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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[WVNan]

Hehe...I'm sorry IG, that picture just struck me as being funny. Some of the funniest things can happen at funerals. Poor little Father, he must have really been in a bad way. Being a Lector is interesting. I love the Catholic Mass. It's so beautiful. One of my best friends here is the Catholic priest, Father Regis. He's a little old elf and we are both huggers. I always enjoy my time with him as we talk about our respective ministeries.

You know, I did a funeral before I even answered the call to the ministry. It was one of those things that God will put in front of you to test your intentions. Out of the blue, a girl called me one day to say that her husband had been electrocuted on the job and she wanted me to do his memorial service at their farm. He was being cremated. I was scared to death, but how do you say no to a request like that? I just recreated the memorial service we had for my son and the family was very pleased with the results.

[LadyX]

Yeah, Nan - there are a few physicians who believe in miracles after dealing with this very contrary body..:))

Think that's been my job for the past 28 years - not to give up and accept defeat, and trust Him, and show 'em all things are under HIS Timetable!

[Pippin]

Yep! The cake's all gone and I had a wonderful day!

[Mama_Bear]

Good evening, Finest FRiends! I trust you all had a Blessed Christmas......Mama_Bear's family certainly did.

Hasn't this thread been exceptionally beautiful the past couple weeks?! Thank you to my Finest sisters and King John, and a big round of applause for our holiday guest helpers and everyone who posts and visits here. Each of you, in your own way, contributed to bringing the spirit of Christmas to the Finest thread. YOU made this a wonderfully warm, friendly and festive place, and we thank you, one and all.

Billie, bless her heart, has given me the weekend off, so I won't be posting a thread tomorrow. A new Finest thread will be posted on Monday and we hope to see all of you there.

Enjoy the rest of Holidays and have a great weekend! For those of you traveling on slick icy roads, take extra care out there.

(If you would like to be removed from, or added to, the Finest ping list, FReepMail me.)

[Pippin]

Thanks, MB!

You have a wonderful weekend too!

[WVNan]

His timetable. I was thinking that when I saw whoever had dropped in at the Finest on Christmas Day. She is on God's timetable.

[Mama_Bear]

I am so sorry I missed your birthday, Pippin. I hope it was wonderful. :-)

[WVNan]

Happy day off MB. Yes, the threads have been exceptional and beautiful. You all outdid yourselves. Now go and rest.

[LadyX]

Speaking of time, it is past midnight, and I think I'll turn in early for a change.

So glad to have seen you, Iowa Granny, and you, Pippin and Libertina.

Mama_Bear, enjoy your weekend 'off' - we appreciate all the hard work the hostesses do for us.

[Mama_Bear]

Yes, I will go and rest.....but, first I want to tell you that I am so happy that your Christmas project went so well. I knew it would. :-)

I didn't get my Christmas cards out either......guess I will send out New Years cards instead. I also missed getting to say hello to whoever when she was here and I missed Pippin's birthday yesterday.......and who knows what else. But, I can't catch up now, I am way too far behind. LOL.

Holiday ((((((hugs)))))) to you!

[LadyX]

Night, Nan..:)))

[Mama_Bear]

God Bless you, LadyX, and good night. :-)

[Pippin]

Thanks MB!

Good Night, LadyX!

[Pippin]

It's after midnight and time for me to go to bed too. So I'll toddle on off to my "hobbit hole" and locate my bed and wish you all a good night and I'll "see" you all tomorrow!

GOOD NIGHT!

[WVNan]

Good night sweet lady. I hope I have time tomorrow to listen to my "gift". I've been looking at it longingly for days now. Good rest, God's peace. (((hugs)))

[Mama_Bear]

Good night, Pippin.

BTW, I haven't read much of the thread since Christmas day, but I did see the pictures you posted of yourself. Thank you! It is nice to finally get to see your pretty face. :-)

((((((((hugs))))))))))

[WVNan]

Nighty night Pippin. It's great to be back "home" again. I've missed everyone. Sweet dreams in your Hobbit Hole.

[WVNan]

Good night Mama-Bear. God bless your rest.

[Mama_Bear]

An extra special warm hug.....just for you, just because. :-)

[unspun]

Thanks for the thread.

http://www.unpun.info/Christmas/Christmas_2002.html