Counting the Days, Lighting the Candles [Real File]

CountingtheDays,LightingtheCandles

ByElyseM.Fitzpatrick

&JessicaL.ThompsonWithJamiNato

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CountingtheDays,LightingtheCandles

AnAdventDevotional

WelovetheChristmasseason…mostly.Wesay“mostly”because,like

you,wegetcaughtupintryingtomakeitspecial,forgettingwhatmakesit

special:thebirthoftheSonofGod,JesusChrist;hence,thereasonforthislittle

adventdevotional.

AFewWordsBeforeWeBegin

Youcanchoosetousethisdevotionalanywayyoulike.Letitserve

youandyourfamily;pleasedon’tserveit.Wedon’twantyoutoendup

resentingitorfeelingenslavedtoitorguiltyifyoudon’tgetitdone.There

won’tbeanyruleshere,justsuggestionsabouthowtoutilizethiscelebrationin

yourfamily’slife.

Wecanjustseeitnow:amom,inthemiddleofreadingthedevotional,

yellsatherchildren,“Stoptalking!!I’mtryingtoreadtoyouaboutJesus!

Don’tyouknowthatJesusisthereasonfortheseason?!Stopaskingabout

presents!Ifyoudon’tsitstillyouwon’tgetany!And,Johnnie,putthelighter

downandstoptryingtolightyoursister’shaironfire!”

Aboveall,pleasedon’tmakethisawaytoearnrighteousnessor“make

atradition”thatwillsomehowsaveyourchildrenwhenthey,likeyou,are

“pronetowander.”Traditionsdon’tsaveus,theChrist-childdoes.

WehavealsolinkedtoaproductonAmazonthatyoumayormaynotlike.Use

it,don’tuseit,makeityourown,usethetraditionalcolorsofthecandles

(purple,pink,white),ornot.Ordon’tusecandlesatall.Ordigthroughadrawer

untilyoufindleftoversparklybirthdaycandlesandsticktheminpancakes.

Somewomenliketobedomesticgoddesses.That’sgreat.(It’snotwhereour

giftslieandwe’retryingnottobejealousofyou.)We’vealsoincludedaseries

ofsuggestedactivitiesforthoseofyouwhowouldenjoythiswithyourchildren.

Theseprojectsweren’tcreatedbyus!(Giantsurprise,weknow!)Theywere

createdbyourfriend,JamiNato,theCraftelangelooftheTactile-Sensory-How-

Did-She-Think-Of-ThatWorld.Ifyoudecidetodothem,mayyoubeblessed

withchildrenwhowon’t1)eatpasteinsteadoftheirpancakes,2)gluetheir

eyelidsshut,3)colorontheChristmasHymnalthathassomehowsurvivedall52

otherchildreninyourlineageandisnowbeingdestroyedbyyourfamily(Sorry

aboutthat,great-greatgrandma!),and4)playbarbershopwhileyou’relooking

formatches.

Thepointofallthis:toenjoythisevent,toenjoyyourchildren.The

childJesusdidn’tcolorinthelinesperfectlyeither.EnjoyHim.He’sherefor

you.

TheTradition

Traditionally,AdventCalendarshavefivecandlesonanevergreen

wreath(threepurple,onepink,andonewhitecandle.)Thefirstcandleisthe

ProphecyCandle.Thiscandlerepresentshopeorexpectationinanticipation

ofthecomingMessiah.

Thesecondcandle,purple,istheBethlehemCandle.Thiscandle

representsloveandChrist’sbirth.

Thethirdcandle,pink,istheShepherd’sCandle,representingjoy.

Thefourthcandle,purple,istheAngel’sCandle.Thiscandle

representspeace.

Finally,onChristmasEve,thewhitecandle--theChristcandle--is

lit.ItrepresentsthelightofthelifeofChristthathascomeintothe

world.ThewhiterepresentsChrist’spurity,foralthoughHewas

temptedinallwaysasweare,Heistheonlyonewithoutsin.Christis

thesinlessSavior,and,becauseofHisunparalleledloveandlife,those

whotrustHimbyfaithareforgivenfortheirsinsandaremadewhiter

thansnow.

TheEvergreenWreathrepresentingeternallife.

Likewesaidbefore,usethisdevotionalinanywayyoulike,anddon’t

worryifyoudon’tgetthisdoneeverydayorintherightorder.Wetellyounot

toworrybecauseyou’renottheonebringingChristtoyourchildren.TheHoly

Spiritdoesthat.Ofcourse,HemayuseyouasmeanstoaccomplishHiswork…

orHemaynot.YoucanprayandthentrustthatHewillusethisseasonandyour

entirelifeinjustthewayHechooses.

YoumaywanttodothisdevotionaleverydaybeginningonDecember

1,oryoumayjusthavetimetodoiteverySundayinDecember…orTuesdaysif

thatworksbetter.

Ifyourchildrenareabletolisten,youmightwanttoreadthe

entirepassageforeachdayaloud.Oryoucanjustreadittoyourself.Thepoint

isforyoutorelax,rest,andmostofall,rejoice.

We’veincludedreadingsforparentsandreadingsforchildren.Someof

yourolderchildrenmaywanttohearbothreadings,whileyourtoddlerswill

probablyjustenjoythefactthatmamaislightingacandle.

AwordfromJami

Fortheseactivitiesduringadvent,wesuggestthatyoupickonenightofthe

weekwithoutalotofevents.Forinstance,inourfamily,Tuesdaynightsare

soccerpracticenights,myhusbandoftenworksnights,I’mrushedtogetdinner

tothetableandoftenendupwithflamescomingoutofmyeyesby6pm.Thus,

adventactivitiesshallnothappenonTuesdays.Acknowledgeyourlimitations

andplanaccordingly.

Oursecondsuggestionis:Planaheadjustabit.Trytopickthesame

nighteveryweek,thenassillyasitsounds,writeitonyourcalendar.That

morning,gatheryoursupplies.Forme,whenIread,“thatmorning,”itusually

means,“20minutesbeforetheactivity.”Andthat’sok,too.SeeabovewhereI

discussacknowledginglimitations.Youwillnoticethattherearenoadvent

activitiesthelastweekofthis

devotional.Thisisintentional,asitwilllikelyalreadybe

filledwithmanyactivitiesandevents.

Pleaseenjoythetimetogetherwithyourfamily!Thethirdsuggestion:

Limitdistractions.Putthosesmartphonesinthefireplaceandwatchthemturn

intocolorfulsparksasyoutellstoriesaroundthefire.Ok,maybejuststickthem

intheotherroom?Puttingthedistractionsawaysaysthatthistimetogetheris

important.Itisdifficulttofocusduringtheholidaysanyway,sokeepingsome

timesetapartforfocusedinteractionwithGod’swordandeachotherisneeded

andbeneficial.

Andsowebegin,countingthedays,

andlightingthecandles...

December1[i]

Lightthefirst(purple)candle(theProphecyCandle),which

representshopeorexpectationinanticipationofthecomingMessiah

Read:Psalm113

ThoughtsforParents:

Itisrighttobeginthisseasonofadventbysaying:

“PraisetheLord!...Fromtherisingofthesuntoitssetting,thenameof

theLordistobepraised!”[ii]

Yes,ofcourseweknowthatweshouldpraisetheLord.Weknowthat

HeisgoodandthatHedeservesourworship,butsometimeswefinditdifficult

togetthere.Andthen,whenwediscoverthatcoldnessinoursouls,wewonder

whetherHestilllovesusatall,whichresultsinacompletedearthofheartfelt

praise.

Here’sthegoodnewsfromourreading:“TheLordishighaboveall

nations,andHisgloryisabovetheheavens!”Yes,He“sitsonhigh”butHealso

looksfardownonthe“heavensandtheearth.”He“raisesthepoorfromthedust

andliftstheneedyfromtheashheap.”Yousee,thegoodnewsisthatGodisn’t

onlytranscendentandsovereign.No,notatall.ThegoodnewsisthatHe’salso

imminent—He’swithyourightthere,rightwhereyouare,rightnow.Howdo

weknow?WeknowbecauseofChristmas;GodtheSoncametoearthasJesus

theManforoneprimaryreason:toraisethepoorfromthedustandrescuethe

needyfromthetrash.Rejoice!Hecameforyouandyourfamily,nomatterhow

lowly,howinsignificant,orhowmuchyoustruggle.Heseesyourpovertyand

yourneediness,andHe’scometoansweritall.

ThoughtsforChildren:

DoyoueverfeellikeGodisfarawayfromyou?OrlikeHeissobigand

powerfulthatHewouldnevernoticealittlechildlikeyou?Ourversestodayin

Psalm113talkaboutthatverything.Yousee,Godisbigandpowerful.Our

versessay,“Heisseatedonhigh.”Imaginesomeoneinaverybigthrone

lookingdownoneverybodyelse,thinkingimportantthoughts,anddoing

importantthings.Youprobablythinkthatsomeonesoimportantdoesn’tcare

aboutunimportant,littlekids;but,yousee,ourGodisdifferent.Ourversessay

thatGodtakesthemostunimportantpeopleandraisesthemuptositwithallthe

princes.Godreallydoesseeyou.Godreallydoesloveyou.Aswegetcloseto

Christmas,wearegoingtoseethatGodlovesussomuchthatHegaveusthe

bestgiftpossible.Hegivesgiftstothepeoplethatmosteverybodyelsewouldn’t

evenbotherwith.GodgivesgiftstousbecauseHelovesus,notbecauseweare

bigandpowerful.

December2

Read:2Peter3:8-10

ThoughtsforParents:

ManypeopleinChrist’sdaydidn’trecognizeHiscoming,butthatdidn't

stopHimfromlovingthemandsavingthem.Andmanypeopletodaydon’t

recognizeHimeither,butthatdoesn’tstopHimfrombeingpatientandwaiting

fortheirsalvationtobecomplete.TheLordmayreturnwhileyou’rereadingthis

orHemaynotreturnuntilafteryou’relonggone.Wedon’tknowwhenHe’s

comingbackbutwedoknowthatHe’snothesitatingbecauseHe’sangry.No,

He’shesitatingbecauseHe’s“notwishingthatanyshouldperish,butthatall

shouldreachrepentance.”

Jesus’contemporarieswerewaiting,too.Theywerewaitingforthe

Messiah,fortheOnetocomewhowouldsetthemfreeandsavethem.Even

thoughmanydidnotrecognizeHim,whenHecame,Hestillmarchedonfrom

BethlehemtowardCalvaryandtheirsalvation.

Inthispassage,youarethe“beloved”ofGod,thosewhomHehas

chosenandloved.Yet,therearestillother“beloveds”whohaveyettocometo

Him,perhapsevenmembersofyourfamily.Don’tbeanxious,becauseHe’snot.

He’swaitingbecauseHelovessinners.Intheend,ineternityyou’llseethat

everythingcametogetherjustwhenandasitshouldhave.Everythingwrongwill

bemaderight.Everythingsadwillbemadejoyous.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Waitingisveryhard,especiallywhenyouarewaitingforsomethingthat

youreallywant.Wehave23daysuntilwecelebrateChristmas,andeveryday

feelslikeathousandyears.InourversestodaywehearaboutwhatGodis

waitingfor;Heiswaitingtocomeagain.Jesusalreadycameonceaverylong

timeago;HecameasababyandthatiswhatwecelebrateatChristmastime.He

camebecauseHelovesus.

HewantedtomakeawayforustobeapartofHisfamily.Hecame

becauseHeknewwewereallsinners,whichisjustafancywayofsayingthat

Heknowswedon’tobeythewayweshouldorlovethewayweshould.The

terriblethingaboutsiniswhereversingoestearsfollow.Hecamebecausewe

wantedustorepent,whichisjustafancywayofsayingthatweneedtosaywe

aresorryforalltheunkindthingswehavedone.

ThedayHecomesbackagainwillbethedaythatallsadthingswill

becomeunsad.Everythingthatiswrongwillbecomeright.Allthetearsandall

thesinwillbegone.EverydaywewaitforChristmasday,werememberhow

Jesusiswaitingtocomebackonemoretime.ThereasonHeiswaitingis

becauseHewantslotsandlotsofpeopletorepentandbecomeapartofHis

foreverfamily.Youcanbecomepartof

Hisforeverfamilytoday.Youdon’thavetowait.Allyouhavetodoisbelieve

thatHelovesyoueventhoughyoudisobey.

