"Momma, why am I so bad?" My daughter, Laura, cried out in anguish as the adrenalin from her latest and greatest temper tantrum wore off.
"Honey, every time you have a fit; every time you disobey and have to be disciplined; every time you hit your sister, these are all reminders of how sinful you are. They are reminders of how much you need Jesus to save you!" I said to her and drew her into my arms.
Her eyes grew wide as the truth sank in, "You mean, Every time I am bad,Jesus is there too?"
I smiled at the thought because I had a sudden thought of myself; fast forward about five minutes before with my angry and hopeless mindset toward my daughter and I was convicted- Jesus was with me too! Even through my sinful, unloving attitude toward my very own child. And yet he never treats me the way I treated her. My sin served only to remind me that I need a Savior as much as my little child needs a Savior and we both came to the realization together.
My daughter is now 8 years old and loves her Savior dearly, yet she still sins; I still sin, but we still know that when we do, Jesus is there, and oh! How aware we are of him when we are sinful because of the very fact that we need him to save us from ourselves!
For this very reason alone, I love Christmas time. Christmas serves as reminders of how much we need a Savior. I love to celebrate Advent because for the entire month of December our family will focus on this very thought- we need a Savior; the World needs a Savior and Jesus already did the Work on the Cross we need only believe and trust in his work on the Cross.
So, for the whole month of December, (I know, I know, I'm a couple of days short, but hey, I am not God- I do not get everything done like he does, but I will try my very best to follow through with this month, with His grace!), I will post ideas and scriptures to help you as you serve to instill Christ into your homes this Advent Season. God Bless!
Advent wreath: Light the first candle, the prophecy candle, on your Advent wreath, or make an olive branch and tree stump "Shoot of Jesse" to signify Jesus came from Jesse's family
"Honey, every time you have a fit; every time you disobey and have to be disciplined; every time you hit your sister, these are all reminders of how sinful you are. They are reminders of how much you need Jesus to save you!" I said to her and drew her into my arms.
Her eyes grew wide as the truth sank in, "You mean, Every time I am bad,Jesus is there too?"
I smiled at the thought because I had a sudden thought of myself; fast forward about five minutes before with my angry and hopeless mindset toward my daughter and I was convicted- Jesus was with me too! Even through my sinful, unloving attitude toward my very own child. And yet he never treats me the way I treated her. My sin served only to remind me that I need a Savior as much as my little child needs a Savior and we both came to the realization together.
My daughter is now 8 years old and loves her Savior dearly, yet she still sins; I still sin, but we still know that when we do, Jesus is there, and oh! How aware we are of him when we are sinful because of the very fact that we need him to save us from ourselves!
For this very reason alone, I love Christmas time. Christmas serves as reminders of how much we need a Savior. I love to celebrate Advent because for the entire month of December our family will focus on this very thought- we need a Savior; the World needs a Savior and Jesus already did the Work on the Cross we need only believe and trust in his work on the Cross.
So, for the whole month of December, (I know, I know, I'm a couple of days short, but hey, I am not God- I do not get everything done like he does, but I will try my very best to follow through with this month, with His grace!), I will post ideas and scriptures to help you as you serve to instill Christ into your homes this Advent Season. God Bless!
Advent wreath: Light the first candle, the prophecy candle, on your Advent wreath, or make an olive branch and tree stump "Shoot of Jesse" to signify Jesus came from Jesse's family
Isaiah 11:1-2 and add it to a homemade Christmas tree made from felt or green paper.
Scripture: Psalm 62:5-6 "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved. (KJV)
Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trust in thee. "(KJV)
Hebrews 10:23"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful... "
Thoughts: We must all wait for Christ return, but he alone is our source of strength and hope While we wait!
(Isaiah 40:31Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. (NASB))
Word to discuss: Prophecy: A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or some person informed by him, can utter a real prophecy. The prophecies recorded in Scripture, when fulfilled, afford most convincing evidence of the divine original of the Scriptures, as those who uttered the prophecies could not have foreknown the events predicted without supernatural instruction. 2 Pet.1 (From Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
Christmas Carol:
O Come, O Come Emanuel!
O come, O come, Emmanuel,And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
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Rejoice! Rejoice!Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,Who orderest all things mightily;To us the path of knowledge show,And teach us in her ways to go.
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O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
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Rejoice! Rejoice!Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,Who orderest all things mightily;To us the path of knowledge show,And teach us in her ways to go.
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O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;From depths of hell Thy people save,And give them victory over the grave.
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O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
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O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
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O come, Thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heavenly home;Make safe the way that leads on high,And close the path to misery.
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O come, O come, great Lord of might,Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
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O come, Thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heavenly home;Make safe the way that leads on high,And close the path to misery.
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O come, O come, great Lord of might,Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
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O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,An ensign of Thy people be;Before Thee rulers silent fall;All peoples on Thy mercy call.
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O come, Desire of nations, bind
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O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,An ensign of Thy people be;Before Thee rulers silent fall;All peoples on Thy mercy call.
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O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,And be Thyself our King of Peace.
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Craft: Make your own Snowman! http://www.castlearcana.com/christmas/snowman/index.html
Stained Glass Cookies:
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