MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!

ByYvonne Pratt

merry-christmas-2016

Merry Christmas dear friends! May your day be filled with God’s richest blessings as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
 And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
 
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
 
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 
 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
 
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
 
 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

57 Comments

  7. I never get tired of this story. Thanks for posting it.
    Hope you are healing well and that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together.
    Blessings and hugs from Oregon.

    Reply

  8. Mary Christmas, Yvonne! May you be blessed abundantly in the year ahead. Thank you so very much for sharing your talents and the love you have for our Blessed Savior!

    Reply

  9. And Merry Christmas to you! You inspire in so many ways. Thank you. Now enjoy your family and your sweet grandbaby’s first Christmas!

    Reply

  10. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well Yvonne! Many Blessings!

    I hope recovery is going well for you and that you are enjoying your grandson’s first Christmas!!

    I bought a new Bible from QVC (of all places… Lol) that is colored coded to assist you with finding passages and to help teach you how to read the Bible. I am single and sitting here with my chihuahua, Maddie. I have just settled down in my chair after doing a bit of cleaning. So, my Bible is in my lap and we’ll see how I make out..

    Looking forward to another wonderful year with you! Thank-you so very much for sharing your decor ideas… and especially your recipes!! Your home and location is lovely as well!!

    And, last, but certainly not least, thank-you for your words of faith and prayer…

    God Bless You….

    Reply

  16. Dear Yvonne,
    Merry Christmas to you and your family.
    May God continue to bless you in the New Year
    So happy to hear there is another grandchild on the way!!!

    Reply

  23. Merry Christmas Yvonne, to you and your family. May your days be blessed with joy and laughter and love

    Best wishes for 2017 – and thank you for being so inspirational

    Jane, in NZ

    Reply

  24. Merry Christmas, Yvonne, to you and your family. Hope you continue to heal and bless you for your wonderful messages from the Bible.
    Have a wonderful day!

    Reply

  26. A very Merry Christmas to you. I do look forward to your postings. I have s new set of white dishes. Can’t wait to use your ideas. Pam

    Reply

  28. Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to you and your family! Thank you for your wonderful blog I so enjoy it!
    Be safe!

    Reply

  29. You are such an inspiration…for your decorating ideas as well as spreading the word of God!

    I ALWAYS enjoy your weekly posts, and of, course the Sunday ones, as well.

    Wishing you and your family a BLESSED Christmas and holiday season.

    Came back from granddaughter’s wedding in southern Illinois where it was COLD, but today enjoyed lunch on the patio outside with a temp. of 75 in Flower Mound ( suburb of Dallas) in Texas.

    Happy 2017! Where did the time go?

    Reply

  30. Amen and Amen. Merry Christmas to you and yours. I also have a new blessing due in the new year. Baby Pridgen is due for appearance in June. This will be my third great-great grandchild. Have a blessed new year.

    Reply

  31. the greatest story ever told! Merry Christmas!
    My favorite book this Christmas is ” The Sheperds’ Prayer” by Richard M. Barry..beautifully told story!

    Reply

  32. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hope you are getting around okay. I am praying you do not overdo. Jesus is he reason for the season.

    Reply

  34. Merry Christmas sweet lady. I do hope you are feeling much better as you recoupetate from surgery. Thank you for sharing the warmth of your beautiful home all year long as well as sharing the Christmas story.
    Warmest Wishes for joy and peace in the coming New Year.
    Karen

    Reply

  36. Thank you for sharing the the wonderful story of our Lord Jesus birth. I hope you are feeling better and enjoyed the day with your family and your new grandson. I’m sure memories were made that you can share for years to come.I wish you love,happiness and good health for the new year.

    Reply

  37. So blessed that this baby was born King of Kings to come into this world to give His life for us and by His stripes we were healed.
    Looking for His soon returning.

    Reply

  43. Merry Christmas, Yvonne! I must say that I have enjoyed decorating our house more this year, thanks to your wonderful hints the last few weeks. And I especially enjoyed your post today–never tire of the Nativity Story. But I must share with you the most serendipitous thing! This is Texas, and we traditionally have tamales and chili for our Xmas Eve family celebration, Christmas Day, then , is usually just the two of us. This year I decided to make the holiday brisket you suggested, and on a whim we decided to invite the couple next door that we have had only a nodding acquaintance with for the last ELEVEN years, Long story short: the brisket was heavenly, and we had a wonderful Xmas afternoon getting to know each other more than just the quick greeting across the hedge. What a blessing–and you were the angel unawares!

    Reply

  44. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for your decorating hints. This year Christmas decorating has been much more fun for me using your hints in creating new ideas. Happy New Year.

    Reply

  46. Merry Christmas Yvonne. What a reminder as I get older how grateful that we can treasure up the moments we share with our babies and ponder them. I am grateful for our Christian warrior family’s safe return home. It is good to see a president elect who celebrates Chhrist with elation… Christmas celebrated in Iraq and pray for Christians in Syria.

    Reply

  48. Yvonne, your beef brisket recipe was a hit. I only had a 3 1/2 lb. brisket and my family probably would have eaten a 5 lb. one. Mind you, I also had a spiral baked ham. I do hope you’ll continue sharing new recipes throughout 2017. I hope to use your soup recipes during these wintry months.

    Reply

  52. Thank you for sharing this post. I am trying to catch up reading your post. I have been doing my Family Christmas fun. I hope your Christmas was Merry and full of Christ.

    Reply