Today a Savior has been born to you; He is Messiah, the Lord

Today... a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord, Luke 2 KJV

Patricia Ann, Originally posted on Monday, December 24, 2012 
Today... a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord!
This is Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012 and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 
His birth is a most loving and awesome gift, given to each of us by our Father in Heaven.
Jesus Christ is and has been and will continue to be the greatest gift anyone will ever choose to receive into his or her life!
Imagine how humbled and blessed Mary felt as the Angel Gabriel gave her the news that she was to be the mother of  a baby named Jesus!
 
Of course, at first it was astonishing to her, and she probably felt an unbelief as she had never been with a man, so how could she possibly become a mother?
 
But, because of her great faith and belief in her Father in Heaven, Mary accepted the wonderful news humbly and worked to be the best mother she could possibly be.
 
It wasn't easy, as Joseph was upset when he heard Mary's news and in his own disbelief, he seriously thought about breaking his engagement to her. 
 
Then, an angel appeared to Joseph as well assuring him that this great blessing was indeed from God and that he and Mary were to be the parents of the Christ Child, the Savior to the world. 
So, Mary and Joseph were to be married and she was with child, when they heard the news that they would have to travel to Bethlehem to be counted in the census. 
 
So they set out on the way to Bethlehem.  When they arrived, Mary and Joseph were tired from their travels and sought shelter in an Inn where they would be warm, as Mary was close to giving birth to the baby she was carrying. 
 
However, there was no room in the Inn and Mary and Joseph were told that they could stay in the stable with the animals.  With no other options available, they accepted the offer of the stable and went there to settle down for the night.
 
And what an awesome night it turned out to be!
 
As Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.  Because there was no room for them in the inn, our Savior was laid in a feeding trough for animals. It is hard for us to imagine today that filled with fresh hay, the manger was a suitable bed for the new baby.
On the night Jesus was born, as shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks of sheep - an angel of the Lord appeared to them giving them the good news that a Savior, the Messiah, had been born!
 
The angel told the shepherds they could find Jesus lying in a manger.
 
Then, suddenly a whole group of angels appeared saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill

toward men!"
 
The shepherds hurried into Bethlehem and there, in the stable, they found Jesus in the manger, just as the angels

had told them.
 
After the shepherds had seen Jesus, they hurried to spread the news.  Everyone who heard this great news was in awe!
 
Some time later, wise men came from eastern countries following a very bright star in the sky that signaled the birth of a new King.
 
They came to Bethlehem to worship Jesus, the newborn King! They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of the finest things in the ancient world, as gifts to the new King, and they knelt down to worship the new baby Jesus.
 
The birth of Jesus is celebrated by those who choose to know Him and love Him, believing in all He is and all that He was born to be - a Savior for the sins of mankind.   
 
The Christmas season is a time for celebration, the giving of gifts to loved ones and friends and to those who are less fortunate and in need. 
 
And sometimes in the rush of giving, I wonder if we fail to give the glory to God for the birth of Jesus - His most awesome and precious gift to each of us?
 
It is my prayer that we all remember the reason for Christmas is the wonderful and awesome birth of Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks for that glorious night of His birth - our Savior, born in a lowly stable to humble parents seeking to do the will of God - chosen by God to be parents of the Savior of the world. 
 
Today... a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord!
 
Blessings to everyone and may the peace and love of Our Savior, Jesus Christ be with you always.