Stirring stories retell favorite biblical passages, and inspiring messages reveal the true meaning of Christmas. You'll be touched and warmed as you read this fresh telling of that old and beautiful story of Christmas.
Stirring stories retell favorite biblical passages, and inspiring messages reveal the true meaning of Christmas. You'll be touched and warmed as you read this fresh telling of that old and beautiful story of Christmas.
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Overview
Stirring stories retell favorite biblical passages, and inspiring messages reveal the true meaning of Christmas. You'll be touched and warmed as you read this fresh telling of that old and beautiful story of Christmas.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781439124789 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Howard Books |
| Publication date: | 05/11/2010 |
| Sold by: | SIMON & SCHUSTER |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 127 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
In 1988 he moved his family to West Monroe, Louisiana, to work in the ministry. In 1990 he began working for Howard Publishing Co. on a part-time basis but soon became a vice president and has remained in that capacity ever since.
One can find him leading worship almost weekly in West Monroe. He has four children ranging from ages five to twenty and is married to the love of his life, Kristen.
Read an Excerpt
The Christmas Story
Experiencing the Most Wonderful Story Ever ToldBy G. A. Myers
HOWARD PUBLISHING CO.
Copyright © 2003 G. A. MyersAll right reserved.
ISBN: 1-58229-330-9
Chapter One
The Announcement to MaryLittle did she know that as the heavens listened, a still, small voice answered: "And I trust you, My child."
Mary took her position on the roof of the house and began the nightly ritual of brushing through her long, onyx hair. As the sun's orange blaze melted into the soft shades of dusk, Mary raised her nose and sniffed the evening air. She loved this time of year, when the surrounding hills of Nazareth were filled with flowers. Every evening their sweet fragrances would ride the gentle wind into town and chase away the stale odors of animals and swirling dust. The youthful Mary took her perch here each day at the same time, after the evening meal was ended and everything was dutifully put away. She watched the neighborhood children play, and she laughed at their antics. She noticed other things as well.
She watched the men who gathered on the street to talk politics and business and to argue about Scripture. She knew their routine: They would begin their conversation calmly, but after a few minutes, an argument would ensue. It always began with Perez, a long-bearded, elderly man who lived a few houses away. In a hopeless sort of whine, he would complain about how the government was ruining Israel. Several others would join in with a hearty "Amen!" Then Joseph, her Joseph, the man she would soon wed-the man with bright, bold eyes; strong, energetic hands; and a deep, commanding voice-would always stand up on the side of faith and in defense of the promises of God.
That was what she had first loved about her Joseph: his faith-his strong, confident faith. Faith was in short supply in Israel at present, and she loved listening to Joseph proclaim to the group that the Messiah was coming, and coming very soon. The others would mumble under their breath about the hundreds of years since God had spoken in Israel. Did God still care about His people? Did He hear their cries? Joseph regularly concluded his discourse with, "Go ahead and hide behind your doubt if you wish; the God of my forefathers is faithful, and He will do what He has promised."
His words blew over Mary like a strong, refreshing wind. She whirled around and fell to her knees. With her arms uplifted, her long hair catching the south wind, she prayed, "God, thank you for hearing me; thank you for blessing my life with the words of the man with whom I will soon be one. I do believe You hear me when I pray. Send Messiah to us, O God. Send Him on the faithful prayers of Your servants who have not surrendered their faith. We wait for our deliverer, strong and mighty." With her eyes moist with tears of joy and hope, Mary rose and lifted her head to the now visible stars. She spoke her last five words forcefully and repeated them three times: "We trust you, O God." Little did she know that as the heavens listened, a still, small voice answered: "And I trust you, My child."
Mary suddenly felt a strong desire to be secluded, so alone that she would feel only the closeness of the God she loved and believed in. She moved from the roof to her small room, fell to her knees once more, and raised her voice in joyous praise. Although she thought she was alone, she was not. Although she believed her prayers were being heard only by God, they were not. When Mary opened her eyes, she saw a bright glow emanating from behind her. She stood, turned, and stepped back in shock as the angelic being before her appeared in what seemed the radiance of a million candles.
"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you," Gabriel said. "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." The young woman began to feel the warmth of an invisible embrace. Assurance quickly replaced her fear as she listened intently. "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name 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 the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end."
As the news settled into Mary's heart, her expression changed from astonishment to bewilderment, and she asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
Gabriel moved closer and reached out to touch her shoulder softly. As he felt her nervousness subside, he smiled and said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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."
Mary felt the astonished, unutterable question rising within her: The Messiah... are you talking about Messiah-coming through me?
Sensing her doubt, Gabriel affirmed, "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
As Mary lifted her head, the words echoed in her heart until she fully believed them. She looked deeply into Gabriel's kind eyes and said, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
After Gabriel left her, Mary stood in silence for a few moments and then made her way once more to the roof and gazed up to heaven. Exhausted, excited, and exuberant all at the same time, she collapsed to her knees, her arms too weak to raise, and once more emphasized the words through a whisper: "I trust You, O God."
Somewhere in the silence she thought she heard a whisper return on the wind: "And I trust you, My child."
The Announcement to Mary
Luke 1:26-3
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 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 the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Hoist Spirit will come upon 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 barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
The Mother of God The threefold terror of love; a fallen flare Through the hollow of an ear; Wings beating about the room; The terror of all terrors that I bore The Heavens in my womb. Had I not found content among the shows Every common woman knows, Chimney corner, garden walk, Or rocky cistern where we tread the clothes And gather all the talk? What is this flesh I purchased with my pains, This fallen star my milk sustains, This love that makes my hearth blood stop Or strikes a sudden chill into my bones And bids my hair stand up? -William Butler Yeats
Christmas Reflections
It may have happened two thousand years ago, but within its story lines lives the most encouraging and inspiring message of all time. If you allow the hustle of holiday shopping to push you past Christmas and into the new year panting and breathless, you will most certainly miss it. But don't. The message of the Story has little to do with presents and packages, and everything to do with you. It can be summed up in one simple, but wonderfully, true statement: God entrusts extraordinary things to very ordinary people.