December3

Read:Genesis3:15

ThoughtsforParents:

Everythinghadgoneterriblywrong.Thebeautifulparadisewas

ruined.Theirsweettransparencyandvulnerabilityandintimacywasshattered.

ForthefirsttimeAdamandEveknewshame,embarrassment,andhumiliation.

Theywerelostfromeachother,fromtheirLordandfromthepromiseofa

blessedlife.Theyhid.Theytriedtocoverthemselvesupfromthejudgmentthat

theyknewwascoming;theytriedtomakethemselvespresentable.Andeven

thoughtheywerejudgedandthecurseofdeathfordisobediencewasplaced

uponthemandalltheirchildren,theydidn’tgetwhattheytrulydeserved.No,

insteadofdeaththeyweregivenapromise:Apromisethatalltheirfollywould

beplaceduponaMan--adescendantofEvetheSinner--whowouldbebruisedin

theirplace,butwhowouldcrushtheirenemybeneathHisheel.Salvationwould

come;ababywouldbebornfrom“heroffspring”--Mary,Eve’sdescendant

wouldlaborandgivebirthinhumiliation,shame,andisolation—andthisbaby

wouldbeaConquerorandwouldforevertriumphoverthewickedonewho

delightedindestroyingthebeautytheLordHehatedhadloved.

Thisdescendantwouldcrushtheenemythrough

shame,humiliationandisolation,byhangingonacross,alone.Wecantrustthat

theLordwillfulfillallHispromisestosaveusevenwhenwefeellost,ashamed,

andhumiliated.HeneverforgetsHisword;Heneverbreaksapromise.Heis

victoriousinallHedoes.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Intheverybeginning,AdamandEvesinned.They

decidedthatwhattheywantedwasmoreimportantthanwhat

Godwanted.ThereasonGodgivesusrulesisbecauseHe

lovesusandHeknowwhatisthebestwayforustobehappy.

HewantedAdamandEvetobehappy,buttheydidn’ttrustHisloveorbelieve

thatHewantedthemtobehappy.Satan,whowasdisguisedasaserpent,told

AdamandEvethattheycouldn’ttrustGod.Theychosetotryandmake

themselveshappyinsteadofobeyingwhatGodtoldthem.

AnytimewedisobeyGod’srulesitisbecausewedon’tbelieveHeloves

usenoughandwedon’ttrustthatHisheartisforus.Likewetalkedabout

yesterday,wheneverwesintearsalwaysfollow.Sadnessandsinalwaysgo

together.

TheexcitingpartaboutGodisHedoesn’tleaveusinoursadness.He

makesawayforustobehappyagain.HedidthatforAdamandEveonthat

verydaytheydisobeyedHim.HepromisedthemthatHewouldsendawarrior

tocomeandkilltheserpent.HepromisedthemthatHewouldwinthewar.And

eventhoughsometimesitlookslikesadnessmightwin,weknowGodalways

keepsHispromises.Jesuswasthewarriorthatcametobeattheserpent.Theday

HewasbornwasthedaythatSatan’sdefeatbecameareality.

December4

Read:Genesis12:1-3,7

ThoughtsforParents:

YesterdaywereadthatGodpromisedtocrushtheheadoftheserpent,

ourenemy,Satan,throughtheweaknessofaManborntoaweak,shamed

woman.TodayweseetheLordreiteratingthispromiseofblessingtoanother

flawedperson,amannamedAbrahamandhisflawedwife,Sarah.God

promisedthatthroughoneofAbraham’sdescendants,Hewouldbringblessing

onthewholeworld.Butthispromiseofblessingtothewholeearthwasn’t

fulfilledinIsaacorJacob.No,thesesonsweren’ttheoneswhowouldbringthe

blessing.TheApostlePaulappliesthepromiseofblessingtoJesus,

NowthepromisesweremadetoAbrahamandtohisoffspring.Itdoes

notsay,“Andtooffsprings,”referringtomany,butreferringtoone,

“Andtoyouroffspring,”whoisChrist(Galatians3:16).

InhissermonontheDayofPentecost,PeteridentifiedJesusastheone

whowouldbringthepromisedblessing,Youarethesonsoftheprophetsandof

thecovenantthatGodmadewithyourfathers,sayingtoAbraham,“Andinyour

offspringshallallthefamiliesoftheearthbeblessed.”Godhavingraiseduphis

servant,senthimtoyoufirst,toblessyoubyturningeveryoneofyoufromyour

wickedness(Acts3:25-26).

Jesus,theOneborninamanger,isnomereinfantofquestionable

lineage.He’saconquerorwhowillbringblessingtomillions,toJewsandto

Gentiles.Hedoesn’tdothisbymakinguswealthyorgivingusourperfectlife

now.

HedoesthisbyturningourheartstowardHimandaway

fromoursin.HegivesusfaithtobelieveinHispromiseandHeprovesthatHe

istrustworthybylivinganddyinginourplace.HemakesusbelievethatHeis

thatgoodandthatloving.Heisthepromisedblessing.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Ifyouweregoingtopickapersontobeyour

mostimportantwarriorinabattle,whowouldyouchoose?Youwouldprobably

choosethepersonfromthemostpowerfulfamilywiththestrongestmomand

dad.Youwouldprobablychoosetherichestpersonwhocouldbuythebest

weapons.Youwouldprobablychoosesomeonewhowasverypopularsothat

everybodywouldwanttobeonhisside.Well,thatisnothowGodchosewho

wasgoingtobeHismostimportantwarrior.Justlikewereadyesterday,God

promisedanothergroupofpeoplethatHewasgoingtosendsomeonetobethe

ConquerorofSatan.IntheOldTestament,Godpromisesoverandoveragain

thatHe

isgettingreadytosendsomeone.AndjustlikeyouarewaitingforChristmas

Day,thepeopleintheBiblekeptwaitingandwaitingfortheconquerortocome.

Goddidn’tchooseHiswarriorfromthestrongestortherichestorthemost

popularfamily.GodchoseHiswarriorfromafamilythatnobodyknew.God

didn’tpromisetosendaconquerorbecausethepeoplethatneededrescuingwere

goodandkind.Godsentaconquerorbecausethepeoplethatneededrescuing

wereweakandcouldn’tfightontheirown.

ActuallyHesentawarriortotheverypeoplethatwerefightingagainst

Him.HewantedtohelpandtakecareofthepeoplewhowereHisenemies,the

peoplethatdisobeyedHim.GodactedinthiswaybecauseHeisthemostloving

andthemostkind;GoddoesthistoshowusHisloveandHispower.Godgives

tousbecauseHelovestoblessHispeople.

HelovestotakecareofHisforeverfamily.Theconquerorthatwas

promisedwasJesus.AndChristmasDay,thedayyouarewaitingfor,wasthe

exactsamedayallthepeopleintheBiblewerewaitingfortoo,thedaythat

Jesustheconquerorwouldbeborn.

December5

Read:Isaiah7:14andMatthew1:23

ThoughtsforParents:

IsthereanysweeternamebywhichtocallJesusthanImmanuel?Heis

Godwithus.Ourfamiliaritywiththisnamehasnumbedoursensestothe

shockingnatureofwhatitmeans.Sayitoutloudtoyourselfrightnow,“God

withus.”ThisnameistheanswertothequestionwhoisJesus.Hisnameis

Immanuel.ByverynatureGod,JesusbecamecompletelymansothatHecould

bewithus.Heiswithusineverysenseoftheword.InthemovieMyBlue

Heaven[iii],SteveMartinhasalinethatherepeatsoverandoveragain,“I’m

withyou.WhenIsayI’mwithyouIdon’tmeanIunderstandwhereyou’re

comingfrom.Imean,I’mwithyou.”WhenMaryconceivedJesusbythework

oftheHolySpirit,thiswasGod’senduringproclamationthatHewaswithus.

Jesusbecomes

oneofussothatHecouldrelatetousineveryway.Hewastemptedasweare

“yetwithoutsin,”Heknewhowto“refusetheevilandchoosethegood.”

Ineveryareawherewechoosetheevilandrefusethegood,Jesus

continuestosayHeisGodwithus.Howisthispossible?Itisonlypossibleby

theworkofGod.HeinitiatestherelationshipbysendingJesustobewithus,and

thenHepursuesthisrelationshipbybreakingdowneverybarrier.Thispursuing

isseenMatthew1:21,“Shewillbearason,andyoushallcallhisnameJesus,for

hewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.”Godiswithuswiththepurposeof

savingusfromoursin.EverydayHechosegoodandrefusedevilsothatwe

couldbesavedfromoursin.EveryexcruciatingmomentoftemptationthatHe

facedwastoassureusthatHeknowsourlives,thatHeunderstandsourtrials,

andthatHeiswithus.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Backintheoldendaysyournamemeantalot.Itwasn’tjustsomething

yourmomordadyelledwhenshewantedyoutocleanupyourroom.Your

nameactuallyhadtodowithwhoyouwere.Jesus’nameisveryimportant.

JesuswascalledImmanuel,whichmeans“Godwithus.”Doyoueveryfeellike

youarealone?Doyoueverfeellikenooneunderstandsyou?GodnamedJesus

averyspecialnametoremindyouthatyouaren’talone…ever.GodsentJesusto

earthtomakesureweknowforafactthatwearen’talone.

DuringChristmas,wetalkalotabouthowJesuswasababy,buthave

youeverythoughtaboutthefactthatHewasalsoachild.Hewasayoung

person,justlikeyou.Hehadtolearnhowtoreadandwriteandtalkandwalk

justlikeyou.Hehadfriendsthatdidunkindthings,HehadtoshareHistoys,

andHehadtoobeyHisparents,justlikeyou.

ThebigdifferencebetweenyouandJesus,though,isthatHealways

chosetherightwaytoact.HedidthissothatHecouldmakethesecondpartof

Hisnamecometrue.HewascalledJesusbecausethatmeant,“hewouldsave

peoplefromtheirsin.”So,everytimeyouchoosetodothewrongthinginstead

oftherightthing,youcanrememberthispartofHisname:Hecametosaveyou

fromyoursin.Hecametolivethelifeyoucouldn’teverlivenomatterhowhard

youtry.Healsocametotakeallthepunishmentforallofthetimesyou

disobeyedandforallthetimesyouwilldisobeyinthefuture.Hecamesothat

youwouldknowyouareneveralone.HeisGodwithyouallthetime.

December6

Read:Isaiah9:6-7andMatthew1:18-25;4:16

ThoughtsforParents:

Today,manyparentsareawareofthegenderoftheirchildbeforeheor

sheisevenborn,and,consequently,theyhavetheprivilegeofpickingouta

namebeforebirth.Inourpassagetoday,we’reintroducedtoourSavior,butHis

nameissomethingsomuchmorethanjustaname.Hisnamenotonlytellsus

whattocallHim,italsotellsuswhatHe’sbeensenttodo.Considerthis:from

thetimethislittlebabyisborn,HisdestinyisalreadyplannedoutforHim.He

won’tbespendingHislifeinobscurity,followinginthefootstepsofHisearthly

father.

No,He’llbeawonderfulwisecounselor,He’llbethemightyGod,this

babywillbeaneverlastingFather—althoughHe’llnothaveanynaturalchildren

ofHisown.

And,althoughHewillspendmuchofHislifeinconflict,Hewillbea

PrincewhobringspeacewithHim;PeacefromHisFathertothoseinrebellion

againstHim,peaceamongmenandwomenwhousedtofightforpreeminence.

Aswonderfulasallthosetitlesare,thegreatestpromiseofallisthis,

“Andofhisgovernmentandpeacetherewillbenoend.”Thiswonderfulbabyis

establishingaruleofpeacethatwillneverend.Nomatterhowbleakthings

look;nomatterhowoverwhelmedordespairingorfaithlessyoufeeltoday,you

canbeassuredofonething:therewillbenoendofHisgovernmentandpeace—

notgovernmentatwar,butgovernmentandpeace.WithHisbirthinalowly

manger,He’sbringinginawholenewkingdom,andnothingwilleverstopHim.

ThoughtsforChildren:

YesterdaywelearnedwhatJesus’namemeant.We

learnedthatitmeanttwodifferentthings.Doyourememberwhattheywere?

