Day 24 of Advent - Jesus is the Everlasting Father

DAY 24: JESUS IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

A good way to symbolize this on our Christmas tree would be to hang a picture of our earthly father on the tree. The thing about our earthly fathers is that no matter how hard they try, or no matter how much they love us...there is simply no comparison to how much WE OURSELVES ARE CHERISHED AND ADORED by our Heavenly Father!

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,

As I was getting ready to blog this morning I was thinking about how very good this Advent Season was for me. I know that I wasn't alone, I'm never alone when I am exploring The Word, but knowing that someone else that I know, if they were lonely at this Christmas season...could, if they wanted to, join me each day to celebrate, was a good feeling.

Traditions serve many purposes. They remind us of the reason for things, they provide a history, they provide continuity through our lives and they are far more concrete in our minds as we grow from childhood on into adulthood and beyond than any gift that we might get.

Tonight we will again read "The Night Before Christmas" and tomorrow, 'papa John will read the Christmas Story....which will be as exciting and moving as if it were the first time I heard it. In fact there are things that I have learned this month, doing Advent that will make it even better.

Thank you for joining me! Enjoy this Christmas Eve and remember to savour your traditions.

Day 23 of Advent - Jesus is the Lamb of God

DAY 23: JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD

Well, there are only two more days until Christmas. How exciting! Today the name of Jesus that I am exploring is that Jesus is the Lamb of God. I love how John the Baptist introduced us to our Savior at the start of his ministry!

John 1:29 Behold, the Lamb of God
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

and the Disciple John in his end of life Revelation:

Revelation 5:12
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Jesus is the everlasting payment of sin. From the time of the Exodus from Eqypt the Jewish People killed a passover lamb to remind themselves of how the angel of death had passed over them. Jesus came to be the perfect and final payment of our sins and to give us everlasting relationship with God....thru himself as our sacrifice.

So make ornaments with your kids out of cotton balls and add them to your tree. Reminding us that Jesus came and paid for our sin. He is the Lamb of God!

ADVENT DAY 18 - Jesus the Horn of Salvation

DAY 18: JESUS IS THE HORN OF SALVATION

Luke 1:68-69
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Thanks to Sophia for the wonderful picture...and the verse says it all!

Advent Day 17 - Jesus The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Well you can see that my grandson is not the happiest of Lions this past Halloween. The Lion that my great nephew colored is much brighter and happier.

Lions are big and scary....not an animal to mess with. That's why they are called the King of the Jungle....they are at the top of the chain!

What is interesting about this is.....that Jesus Christ is the TOP OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND....and yet he acted like and servant....and that was the example he set for me!

DAY 17 JESUS IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Questions/Discussion: Why is the lion called the king of the jungle? How is Christ like a lion? How should this truth affect our lives?

Advent Day 16 Jesus the Risen Lord

DAY 16 JESUS IS THE RISEN LORD
Now there are plenty of creative ways that we could represent The Risen Lord on our Christmas trees. One obvious one would be a cross. This year for a friend of mine, her greatgrandkids colored pictures and I used shrinky dink paper to shrink them down to ornament size. She actually has a picture colored by her grandchildren of an empty tomb on her Christmas tree and also a cross.

Another cool activity is the Easter Story cookies....you experiance an object lesson...and get Christmas cookies to boot! http://www.allhomemadecookies.com/recipes/drop/easterstorycookies.htm

And yet again, the lowliest of the lowly was chosen to discover the great event...women who were no of consequence....were the ones to get the great news first!

Matthew 28:5-8
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Enjoy today and know that there is noone that God counts as lost....he loves us all!

Advent Day 14 and 15 Priest and King

DAY 14: JESUS IS THE PRIEST
The idea of a Priest was one that made total sense to the religious Jewish population and to many of us as well. We understand that a Priest is a mediator....someone who stands between us and God. Moses was such a priest and often he was very frustrated with the people's unwillingness to do what they knew was right.

When Jesus came, he came to be the final priest...the one that we have access to 24/7

Hebrews 5:9-10
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man 1]Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 9:15

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.



DAY 15: JESUS IS THE KING

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

Revelation 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

So, if Jesus is the King, no the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...what does that mean to us this Christmas season. How does this make how we live and what we do important.

ADVENT DAY 13 (I'm late) Jesus THE Prophet

DAY 13 JESUS IS THE PROPHET

OK I can use some help here if anyone is following this blog. Jesus is THE prophet. The one that was foretold by Moses. Daniel and Isaiah. But what sort of emblems or symbolism do we use that would indicate a prophet. The advent book "Celebrate with Joy" suggests using a megaphone or microphone.

The really neat thing is that not only did the prophets foretell about Jesus' coming...but they even provided a timeline that was followed by the Wisemen from the East....ultimate scholars of the day, that allowed them to track and find the newborn king. And the rulers believed in the validity of those prophesy's enough that when the wisemen showed up, they too tried to find Jesus...but in an effort to prevent him from accomplishing his mission to provide us a way back to relationship with our Father (and his).

