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THE REAL CHRISTMAS STORY

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I’m a Christmas person! I love love love the whole nine yards of tinsel, presents, music, and the tree! I love all the Christmas movies and getting together with family and sending Christmas cards. I love Christmas lights and jingle bells and fa-la-la-ing! I love love love the Christmas story! God-in-flesh coming down to sinful man to woo us and rescue us and bring all things right again between Him and us!
But, if we are really telling the true Christmas story it has nothing to do with all the traditional trappings we wrap around this time of year! So, today let’s unwrap the real story and see it in its real-time without all the pretty decorations. Let’s go back to 1st century occupied Israel…

The images in the story are from my studies in Israel.

God’s message in the Christmas story is… 

I am coming! Coming to you in the form of a human. I will be called Jesus, GOD SAVES!  I, God will live with you, close and intimate. You will be able to hear and feel and touch and see me for a little while. I will love you with an everlasting love just like I have from the very beginning! And then I will sacrifice myself in your place because I want you to be with me forever. I want to share my riches and myself with you forever. I love you more than you can think or know! You are so precious to me, my child!

 Most of us read about the birth of Jesus as a nice and pretty and sanitized story. Ah, the shepherds, and sweet Mary and faithful Joseph, and the mean Inn Keeper and the lowly donkey and the shining star and the multitude of girly angels in flowing gowns and halos playing harps and trumpet thingies, and the sweet smelling hay and the rosy-cheeked blond haired baby and oh, the beauty and formality of the King’s English version of the story!
 
Today I hope to change our  “squeaky clean” version of the Christmas story and let’s get real and go to 1st century Israel!  A time of terrible occupation by the brutal Roman Empire. Let’s go back to the real time when a young Jewish girl lived in a once pioneer village of no more than 35 homes. A speck of a village on the side of a hill occupied by a Roman outpost. Let’s visit THIS Christmas story…
 
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Nazareth today
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Nazarath today, a far cry from the little outpost town of Mary and Joseph.
First, Jesus was not, in all probability, born on December 25. I’m not going to speculate when, but we can be pretty sure that it was not December 25. 
 
It’s also a sure bet that there was no snow or evergreens or mistletoe! No bows, or fancy decorations. Just the very ordinary and every day in first century Israel!
 
Mary was a young Jewish girl, some say probably around the age of 15. She was not formally educated but was most likely well taught in the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the bible), the Law and the Prophets by her parents and also by her brothers who would have attended Synagogue.
 
She lived in a small home with her extended family. Not a whole lot of privacy there! In those day’s a family’s animals were often taken into the back of the home at night in a dugout area. There they would sleep and eat from a feeding trough called a manger. No running water, no toilets, no heat or air conditioning, no Wallmart’s, no electricity, no books or tv or computers or modern day conveniences. Just living! Basic and cramped and smelly!
 
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 Site of Mary’s home. Can you see the ceiling full of soot?
 
Like all young Israeli girls, Mary might have thought about being the mother of the Messiah (the Anointed One who would lead the Jews out of bondage and be the great ruler of Israel and the Savior of the whole world).  Never in Mary’s wildest dreams could she imagine what her life would hold.
 
Her life was meager and common and everyday-first-century-in-a-small-town-on-the-side-of-a-hill-in-Israel!
 
One day an angel, named Gabriel, appeared to her with a message. She had found favor with God.  Can you imagine an angel (not one of those girly angels! By the way, there is NO SUCH THING as a girly angel) appearing to you?
 He said…
 
 “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33
 
I’m sure this scene had Mary in quite a state! But in true Godly form, we don’t really get to see her emotion or thoughts!
 
But God does reveal how she answered the angel…
 
 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
 
Mary, even though she was contractually bound to be married to another villager named Joseph, had not slept around! She and Joseph did not live together or have any intimate contact. They were good Jews and followers of God’s Law.  In Mary’s day and age, according to God’s word and His law, Marry kept herself pure. In Mary’s time, the penalty for sex before marriage was stoning… stoning to death! Can you see how important sexual purity was (and still is) to God? 
 
