The Birth of Jesus Christ

Gabriel came in unto Mary and said “Blessed are you among women, you are highly favored him Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest.” be born of you.” When Mary was found with child of the Holy to make her a public example, thought to put things, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in Emi Lynn Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel meaning “God with us”

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ was a teenager living in Nazareth, a city of Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph and before they came together , the angel Gabriel was sent from God with a message for her. and the Lord is with you. Fear not, for you shall conceive and bring forth a son and you shall call Mary said to the Angel, “How can this be since I know not a man” The angel answered, “The Holy Ghost will come upon you and God will overshadow you therefore the Son of God will Ghost, Joseph, being a just man and not willing her away privily. While he was thinking on these Isaiah 7:14

a dream saying, “Fear not to take Mary for your

wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” So Joseph did as the angel had bidden him and took Mary for his wife. In those days, everyone had to travel to his own city of birth to be taxed, so Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David. While they were in Bethlehem, Mary brought forth her first born son, Jesus, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. .At this time there were wise men from the east that came to Jerusalem inquiring “where is he that is born King of the Jews because we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him” When they departed, the star which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the baby, Jesus. When they saw the child with Mary, his mother, they fell down and worshipped Him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In the same country there were shepherds in the field, keeping watch over their flock. And suddenly the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were deeply afraid. The angel said unto them, “Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.

“For a child will be born unto us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

There was a Bunch of Them

by Emi Lynn

The family that lived across the street had five children. I was an only child until age nine. The three oldest were at our house all the time which was fine with me. The oldest, a boy, was a year older than me but we were the best of friends and played cowboys and climbed trees together.

The next, a girl, was my age who went just about everywhere with us, even on vacation. She wasn’t my best friend but she was so easy going and never openly disagreed with me, thus my parents’ choice. The third child, a girl, was a year younger and was someone to be bossed around.

The family was totally unchurched. Until they moved away, when I was about fourteen, they became a mission for me. All of them went to Sunday School from time to time with my family (which by my 11th birthday included two little brothers) especially the girl that was my age. Once, I even persuaded their father to go to Church. I rode back with them and all the way, he teased me and asked questions such as “How do

you know there is a God”. My last big push was right before they moved. An uncle came from up north to visit. He was there quite a while and when he told me he couldn’t go to Church because he didn’t have a white shirt, I went home to get one of my Dad’s shirts. I was surprised that my Dad was not happy about it and said he would probably never get it back. (He was right) The target of my evangelistic efforts did go to Church but that was it. These people were incorrigible as far as I was concerned.

I had some contact with the family as a young adult and tracked one of them down again about ten years later. Then I lost all contact with them. A few years and moves later, I had a chance encounter with the son and found that his Dad had become a Christian as well as himself. Two sisters were actively serving God in other states and two family members were missionaries including my friend’s husband, and her son was a youth pastor in a Church not far from me. I was so elated. I may have given up on them but God didn’t.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” - Isaiah 55:11