Children's Christian Corner

Joseph loved Mary very much but when he heard the news of her pregnancy, he was very saddened and confused.

He did not  know what to do, but God did

As Joseph slept, the angel appeared to him in his dreams saying, " Joseph, God wants you take Mary as your wife.

She is carrying God's child and He wants you to take care of her. This baby is very special! You are to call him Jesus; he shall save his people from their sins.

God has found you faithful and worthy of raising His child. This is a great blessing from Him! So fear not to take Mary as your wife, everything will work out, God is in control."

Joseph woke up and ran to Mary's house. " Mary, Mary! I just had a dream! You are to be my wife. An angel told me."

Mary was so happy, they hugged and praised God together.

Caesar Augustus, the ruler at that time, ordered everyone to pay their taxes in the city they were born in.

This was distressing news for Joseph and Mary.

It meant they would have to travel a long ways to go to Joseph' s home in Bethlehem and the baby was due soon.

He was not pleased with the news but then he remembered a scripture, a prophecy he was taught about the birth of the Messiah. Joeseph marveled at " God's Mysterious Ways"...

Joseph did everything possible to make the trip easy for Mary.

When they arrived in Joseph's hometown, there was nowhere for them to stay, all the rooms in the inns where full...

So they stopped and prayed together asking God to provide a place and that He would have His Perfect Way.

Then Joseph remembered the stable -- a place where he used to play when he was a boy -- he used to love to go there to see all the different animals.

" Mary I will take you to the stable it will be dry and warm there. It' s not too much farther" , he said.

Joseph prepared a place for Mary to have the baby. She was so happy to be out of the cold and in a sheltered area. It was not long afterward that Mary and Joseph were rejoicing at the birth of Jesus. They were so happy that everything worked out and that Jesus was a healthy baby. They wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.

Soon they both fell into a restful sleep.

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