ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ❄️ CELEBRATING A CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS: by Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler and Ryan Jeppesen
Hello, my wonderful reading friends! It’s Ani. I’m so glad you’re here to read with me. If you love stories, make sure to join me for more adventures!
Every Christmas, I like to read a special book about Jesus. This year, I have a wonderful book to share with you called “Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas: Children’s Edition.” It’s written by Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler, with beautiful pictures by Ryan Jeppesen. If you have the book, grab it and read along!
Long ago, Mary and Joseph traveled to a town called Bethlehem. They had to go there because the ruler, Caesar Augustus, wanted everyone to be counted and taxed. Mary and Joseph walked for days with their donkey, hoping to find a place to stay. But every inn was full until one kind innkeeper let them stay in a stable.
On the night Jesus was born, the innkeeper made room for him. How can you make room for Jesus in your heart this Christmas?
The stable was dark and dusty, but Joseph worked hard to make it cozy for Mary. He cleaned up and found soft straw for her to rest on. He even hung a lantern to light up the room. Joseph wanted everything to be perfect for the miracle about to happen.
If you were there, what would you have done to help get the stable ready?
That night, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. She wrapped him in soft cloth and held him close. As she looked at her tiny baby, she wondered about the amazing life he would have. Jesus’ birth was a miracle, and Mary knew it was just the beginning of many more.
What do you think Mary thought about as she held baby Jesus?
Nearby, shepherds were watching their sheep when angels appeared in the sky. The angels sang joyfully, announcing the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. The shepherds were amazed and excited to hear the good news.
Why do you think the birth of Jesus made the angels so happy?
The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. After they saw him, they couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the wonderful news. They shared the joy of Jesus’ birth with everyone they met.
If you were a shepherd, what would you tell others about Jesus?
Far away, wise men saw a bright star in the sky. They followed it to find Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When they found Jesus, they knelt down and worshiped him. Their journey to see Jesus changed them forever.
What is one way you can seek Jesus in your life?
The very first Christmas gift was Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This special gift from God inspired others to give from their hearts. The innkeeper, Joseph, Mary, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men all gave gifts of love and kindness.
What will be your gift to Jesus this Christmas?
I hope you enjoyed this story about putting Jesus at the center of Christmas. Merry Christmas, and see you next time!
Create Your Own Nativity Scene: Gather some simple materials like paper, crayons, and small boxes. Draw and cut out figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the wise men. Use the boxes to create a stable. Arrange your figures in the stable and tell the story of Jesus’ birth to a family member or friend. Think about how each character felt and what they might have said.
Kindness Advent Calendar: Make a calendar leading up to Christmas with a small act of kindness for each day. These can be simple things like helping a sibling, sharing a toy, or saying something nice to a friend. Discuss with your family how these acts of kindness can be gifts to Jesus, just like the wise men brought gifts to him.
Star Gazing and Storytelling: On a clear night, go outside with a family member and look at the stars. Imagine you are one of the wise men following the bright star to find Jesus. Share what you think the wise men talked about on their journey and what you would have done if you were with them. How can you follow Jesus in your own life?
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, my wonderful reading friends! It’s Ani. Thank you for joining me to read. If you want to explore more stories with me, be sure to subscribe. For shout-outs, book reviews, and other content, follow me on social media.
Every year, I like to read a Christmas book about Jesus, and this year I have a very special one to share. It’s called “Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas: Children’s Edition.” If you have a copy, go get it so you can read along with me!
This book is a family Nativity tradition written by Emily Bell Freeman and David Butler, illustrated by Ryan Jefferson.
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 1-3:** “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.”
The sun was setting, and all was quiet except for the sound of hooves clip-clopping along the dusty trail. They had been walking for days—Mary, Joseph, and the donkey. Now they were almost to Bethlehem, the place where baby Jesus would be born. Soon they would hold him in their arms and open wide a space for him in their hearts. But first, they had to find somewhere to stay—a quiet place. They searched the whole city, but everyone they asked turned them away until finally, someone offered Joseph and Mary a humble stable.
On the night Jesus was born, the innkeeper made room for him. How could you make room for baby Jesus as part of your Christmas celebration this year?
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 4-7:** “And Joseph also went up from Galilee unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And there was no room for them in the inn.”
The stable was dark and dirty. Even though he was tired, Joseph set to work clearing away the dung and sweeping away the dust. After searching for the cleanest straw, he prepared a soft place for Mary to rest. When he was finished, he hung a lantern in the doorway, and soft light blanketed the room. All was calm, and all was bright on this holy night. Joseph’s heartfelt desire was to make sure everything was ready for the miracle that was about to take place. They were weary from the journey, strangers in a city far from home, but Joseph knew what to do. On the night Jesus was born, Joseph acted with kindness.
If you had been there on the night Jesus was born, what would you have done to help get the stable ready?
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 6-7 and 19:** “And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
The night was silent, and holiness filled the stable. After she finished counting tiny fingers and wrinkled baby toes, Mary tenderly wrapped her beautiful baby boy in clean swaddling cloth. Then she took him into her arms. As she rocked him, the young mother leaned close and kissed his soft cheek. In the stillness of that evening, as she watched over her sleeping son, Mary’s heart filled with wonder. What would it be like to raise the Son of God, Jesus, the Savior of the world? His birth was a miracle, but Mary knew without a doubt that it was only the beginning of the miracles to come.
On the night Jesus was born, Mary pondered all these things in her heart. What do you think Mary pondered in her heart that night?
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 8-10 and 13-14:** “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angels said unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.’”
Suddenly, the night skies filled with hosts of angels, and the sound of their singing echoed through the hills. It was as if their hearts would burst with the great joy of the glad tidings they brought. Christ the Lord had come—God’s greatest gift. Their excitement overflowed from heaven on the night Jesus was born. The angels rejoiced.
Why do you think the birth of Jesus brought great joy?
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 15-18:** “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’”
They came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. After they had seen him, they went from house to house sharing the good news. They didn’t even have time to catch their breath. On the night Jesus was born, the shepherds shared his goodness.
If you had been a shepherd, what good news would you have shared about Jesus Christ?
**Matthew Chapter 2, verses 1-2 and 11-12:** “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.’”
When they arrived, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. They opened their treasures and presented him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were warned of God in a dream not to return to Herod, so they departed into their own country another way.
It was the star that beckoned them to Bethlehem, but it was the baby Jesus they were seeking. When the wise men finally arrived, they presented him their gifts. The aroma of myrrh and frankincense filled the air as they knelt before their King. The journey changed them forever.
On the night Jesus was born, the wise men began to seek him. What is one way you could seek Jesus?
**Luke Chapter 2, verses 11-12:** “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
The very first gift of Christmas was wrapped in swaddling clothes—a tiny baby. That’s how Christmas came to be. It started because of a gift—God’s greatest gift, a gift that prompted giving in return.
The innkeeper made room, Joseph acted in kindness, Mary pondered, angels rejoiced, shepherds shared his goodness, and wise men began to seek him. On the night Jesus was born, those who loved him offered gifts from their hearts.
What will be your gift to Jesus Christ this Christmas season?
I love how this book shares wonderful ways in which we can put Jesus at the center of our Christmas. I hope you enjoyed it too. Merry Christmas! See you next time!
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