The Christmas Journey

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

The Christmas Journey

Michael Storrings for the beautiful artwork. Your talents run in excess.

Jennifer Gates and Esmond Harmsworth for keeping the book alive, and Jen Enderlin for your enthusiasm.

Mary Weekly for her help and kindness beyond measure.

Troy, Gracie, Kate, and David for keeping the wonderment in Christmas!

From Luke 2:1–20

I
n those days
Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

S
o Joseph also
went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

A
nd there were
shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.