Life and Death - The Greatest Pro-Life Story Every Told

From: Steven Ertelt  Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009

The Greatest Pro-Life Story Ever Told

In what we at LifeNews.com plan to make an annual tradition, in lieu of any pro-life news, today, on Christmas, we present you with the best news. You might call the news of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, The Greatest Pro-Life Story Ever Told.

Nothing we ever write at LifeNews.com can ever compare to the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus.
The story has all of the elements of a crisis pregnancy situation that our friends at pregnancy centers see every day. A young mother, hopeful about her future but unsure what impact an unplanned pregnancy will have on it. A father who isn't quite ready to father and a couple who plan to marry but don't believe they have the resources or capacity to care for a child.

In this trying time for our nation and world -- with the promotion of abortion reaching historic proportions in both the health care debate in the United States and with places like Spain and Latin America pressured to legalize it -- the uplifting story of Jesus brings us real hope for the future and an assurance that it can truly be well with our soul.

Without further ado, please enjoy the Greatest Pro-Life Story Ever Told, as presented by one of the first internationally recognized pro-life doctors, St. Luke.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy  Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be    For Nothing is impossible with God."  gg                 

Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary's Song
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 2 - The Birth of Jesus

In 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.

So 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. 6While 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.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And 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. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Thank you for your dedication to protecting God's unborn children this year and we look forward to working with you to protect them in 2010.

Have a truly blessed and Merry Christmas and may the joyous peace that passes understanding be with you and your family as you celebrate today.

Blessings,
Steven Ertelt, Editor
LifeNews.com

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