HisnamemeansGodisalwayswithus,anditmeansthatHewilltakeawayour

sin.TodaywewilllearnalltheamazingthingsthathappenbecauseHeiswith

usandHetakesawayoursin.

TheBibledescribesJesusasaWonderfulCounselor.Thatisjustafancy

wayofsayingthatwheneveryoudon’tknowwhattodoyoucanaskHimfor

helpandHewillhelpyou,always.ThebibledescribesHimasaMightyGod,

whichmeansthatwheneveryouareafraidorfeellikethingsareoutofcontrol,

youknowthatHeisstrongandpowerful.Anotherwaythatourversetalksabout

JesusisasanEverlastingFather.Thismeansthatyoudon’teverhavetofeel

aloneorlikenooneislookingoutforyou,HeisyourdaddyandHewilllove

you,forever.

TheverylastwayJesusisdescribedisasaPrinceof

Peacethatremindsusthatwedon’thavetoworryaboutwhatGodthinks

aboutus.BecauseofwhatJesusdid,thereisandwillbepeacebetweenyouand

God,nowandforever.Godwillneverbeangrywithyou,aslongasyoubelieve

thatyouareasinnerandthatJesusisallofthesethingsforyoueventhoughyou

don’tdeserveit.

December7

Read:Isaiah53:7-8;Acts8:32-33

ThoughtsforParents:

Haveyoueverfelthumiliated?IknowthatIhave…andonmore

occasionsthanIwouldliketoremember.Weallmilitateagainsthumiliation…

and,yet,theLordJesuscametoearthforthatspecificreason:tobehumiliated.

Ofcourse,Hewashumiliatedonthecross(andwe’llgettothat),butHisentire

lifewasonehumiliationafteranother.

Thinkofit:HewasGod;HehadalwaysexistedintheformofGod,

enjoyingalltheblessingsandprivilegesofGod,andyethereHewaslearning

tablemannersandlanguage,submittingtoflawedparents,puttingupwithHis

littlebrothersandsisterspullingHishairandwronglyaccusingHimtoHis

parents.Hisentirechildhoodwasachildhoodofhumiliation:Hisfamilywas

poor;theylivedunderthetyrannyofRome,Hisdadworkedwithhishands.No

speakingworldsintoexistenceforHimhere.No…carvingandsawingand

hammeringwereHislot.HewashumiliatedinHisveryexistence—butHewas

mostshockinglyhumiliatedinHiscrucifixion—attheverymomentwhenHe

shouldhavebeenexonerated,whenHeshouldhavebeenrescued,“justicewas

deniedhim.”Why?Foryouandme…sothatwecouldhavemercy.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Haveyoueverygottenintroubleforsomethingyoudidn’tdo?Itisthe

worstfeelingtohavetotaketheblameforabadthingthatsomeoneelsedid.I

knowwhenthathappenstomeIdoeverythingIcantoleteveryoneknowthatI

didn’tdoitandIshouldnotgetintroubleforit.It’sjustnotrightorfairtoget

punishedwhenIdidnothingwrong.ButyouseethisisexactlywhatJesusdid

forus.Oursin,allthebadthingswedo,mustbepunished.Eventhoughour

parentsorgrandparentsorteachersmaynotseeallthebadthingswedo,God

does.GodtheFatherandHisSon,Jesus,decidedthateverysinglebadthingyou

andIhaveeverdone,Jesuswouldtaketheblamefor.ThatiswhatHedidonthe

cross.Hetooktheblameforallofoursins.

Hedidn’tcomplainonetimeaboutbeingblamedforoursin,Hislovefor

usstoppedHimfromsaying,“Thisisn’tfair!”Hedidactedthiswaysothatwe

couldknowmercy.Mercymeans:wedon’tgetwhatwedeserve.Healsotook

ourblamesothatwecouldknowgrace.Gracemeans:wegetgoodstuffinstead

ofbad.

And,getthis!AllofthegoodthingsthatJesusdeservedforalways

doingtherightthingsarenowours.Theybelongtous.WeareinGod’sfamily.

Allofthepunishmentthatwedeservedforallofthebadthingswehavedone,

Jesustookthepunishmentfor.WegetallthegoodthingsJesusdeservedfor

livingperfectly.HelovesusthatmuchandHeisthatgood.

ActivityTime

Weekone:Prophecy

Thisweek,wefocusedontheprophecyofChrist’sbirth.Wehavehope

becauseGodalwayskeepsHispromises.HesaidHewouldcome,and

ChristmasremindsusthatHedidshowupjustlikeHesaidHewould.Hecame

inhumanfleshasatinybaby.

Forthisweek’sactivity,we’llbedoingascavengerhunt,whichwill

remindusthatGodkeepsHispromises.Hetoldusthatsomethingwouldhappen

andsureenough,ithappened!

Afteryoureadyourdevotionals,handyourchildrenapieceofpaperthat

tellsthemwheretofindthenextclue.Forinstance,lookindaddy’sshoe,look

underthetable,lookinthekitchenwheretheTupperwareis,and,whenyou

walkbythetrashcan,consideremptyingit?I’mkidding.Sortof.

Attheendofthescavengerhuntleavethemwithasmallgift,apieceof

candy,oranoutinglikegoingtogeticecreamtogether.Ifyouhaveolder

children,considermakingthehuntdifficultbyusingriddles.Althoughyouwill

betemptedtomakeitsodifficultthattheycan’tactuallyfindtheprize,

remember:althoughfunny,thisdefeatsthepurpose.

Ifyourkidsareteenagers,youcouldtakethescavengerhuntoutsidethe

home.Forexample,gototheneighborshouseandgetyournextclue,gotoyour

friendSara’shouseanddofivejumpingjackstogetyourclue,etc.

Youcanusethistemplatehereforthehuntifyou’dlike.

Takeamomentattheendtoasksimplequestions,ifyouhavetime:

-Howdidyouknowwheretofindthenextpieceofpaper?

-Whydidyoubelievethatthepaperwastellingthetruth?

LinkthisactivitytotrustinGod:Youtrustedthatmomputthepapers

whereshesaidtheywouldbe…youbelievemebecauseiamtrustworthy.How

muchmoretrustworthyisGod!Heneverliesandneverfails.Healwayskeeps

Hispromises.

December8

Lightthesecond(purple)candle(theBethlehemCandle),which

representslove

Read:Psalm36,Luke2:1-7

ThoughtsforParents:

Psalm36remindsusthateventhoughthereiswickednessinthisworld,

God’ssteadfastloveisrulingandoverrulingeveninthemiddleofit.Evilmen

andgovernmentsseektodestroyGod’speople,butwearesafelyhiddenin

God’ssteadfastlove:itextendstotheheavens;Hearrangeseverythingforour

goodandHisglory—toaccomplishHiseternalplan.

CaesarAugustuswantedtoknowhowmanypeoplehecouldtax;he

wantedtheirmoney.Sowithoutanyconcernforthelivesofthoseinhiscare,he

orderedeveryonetoreturntotheirfamilyhome.Itdidn’tcrosshismindthata

veryyoungverypregnantwomanwouldhavetogettoBethlehemduringthelast

fewdaysofherpregnancy.Whywouldhecare?But…Godwouldkeepher.

AndHewouldaccomplishHisworkofsalvationandtheeventual

overthrowofallthewickedkingdomsoftheearththroughAugustus’sselfish

edict.ThechildbornofavirginwouldcomefromBethlehem.Howwouldthat

happen?CaesarAugustuswouldbeGod’spawn.

Whenitseemsasthougheverythingisoutofcontrolandthat

wickednessisrunningrampantoverGod’speople,wecanrememberthatGodis

our

refugeandthatHeisworkingeverythingoutaccordingtoplan.Wecanrest.He

isourrefuge.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Therearemeanpeopleintheworld.Therearepeoplethatdowrongand

areselfish.Sometimeswedowhatiswrongandweareselfish,too.Caesar

Augustuswasameanandwickedman.Hewastherulerduringthetimethat

Jesuswasborn.Hetoldeveryonethattheyhadtogotothetownthattheywere

borninsothathecouldgetmoneyfromthem.Iftheydidn’tgotothetownthat

theywerebornintheywouldbepunished.MaryandJosephhadtogoto

Bethlehem.Ibettheythoughtitwasaterribleinconveniencetotravelwhen

MarywasbigandpregnantwithJesus.Ibettheycouldn’tseethatanygood

wouldcomeoutofMarygettingonadonkeyandgoingalmost70milesbecause

anevilmantoldthemtoo.Whattheydidn’tknowisthatCaesarwasn’ttheone

thatwasincharge.JesuswassupposedtobeborninBethlehembecausethat

waswhatGodhadtoldpeoplethousandsofyearsearlier.Soyousee,Godwas

reallyincharge.Hewasworkingeverythingouttoshowhowwiseandstrong

Hewas.Sometimesthingshappeninourlivesthatfeellikethebad

peopleareincharge,butGodwantsyoutoknowthatHeisalwaystheonewho

isreallytheboss.NotonlyisHestrongenoughtodoeverythingHewants,He

alsolovesyouenoughtomakeeverythingworkoutforyourgood.Hisnever-

endingloveguideseverythinginyourlife.

December9

Read:John3:16

ThoughtsforParents:

Doyouknowwhatwhitenoiseis?IusedtoliveneartheI-15freeway,

oneofthemosttraveledroadsinAmerica.Infact,Ilivedwithinone-quarter

mileofit,butIneverheardit.Thinkofit,allthattraffic,thousandsofcars

racingupanddowntheroad,sonearthatifIwasintherightspotIcouldsee

themgoby…andIneverheardit.Why?Becauseithadbecomewhitenoiseto

me.Itwasthere,butIneverheardit.

WhichbringsustoJohn3:16.Whenyousawthatourreadingfortoday

wasthisfamiliarverse,didyoudecidetoskipoverit?Didyouassumeyouknew

it?Probably.Canyouquoteit?Possibly.Hasitbecomewhitenoisetoyouso

thattheonlytimeitevencrossesyourconsciousnessiswhensomeguywitha

rainbowwigholdsupasignatanNFLgame?

Butthesewordsshouldneverbecomeoverlyfamiliartous.Inthese

wordsJesushimselflaysoutHisentirepurpose.HerevealsGod’splantogrant

eternallifetothosewhodeservedeathfortheirdisobedience.Deathfor

disobedienceiswhatAdamandEveandallofushaveearned.ButGod’splanis

toovercomethepromisedcurseofdeathfordisobediencebygrantinguseternal

life.Howcanthatbedone?WillGodrenegeonHispromise?Washejust

kidding?No,ofcoursenot.OutoflovehewouldsendHisSon,HisonlySon,

intotheworld,sothatwemightnotperishunderthiscurseofdeath,butrather

sothatwewouldhaveeternallifewithHim.

Eternallifeisnotablessingifitmeanswe’reseparatedfromGod.

That’swhytheeternallifewe’regivenislifeinHim,inHisSon.Thislifeisa

greatdelightbecauseitmeanswewillbeabletorejoiceinHisloveforever.

We’vebeengiventhepromiseofblessingforChrist’sobedience.Thispromise

isforallwhobelieve;theyarenotforallwhoremembertodoeverything

properly…fornoneofusdo.It’salove-promise,an“Ido”fromGodtousso

thatwecanlivewithHimforever.Arethosetruthsworthyofbeingrelegatedto

whitenoise?Hardly.

ThoughtsforChildren:

DoyouknowthatoneofthemostfamousversesintheBibleisourverse

today?ItseemslikealmosteverybodyknowsJohn3:16.Whatmostpeople

don’tunderstandishowcrazycoolthisverseis.Wethink“ohyes,Godloves

us”and“ohyes,HesentHisson,”andwethinkitisnotthatimportant.

But,yousee,thesewordsinthisversearetheveryimportant.Goddoes

loveus,andnotbecausewearesosweet,lovely,anddoeverythingright,but

justbecauseHedecidedtoloveus.AndGoddidsendHisson,Hisonlyson,

Jesus,totheearthsothatwecouldbeapartofHisfamily.Allwehavetodois

believe.

Youdon’tevenhavetobelieveperfectly,youdon’tevenhavetobelieve

allthetime;allyouhavetodoisbelievethatGodlovesyouandthatHegave

Jesustoyousothatwecouldbesaved.ThemostbeautifulpartaboutGod’slove

isthatwecan’tearnit;allwecandoisreceiveitandsay,“thankyou.”Whenwe

receiveHisgiftandsay,“thankyou,”wewillbeforeverHischildren.Wewill

livealwayswithHimandwiththerestofHisfamilyinthehappiestplaceever

created.WewillbewithHiminHeaven.

