Scripture for today: Genesis 2:4-3:13 -- The Fall of Adam and Eve
Symbol: A tree with lovely-looking fruit
This year our family will be celebrating Advent with a Jesse tree.
What is a Jesse tree, you ask?
The idea of the Jesse tree comes from Isaiah 11:1-9, where God promises a discouraged nation that the glory they remember from David's time will come to them again. They will have another king from Jesse's family, in whose reign the whole earth will know God. Christians see that promise fulfilled in Jesus, and so we put up a Jesse tree and decorate it with reminders of how God prepared the world for that Kingdom. (taken from Darcy James' book Let's Make a Jesse Tree!)
There are many ways of doing this. We have a designated tree in our living room that we are calling our Advent tree. We talked with the boys before starting this that Advent means "coming" and how we are to think about Jesus' coming to the earth during this time, rather than presents, Christmas parties, shopping and everything else that has shoved Christ out of Christmas. I promise not to rant here but it gets harder and harder each year, thanks to the media and our culture, to slow down and reflect on what Christmas really is about.
So each day of Advent I will post the Scripture reading for the day that we will be doing with our boys and the symbol and its meaning of what was placed on our Advent tree for the day. We would love for you to join us in reading and thinking about Christ this Advent season!
And on Christmas day, we will post a picture of our Advent tree in all its glory with all of the ornaments representing God's love and plan for us, His children.
Praying your family will be mindful and prayerful this season as we try to do the same.
Symbol: A tree with lovely-looking fruit
This year our family will be celebrating Advent with a Jesse tree.
What is a Jesse tree, you ask?
The idea of the Jesse tree comes from Isaiah 11:1-9, where God promises a discouraged nation that the glory they remember from David's time will come to them again. They will have another king from Jesse's family, in whose reign the whole earth will know God. Christians see that promise fulfilled in Jesus, and so we put up a Jesse tree and decorate it with reminders of how God prepared the world for that Kingdom. (taken from Darcy James' book Let's Make a Jesse Tree!)
There are many ways of doing this. We have a designated tree in our living room that we are calling our Advent tree. We talked with the boys before starting this that Advent means "coming" and how we are to think about Jesus' coming to the earth during this time, rather than presents, Christmas parties, shopping and everything else that has shoved Christ out of Christmas. I promise not to rant here but it gets harder and harder each year, thanks to the media and our culture, to slow down and reflect on what Christmas really is about.
So each day of Advent I will post the Scripture reading for the day that we will be doing with our boys and the symbol and its meaning of what was placed on our Advent tree for the day. We would love for you to join us in reading and thinking about Christ this Advent season!
And on Christmas day, we will post a picture of our Advent tree in all its glory with all of the ornaments representing God's love and plan for us, His children.
Praying your family will be mindful and prayerful this season as we try to do the same.
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