men opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, the wise men were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

After the wise men were gone, Gabriel showed up again in Joseph‘s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the baby and his mother Mary and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this baby, and wants to kill him.”

Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the baby and his mother Mary under cover of darkness.

They were out of Bethlehem and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod‘s death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: “I called my son out of Egypt.”

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 8

I’m celebrating Christmas with my favorite blog readers by giving away a different book pack each day! Today’s book pack is the Fiction Pack, which includes: Sweet September, Songbird Under a German Moon, and Love Finds You in Glacier Bay. Winners will be announced on my blog on Christmas day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 20, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 29 Comments

A Fun Christmas Tradition | 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 8

Christmas for the Goyers mean large family gatherings. My husband, John, came up with this fun and interactive idea.
Below is the Scripture passage of the birth of Jesus. Notice some of the words are underlined. Each of the underlined words have a “sound effect” that go with them.

Instructions:

Write out the words and the sound effects on slips of paper and have family members draw them from a jar. Then as the Bible story is read everyone must pay attention and say their sound effect at the right time.
When an underlined word in the story is spoken, reader must pause to allow the participant assigned the word to call out their part. For instance, when the word Jesus is read, pause to allow the assigned participant to call out, “God Saves.”
This allows for reader and listeners the ability to participate in the Christmas story. Feel free to change the call out phrase to fit the audience of participants.

Share the #Christmas story and get your #family involved! @TriciaGoyer

Click To Tweet

It’s a fun way to share the Bible Story and get family members of all ages involved!
Gabriel = Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Joseph = a righteous man & daddy
Mary = blessed among women
Jesus = God saves
Birth = ouchie ouchie
Immanuel = God is with us
Baby = wwaahhh!
Census = More Taxes
Bethlehem = Town of David
David = Heart after God
Manger = Chomp Chomp Chomp
Shepherds = baaa baaa
Herod = I am evil (in an evil voice)
Wise men = hmmmm (stroking chin)

The Birth Of Jesus

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name wasJoseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.”
Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But Gabriel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom.”
Mary said to Gabriel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
Gabriel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”
And Mary said, “ Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. “
Then Gabriel left her.
Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, displeased but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
While Joseph was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. Gabriel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and give birth to a son; they will name him Immanuel.
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what Gabriel commanded in the dream: He marriedMary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the babyJesus.
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.

How do you get your #family involved in #Christmas fun? @TriciaGoyer

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There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, Gabriel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. The shepherds were terrified. Gabriel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David‘s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once Gabriel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over toBethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what Gabriel had said about this baby. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem—this was during Herod‘s kingship—a band of wise men arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you,Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.
Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this baby. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”
Instructed by Herod, the wise men set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star the wise men had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the baby. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
The wise men entered the house and saw the baby in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then the wise men opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, the wise men were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
After the wise men were gone, Gabriel showed up again in Joseph‘s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the baby and his mother Mary and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this baby, and wants to kill him.”
Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the baby and his mother Mary under cover of darkness.
They were out of Bethlehem and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod‘s death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: “I called my son out of Egypt.”