Originally Posted By friendofdd The Message Luke 1 A Virgin Conceives 26-28 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. 29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel 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." 34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." 35The angel 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. 36-38 "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 the angel left her. Matthew 1 18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. 20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel 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—'God saves'—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 bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us"). 24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus. Luke 2 The Birth of Jesus 1-5 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, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. 6-7 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 hostel. An Event for Everyone 8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel 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." 13-14 At once the angel 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. 15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders 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 lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. 19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders 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! Scholars from the East 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars 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." 3-4 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?" 5-6 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." 7-8 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 child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." 9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! 11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. 12 In a dream, they 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.
Originally Posted By murfsmom Fodd- You always come up with just the right things at the right time,what a special way to start Christmas ! I was so happy to see you at the Doobie awards and have you give me my Doobie, it made it even more special, Have a very"Merry Christmas" and Hope Your blessed with a very Happy and Healthy "New Year" ((hugs)) murfsmom
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Murfsmom, isn't this wonderful man... Wonderful...God has given him a gift of such a Wonderful Heart of words, was so peaceful to read Friendofdd's message, May God Bless you Friendofdd and Murfsmom and all whom you have touched this past year, you both are in a very special place in my heart...May God be you both always, may he heal you from all that is within and protect you from all foriegn things to our bodies seeking to come in...and to all those in this magical life of Disney...Merry Christmas..May Heavenly Health N" Peace be with you always ...oxox God Bless hugs from Tm oxoxoxox
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes Thanks fodd! What translation was that? Second, you're a learned man, and this is nothing but speculation, but whatever became of Joseph? My guess is that, with such a hard life, he died early on. Just speculation. Anyhows, I don't celebrate Jesus birth so much as his death. That was the most remarkable thing - especially when he returned three days later.
Originally Posted By friendofdd >>>What translation was that?<<< That is from "The Message" by Eugene Peterson. Technically, it is a paraphrase rather than a version. >>>but whatever became of Joseph? My guess is that, with such a hard life, he died early on. Just speculation.<<< Most scholars agree with you. There is no mention of him after the family goes to the Temple, when Jesus is twelve. >>>I don't celebrate Jesus birth so much as his death. That was the most remarkable thing - especially when he returned three days later.<<< The death and resurrection are remarkable and the most important. However, they could not have occured without His birth, and the Christmas story is also remarkable and makes him known as The Son of God.
Originally Posted By Tinkeroon <<The death and resurrection are remarkable and the most important. However, they could not have occured without His birth, and the Christmas story is also remarkable and makes him known as The Son of God.>> Exactly! Well said, fodd! I so enjoyed reading this...thank you for posting it. Hope your Christmas was warm and happy and full.
Originally Posted By LuLu Thank you fodd, it was fun to read a fresh telling of this marvelous story.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Hmmm...I thought I was going to be reading about a Red Rider BB Gun.