December10

Read:1John4:9

ThoughtsforParents:

YesterdaywereadaboutGod’slovefromJohn3:16.Wethoughtabout

howthatbeautifulpassagemighthavebecomeoldhattous.Today,we’regoing

tothinkmoreaboutwhatGod’sloveislike.Sometimeswhenwethinkabout

lovewethinkoffatbabiesfloatingoncloudswitharrowsmeanttopiercethe

heart…orwethinkofnicefeelings,prettysunsets,orValentines.ButGod’slove

isnotsomeabstractprincipleorsaccharinesentiment.No,Hisloveisactive,

fierce,andactuallyquiteshocking.HisloveiswillingtosacrificetheOneHe

lovesmostforoursake.GoddemonstratesthequalityofHislovewhenHe

sendsHisonlySonintotheworld,aSonwhoissenttoliveasourperfect

Representative,todieasasinner,andtoberaisedastheheadofawholenew

raceofpeople--peoplenolongerunderthecursefordisobedience,butpeople

undertheblessingforrighteousness.WhywouldHedothis?Sowemightlive.

ThetruthisthatGod’sloveissimplybeyondourunderstanding,and,in

fact,withouttheworkoftheHolySpirit,we’llneverbelievethatHisloveisthat

strong,thatgenerous,thatgood.It’sjusttoogoodtobetrue.It’sHislovefor

sinnersthatthereligiouspeopleofJesus’day(andours)objectedto.Sinners

don’tdeserveGod’slove,wethink.Theydon’tdeservetobewithHim!And

whileit’struethatwedeservejusticeinsteadofmercy,becauseHe’sGodHe

getstochoosethosewhomitisrightforHimtolove…andHe’schosentolove

usandgiveuseternallifethroughtheworkofHisSon.

WhywouldHewanttosacrificelikethat?WhywouldHelovelike

this?BecauseweareHiscreationandHelovestoloveus.Istheresomething

more?Shouldwetrytoaddanything?Althoughit’stemptingtothinkthat

addingsomethingtomakeGod’slovemakesensewouldbegood,it’sactually

aninsult.We’resayingthatHereallyisn’tcapableofunselfishlove…andthat’s

aninsult.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Ourversefromyesterdayandourversefrom

todayarealotalike.ThereareactuallyabunchofversesintheBiblethatsay

theverysamethingoverandoveragain.ThisisbecauseweforgetthatGod

lovesusoverandoveragain.Wethinkthatwehavetobegoodlittleboysand

girlsinordertoearnGod’slove.WethinkthatGodcouldneverloveusjustto

loveus,butthatwemustdosweetthingstobeloveable.Butthatisnotwhatthe

Biblesays.TheBibletellsusagainandagainthatGodlovesbecausethatis

whatGodislike.HelovesussomuchthatHegivesuseverythingwe

needinordertoknoweverythingaboutHislove.Helovesusevenwhenwe

don’tthinkwewantHislove.Helovesusevenwhenwedouglythingsand

forgetaboutHislove.Hisloveisstrongerandbiggerthanallthebadthingswe

do.

EvenmommiesanddaddiesforgetGod’slove.Everysingleoneofus

looksforsomethingtomakeushappy,maybeanewtoyoranewbikeoranew

videogame--wecannotwaittoseewhatpresentswewillget.Theonepresent

thatwillmakeusthehappiestisalreadyours.GodhasalreadygivenusHislove

bygivingusJesus.Thislovewillmakeushappyforever.

December11

Read:Romans1:1-7

ThoughtsforParents:

HowdoestheHolySpiritrefertoyou?WhatdoesHecallyou?Hecalls

usthosewhoarelovedbyGodandcalledtobesaints.That’ssoamazing.How

shouldHerefertous?IknowhowHeshouldrefertome:Slowtobelieve,self-

seeking,selfish,andstubborn.That’showIshouldbeknownbyHim.Butthat’s

notwhoIambeforeHim.

No,I’mHisbeloved.Iamcalledtobeamongthesaints,theholyones.Again,

that’ssoamazing.

HowdoesGodloveus?BycallingustobeamongHisholypeople.But

wait,howcanitbethatI’mnowcountedamongGod’sholyones?Isitbecause

I’veallofasuddengottenmyacttogether?No,notatall.I’mnowcountedas

partofthatholyfamilyofpeoplebecauseI’vebeengivengrace.

Simply,graceisGod’sunmeritedfavoronusandthe

waythatworksintandemwithHisloveisthatHehasdecidedtofavoruswitha

reputationthatwedon’tdeserve:areputationforbeingholy,forhavingfulfilled

everylawourwholelife.Howdidthathappen?IsGodjustpretending?No,all

ofChrist’srighteousnesshasbeentransferredtomesothatnow,becauseHe

lovesme,becauseHehasgivenmeunearnedfavor,I’mcountedasasaint,a

holyperson.

Todaywhenyoustruggleagainstsin…whenyoutrytodoallthethings

youneedtodotomakethisChristmasseasonwhatyouhopeitwillbe,and

wheneverythingonlyservestopointoutthatyou’renotmakingthegrade,you

canremember:whenHethinksofyouHethinks:lovedandholy.Youareloved,

youareasaint.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Whenyouthinkofyourselfwhatwordsdoyouthink

of?Doyouthinklittlebrotheroroldersisterorgoodboyorbadgirl?Doyou

thinkgoalscorerorpianoplayerorjustnotgoodatanything?Inourversefor

today,Goddescribesyouandmeintwodifferentways.FirstHedescribesusas

beloved.Nowthatisn’tawordweuseveryoftenanymore.Itjustmeansthat

youareloved.Whenyouthinkofyourself,rememberthatyouareonethatis

lovedbyGod.Thatisprettyexcitingnews,isn’tit?

TheotherwordthatGodusestodescribeyouissaint.NowIampretty

surenoonehasevercalledyouasaintbefore.Itisanoldfashionedwayof

sayingthatyouareapersonthatalwaysdoesgood.

Nowifyouhavebeenawakeforverylongtodayyouhaveprobablydone

somethingthatwasbad.Maybeyoudidn’tdoitsoanybodycouldseeit,butyou

thoughtsomethingmeanoryouignoredsomeonethatneededhelporyoudidn’t

dowhatyourparentsaskedyoutodo,sohowcouldGodpossiblycallyoua

saint?Listenup,becausethisisvery,verygoodnews:Godcallsyouasaint

becauseofwhatJesusdidforyou.Hedoesn’tcallyouasaintbecauseanything

youhavedone.Jesuslivedalwaysdoingwhatwasright.IfyoubelieveGod

lovesyoueventhoughyoudon’tdeserveHislove,allofyourbadnessishidden

byJesus’goodness.SotodaywhenyouarethinkingabouthowGodlooksat

you,youcanknowforcertainthatyouarelovedandyouareasaint.

December12

Read:1John3:1-3

ThoughtsforParents:

Todaywe’regoingtothinkaboutGod’sloveagain…butthistimewe’re

goingtothinkaboutHisadoptinglove.Alotofpeopleareadoptingchildren

nowandthat’ssuchagoodthing.Adoptionissuchablessing;Icanunderstand

whypeopleadoptchildren.Sometimesit’sbecausethey’reunabletohave

childrenoftheirown.Othertimesitisbecausetheyhavebeengivenavisionof

whatitmeanstogrowupinthefostercaresystemorasanorphaninapoor

countryandtheywanttorescuechildrenandgivethemachanceatlife.Butthe

astonishingtruthisthatwereadabouttodayisthatGod,inHisgreatlove,has

madeusHischildren;thismeansthatwehavealltherights,privilegesand

inheritancesofnaturalbornchildren,alloftheblessingsHisSonearned.

Butthepassagetellsusthatwehavemorethanthepossibilityof

adoption:weareactuallyHischildren“now.”Whatthatmeansisthatwewill

notonlyshareinHisblessingsbutalsointheglorythatitmeanstobelikeHim.

Inthesamewaythatachildbearsafamilyresemblance,adayiscomingwhen

wewillfinallyseetheOnewe’vebeenlookingforourwholelivesandinthat

momentwewillbetransformed.Becausewehavethepromiseofbeingpartof

Hisfamily,wecanapproachHiminconfidenceandtrustthatadayiscoming

whenwewillbearthefamilytraits:wewillhaveglorifiedbodiesthatwillnever

besickordie,wewillbeinournaturewhatHe’smadeustobeinHissight:

sinlessandwholeandjustlikeourBrother,Jesus.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Youmaybeadoptedormayknowsomeonewhowasadopted.Inour

versestodaywereadthatGodhasadoptedus.Thatprobablysoundssillyifyou

arealreadyinafamily.

Ifyouareinafamily,youknowthatourfamiliesarenotperfect.Moms

anddadssinagainstchildren,childrendisobeytheirparents,grandparentsdon’t

alwayslovetheirgrandchildrenthewaytheyshould.Ourfamiliesaren’tperfect.

TheonlyperfectFatherisGodandHehasdecidedtomakeyouHischild.He

makesyouHischildsothatyoucanhavearelationshipwithHim.Itispretty

neattothinkthatyoucanhavetheGodwhomadethewholeuniverseasyour

dad.SinceGodisyourdad,thatmakesJesusyourbrother!Eventhoughright

nowyouandIareinfamiliesthatdon’talwayslovethewayweshould,oneday

wewillgotoourforeverhome.Inourforeverhomewewillloveandbeloved

perfectly.Inourforeverhome,Heaven,God’slovewillmakeussolovelythat

wewillneversinagainstanybodyorbesinnedagainstagain.Sorightnow,

whenyoufeellikeyouaren’tlovedbyyourparents,youcanknowthatGod

lovesyoucompletelyandfullyandonedayyouwillbehomewithHim.

December13

Read:Romans5:8

ThoughtsforParents:

AreyoubeginningtogetapictureofhowamazingGod’sloveisfor

you?Howcanweeverrelegatethethoughtofittowhitenoiseorayawn?Tobe

lovedbyGodisthemostimportantthingaboutyou.It’severythingandit

toucheseverypartofwhoyouareandhowyoutreatothers.Youareloved.You

canlove.

Here’smore:Goddidn’tloveyoubecauseHelookedaheadandsaw

whatawonderfulpersonyouwouldbe.No,Hesawyouexactlyasyouareand

lovedyouanyway.That’swhatRomans5:8tellsus:GoddemonstratesHislove

forusinthatwhilewewerestillsinners,notgreatChristiansHe’shappyto

welcome…whileweweresinners,Christdiedforus.

SometimeswethinkthatGodcouldn’tpossiblyloveusanymore

becausewe’vesinnedinthatwayagain.Butthisversetellsusthatoursinnever

surprisesGod.IttellsusthatHedecidedtoloveusrightinthefaceofallour

sin…whilewewerestillinoursin,stillsinners!

HowoftendoyoufeellikeGodmightsort-of-loveyoubecauseHe’s

promisedtoandthereforeisobligated,butHealsosort-of-wishesyou’dbemore

loveable.Oh,rejoice!Godlovesyouatyourworst.Helovedyouwhileyou

werestillasinner.HeisbestglorifiedbyuswhenwetrustinHisloveforusand

believethatHeisn’tlying.ItisthenthatwewillloveHimandhaveloveforour

neighbor.Christdidn’tdieforrighteouspeople,forthosewhohavefulfilledall

thelawandbeenreallygood.No,Hediedforsinners,likeyouandme.

ThoughtsforChildren:

WehavebeentalkingallweekabouthowmuchGod

lovesus.ThatiswhatChristmasisallabout.TodayourversetellsuswhenGod

lovedus.Itsays,“whilewewerestillsinners.”Didyouhearwhatitsaid?It

didn’tsay“whileweweregoodboysandgirls”or“whilewedideverythingjust

exactlyright.”Itsaid,“whilewewerestillsinners.”