Mary, could not understand how she could ever conceive a child…
 
 
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:35-37
 I like my English Standard Version translation of verse 37… it says…
FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!

The bible does not tell us Mary’s feelings or trepidation or fears or inner thoughts.  Mary’s obedient and succinct answer is recorded for us…  
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
This was a pretty together young lady!!!
Copy+of+DSC05413Outside the CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION… probably the size of the village at the time of Mary.

We are never told of the detail of the reaction of her family or the village but we can see a glimpse of her espoused husband (sorta like engaged) Joseph. The Bible calls Joseph a righteous man. Meaning one that followed God’s law and was found in right standing with God.

Joseph, hears the news of Mary’s pregnancy and what does he think? He probably thinks that she has been unfaithful to him and broken a sacred contract. This must have shaken him to his core! 
 
According to God’s law, Joseph has every right to have her stoned to death. And it would be the right thing for him to do.  In doing so he would totally vindicate himself. It would let everyone know that he was not the child’s father… he had not slept with her before marriage. He was a follower of God’s law.
 
Stoning would save him for the shame (a very big deal in Joseph’s time and culture) of a pregnant espoused wife!
 
Here we get a glimpse of Joseph’s character! Here is what Joseph chose to do…
 
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
 
Joseph chose life for Mary and her baby even though he knew the baby was not his.  I’m not sure how quiet you can divorce someone in a small town. But the fact is… HE CHOSE LIFE!
 
Now the plot thickens and Gabriel enters the story again…
 
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 conceive and 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 did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
 
 Not only did Joseph choose life for Mary and her unborn baby but by marrying her he also took responsibility for Jesus as his son. Can you imagine being responsible for God’s son!
 
To the villagers and the rest of the people of Israel, the marriage of Joseph to Mary was as good as admitting that he was indeed the unborn baby’s father and he along with Mary was guilty of fornication (that’s a word we don’t hear often, meaning sex before marriage).
 
This probably brought great shame to the couple and great hardship within the community! 
 
Mary and Joseph lived real lives, in real history, in hard times! As the Christmas story progresses can you see how agonized Joseph was when he got the news that he had to travel with his expectant wife to Bethlehem, the town of his ancestral birth, to take part in a census of the Roman government occupying beloved Israel? The time for this baby to be born was imminent!  This baby was about to be born, the one he had charge over! God’s very son!
 
 Can you see Joseph and Mary making a 10 day trip over craggy mountains and valleys to reach Bethlehem? Mary so uncomfortable and ready to give birth. Was it easier for Mary to walk or to ride a donkey? The Bible does not say. But our collective experience can make a good guess.
 
Can you imagine “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” a real town just 8 miles outside of the capital of Jerusalem, a small town but swelling and teaming with ancestors of David to take part in a decreed census.
 
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Bethlehem today. Eight miles outside of Jerusalem. 
Mary and Joseph, tired and worn out from their long journey were probably taken in by a distant relative.  Since it was Joseph’sancestral home it only makes sense that one from his line found some sort of lodging for he and Mary.  And there Mary went into labor as the prophets had told centuries before. In all probability, she was taken to the back of a small crowded home where the family kept their animals because there was no other room for them to rest.
 
And in that real-life, cramped, common environment the King of Kings was born. And out of necessity Jesus, God in human flesh, was laid in an animal eating trough because it was probaby the softest place they had to lay Him?
 
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Church of the Nativity… under it is the birth place of EMANUEL!
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The spot of Jesus’ birth. You can touch the original rocky floor underneath. This is my sister-in-law, Sue. I was taking the picture. What an emotional and holy time!!!! Every time I see this picture I cry!
Can you see the shepherds out in the craggy, ravine-like valley of Bethlehem at night? Shepherds, the lowliest of the low, being visited by a multitude of angels! These godly messengers proclaiming the birth of the Savior of the world.  Oh, I’d love to see their real faces when they heard this news!
 