So tell me, what would be a good symbol for the tree that would indicate a prophet or prophecy?

Acts 3:22-23
Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

Acts 7:37
This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.'

Advent Day 12 - Jesus is the Creator

DAY 12: JESUS IS THE CREATOR
When I read the creation story I am always amazed by HOW creation happened....It was spoken into being! And then I realize that I am his creation and that although mankind chose (and continues to choose) a sinful path that the Christmas season is proof of a love beyond belief. He came to provide us a way back to him! Now that is amazing.

John 1:3
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Revelation 4:11
Worthy are you our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created.”

Day 11, Jesus is the Supporter and Sustainer

DAY 11: JESUS IS THE SUPPORTER AND SUSTAINER


Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Matthew 7:24-27

Matthew 7:24-27 Build Your House on the Rock
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

If you have ever played "blocks" with an 1-1/2 to 3 year old you will trully understand what it is to build a building that is quickly wiped out. Jesus is a foundation upon which we can build and not worry about the tempests of life (or of 2year olds *wink*)

Advent Day 10 - Jesus is a Servant

DAY 10: JESUS IS A SERVANT

I remember when I was three or four years old being called to the table for lunch. Naturally we had to wash up before going to the table, so having many siblings there was a fight as to who would get to wash up first (sibling rivelry at it's very best)During the commotion I remember my mother saying that when we get to Heaven the first will be last and the last will be first.....then there was a fight for who would be last! We obviously didn't get the whole idea of being a servant. It is interesting though how children do have the seed of servanthood already planted in their little hearts...waiting for the parental example and encouragement. Just watch little kids trying to help mommy and daddy!

For the adults of us....how about those individuals that you just LOVE because they always seem to be there for you. What an example of God's love thru servanthood.

When we follow Jesus...that is what we are called to be....servants just as he was!


Luke 22:27
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

John 13:4-15
(Jesus) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

December 7, Day 7 of Advent - Jesus is the Door

John 10:7
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

When I would visit my grandmother's house as I was growing up I remember a picture that she had on the wall. It was a picture of a stone wall with a door in it. The interesting thing about the picture was that the door had no handle.

I don't remember if there was an inscription on the picture but if there was I am sure that it would have been Luke 11: 9-10. Luke tells us that Jesus said, "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opended to you. For everyone who asks, receives, Eveyone who seeks, finds. and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

And then John 10:7 says that Jesus actually told us that he was the door.

So on Day 7 of the Advent we realize that another name for Jesus is the Door.....

Advent Day 6 - Jesus is the Vine

Day 6: Jesus is the Vine

I think that I'm going to have to look for some grape vines to add to my Christmas tree this year....I'll have to include a picture....if I find some and if they look cool!

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Grafting is a real science. You know there are citrus trees that have all different kinds of fruit on them, and rose bushes that have been grafted into trees....I don't know a whole lot about all of this, but I do know that if the plant that the fruit or flowers have been grafted into isn't healthy....neither are the branches.

So John, when he was quoteing Jesus as telling them that He was the vine...he was letting us know THE secret to success....ABIDE IN HIM (Jesus) and He'll abide in you!

Advent Day 5 - Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star

Star! Have we ever seen a star on the Christmas Tree! OK.....naturally we have. Often the Star is the crowning glory of the tree. Many families have traditions of when the star is put on the tree and some even have traditions of who puts the star on the tree.

One of the things about winter in Montana is that it is dark....a lot! The other morning I was driving to work in the dark and was looking at all of the beautiful stars in the sky....but one was shining just a little more brightly than the others....the morning star. When you see that morning star....you know that it won't be long before the sun is up and shining.....and that gives you HOPE!

I think that it is amazing that the prophets foretold the coming of Jesus and Peter thought so too!

2 Peter 1:19
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts

That was then......but guess what.....there was (and is more to come)....

Revelation 2:28
And I will give him the morning star.

Revelation 22:5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

So if you don't already have a tradition of having a star on your tree....how about making a batch of star cookies and contemplating that Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star.

Day 4: Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega


Alpha and Omega are letters that are at the beginning and end of the Greek alphabet.



One of the ways we can celebrate Advent is with a "Jesse" Tree. This is a Christmas tree that you put a new ornament on every day as you celebrate the Advent. If you had a "Jesse" Tree you would have put lights on it the first day, little loaves of bread the second day lilys and roses the third day and today the letters A and Z and my precious sister's oldest grand-daughter and she (herself) colored these pictures...which will be turned into ornaments to add to their tree.



Revelation 1:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”


Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”



So today, December 4th I am contemplating...How is Jesus both the start and the finish, the beginning and the end? Where was Jesus before He was born in Bethlehem? Where is Jesus now? I am amazed at how knowing these things gives me the greatest hope.....What a joy it is to know that he IS and WAS and IS TO COME!!

Day 3: Jesus is the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley.

I had my GREAT neices help me with this Advent project and I want to share a beautiful picture that Baila Silvy drew of a Lily of the Valley.