Thatmeansthatwhenwewereinthemiddleofdoingsomethingbad,Godloved

us.Thatdoesn’tsoundquiteright,doesit?WethinkthatGodonlylovesthe

goodpeople.ThetruthisthatGod’sloveiswhatmakesgoodpeople,notthat

goodpeoplemakeGodlovethem.Thinkoftheworstthingyouhavedone,

maybeyouhitsomeone,orstolesomething,orlied,ormaybesomethingeven

worsethanallofthosethings.

Inthatverymoment,Godlovedyou.Thatisprettyhardtobelieveisn’tit?That

iswhyweneedhelptobelieve,weneedGodtoconvinceusthatHisloveistrue

andreal.WeneedtoheareverydayhowmuchHelovesus.Weneedtohear

thatyoucan’tbegoodenoughtoearnHisloveandyoucan’tbebadenoughfor

Himtostoplovingyou.ThatiswhatChristmasisallabout:God’slovecoming

downtoearthandrightatyounomatterwhatyoudo.

December14

Read:Romans8:28-39

ThoughtsforParents:

Oh,thispassage!Whatagloriousassuranceishereforus!Nomatter

whatyouarefacingtoday,nomatterhowfarfromGod’spurposesandloveyou

believeyourselftobe;youhavepromisesherethat,ifyoutakethemseriously,

musttransformhowyoufacethisday.

Heretheyare:BecauseofGod’sgreatloveforyoueverythingthatcomes

intoyourlifetodayisguaranteedtobeforyourgoodandmustresultinthe

completionofGod’spurposeinyourlife--apurposetodeclareyouforgivenand

righteousinHissight,apurposetotransformyouintoHisSon’sgloriousbride.

God’swillforyourlifeisabsolutelycertainbecauseifHelovesyou

andthereforeisforyou,theOnewhogaveupHisSonforyouwillmost

assuredlygiveyouallthings.Noonecanstandagainstusorbringanycharge

againstus,nomatterhowtruethatchargelooksonthesurface!BecauseJesus

Christhasalreadydoneallthehardwork,becauseHealreadydied,wasraised,

andascendedinourplace,forus,asourrepresentative,wecanbesurethatHe

willcontinuetoloveusandintercedeforus.Nothinginallcreation—nothingin

yourownheart,yourlife,yourfamily,yourfaith(orlackofit!)willeverbe

strongenoughtoseparateyoufromGod’sloveforyouinChrist.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Haveyoueverfeltlikenoonewasonyourside?Haveyoueverfeltlike

yourdaycouldn’tgetanyworse,likeeverythinginthewholeworldwasgoing

wrong?Haveyoueverfeltlikenobodylovedyou?IfyouhavefeltthatwayI

havesomeexcitingnewsforyou.

Ourversestodaytakeeverysingleoneofthosethoughtsandtheyturnthem

rightaround.Whenyoufeellikenooneisonyourside,youcanrememberthat

GodsaysHeisforus.Heisonyourside.Whenyoufeellikeyourdayisawful

andeverythingiswrong,youcanrememberthatGodpromisesthateverything

inyourlifeworkstogetherforgood,evenallthebadstuffHetakesandusesto

makegoodthings.Whenyoufeellikenobodylovesyou,or

nobodyshouldloveyoubecauseyouarebad,youcanrememberthatGod

promisesthatnothing,absolutelynothingcanchangeHisgreatloveforyou.

Thatmakesmewanttojumpupanddownanddoahappydance,whatabout

you?

ActivityTimeWeektwo:Love

Forthisweek’s

activity,werememberthatGodisourrefuge.Grabcushions,blankets,sheets,

pillows,andallyourlive/stuffedanimalstomakeagiantfortinthelivingroom!

Ifyou’refeelingespeciallyzealous,createabinwith

alltheingredients

forafort:clothespins,flashlights,sheets(asanawardwinningfortbuilder,these

arebetterthanheavyblankets),stufffors’mores,andsomefunChristmasbooks

youcheckedoutfromthelibraryearlierthatdaybecauseyou’reamazing(or,if

you’reme,thethreebooksalreadylayingonthefloorfromearlierthatafternoon

whichhavenothingtodowithChristmas).

Ifyoudon’thaveafirepitreadilyavailable(ordon’twanttoburnyour

housedown)tocookyours’mores,simplyputgrahamcrackersoutonafoiled

sheetpan.

Then,addapieceofchocolateandalargemarshmallowontop,then

bakeat350degreesfor5minutes.Whenyoutakethemout,Smashitdownwith

anothergrahamcrackerandcommencegaining5lbs.

Somequestionstoponder,ifyouaren’ttoobusystuffingyourfaces:

1.WhatdoyouthinkitmeansthatGodisourrefuge?

2.Whenisiteasiertorest?Whenyouknowthatyouareprotectedor

whenyouareafraidthatsomethingbadisgoingtohappen?

LinkthisactivitytothefactthatGodisinchargeandisour

protectorandrefugeinalloflife;evenwhenthingsseemreallyscary,weare

hiddeninHim-justlikewearehiddenunderalltheseblankets.Wecanrestwhen

weknowandbelievethisfactaboutGod.Rememberthatlastweekwelearned

thatGodistrustworthyanddoesnotlie.

December15

Lightthethirdcandle(pink;theShepherd’sCandle),whichrepresents

joy.

Read:Psalm92,Luke2:8-20

ThoughtsforParents:

Thisweekwewillbefocusinginonjoy,thejoyofthePsalmistashe

considersGod’sworkandthejoyoftheshepherdsatthenewsthattheyhad

beenprivytoseetheOnewhowouldbetheMessiah.

Surelytheseshepherdsweremenwhohadheardfromtheiryouthabout

thepromisedOnetocome.Perhapstheystillbelievedit—perhapsnot.Perhaps

theywerelikemostofus,believing-sort-of,whentheythoughtofit,whenthey

remembered.Sure,theyhadrecitedPsalm92ontheSabbath,theyknewitwas

good“togivethankstotheLord,”tosing

praisestoHisnameinthemorningandatnight.Sure,they

werethankfulforGod’screation,andyes,therehadbeen

timeswhentheywatchedthelambsorlookedoutonanightskygluttedwith

starsandasongofjoysprangfromtheirhearts.But,let’sfaceit:lifeasa

shepherdwasn’teasy,andthenightswerecoldanddark,thewolveswere

dangerous,thieveswerecunning,thesheepwerestupid,andthegroundwas

hard.ThenGodchangedeverything.Thelightofthestarswaseclipsedbythe

gloryoftheLord.Anangelspoketothem:Don’tbeafraid!Goodnews!Great

joywasbeingproclaimed—joyevenforlowlyshepherds!

Whatwasthisgoodnews?Wherewouldthisgreatjoycomefrom?Had

Herodfinallybeendeposed?HadtheRomanspackeditinatlast?Wasamighty

conquerorfinallytakingnoteoftheirplight?Well,yesandno.YesanewKing

whowoulddeliverthemfromtheirenemieshadcome,butnotquiteintheway

theymighthaveexpected.Whatwasthesignofthisnewkingdom,thisgreat

goodnews?Lookforaninfantwrappedinragslyinginafeedingtroughina

barn.

Wait…what?Ababy?Borninabarn?Uncouthness,coarseness,

rudenessexemplified.Weaknessincarnate.Povertyandwantwrappedupin

rags.Why?WhyhadGoddonethis?Sothatwecouldrejoiceinoursalvation.

ThisinfantstilldampfromthewombHehadgestatedinistheSavior—the

Savioroftheuncouth,coarse,rudeandpoor.He’stheSaviorofsinnerswhoare

toolazyorabsent-mindedtocloseadoor.Rejoice.

Thoughtsforchildren:

Thiswholeweekwearegoingtobetalkingaboutjoy.Joyiswhatyou

feelonChristmasmorningwhenyougettoopenyourpresents.Thejoythatwe

aregoingtotalkaboutdoesn’tend.WewakeupwithjoyonChristmasmorning

becausewearelookingforwardtowhatwemightget,butsometimeswedon’t

getexactlywhatweaskedfororourtoysbreakandthenourjoyends.Thegreat

thingaboutthejoywearegoingtotalkaboutallweekisitneverends,because

ourjoyisJesus.

Canyouimaginethejoythattheshepherdsmusthavefeltwhenthey

sawallthoseangels?Thinkofit,pretendlikeyouwereoneofthoseshepherds,

thereyouaremindingyourownbusiness,sleeping,maybeevenhavingagood

dream,andthen,“BAM!”Allofsudden,theskyisfilledwithangelsandthey

areallsingingasongthatmakesyousohappy!Youknowwhythesongthey

sangmadethemhappy?BecauseitpromisedthatGodwouldbeatpeacewithall

thosewholoveHim.PeacewithGodmeansweareHisfriends,weareinHis

family,andHelovesus.Thatshouldmakeyouhappy,too!Theangelstoldthe

shepherdsthatJesuswasbeingborn.ThatisthehowwehavepeacewithGod.

JesusmadeitsowecouldhavearelationshipwithGod.Thatisthegoodnews

thatshouldalwaysbringasmiletoyourface.

December16

Read:Isa35:1-10

ThoughtsforParents:

I’minthemoodforsomegoodnews.Aren’tyou?Mylifeisn’treally

anydifferentfromyours.Ihavetogetupinthemorningandtrytofigureout

howI’mgoingtogetallthestuffdonethatIneedtogetdonewithwhatIhave

athand.Ihavetofigureouthowtocareformyhusband,mykids,theirkids,my

agingmother,myfriendsandthefolksinthechurchwhoneedme.Ihaveto

figureouthowtodotheworkGod’sgivenmetodo.ThenIlookaroundatmy

resourcesandIseejustwhatyouseewhenyoulookatyourresources:There

neverseemstobeenoughoftherightstufftoaccomplishtheworkIneedtodo.

Andthen,ofcourse,there’stheproblemofmysin.Isimplydon’tknowhowI’m

goingtohavethewherewithaltodowhatIneedtodowhenIneedtodoit.I

needsomegoodnews.

Hereitis:ThegoodnewsisthatforthosewhotrustintheSavior,an

everlastingjoyispromised.A

dayiscomingwhentherewillbemorethanenough

ofeverythingandallmydesiresforsinwillhavebeen

transformedintoloveforHim.I’llseetheburning

sandsofthissin-riddledworldtransformedinto

cleansing,life-givingpools;I’llwatchthe“thirstyground”changeintosprings

ofwater.Alltheplaceswheredangerousadversariesusedtofindshelterwillbe

transformedintotheriverofGod’sdelights(Psalm36:8).ThisisGod’sdoing!

Howwillthishappen?Howwillwegettothisoasis?OurSavior,Jesus

theGod-Man,haspavedthewayonthisHighwayofHoliness.Hecuttheroad

outoftherockyground;HecovereditwiththestonesofHisgoodworks,

cementingthemtogetherwithHisblood.He’smadeitallthewaypastCalvary,

thathauntofjackals,andpavedtheroadrightintothethroneroomofGodfor

us.

IlovehowtheESVtranslatesverse8b,“Itshallbelongtothosewho

walkontheway;eveniftheyarefools,theyshallnotgoastray.”Okay,that

meansIqualify.Itmeansthateveninmyfoolishness,weaknessandsin,Iand

allwhobelievewillfinallyand,atlast,findthegladnessandjoythathadalways

beenoutofreach.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Haveyoueverwantedaspecialsomethingsobadlythatitisallyouever

thinkabout?Iamsurethatrightnowyouhaveafewthingsinmindthatyou

really,reallywantforChristmas.Haveyouevergottenapresentthatyouhad

beenaskingandaskingfor?Rememberhowgooditfelttoopenthatpresent,

tearapartthewrappingpaperandseetheverythingyouwantedinsidethebox?

Rememberhowhappythatgiftmadeyou?Funnythingisthathappinessgoes

away.Maybeittakesaweek,oraday,ormaybeevenjustanhour,butallofa

suddenyouwantsomethingelsetomakeyouhappy.Doyouknowwhyyoufeel

thatway?BecauseGodmadeyousothatnothingwouldreallymakeyouhappy

butHim.OurheartsareonlymeanttobecompletelyjoyfulbecauseofHim.He

istheonlythingbigenoughtomakeusforeverhappy.

Whilewearehereonearthwestillhavetotryandrememberthistruth.

WeforgetthatGodisourhappiness.Butoneday,“unendingjoywillcrownus,

happinessandjoywilloverwhelmus.”Whenwegettoheavennothingwillbe

abletotakeawaythejoythatisourcrown.Happinessandjoywillbeallwe

know.Everytimeyoufeelsadnessyoucan

rememberthis,onedayallthesadnesswillbegoneandwe

willonlyhavesmilesforever.

