Christmas Advent

As Jake and I are approaching Christmas, we have been very thoughtful towards how we are engaging Christmas with our children. Last year, we felt that Christmas just happened to us, and we threw Christ in as we could. This year, we’re wanting to really understand Christmas morning as an Israelite would have…anticipating Christ with the nation of Israel, experiencing joy with Elizabeth, trusting with Joseph, hoping with Mary, worshiping with the Magi…as we teach our children the true importance of this celebration. As we reflect on the coming of the Christ-child, we are learning how to anticipate the coming of Christ, remembering His promise to return for His people.

Since the weather outside is definitely not frightful, and there’s no delightful snow for North Texas in the forecast any time soon, it’s easy to forget the busyness of the coming weeks. Trying not to get hustled and bustled, in a culture that does nothing but hurry the season away, is pretty difficult. In fact, if you’re not diligently pursuing rest in Him, you may quickly drift away into this hurried season.

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Hebrews 2:1

So what if we saw Christmas newly this year? What if we heard the Christmas story from the perspective of an Israelite? What if we saw the star and remembered the promise of a covenant made by a Holy God? What if we rejoiced in the fields with the shepherds? What if we heard the cries of a Savior and fell down in worship, knowing that only He is worthy? What if we actually saw Christ in Christmas?

As a family, we are beginning a new tradition this year as we prepare our hearts and lead our children to celebrate Christmas! We are making a “Jesse Tree” (More info about a Jesse tree here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/ask-pastor-john/what-did-christmas-day-look-like-in-your-home-as-your-kids-grew-up), and we are reading through a series of scriptures together as a family. The scriptures were chosen as sort of an overview/history of the Israelites, giving new perspective as we enjoy Christ, the Savior, born in Bethlehem.

Below is the overview of the scripture. Many companies make ornaments that you can purchase online or in a store. Others have some that you can download and color yourself. I think our family will read the story, and create a simple ornament to hang on the tree. Some may even choose not to do an ornament, but to just enjoy reading through the scripture.

However you choose to lead your family into Christmas this year, I encourage you to enjoy Him in the midst of it all!

Table of Scripture Readings for the Story

Date	Persons	Events/Themes	Scripture	Symbols
First Sunday	Introduction of the Jesse Tree		1 Sam 16:1-13 Isaiah 11:1-10	The Tree
Mon	God	Creation	Gen 1:1-2:3	Dove
Tues	Adam and Eve	The First Sin	Gen 2:4-3:24	Tree with Fruit or Apple
Wed	Noah	The Flood	Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17	Rainbow or Ark
Thurs	Abraham	The Promise	Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6	Field of Stars
Fri	Isaac	Offering of Isaac	Gen 22:1-19	Ram
Sat	Jacob	Assurance of the Promise	Gen 27:41-28:22	Ladder
Second Sunday	Joseph	God's Providence	Gen 37, 39:1-50:21	Sack of Grain or Coat
Mon	Moses	God's Leadership	Exodus 2:1-4:20	Burning Bush
Tues	Israelites	Passover and Exodus	Exodus 12:1-14:31	Lamb
Wed	God	Giving the Law at Sinai	Exodus 19:1-20:20	Tablets of the Ten Command-ments
Thurs	Joshua	The Fall of Jericho	Joshua 1:1-11, 6:1-20	Ram's Horn Trumpet
Fri	Gideon	Unlikely Heroes	Judges 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 11-8:28	Clay Water Pitcher
Sat	Samuel	The Beginning of the Kingdom	1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9	Crown
Third Sunday	David	A Shepherd for the People	1 Sam 16:1-23-17:58, 2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:1-17	Shepherd's Crook or Harp
Mon	Elijah	The Threat of False Gods	1 Kings 17:1-16, 18:17-46	Stone Altar
Tues	Hezekiah	Faithfulness and Deliverance	2 Kings 18:1-19:19, 32-37	An Empty Tent
Wed	Isaiah	The Call to Holiness	Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7	Fire Tongs with Hot Coal
Thurs	Jeremiah	The Exile	Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11	Tears
Fri	Habakkuk	Waiting	Habakkuk 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19	Stone Watchtower
Sat	Nehemiah	Return and Rebuilding	Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22	City Wall
Fourth Sunday	John the Baptist	Repentance	Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30	Scallop Shell
Mon	Mary	The Hope for a Future	Luke 1:26-38	White Lily
Tues	Elizabeth	Joy	Luke 1:39-56	Mother and Child
Wed	Zechariah	Anticipation	Luke 1:57-80	Pencil and Tablet
Thurs	Joseph	Trust	Matt 1:19-25	Carpenter's Square or Hammer
Fri	Magi	Worship	Matt 2:1-12	Star or Candle
Dec 24	Jesus	Birth of the Messiah	Luke 2:1-20	Manger
Dec 25	Christ	The Son of God	John 1:1-18	Chi-Rho Symbol