You see this truth right there in the lives of the participants in this blessed event-Mary the poor virgin, Joseph the blue-collar carpenter, and shepherds babysitting smelly sheep in a field.
If you were to describe the Christmas story as a portrait, you would have to say that the characters in the story were like rough, frayed burlap on which the golden brush of God painted the most precious moment in history. If you and I had painted the portrait, however, we would certainly have painted it on the finest canvas, and our characters would have been more worthy types-kings, wealthy aristocrats, responsible citizens, esteemed leaders. But we didn't paint it; God did.
And if you look into the beauty of God's portrait, you will plainly see a reflection. That's right, a reflection of your face, your weaknesses, your struggles, your future, and your ordinariness. Why? Because that's the kind of person to whom God entrusts His precious plans and purposes.
Do you feel you're just an ordinary person with an average life in a commonplace world? Good. You're just what God is looking for. You may be called upon to care for a special child, soothe a hurting soul, or bring light to a lonely life. Just don't let the glory of the Story pass you by. Stop, look, and listen. He trusts you to fulfill His mission.
Someday someone may describe you as a burlap background on which God used His golden brush to paint a precious moment in history. In fact, the painting may already be under way.
God is the God of human history, and He is at work continuously, mysteriously, accomplishing His eternal purposes in us, through us, for us, and in spite of us. -Elisabeth Elliot
Chapter Two
Joseph's DilemmaHe could easily put up with the off-color remarks and snickers, but what about her? It would destroy this beautifully spiritual woman he had learned to love so deeply.
Joseph's mood mirrored the darkening sky as he trudged down the familiar, dusty streets of Nazareth toward his carpentry shop. A clutter of noises filled the air: shopkeepers closing their stores; scampering feet responding to the harmonizing calls of moms from a hundred doorways; and the last bit of laughter, gossip, and good-nights, which signaled the end of a busy day in the small town. Joseph usually stopped to listen to this symphony of sound, but tonight he heard nothing but his own confused thoughts.
Under normal circumstances he would be heading home to wash off the sawdust and wood shavings that had accumulated in his beard and clothes throughout the day. But he knew he would not be going home this evening or even later tonight. The news he had just received from the woman he was soon to marry left him feeling haunted, hurt, and helpless; and there was only one place he could go to think.
Some men get drunk after receiving such news, others try to act as though they never received it at all, and still others immerse themselves in their work. Joseph was one of those who did the latter. As he pulled open the door of his shop and heard the familiar creak of the hinges, he suddenly relived the shock of hearing Mary say the words, "I'm going to have a baby."
Her insistence that she had not been with another man rang in his ears. He stopped just outside the door and placed his hand over his abdomen, squeezing tightly, bending slightly, trying to alleviate the dull aching sensation and the coming nausea. The sick feeling was not for him, but for her.
He could easily put up with the off-color remarks, snickers, and whispers of small-town men and women who would soon receive this bit of big-time gossip, but what about her? It would destroy this beautifully spiritual woman he had learned to love so deeply. A groan escaped from deep within him. "What am I going to do?" he moaned.
Over the next few hours, Joseph completed a massive, strong table that he had begun three days earlier for the town butcher and the two chairs he had promised a widow down the street. Usually this work would take the slow-but-sure carpenter three days to complete. But as Joseph's mind raced for a solution to his dilemma, so did his masterful and strong hands. As he thought about Mary's radiant smile and sweet spirit, his first inclination was to just go ahead and marry her. However, the chance of Mary's pregnancy being discovered and the ominous threat of her being stoned for adultery quickly cleared that idea from his mind. At midnight, as he was sweeping up the last bit of shavings and sawdust, he suddenly stopped and said aloud, "That's it; that's what I'll do. I'll dismiss her quietly and get her out of town. With all the divorces going on today, her abrupt departure will feed a short-lived firestorm of gossip, and then it will be over and she will be safe. She can move to a new town where no one will know we hadn't yet married, and she can get on with her life. Being known as a divorcée is better than being stoned for adultery. That's it; that's it."
Relieved to finally have a plan, Joseph sat down, picked up a wineskin, and drank deeply from it. Suddenly the fatigue from work and worry set in, and he decided to lay his head down on a bench and rest before tackling a couple of projects he was finishing for his own house. Sleep came quickly.
In the depths of sleep, Joseph suddenly sensed a cool breeze brushing his cheek, and the refreshing fragrance of the ocean mingled with the sweetness of lilacs filled his nostrils. But what he was most aware of was the song. It was the most beautiful song he had ever heard, and the soothing words filled his soul with assurance and security. Feeling an arm around him, he turned in his dream and found himself looking directly into the broad smile of an angel. Joseph immediately fell to his knees. Without hesitation the angel knelt in front of him. Joseph was filled with fright at the massive arms and broad, flowing wings, but the angel placed his hands on Joseph's shoulders and spoke in a tone that erased all of Joseph's fears. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. 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."
At this, the angel stood, spread his enormous wings, and flew from Joseph's presence. As soon as the angel was out of sight, Joseph woke from his dream.
Continues...
Excerpted from The Christmas Story by G. A. Myers Copyright © 2003 by G. A. Myers. Excerpted by permission.
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