December17

Read:Matthew11:2-10

ThoughtsforParents:

I’lladmitit:sometimesIrejoiceaboutthewrongthings.SometimesI

smirkwithgleewhensomene’er-do-wellgetshiscomeuppance.EventhoughI

reallylovetothinkandtalkaboutgrace,I’mreallyalegalistatheart.Iwant

certainpeopletogetwhattheydeserve.Notme,ofcourse.That’snotwhatI

want.Iwantmercy…buttherearejustotherfolkswhoIthinkdeserveaswift

kick.Inthisrespect,Idon’tthinkmythinkingisthatfarfromJohnthe

Baptizer’s.

JohnhadbeenimprisonedfortellingHerodthetruthabouthisunlawful

“marriage”andwhileherottedthere,awaitingexecutionforstandingagainstthe

sinsofhisculture,heheardthatJesuswashealingtheblind,thelame,lepers,

andthedeaf.Heheardthatthedeadwerebeing

raisedup.AndheheardthatJesuswaspreachingamessage

ofgoodnews.Goodnews?Yes,goodnewsandhewaspreachingittosinners!

But,whataboutthemessageofrepentance?Shouldn’tJesusbefocusingonwhat

thesepeopleneededtodo?Shouldn’thebecallingdownfireuponthemfortheir

unbeliefandidolatry?

John’sperspectiveonwhatshouldbepreachedtowhomwasbeing

shatteredbyChrist’sgreatloveandcondescensiontosinners.Jesusoffended

John.

Why?BecauseJesuswashangingoutwithprostitutesandtax-collectors(aka

crack-ho’sandmafia).Yes,Hewasstandingagainstthereligiousestablishment

butHewasn’tworriedaboutbeingthemoralitypolice.Hecrushedthepeopleby

tellingthemtheyneededtobeperfectandthenHegavethemgoodnews:

Perfectionwashere,intheflesh.ThiswasthenewsthatJohnandtherestofus

neededtohearandyethatedtohear.

Here’sthebottomline:TheonlywaytofindjoyinChrist’sworkonour

behalfistostopbeingoffendedbygrace.Graceispromiscuous.It’sutterly

ridiculous.It’sunruly;becauseofit,thosenastyfolkswhoshouldgetawhack

getablessinginstead.Ofcourse,onceyourealizethatyoufallintothe“nasty

folk”category,you’llbemorecomfortableaboutgrace.Happyistheonewhois

notoffendedby

Jesus.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Howwouldyoufeelifyouhadbeenblindyourwholelifeandthen

suddenlyyoucouldsee?Orwhataboutifyoucouldn’twalkandthenallofa

suddenyoucoulddoflipsandrun?Orifyoucouldn’thearasinglethingand

thenyourearsworkedwonderfully?Orifyouhadaterribleproblemwithyour

skinandthenallofasuddenyouwerehealed?Orwhataboutifyouweredead,

andthenallofasuddenyouwerealiveagain?Ibetthatwouldmakeyouso

happy,sofullofjoy.

Wellhereissomecrazynewsforyou;theBiblesaysthatwearedead

becauseofoursins.Notactuallydead,butasfarasGodwasconcernedyou

weredead.YoustillmightbedeadtoGodbecauseofyoursins.Youare

probablywonderinghowtobecomealivetoGod.

Allyouhavetodoisbelieve,believethatallJesuscametolivethelife

youcouldn’tlive.YouseeGodtellsuswehavetobeperfect,wecan’tdothat,

soJesuscameanddidthatforus.Healsocameandtookallthepunishmentfor

yoursin.So,becauseofJesus’work,wearealivetoGod.Jesusdidallthehard

work.

Hemakesusalive.Wejustbelieve.Wecansmilealldaytodayknowingthatwe

wereoncedeadandnowwearealive.

December18

Read:Psalm20

ThoughtsforParents:

IfallyouknewaboutChristianitywasthestoryofCalvary,youwouldn’t

thinkthatitwasverygoodnews.Ifthemessageendedwith,“AndJesusuttered

aloudcryandbreathedhislast”(Mark15:37),youwouldn’treallyhaveheard

anythingworthrejoicingover.What’stheretorejoiceaboutinabeaten,shamed

Man,hangingindeathonaRomanpike?Whywouldyousingpraisesthen?The

crucifixiononlybecomesgoodnewswhenitisseenfromthevantagepointof

theresurrection.

Psalm20tellsusthatthekeytooursalvationisboundupwiththe

salvationoftheKing,theChrist,whoseverytitlemeans“anointedone.”If,and

onlyif,the

AnointedKingJesusisdeliveredfromdefeat,isour

deliverancesecured.Andyet,whatdoweseeonthatdarkmount?Dowesee

HimbeingdeliveredonCalvary?No…notatall.Whatweseeisthetheoretical

triumphofevilandthefinalhumiliationofaManofuncertainlineagewho

seemedlikeagoodideathathasprovendefectiveatthelast.

Davidwassurethat“theLordsaveshisanointed;”thathewould

“answerHimfromhisholyheavenwiththesavingmightofhisrighthand”

(Psalm20:6).Hewassurethatwhentheanointedcalledout,theLordinheaven

wouldanswer.Butthat’snotwhathappenedonCalvary.No,infact,weseejust

theopposite.TheAnointedKingcallsoutandisn’tanswered.Heisn’t

delivered…andallourhopefordeliveranceandsalvationisinvain.Untilthe

resurrection,thatis.

Itisintheresurrectionthateverythingwehopeforisfinallysecured.

TheresurrectionassuresusthatChrist’sofferingofperfectobedienceand

propitiatorysacrificehasbeenacceptedonourbehalf.TheresurrectionisGod’s

final(andlife-giving)shoutof“AMEN!”toJesus’faithful,“Itisfinished.”

BecauseHehasbeendelivered,becauseHehasarisenandstoodupright,we

knowthatwewilltoo.

WecanbesurenowthatGodwillsendushelpandsupportwhenwe

call.WecanrejoicethatHewillgrantusourgodlydesiresandforgiveandlove

us.

Andso,inresponse,we,too,canshoutforjoy.DoestheLordsaveHisanointed

ones?DoesHerescuethosewhodon’ttrustintheirowngoodnessandstrength

butratherinthegoodnessandstrengthofChrist?Yes!Sowerespond,“OLord,

youhavesavedtheKing!Andbecauseofthatwecanrejoiceinknowingthat

youwillansweruswhenwecall.”

ThoughtsforChildren:

DoyoueverwonderifGodhearsyouwhenyoupray?

IknowsometimesitfeelslikeIamjusttalkingtonobody.Ourverses

todaytellussomethingverydifferent.OurversetellsusthatGoddoeshearus,

andHedoesansweruswhenwepray.ThereallygoodnewsisthatHedoesn’t

hearandansweruswhenwepraybecausewearegoodlittleboysandgirls.God

knowsallthatisinyourheartandeverythingyouthinkandHeknowsthatyou

arenotagoodlittleboyorgirl.Nowthatmightnotsoundlikeverygoodnews

toyou,thatmightnotmakeyousmile.Ifmyfriendsknewallofmythoughts,I

amprettysureIwouldn’thaveanyfriendsanymore.Theywouldseehow

selfishamandalwayswantedthegoodthingsthattheyhad.Theywouldsee

howangryIgetwhenIdon’tgetmyway.Godknowsthosethingsaboutus,but

Hedoesn’tseethemanymore.Howisthatpossible?Becausewearehidingin

Jesus.WhenGodlooksatus,allHeseesisHisperfectSonwhodideverything

rightallthetime.

BecauseJesuswasborn,becauseofhowhe

lived,andbecausediedforus,wecanknowthatGod

willalwayshearourprayersandalwaysanswerus,onemorereasontosmile

today.

December19

Read:Hebrews12:1-2,12

ThoughtsforParents:

Jesuswasjoyful.Infact,Hebrews1:9saysthatbecauseHeloved

righteousnessandhatedwickedness,HisFatherhadcausedHimtobegladder

thananyonearoundHim.Jesusknewwhatitwastolaughabellylaugh,to

smile,tohavejoy.Youwouldn’thavethoughtofHimasgrumpyorastickin

themud.Hewasfuntobearound.Ofcourse,thatdoesn’tmeanthatHewas

superficialorsillyorthatHetoldoff-colorjokes,orthatHewasn’tseriouswhen

humorwasn’tappropriate.Unlikeus,Heknewhowtobehappywithoutsinning.

ButJesusalsoknewwhatitwastosuffer.DuringHisentirelifeasa

weakmanandespeciallyduringHislastfewhours,Hewassustainedbylooking

forwardtopromised

bliss.Helookedforwardto“thejoythatwassetbeforehim”

asHeenduredthecross,thinkingnothingoftheshamethatprobablywouldhave

stoppedmostofus.Betreatedlikethat?Nothardly!Hishopeofafuturejoy

wasstronglytetheredtothetruththatadaywascomingwhenHewouldsit

againattherighthandofHisFather’sthrone—butthistimeHewouldbe

bearingthefleshHe’dbeengiveninMary’slittlewomb.He’dgoneawayasthe

Word,theSecondPersonoftheTrinity;HewouldreturnastheGod-Man,Jesus,

theChrist,foreveroutfittedinHisweddinggarb,ourflesh.

Youknow,it’seasyforustothinkthatJesus’faith-walkwaseffortless;

afterall,HewasGod.Butnothingcouldbefartherfromthetruth.Theentire

timeHelivedhere,HeneveraccessedHisdeityinordertomakeobedience,

faith,orlifeeasierforhimself.HelivedjustlikeyouandIdo,walkingbyfaith

andnotbysight.HebelievedthatHisFatherwouldwelcomeHimtoheaven,

althoughHehadbeenforevertransformedfromGod,theWord,toJesus,the

God-Man.HebelievedthatHisbridewouldloveHim.So,itwasinthelightof

thisgreathopethatHeperseveredthroughthedeepestpitofsuffering:His

Father’sforsakingHimandpouringoutHisentirewrathforalloursinonHis

head.HekeptHiseyefixedonthejoyofrelationshipandreunionwithHis

Fatherandwithus.

Now,ifthatdoesn’tproducejoyinyourheart,Isimplydon’tknow

whatwill.HerantheracewithpatiencethatwassetbeforeHimsothatHe

wouldbeabletoperfectlyrepresentus:astheobedientSon,theslaughtered

Lamb,therisenKing.

ThoughtsforChildren:

TodaywehearabouthowhappyJesuswas.NowyoumightthinkthatHe

wasonlyhappywhengoodthingshappened,Iknowthat’swhenI’mhappy.But

ourversesaysthatJesuswasthinkingaboutjoywhenHewenttothecross.It

wasactuallywhathelpedHimgothroughthehardest,mostpainful,worstthing

inHisentirelife.Thethoughtof

makingyouoneofHisbrothersorsisters,thethoughtofmakingyouoneof

God’skids,thethoughtofallofusbeingtogethersomedaywithHiminHeaven,

thesewerethethoughtsthathelpedHimgetthroughthemostdifficultthingHe

everhadtodo.

Whenyouhavedaysthatarehard,wherenothingseemstobegoing

right,andnothingmakesyousmile,rememberJesus:Helovesyourightinthe

middleofyour

frown.ThinkingofHimwillhelpyousmile,itmakesus

strong.ThinkingaboutHisloveforuswillbewhathelpsyougetthroughthose

reallytough,nothingisgoingrightdays.Hisloveisjustthatgreatandjustthat

good.

December20

Read:Rev.21:4

ThoughtsforParents:

Truthfully,therearedayswhenitseemslikecrying,death,mourningand

painwillneverend.Ofcourse,byHisgracenoteverydayisadayof

overwhelmingsorrow.However,thereareenoughofthesedaysnowformeto

longforthetimewhenlaughter,life,joy,andvitalityaremine.Forever.