Can you see the shepherds, with dirty fingernails and dusty clothing, worn and tired, determined to find the babe. Filled with wonder and awe and probably a great deal of human confusion!
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Shepherd’s field in the evening in July. 
 Can you see God’s love by sending His Son to be born in a time such as this?  In this very place? In this common way!
 
It’s important to see the drama and the struggle of the Christmas story! We need to feel the emotions of two people given a choice to make. A very hard choice. Would they follow God’s will knowing that following it will most likely reap some very unpleasant consequences from the world around them?
 
We need to imagine the real-life consequences of following God! We need to see the Christmas story from the customs of the first century, ancient, orthodox, oriental viewpoint. We need to smell the manure and hear the animal sounds and the see sweat and dirt of the story!
 
Did you know the three wise men were not present at the Christ child’s birth? They don’t belong in the manger story until almost two years later.
 
I’m stunned and in awe of God’s timing and choices! I can clearly see that when God came to earth as Emanuel, He came to us in the most common and lowly way. The Creator of the Universe came to us among common people, in the most un-kingly way. Humble! Vulnerable! Relatable in the time in which He came. He truly wanted to be among us.
 
Knowing the real, nitty-gritty, raw and beautiful story of Jesus’ birth makes me love Christmas far above the secular trappings wrapped around this season! Yes, I love everything about Christmas because front and center of it all is the celebration of Jesus! And there is no greater gift than Him!
 
This week’s memorization verse:
 
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. Luke 2:7
 
 
 
 
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  1. I believe that Jesus was born in a stable. I think the animals stood on a dirt floor. I don’t understand what in the picture where your sister in law is has a marble floor. Why is it featured like that ? I don’t understand it being like that over there.
    I do agree with you that Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25 th. He was represented as a lamb in the Bible and lambs are born in the Spring.
    Also agree there are no ” girly” angels. They are all men. The Bible always says ” he ” not ” she ” .

    Reply

    • Linda, I’m glad you are referring to your Bible to get some answers. About the “stable”. There were no stables like we know them in first century Israel. There were places in houses or cutout in a cave to keep them. Animals were a precious commodity and would not be subjected to the wild beasts of the time. We are so blessed to know some of the very spots that were important in the life of Jesus. In His time, people did not keep those kind of records. But not long after Jesus’ death His followers, called the people of the Way, would congregate at certain places, one being this place in Bethlehem. Because of the numbers of His followers that gathered there, it is thought that it is probably the actual site of Jesus’ nativity. And it has a marble floor because it is part of a church. Constine’s mother Helena built churches of these gathering sites of them to preserve them. So the pictures look like a church, but down under this holy church is the real spots believes have thought Jesus was born. It was adorned centuries ago as a way of adoration and preservation. Remember the lands and the people are so different from us.

      Today, we are separated by centuries and culture and we need read the bible looking through the lens of a first century, orthodox, ancient, oriental thinker as well as interpreting it correctly and thoroughly. I hope this has helped!

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      • I am a Christian saved by His precious grace And filled with His Holy Spirit. I truely appreciate you being a Christian also.
        I guess we differ on the Word. I belive the Bible says stable and that is just like a barn. Jesus was born the lowest of all men …he had no home and no place to lay His head.
        I don’t know why it would have ever been covered by stone and morter or be in a church. God is in His word and God is the word.
        We are both looking forward to seeing Him and being with Him throughout all eternity.
        God Bless You.

        Reply

  3. Yvonne, thank you for putting Christ back in Christmas. I have never thought past the ” story” of the birth, with the angels and wise men and animals As I read your post I could see in my mind the hardship and struggle it must have been to make that journey, and live that life. Thank you

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  4. Yvonne,
    Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the story of Jesus. I’ve never thought of how the conditions really were for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. I wish everyone could read this posting, and keep it in their heart everyday. We have no idea what Jesus went thru to Save Us from Sin. Thanks so much for sharing this lovely Christmas story.
    jean

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  7. Amen! Alleluia! The simple reality of Jesus’ birth. This story belongs in the forefront of all of our Christmas celebrations! Thank you, Y

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    • (To continue from above), Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing and writing this beautiful post. A blessed Christmas to you and your wonderful family!

