"Bedtime Bible Stories"

From the Book of Luke,
Chapter 2, Verses 1-6

Caesar Augustus was the ruler of the whole
Roman Empire. In order to collect taxes
from the people his armies had conquered,
Caesar decided everyone should be
counted. So he ordered everyone to go
back to the town or city where they were born and be
counted by his soldiers.

Joseph had to return to the town of Bethlehem. He
had to take Mary with him, even though she was almost
ready to have her baby.
After a long, hard journey, they finally arrived. The
town was very crowded, since everyone else who had
ever been born there had been ordered back as well.
Joseph looked all over the place for an inn where they
could spend the night, but every place was filled. There
were no vacancies anywhere.
To make matters worse, Mary was going to have
her baby! But the Lord must have been watching over
them. They found a stable, where animals were kept. It
was quiet and warm. It was there that baby Jesus was
born. It was the very first Christmas.