Category: Simply Christmas

Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce…

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,    for He has visited and redeemed His people,and has raised up a horn of salvation for us    in the house of His servant David,as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of long ago,that we should be…

Now Elizabeth’s time had come to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah, after the name of his father. But…

Mary’s Song of Thanks Then Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord. And my spirit is happy in God, the One Who saves from the punishment of sin. The Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honor me. He…

Yikes! Just 10 days until Christmas Eve!By now you may have been overwhelmed by the holiday crazies. Here are some thoughts to help you get back on track. SIMPLE TRUTH: As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our…

Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has…

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She…

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. Know this: What I have spoken will come true at…

An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him…

God Chooses a Family for His Son During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They…