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  11. Thank you for reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas. A beautiful telling of the Christmas story. Every time I read it I cry. Sacrifice is a beautiful thing.

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  12. Yvonne,
    Thank you posting such a wonderful teaching story of the true nativity. In todays secular world, we get lost in the real story of Christ’s birth and Christmas. I have been reading a chapter of the Book of Luke each day in December. It helps ground and remind me of the real Christmas story and not get caught up so much in the secular worlds version of Christmas. Going to the Holy Land is on my bucket list and I remember my great-aunt traveling there in the late 90’s and getting baptized in the Jordan River. Until then, thank you for posting pictures of your travels there and letting readers see first hand the land of the Bible.

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  13. I love this post,so warm and it touch me deeply. thank you for not only the inspiring words, but also the heartwarming pictures.

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  16. Wow Yvonne – I have been listening to and retelling the Christmas story for 75 years. This is absolutely the best narration and retelling of the birth of our Savior that I have ever heard or read. I am printing it to place in my Bible. Blessings to you and your family. Nancy

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  17. Loved this post!

    Years ago, a Jewish historian came to our church to shed light on our understanding of the Christmas story. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem for the census, because that was the home of Joseph’s ancestors. Joseph likely still had relatives there, and Joseph and Mary likely stayed at the home of Joseph’s relatives. Because ALL of Joseph’s relatives had to register for the census at Bethlehem, his Bethlehem relatives likely had a lot of out-of-town family staying with them at their “Inn,” which in those days would have been their guest quarters. Hotels and Inns as we know them today didn’t exist back then.

    The historian described the place inside the house – on ground level – where the animals were brought in at night. This would have been the place where Joseph and Mary stayed, and where Mary gave birth to Jesus.

    Since they were staying with family, and since all the family was present, Mary likely had a lot of support as she went through labor, then gave birth to Jesus. Instead of being alone and isolated in some outdoor barn, Joseph and Mary were likely inside a home accompanied by loving relatives.

    In light of this understanding about the Christmas story, it is particularly interesting that today some people want us to believe the Joseph and Mary were “homeless.” Certainly Joseph – a carpenter – and Mary had a home in their hometown of Nazareth. And even while they stayed in Bethlehem so Joseph could register for the census, they still likely stayed in a home, surrounded by relatives!

    Yvonne, I also enjoyed the photos you included in this post.

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  19. Thank you for this wonderful post! It is sobering as it should be given the seriousness of the subject. Too often the REAL story is diminished as presents are opened quickly & thrown aside for more presents. Jesus is the reason for the season! Blessings to you! Clara ⛪?

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  20. Dear Yvonne,
    I’ve enjoyed your blog so much this year. Please pray for me. My two boys (42 &46) are not speaking to me and my husband because of a fight during a family vacation last June. It will be the first Christmas in over 47 years that we will be alone, just the two of us for Christmas. As a person of faith it is so hard for me to understand how this can be. I’ve always made sure that no one was ever left alone for Christmas. I’ve had friends of relatives and numerous people to my home over the years because I felt that no on,e should be alone. I know deep inside that I should be grateful for having my husband, and I am, but this hurts nevertheless. So knowing how deeply you believe I am asking you to remember me and my husband in your prayers this season as I am having such a hard time coping with this. I will pray for you and your family as well. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories with all of us.
    Best,
    Margo

    Reply

    • I am praying for you, Margo. I’m sure this time of year is very hard. May the God who created your boys soften their hearts and let them yearn to be home with you. God bless you and your husband.

