The Perfect Gift & the Perfect Sacrifice: Second Edition

By Ruth Bradford

THE PERFECT GIFT & THE PERFECT SACRIFICE are stories of how the Lord Jesus might have impacted the lives of ordinary people. When baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem a little more than 2000 years ago, we know he was visited by shepherds and kings, but what about those at the inn? What about people who lived and worked in the village of Bethlehem? How would a touch from the Creator of the Universe feel? The words and touch of the Master changed many lives including the lame, the blind, lepers, and even a thief. The reality of Gods only begotten Son is a continuing adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514432341

Ruth Bradford

Author, Ruth Bradford and her husband, Larry, are retired teachers. They have visited FHL over a period of 4 years, getting to know and love Lorraine, Celing, and the kids. This book is intended to share the blessing and bring glory to our Lord Jesus.

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The Perfect Gift & the Perfect Sacrifice

Second Edition

Ruth Bradford

Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Bradford.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5144-3235-8

                eBook          978-1-5144-3234-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scriptures taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Rev. date: 01/29/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

730398

CONTENTS

A Gift Of Love Samar, The Servant Boy

A Gift Of Answered Prayer The Shepherd Boy

A Reluctant Gift The Weaver's Wife

A Gift Of Water Dorcas And Deborah

A Gift Of Wood For A Warm Fire Peter And Jonathan

A Gift Of Music For A King Ezra

A Gift Of Forgiveness Martha And Andrew

A Gift Of Choosing Joash And Zab

THE PERFECT SACRIFICE

God In Three Persons

Angels To The Rescue

Jesus Comes In Like A King

Jesus Heals

A Carpenter And A Cross

A Heavenly Army

Even A Thief?

The Vinegar Boy

He Is Alive!

Jesus Forever

This book is dedicated to Pastor David and Cynthia Wester. Their commitment to the Lord Jesus is truly an inspiration.

A GIFT OF LOVE

SAMAR, THE SERVANT BOY

Luke 2:1, 3-5

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, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Samar, or Sam, as the innkeeper called him, did all the jobs that no one else wanted to do. He mucked out the stable and carted the dung to the garden area where the innkeeper's wife was never satisfied, no matter how carefully he mixed it with the soil. His sleeping area was a small cupboard under the stairs, and had been since he was six years old.

His beautiful ebony-skinned mother and dark-haired merchant father had brought him on the long trip to Bethlehem, when he was so small he could hardly remember. His mother and father had become terribly sick and died, while they were staying at the inn.

Well, boy, the gold your father had is gone, so since you have nowhere else to go, you will work for your keep. The innkeeper made Sam begin by carrying wood, and later, sawing and chopping logs to keep the fireplace burning.

One bitterly cold day, when he was about eight years old, he brought the ax down on a knot. It bounced off and cut deeply into his hand. It was a hard thing to lose his hand. But when the end of his arm finally healed, he was determined to work twice as hard to prove he could still earn his keep.

Hey, One-Hand, bring bread to our table! Too often, Sam had to endure harsh words. The other young men made fun of him. Year by year, he grew strong and tall, but the meanness of others only got worse.

Bring hot water to the kitchen, the innkeeper's wife demanded.

Sam carefully lifted the hot water basin, balancing it with his forearm and holding it tightly with his good hand. One of the young men put his foot in the way. Sam tripped. The scalding water ran down both of Sam's legs. Tears stung his eyes.

Clumsy boy! Clean it up and bring me more! the wife yelled. She had no sympathy for the boy, whom she treated like a slave.

His legs burned horribly. Four men at a table laughed and poked fun, as he mopped up the water.

One of the men, a soldier, then ordered him to brush and feed his horse.

He was glad to get away from the ridicule inside. He stepped out into the starry night. He noticed an unusually bright star overhead, that seemed to shed its light right onto Bethlehem.

Easy, horse, Sam said, as he tried to gentle the nervous animal. Here is grain for you. He began to rub the horse's sleek brown back with a rag. He must have hit a sore spot, because all of a sudden, the horse turned and nipped his ear.

Ow! he yelped, and put the cloth to his aching ear. When he looked at the cloth, it was filled with blood. Then he looked at the horse's back. The spot he had touched was raw where the saddle