The idea for writing this book has been in my heart for some time. I guess it stems from a family Christmas gathering where we were given a "Christmas test" to see just how well we knew the Biblical story of Jesus' birth and the events leading up to it. Most Christians, including myself, feel like the birth of Jesus and the details about it, is one of the easiest stories from the Bible to tell. Taking this test, we were all surprised to learn that many of what we thought we knew came not from Scripture, but from traditional Christmas Carols, pageants, story books about Christmas, Nativity sets, and Advent.

Today the secular world has a commercial interest in promoting holiday entrapments that can easily take our eyes off the prize, Jesus Christ, the reason for the season.

It seems like Christmas comes earlier every year. Christmas trees and holiday decor begin showing up in craft stores and malls before the Thanksgiving turkey has even been cooked! It is my hope that this children's book with the history and Scriptures associated with it, will be used as a guide for spiritual inspiration for families who desire to put Christ first in their Christmas season preparations and celebrations. Rather than setting up the Nativity with all the rest of the Christmas decorations, hurriedly and in an effort to complete the holiday decor, each piece is done one at a time, or one day at a time, with the history and Biblical significance tied to it. We need to take time to appreciate, to meditate, to pray and perhaps even encourage ourselves to do something that brings Jesus into the life of someone else.

--Linda Ward

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