      Reply

    • Lord, I just lift Margo and her husband up to You. You know their hearts, and how much they are hurting. Please fill them with Your Comfort, Peace and Love. And help them to understand that they will not be spending Christmas alone – You will be with them! Please let this be an especially meaningful Christmas for them. Please help them to focus on You, and not their hurts.

      Lord, You tell us in Your Word that we should be at peace with each other, AS MUCH AS IT IS UP TO US. Lord, if there is anything that Margo and/or her husband need to do to help heal their relationship with their children, please reveal it to them, and please give them the strength and courage to follow through with Your Guidance. Whether or not there is anything they can do, please work in the hearts of their children, and please restore and heal their relationships. And please give Margo and her husband patience and confidence as they wait on You to carry out Your Will.

      In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

      Reply

  21. Thank you so much for sharing the true Christmas story. We need to always teach our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas. Love it! Merry Christmas! Keep Christ in Christmas!

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  22. Your words has taken my mind and heart together inside the post. Really appriciate the step for us to get to know the story. Wish you all here a happy christmas.

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  23. Thank you for keeping it real and telling the story. I would love to go to all these places I’m sure it would bring tears to my eyes. Jesus is the reason for celebration.
    Thank you, Tonya

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  24. Yvonne: Thank you for sharing the beautiful “true” story of the Christmas Story.” Even after 4 years attending a Christian School, I still never really understood the true story. You have done an amazing job of bringing it to light!
    Happy and Blessed Holidays to you and your whole family.
    {{HUGS}}
    Joy at theoldefarmhouse.blogspot.com

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  25. God bless you for making the time to share this nitty-gritty story of a true life Nativity. We made a nativity scene for our apartment patio decorating contest. I don’t have much money, but with paint, cardboard, some lights and a Christmas Star tree topper we made our nativity and won first prize. I was just happy to have the reminder out there for folks to see, the real reason for the season.

    Merry Christmas.

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  26. This is such a beautiful, sacred sharing of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Beautiful and moving and the message more precious than life itself. I wish, oh how I wish that just this once the pictures were not distracted by the “advertisements” of MacDonald’s coffee and the BMW’s. Just this once………………………….

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  27. Thank you Yvonne for this beautiful post. Yes, I do know the real story and yes it is amazing! The photos are wonderful.
    Wishing you and yours a beautiful and wonderful Christmas.

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  28. Thank you for using your blog to share The truth. May all who read it be moved to know Jesus.
    Blessings Yvonne!

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  29. Thank you , that was wonderful, I love my Savior,and feel blessed to celebrate He’s birth. Thank you and have a wonderfully Merry Christmas with your friends and family.

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  30. Yvonne,
    Thanks for the wonderful post today!!! I have read it 3 times! We all should rejoice in what God has done for us and I plan to do so!! May the richness of Christmas bless you today and all year! May God bring to you and your family- joy, grace and love abundantly this new year!!

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  31. Yvonne…. my eyes were surely opened when my husband and I went to Israel in ’97. Upon graduation he received an award to participate in a 4 week archaeological dig and a tour of the Holy Land. I was able to go with him if I paid my own way. Of course I did. We spent our weekdays in Tel Dor right on the Mediterranean Sea near Caesarea participating in a dig led by a professor and team from Berkley. There were people from all over the world at our site. It was so interesting to be discovering items from the Phoenicians. I unearthed a beer jug which was taken by the people from the Israel museum. That was a big day. On the weekends we traveled and on one weekend we went to Bethlehem… it wasn’t to be our main visit to that town, but was a quick side visit as we were to return the next weekend for some extended time. Unfortunately, there were bombings while we were there and the West Bank was closed for the remainder of our trip. However, I do remember visiting the Church of the Nativity So many impressions and thoughts and realizations of the reality of Jesus birth flooded my mind at that time. I am so privileged to have been able to have spent a month in Israel. It truly brought the Bible to life in so many ways. Of course we also were blessed to have been in a small group of less than twenty led by a professor who was on his 80-some trip. Since 1947, he had spent every summer there doing a dig. His knowledge was amazing. As always… thanks Yvonne for sharing your heart. You have such a gift.