TheApostleJohnbroughtusthisvisionofanewday.Hewasgivena

tasteoffutureglory,and,likeus,Heneededit.Johnwaslivinginexile,away

fromhishome,hisfriends,andhischurch.Itwouldhavebeeneasyforhimto

havebeendiscouraged--itwasn’tgoodforhimtobealoneandtherewasnothing

hecoulddotochangeit.HisalonenesswasbeingenforcedbytheRoman

emperor,Domitian.SotheLordJesus,outofgreatloveforHisbestfriend,

visitedhim(notevenDomitiancouldkeepKingJesusawayfromHisfriends)

andbroughthimsomegoodnews.Yes,thingslookedreallyterrible.Yes,

Domitian’spowerseemedlimitless,andhecertainlycouldmakeJohn’slife

miserable,butthislifewasnotallthelifethatJohnhad.Hislifewashiddenwith

Christinheaven.LikeJohn,weneedtoberemindedthatthereisalovingKing

whoisoverseeingeverythingandnopowerisabletostopKingJesusfrom

visitingusandbringingustoHimselfingreatjoy.

EarthlypowershadtriedtostopJesusbefore.

HerodhadallthebabiesinBethlehemslaughtered.

Womenweptingreatmourning,butJesuswassafe.Hismissiontoovercomeall

oursorrow,allourexileandisolationwouldn’t,couldn’tbethwarted.Andeven

thoughwe’rephysicallyseparatedfromhimrightnow,adaywillsurelycome

whenwewillfinallybehome,adaywhen“thedwellingplaceofGod”willbe

withman.“Hewilldwellwiththem,andtheywillbehispeople,andGod

himselfwillbewiththemastheirGod.Hewillwipeawayeverytearfromtheir

eyes,anddeathshallbenomore,neithershalltherebemourning,norcrying,nor

painanymore,fortheformerthingshavepassedaway.”Beingwithhimin

unmitigatedfellowshipistheanswertoalloursorrow,pain,andtears.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Youknowhowgooditfeelstocomehomesometimes?Likewhenyou

havebeenawayfromyourparentsandyougethomeandtherearechocolate

chipscookieswaitingforyou?Orwhenitisrainyandcoldoutsideandyourun

intoyourhouseandthereisanicewarmfireburninginthefireplace?Maybe

youdon’thaveafireplaceorwarmcookiesbutyouknowhowniceitistogeta

hugwhenyouwalkinyourdoor.Wellthatsnugglyfeelingofbeinghomeis

onlyasmalltasteofwhatitisgoingtobelikewhenwegettoheaven.

Homeshouldfeelsafe,Iknowsometimesitdoesn’t,Godpromisesto

makeallthehurtandsadnessinourlivesbecomehappinesssomeday.This

shouldmakeyourheartbeexcitedaboutheaven.Somedaywearegoingtohave

aforeverhomewherewenevercry,weneverfeelanypain,noonewilleverdie.

InourforeverhomethemostexcitingthingwillbethatwegettobewithGod.

He

willberighttherewithus,andallofthetimeswhenyoufeltlikeyouwere

prayingtonothing,allofthetimesthatyoufeltlikenoonecared,allofthe

timesyoufeltalonewillbegoneforever.God’slovewilleraseallofthose

thoughtsfromourmemory,wipeawayallofourtearsandfear,andallwewill

knowisHisgoodsmileonusforallofeternity.

December21

Read:Nehemiah8:10

ThoughtsforParents:

Aspunishmentforthenation’sincessantunbeliefandidolatry,Israel

hadbeencapturedandforcedintoslaveryinPersia.Aftermanyyears,inGod’s

kindness,someoftheexileswereallowedtoreturntotheirhomeland,torebuild

thewallsofJerusalemandrestorethetemple.

Ononecertainday,EzrareadtheBookoftheLawofMosestoallthe

people…andwhenthepeopleheardtheLawandunderstoodwhatitmeant,they

mourned.TheLeviteshelpedthemunderstandthecommandsoftheLawandas

Godgavethemunderstanding,theyknewtheywereintrouble.Imaginewhatit

wouldhavebeenliketobetakenawayfromyourhomefordisobedience,thento

havean

opportunitytoreturnandworktorebuildyournation,onlytodiscoverthatthe

disobediencethathadeventuatedinyourslaverywasstillongoing.Thepeople

wept.Theywereafraid.Theyknewthatthejudgmentthathadbefallentheir

fatherswashangingovertheirheadsaswell.

Asthepeoplewept,Nehemiah,thegovernor,andEzra,thepriest,gave

thepeopleanastonishingcommand.Ratherthanpileonmoreandmorelawto

trytogetthemtoreallyrepent,theytoldthepeoplenottomournorweep,“for

thisdayisholytotheLordyourGod.”Infact,notonlydidtheytellthemtostop

weeping,theywerecommandedtohaveaparty:eatsavorymeat,drinksweet

wine,andinviteyourneighborsandthosewhodon’thaveaplacetoparty.Enjoy

yourselfandrejoiceinGod’samazinggenerosity.

Whycommandthemtoparty?Whywouldn’ttheirleaderstellthemto

mourn?BecausetheyknewthatGodisbestglorifiedinheartsthatarejoyful.In

fact,theyknewthatthestrengththeyneededtobegintoobeyandtorebuildwas

aby-productofjoy.

Godisn’timpressedbyourweeping.Infact,whenweknowHe’snear

it’stimetorememberHisgreatkindnessandrejoice.Andit’sonlythere,inthat

rejoicingoverHisloveandkindnessthatwe’llfindthestrengthtopersevere

evenhere,eveninthemiddleofoursorrow.That’swhatChristmastellsusand

whyweshouldcelebrate.Yes,ofcourse,we’vebrokentheLaw,butHe’scome

toustobeallthatweneed:aRedeemer,aPerfectRepresentative,adear

Husband.

ThoughtsforChildren:

Haveyoueverbeencaughtdoingsomethingreallybad?Imeanreally,

reallybad.Duringthosetimeswhereyouknowthatwhatyouhavedoneis

wrong,howdoyoufeel?Areyouhappyandwantingtohaveabigpartyorare

yousadandfeelinglikeyouwanttohideunderthecovers?Inourversetoday,

thepeoplehadbeencaughtdoingsomethingverybad.Yousee,ifwearehonest,

anytimewelookatthewhattheBibletellsustodoweshouldalwaysfeelsad

becausewecanneverdoallthattheBibleasksustodo.Youwouldthinkthat

whatGodwouldwantisforustocrylotsandlotswhenweseehowbadweare.

Instead,Godtellsussomegoodnews;Hetellsusonceweseehowbadweare

westopcryingandcangohaveabigparty.Nowthatdoesn’tmakeverymuch

sensedoesit?Because,ifwearethinkingaboutwhatwehavedone,weknow

weshouldfeelsad,butGodwantsustothinkaboutwhatJesushasdone.Hedid

everythingperfectly.WecanbehappyandthrowabigpartybecauseJesusdid

allthehardthingsforus.Wecanhavejoyevenwhenwemesseverythingup,

becauseGodforgivesallofoursins.ActivityTimeWeekthree:Joy

Theshepherdsweresofullofjoy,theycouldn’tcontaintheirexcitement.

TheyHADtotelleveryonethegoodnews!

Forthisweek’sactivity,we’regoingusenewspapertomakean

ornament.ThisornamentwillhelpusrememberChristasthegoodnewswhen

weseeithangingonthetree.

Therearelotsof

differentoptionsforornaments.Thefirstoptionis:Youcansimplyuseaball

ornamentthatyoualreadyhaveandgluepiecesofnewspaperontoit.(I

recommendusingacraftinggluelikeMod-Podge.)Thereneedbenoparticular

shapetothepieces;randomisfine.Afteryoucreateyourpiecesofpaper,brush

theglueontheball,thenputthepiecesofpaperontheball.Smoothitasmuch

asyoucan.

Whenthewholeballiscoveredwithpaper,painttheentireballwitha

lightcoveringofthegluetosealit.Ifyouhaveverylittleones,youmightnot

sealituntiltheygotobedtosaveyourselffromsprouting4to5newgreyhairs

…

Thesecondoptionis:

Ifyouwanttogetalittlemoreelaborate,youcancutthepaperinto

uniform,dime-sizedcirclesandlayerthemwithhotglueinrowsuntilthe

ornamentiscompletelycovered.

Youcandooneornamentor20!It’supto

yourcrafterdarkabilitytostayawakeorhandlechildrenwithglue.

Whileyouareworkingontheseactivitiesyoucanaskthesequestions:

1)Canyouthinkofatimeyouweresoexcitedaboutsomething

thatyoujustfeltlikeyouwouldexplodeifyoudidn’ttellsomeone?

2)Canyouthinkofatimewhenyouhadwaitedandwaitedfor

somethinganditfinallyhappened?

YoucanlinkthistoGod’spromisethatHewouldsendHissonto

savetheworld.God’speoplehadbeenwaitingforaverylongtimefor

him,andthenallofasudden,JesushadFINALLYarrived!Remember

theselastfewweeks,we’velearnedthatGodkeepsHispromisesand

wecanrestknowingthatHeisincontrol,evenwhenwehavetowait.

December22

Lightthefinalpurplecandle(theAngels’Candle),whichrepresents

peace.

Read:Psalm85

ThoughtsforParents:

InPsalm85,wefindourselves,onceagain,withthepeopleofIsraelwhoare

lamentingovertheirsinandhopingthatGodwillshowthemfavor,onceagain.

HowcanGod’speace,Hisshalombewiththemandwithus,whenweknowthat

wehavefailedinsomanyways?HowdareweapproachHiminthehopeof

beingforgivenandblessedratherthanjudgedandcursed?

WhentheBiblespeaksofGodbeingatpeacewithus,itisnot

necessarilyafeelingofpeacefulnessthatisbeingreferenced.Instead,itisa

cessationofhostilities;inthiscase,itisGodwhoistheoffendedpartywhohas

therightandauthoritytobeangrywithus,whosehotwrath

hasbeencompletelysatisfiedsothatHecanbeboth“justandthejustifier.”

Don’tmisunderstand:It’snotthatGodjustdecidestooverlookourlittletiny

mistakes.No,wehavedonemorethanmakealittletinymistake.We’vebeenin

rebellionagainstHisWordandwayourentirelife;yet,herewearehopingfor

forgiveness,reconciliation,andpeace.Itwouldbeaudaciousifweweren’t

commandedtohopeinthisway.

Whatisouronlyhope?OuronlyhopeliesinHischaracter,where

steadfastloveandfaithfulnessmeet.Heisrighteousenough,goodenough,and

consistentenoughtoalwayskeepallHispromises,andHehaspromisedthatno

onewhocallsonHimwilleverbecastaside(Romans10:13).

OurpeacewithGoddoesnotrestonourownabilitytobeincomplete

compliancewithHiscommandsatalltimes.No,ourpeacewithGodrestsinthat

littlebabycryinginHiscoldmanger.He’stheOnewhohassteadfastlove,

faithfulnessandrighteousnessandit’sinHisPerson,weakthoughitseems.That

peaceisbroughttousthroughonekissofgracefromtheFathertoHisrebel

creation.

ThoughtsforChildren:

ItisChristmasweek!Wehavebeenwaitingforthisweekallyearlong.

ItisgoingtobehardtoremembertherealreasonwecelebrateChristmaswhen

wearesoexcitedaboutpresents.So,let’stakeafewminutestodayand

rememberwhatourrealPresentis,theonlyPresentthatwillmakeusreally

happy.Thisweekwearegoingtotalkaboutpeace.PeacewithGodisknowing

inyourdeepestdownpartofyourheartthatGodisnotmadatyouandthatall

Hefeelsisloveforyou,Hischild.Wehavetalkedaboutitalotthispastmonth,

butdoyourememberwhyGodisn’tmadatyou?ItisonlybecauseofJesus,

becauseofthebabythatwasbornthousandsofyearsagoinBethlehem.God’s

loveforyouwillneverendbecauseofJesus.God’sloveforyouissteadfast,that

isafancywayofsayingnomatterwhatyoudoHislovestaysthesame.Hislove

isalwaysthere.Hisloveforgiveseverywrongthingthatwehavedoneinthe

past,allthewrongthingswedotoday,andeverywrongthingthatyouwilldoin

thefuture.JesusdyingonthecrosstookawayallofGod’sangerforallthe

wrongthingsyouhavedone;thisispeace.Godwillalwaysgiveuswhatisgood

forusandisnevermadatus--thatisthepeacethatwehavewithHim,thatis

partofourincrediblepresentthatwegetnotonlyonChristmasday,butevery

day.

