Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephratah,
Too little to among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.
Therefore, He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
And He will rise and shepherd His flock.
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
And this One will be our Peace" (Micah 5:2-5)
Praise God for Christmas.
Praise Him for the incarnation for Word made Flesh.
I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty night or angel choristers.
I will not sing of stable bare in Bethlehem,
or lowing oxen, wise men, trailing distant star,
with gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing praise to the Father who stood on heaven's threshold
And said farewell to His Son,
as He stepped across the stars to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
And I will sing praise to the infinite eternal Son
Who became most finite a Baby,
Who would one day be executed for my crimes.
Praise Him in the heavens,
Praise Him in the stable,
Praise Him in my heart.
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are downtrodden
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.
And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the Womb.
If there had been no Christmas morn,
No Christ Child in a manger born,
No shepherds watching in the night,
No angel song, no star of light
Then there would be no hope today
For this old world where sin holds sway.
No peace for souls weighed down with sin,
No deep abiding joy within,
No burdens lifted by His grace,
No strength to run life's weary race,
No sorrows eased, no tempests quelled,
No fears dispersed, no doubts dispelled.
No song of praise, no answered prayer,
No loving Lord to guide and care:
But friend, there was a Christmas morn
When Christ, the Son of God, was born.
Oh, Hallelujah, praise His name,
Hope lives today because He came!
Copyright © 1988 Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church. This data file is the sole property of Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church. It may be copied only in its entirety for circulation freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above copyright notice. This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of Discovery Publishing. Requests for permission should be made in writing and addressed to Discovery Publishing, 3505 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA. 94306-3695.