    May your Christmas be filled with JOY!

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  33. Thank you, Yvonne, for this beautiful retelling of THE Christmas story….you touched many of our hearts. Glory to God in the highest! May you and your family have a blessed and sacred Christmas together. Thank you for your inspiring and fun blog!

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  34. What a wonderful post! When I think of the truth of Christmas my mind just can’t comprehend the love of our Father God who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us. WOW what an amazing truth that is! The real Christmas story is nitty gritty and it would have been very difficult for Mary & Joseph and their families. Praise God for His indescribable gift!

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  35. So well written, Yvonne! You WILL be published one day! Wondering if your study trip to Israel was with Kay Arthur? My father went to the Holy Land twice (in the 60’s and 70’s) – wish I had been old enough to have gone along!

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  37. What a beautiful post! And beautifully told reality of the birth of Our Lord Jesus. I appreciate the pictures, especially the Shepherds field. May you have a Blessed Christmas! Hugs, Doreen

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  38. Thank you for sharing. Gave me goose bumps! I would love to go do a tour of Israel . A little scary now though. I pray that this seed you planted grows and many come to a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus.
    Debbie A

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  40. Thank you so much for reminding me about the “real” story of Christmas. I hope you will have a blessed Christmas with your family.

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  41. Our modern day world has a hard time grasping what it must have been truly like in the time of Jesus’ birth and what Mary and Joseph went through. Thank you for this wonderful explanation. Another good “visual” is the movie “The Nativity”. While there are probably some add-ins to it that are not known to have happened, the movie gives us a good look at how the Christmas Story really took place.

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  42. What a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL post, Yvonne. I cried too at the picture of your sister-in-law reaching down to touch that most holy place. I can’t even imagine the range of emotions you all must have felt just being there! I had goose bumps and tears reading through your wonderful account of the Christmas Story. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply

    • Mimi, EVERYONE should go to Israel! My sister-in-law and I went for a 3 week study tour a few years ago. It was life changing. There is just something about the land and the people that changes you. I have never been to another place that touched me the way Israel did!

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  43. Thank you, thank you, thank you…for bringing us back to the reality and enormity of the best Christmas gift ever given. I loved reading this this morning. God bless you and Merry Christmas

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  45. Thank you! I always remember as I decorate to include rembrance of the real story. I also have a Little Tikes Nativity scene for my grandchildren to play with each season for a hands on real Christmas story-a tradition I want to pass along to them.

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  46. Emanuel! God with us. Amazing as it is to think of Christs birth to Mary it’s even more amazing to have His birth in us and every single day realize He is with us and daily we can experience Him. O come, O come Emanuel

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  47. Once again, you tell the story like no other! Yes, it’s is good to keep it real and remember how things really were and the miraculous and awe of Christmas! I’m going to share this with my husband so he might share it with our church’s youth group tonight! I think it will be a perfect reminder for them about what Christmas is really about!

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  49. I’ve been sitting here in the early morning by our tree (the dog got me up, so what to do besides have coffee and stare at lights), thinking about how much I have been enjoying our decorated house this season. I have been very intentional about taking the time to enjoy and reflect. I was sitting here, having thought about the fact that the real reason I do so much to our home with Christmas decoration, is because it is truly in my heart to celebrate the birth of Christ. And then I came across this post. It is beautiful! It took me right out of the festive decorating and into the reality, which was so lovely to read this Sunday morning. Thank you! I will continue my day with an even stronger love for the joy of celebrating, being reminded of the simplicity and hardship of the the beginning.

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  51. Yes I do know the nitty gritty true story of the Birth of our Savior. It certainly wan’t filled with fluffy angels and a pink cheeked baby.
    How blessed are we that we know the true story of Christmas.
    Hugs Kay

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