A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-25-02....Christmas Day

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

Click on Baby Jesus

THE CHRSTMAS STORY
As told by Matthew

THE NATIVITY

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

WISE MEN

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

GIFTS

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

FLEEING TO EGYPT

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 New International Version

JESUS IS THE REASON
FOR THE SEASON

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-23-02 Christmas Music 12-24-02 Twas the Night Before Christmas

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[Pippin]

Good afternoon, Daisy!

Today was a do-nothing day for me too! (we deserve it!)

[Mudboy Slim]

I just got back from watchin' the Two Towers, my FRiend...and Merry made you look like a girleyman...MUD

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Great stuff, belated thanks, Billie!! :)

[GailA]

Happy Birthday Pippin and MANY, MANY more.

[Pippin]

LOL!!! But I am a girl!

Didn't you see my picture I posted of myself? LOL!!

[Pippin]

Thanks, Gail!

[MeekOneGOP]

#364 was meant for you, my Dear....

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh. You already saw that....

[Pippin]

Teah, i did, Thanks!

[Pippin]

You have mail, Sir Meekie!

[Mudboy Slim]

"I am a girl!"

What kinda lame-arsed excuse is THAT, Pippin?!

SHEEEEEESH...MUD

[Pippin]

That other Pippin is a hobbit!

[Mudboy Slim]

Hobbitses are tuff li'l creatures, IMHO...MUD

[Budge]

Be sure you do! Rainy cooked it while Don Friovinai, Sweetliberty and I went (back) to see LOTR TT today. It is delicious!

[Pippin]

At least Pippin came up with the idea of tricking Treebeard into going past Isengard and seeing the destruction of his trees brought about by Saruman.

Getting Treebeard in the mood for war with Isengard.

That was Pippin's idea!

[Pippin]

And Pippin is a tough lil fellow!

Hobbits are dangerous when riled, LOL!!

[Pippin]

Yep!

[WVNan]

Hi everyone! Sorry I had to be AWOL during Christmas. Whew! I'm glad it's over. Sorry I missed whoever's visit and Pippin's birthday celebration. I didn't even get my Christmas cards sent. I don't know whether I'll even bother now. My huge Christmas project with my church was time consuming and stress producing, but it was a big hit. The people who came have raved about it and want us to do it again next year. We know that if we do attempt it next year we will have to do two performances in one night because the town hall only seats 80. It becomes pretty close quarters...somewhat like the original Bethlehem Inn. I'm hoping to have some pictures, but I'm depending on the generosity of other people who took pictures.

Two of my children came for Christmas (the liberal ones from N.C.) and we almost made it through the visit without a "discussion" about religion/politics. Santa brought me a digital camera. I'm waiting for the reader to arrive.

Today I conducted a funeral service. What a sad way to close out the Christmas season. I trust that everyone had a great Christmas. I went back and read most of the posts and noted the graphics. Hope you had a great birthday, Pip.

[Pippin]

Thanks, Nan!

Looking forward to seeing the pictures!

My cousin and my brother have digital cameras. I think they're so cool!

And the pictures come out so nice and clear.

Welcom back to the Finest! :^)