Song of Solomon 2:1 2:1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys

I'm going to be honest....I'm not sure of the meaning of Jesus being the Rose of Sharon or the Lily of the Valleys, maybe you can help me with that. I do know that when I lived in California I had a garden of hundreds of roses, many of very unique origin. Montana has very extreme weather conditions. My cousin Chrisy says that we do extreme gardening here and I really must agree with her. After we had been here three or four years I was feeling really heart sick, I was so missing my roses. I got us, got a cup of coffee and went out onto the deck, below me the whole hill side was covered in wild pink roses. It amazes me still, because it was a real gift and the only one that knew what I was feeling in my heart was MY Jesus! So when I think of the fact that Jesus is the Rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley I think of that day and that timely gift of wild roses.

Incidentally, there are no wild roses in that spot today....don't know if John accidentally zapped them with weed killer, but I really think that it was a gift that was just meant for that summer!

Bread

For Advent Day 2, should have been December 2....but I'm NOT going to let my tardiness stop me this year! *wink* Jesus is the Bread of Life

Picture colored and turned into an ornament for the “Jesse Tree” or regular Christmas tree is a loaf of bread. You can also have a small loaf of bread that you can break and eat together. Baila, my great neice helped her little brother color this picture of bread and I especially like it because she included the verse that was chosen even before Zeph's birth to include. Every little one is precious to our Lord and Savior.

The verses that tell us about Jesus being "The Bread of life" are quotes that he made...

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Questions/Discussion: What does Jesus mean when he says we will never hunger or thirst? How is Jesus the Bread of Life? How are we fed spiritually? Let me know what you think!

Bread

For Advent Day 2, should have been December 2....but I'm NOT going to let my tardiness stop me this year! *wink* Another name for Jesus is the Bread of Life

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

When we were kids we lived in Papua New Guinea...because it was a British Colony we were exposed to many customs that were more British than American.....one was the infamous fruit cake. Have you ever had a piece of fruit cake....I'm certain that it is healthy....it tastes like it. All of that to say that after we moved to Montana we met a lovely neighbor that makes a Christmas bread every year. It is excellent and I love to get it year after year. It is a sweet white bread with candied fruit in it that reminds me of the old fashioned fruit cake.....oh but it is sooo much better.

Maybe her Christmas bread can remind me each year that Jesus told us that HE IS the bread of life......and he wants us to make him a part of our lives.....he wants to be our sustenance.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

There are a lot of books out there that celebrate Advent plus Advent Calendars of all different types, sizes and costs. Perhaps I just wasn't looking because I'm only just beging to discover these in the past 5 years or so. One I really like for parents of small kiddos....was actually out of print for a few years, but is now available again. The Book is "Celebrate with Joy" by **** Check out their website by clicking here!

One of here suggestions is to concentrate on one aspect of Christmas for you Advent Celebration for the year.

So I'm going to look at the different names of Jesus.

DAY 1 -- JESUS - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

What does this mean? I'd love input from anyone who access' my blog on what you think about this.

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Years ago (I've been told) that the Christmas tree would be put up and decorated during the advent season, but candles would be added the last day as a reminder that Jesus is the Light of the World....I guess that we can understand why that would be a bit of a scary thing. I remember one of the ornaments that we hung on our Christmas tree every year when I was a kid was a light bulb that was from one of the very first Christmas tree light sets....it was the size of a regular light bulb too! How things change.

Another memory I have is that being a missionary's kid in PNG we just to take lanterns and go walking to the nearby village singing Christmas Carols. I guess that in essance was us sharing the 'light of the world'.


What memories do you have of "the lights of Christmas".

There is another good book that I got one Christmas by Ace Collins called "Stories behind the best loved Songs of Christmas" It's got lots of Christmas Carols which I will tell you about over the next few weeks (if you choose to join me). However, I didn't find one that talked about Jesus as the light of the world....can you think of any?

Now off to make some Christmas fudge with the grandkiddo and my sweet girl!

Christmas is coming

Well, while I have Jolene here I have taken advantage and asked her to help me figure out this blog thing.

"Christmas is coming!" Christian is running all over the house yelling this at the top of his lungs. What a fun thing to see, complete unabashed joy and excitment that Christmas is almost here!

Lately I have been thinking about the things that I remember about the many Christmas' that I have experianced and the traditions are the things that I treasure and remember the most. Since my children have grown up and moved out and on....it's bittersweet because the house is quieter and often when it's time to light the advent candle I find that I am doing it alone....not that I am feeling sorry for myself...just that ADVENT is such a wonderful season to celebrate with all of those that you love.

That is why this 'cybergranny' has decided to try to start a new tradition and celebrate with any and all who wish to join me in celebrating this Advent season....on the web!

Even though I got this idea in September, I am still 'late' getting it going....I had meant to post Day on on December 1st...but I have decided that I'm just going to make up for lost time and post several until I'm caught back up.

My family didn't have an Advent tradition, other than whatever the study was at church that year. I didn't realize that Advent is for learning about and the who, what, where and why of Christmas.

So here I go because........"Christmas is coming"