December23

Read:Isaiah52:7,53:5

ThoughtsforParents:

Everyoneislongingforamessageofpeace,ofgoodnews,andof

happiness.We’relongingtoknowthatwe’vebeensavedandthatsalvationis

morethansomethinghopedforatChristmas,butisactuallyours.WhatdoI

wantforChristmas?IwanttoknowthatGodisnolongerangrywithmeand

thatI’vebeensavedbyHisgrace.

Buthowcanthishappen?Howcansalvationbeours?Itisonlyours

onlybecauseGodisincharge.Ifitwereuptoustoprocureourownsalvation,if

wehadtosaveupenoughgoodworkstofinallymeritit,wewouldbelost.Itis

onlythroughthegoodnewsofpeacebetweenGodandmanproclaimed,“Your

Godreigns!”

Whyisthatsuchgoodnews?It’sgoodnewsbecauseitmeansthatthe

Godwhocreatedus,whosawourfall,whoknowsoursin,unbelief,andidolatry

implicitlyandyetlovesus,isincharge.He’sinchargeofoursalvationandthat,

myfriends,isreallygreatnews.Itisonlythroughonegladdeclaration,“Your

Godreigns!”thatwefindultimateassuranceknowingthatHeiscompletelyat

peacewithus.

ButthisendofhostilitiesbetweenGodandmandidn’thappenwithout

greatcosttoHim.Someoneneededtobearthe“chastisement”dueus.Someone

neededtobepiercedandcrushedandwoundedsothatwecouldbecalledsons

anddaughtersratherthanenemiesandrebels.SomeonehadtobringbothGod

andmantogetherintoone…andthatOneisnursingatHismother’sbreast,

wrappedinrags.

Godisatpeacewithusandthat’sthehappiestnewswe’veeverbeen

given.WhatareyouhopingforthisChristmas?Foranewsomething,orforthe

familytogettogetherandenjoyoneanother,orthatyou’llhavejustenoughof

everythingthatnoonewillfeelleftoutordisappointed?Areyouhopingthata

particularrelativewillfinallystopfussingwithyou?

Allthoselesserblessingsarefine,buttheoneblessingweallneedis

this:GodisinchargeandHe’sdoneeverythingnecessaryforustobe

completelyreconciledtoHim.Happynews!

ThoughtsforChildren:

Whatareyouhopingforthisweek?Areyouhopingforlotsoffun

partiesandyummyfoodandawesomepresents?Thosethingsareallgoodgifts

fromGodandtheyallcostsomething.Someonehadtopayforthefood,andfor

thepresents,andforthegastogettotheparty,andforthecarthat

yourodeintotheparty,andfortheclothesyouwillwearto

theparty,and…well,youunderstandwhatI’msaying.Most

goodthingscostsomething.OurbestthingcostJesuseverything.Peacewith

God--knowingthatGodisn’tmadatus--costJesusandGodtheirhearts.God

lovedJesuswitheverythingandHehadtogiveHimupsothatJesuscoulddie

foroursins.JesushadtogiveHislife.Jesushadtotakeallthepunishmentfor

oursinssothatwecouldknowforsureGodwasn’tmadatus.

So,whileyouopenyourgifts,andhavefunatyourparties,andeatyour

yummyfood,rememberthecost.RememberthatJesuslovedyouwithHis

wholelife.RememberthatnothingwilleverbeabletomakeHimstoploving

you.RememberthatitcostHimeverythingtomakeyouandGodhavea

relationship.RememberthattherelationshipwithGodisaforevergift;noone

cantakeitaway.Whatgoodnewsthatmakesussmile!

ActivityTime

Weekfour:Peace

Thisweekwelearnedabout

theangelssingingforjoyatthecomingofbabyJesus.Therewasalotofliteral

rejoicingandsinging!

Forthisweek’sactivity,it’stimetobrushoffthosevocalcordsanddo

somecaroling.Rightnow,manyofyouaredecidingnottodothisactivity,but

bearwithme!Ifyou’retooembarrassedtogofromneighbortoneighbor

singing,perhapsdrivetoafriend’shouseortothegrandparentsandsurprise

themwithJoytotheWorld.

Forcethemtomakeyoudesert,orbringitwithyouandforcethemtoeatitwith

you.

That’sincrediblymotivatingevenfortheshyestoftheshy.

Ifcarolingisanabsoluteno-goforyou,considerpullingoutthe

boombox...errripod...andsingalongtocarolstogetherasafamily.Christmas

Carols,likeJoytotheWorldandAngelsWeHaveHeardonHigh,arefraught

withincredibletheology.Butsometimes,whenwehearthemoverandoverat

Christmastime,theyseemmoresentimentalthandeeplytheologicalandceaseto

bringustopondertheamazinggiftofJesus.Helpyourchildrentolearntohear

thesesongsformorethansentimentbypickingoutaphraseortwointhesongs

anddiscussingthem(youcanfindlyricsforanysongontheweb,ifyouneedor

wantto).Forexample,ask,“Whatdoyouthinkjoytotheworldreallymeans?”

or“Whydoyouthinktherewassuchabigconcertinthesky?”

Justlikeworshiptimeinchurch,singingisanotherwaytohelpremind

uswhoGodis.Ifyouwereanangelsinginginthesky,whatdoyouthinkyou

wouldbesingingaboutGod?

Youcanlinkthisbacktoallthetraitswe’velearnedaboutHimthesepast

fewweeks.

-Godisfaithfulandkeepshispromises.

-Godisincontrolandwecanresetknowingandbelievingthat.

-Godisgoodnewstotheworld.HeisourSavior!

-Andthisweek,Godisworthyofallofourpraise.

December24

LighttheChristmasCandle(White)

Read:Luke2:14

ThoughtsforParents:

AngelshadwatchedinaweastheSon,thesecondpersonoftheTrinity,

theWord,enteredintoanovumofayounggirl.Theyhadwonderedastheir

Belovedtooktohimselfhumanfleshandblood,formedabrain,grew

fingernails,receivednourishmentthroughanumbilicalcord.TheyknewHewas

changing,growing,andtheirjoythatGod’screationwouldsoongettoseeHim

waslimitless.TheywaitedwhileHismotherlaboredinpainandmarveledin

wonderwhentheysawHisface…itwasahumanfacenow.WhenHetooka

breath,everythingonthisdarkplanetchanged.

“GlorytoGodinthehighest!”theyshouted.“Therewillbepeacenow

onearth!He’scomingtothosewithwhomHeispleased!”Godaloneiswise

enoughtoformulateaplantosavethiscursedworld.Godalonelovesenoughto

sendHismosttreasuredSontobepartofit.Godaloneispowerfulenoughto

causeittocomeabout,justasHehadforetold,andjustattherightmoment.

And,GodaloneisgoodenoughtocontinuetolovewhenevenHischosenones

hadturnedfromHim…andwillcontinuetoturnfromHim.

Itisinterestingthattheangelssangsongsaboutpeaceatthismoment

becauseJesushimselfsaidthatHedidn’tcometobringpeacebutratherasword

(Matthew10:34).Withinafewmonths,aswordwillfinditswaytoBethlehem,

aswordthatwilldepriveinfantsandtoddlersoflife.Jesushimselfknewbetter

thananyoneelsethatloveforHimmightbringconflictinfamilies—butin

comparisontotheassuranceofpeacewithGod,conflictwithothersisminiscule.

EverywhereJesuswent,Hehadapolarizingaffect;HewasthesortofManyou

eitherlovedorhatedbecauseHewassoveryconsistentlyhimself.

Tonight,wecanglorifyGodbecauseHe’ssentHisSontobringpeace

forHislovedonesbetweenheavenandearth.Yes,thereisandalwayswillbe

warsandrumorsofwarshere.SoonthekingdomofpeacethatHehaspromised

willbefullyrealizedandallthesinthatproducesallourconflictswillbegone

andwewillbeabletorestfullyinHim.“GlorytoGodinthehighest!”

ThoughtsforChildren:

ItisChristmasEve!!Tomorrowisthebigday!Perhapsinyourfamily

youopenallofyourpresentstoday,andsorightnowyouarewishingyoucould

justgoandplay.Whenyouopenedyourfavoritegiftorwhenyouopenyour

bestgifttomorrowyouaregoingtofeelveryexcited.Youmightevensay,

“Yippeeee!!!!”Youmightevendoalittledance.Thatfeelingofexcitementyou

willhaveishowtheangelsfeltwhentheycametotelltheshepherdsthegood

news.Theshouted,“GLORY!!!!”Thatisanotherwaytosay,“YIPPEEEE!!!

THEMOSTEXCITINGTHINGHASHAPPENED!!!!”

Doyouknowwhytheyshouted“GlorytoGod?”Well,itwasbecause

theyknewthatJesuswascomingtomakepeacebetweenGodandus.They

knewwhatJesusbeingbornwoulddoforourlives.TheyknewhowJesuswould

changeeverythingforus.Theangelsknewthegoodnews.Doyouknowthe

goodnews?DoyouknowthatJesuslivedthelifethatwearesupposedtolive,

thatHealwaysobeyed?DoyouknowthatJesustookallofthepunishmentthat

wedeserveforallofoursin?Doyouknowthatrightnow,whenHelooksat

you,GodseesJesus?Ihopeyouknowallofthosehappy

things,becausethatiswhatwehavebeentalkingaboutforthewholemonth.We

canshout,“GLORYTOGOD!”,justliketheangelsdidwaybackthen,because

weknownowthegoodnewstheyknewthatdayinBethlehem.

December25

Read:John14:27

ThoughtsforParents:

We’vecountedthedays.We’velitthecandles.Andnowwe’rereadyto

celebrate.We’recelebratingfamilyandfriendsandoneanotherwithgiftsand

lights.It’sChristmasDay!He’sfinallyarrived!AndwithHimHe’sbroughtus

hope,love,joy,andpeace.ThedayisfinallyhereandHebringsusawordof

comfort:PeaceIleavewithyou;mypeaceIgivetoyou.Notastheworldgives

doIgivetoyou.Letnotyourheartsbetroubled,neitherletthembeafraid.

Todayyou’reprobablygoingtospendsometimeingivingand

receiving.Ourfamilyalljoinstogetherandwe’regoingtogivegiftsandeat

togetherandrejoice.Andaswonderfulasweanticipatethisdaywillbe,itwill

stillbe“astheworldgives.”

Howdoestheworldgive?Theworldgivesinresponsetowhatithas

beengiven.It’stheprincipleofkarma:whatgoesaroundcomesaround.The

worldgivesbettergiftstothosewhohavetheabilitytorepayinkind;theworld

givesthebestgiftstothosewhodeservethem.ButJesus’giftofpeaceisn’tlike

that.Jesus’giftofpeaceisn’tinresponsetoourdeserving.No,infact,Hegives

peacetothosewhodeservejudgment.Hegivesthegiftofwell-being,

blessedness,peace,shalom,outoftheboundlessseaofHisgrace.

Inaddition,Hisgiftofpeacewillneverfadeaway.Wemay;indeed,get

thegiftwe’rehopingfor…butlet’sfaceit,afteratimethatgiftwillfadeaway.It

willeitherfadeawaybecauseit’slastyear’scellphoneandit’slostitscutting

edgeoritwillfadeawaybecauseourfickleheartswillhavemovedonto

somethingelsealltoosoon.ButthegiftthatourSaviorgives,thegiftofpeace

withHimwillneverfade.Inotherwords,we’llneverwearoutourwelcomeat

HisFather’s

throneandhearingthisgreatstorywillnevergetold.Weare

atpeacewithHim.

So…MerryChristmas!Loveandenjoythisdayandallthatitmeans.St

theendoftheday,whenyouseethatperhapsyoucouldhavedonesomething

better,rememberthatHe’scompletelysatisfiedandatpeacewithyou.

ThoughtsforChildren:

ITISCHRISTMASDAY!Wecanshout,“MerryChristmas!”allday

long.TodayisthedaythatoursweetSavior,JesusChrist,wasborn.Todayis

thedaythatHestartedHislifehereonearth,thedaythatHewassenttomake

peacebetweenusandGod,thedaythatHestartedbreathinginorderforustobe

surethatGodlovesusforever,thedaythatHeblinkedHiseyesforthefirsttime

sothatwecouldhavehappinessandjoyforever,thedaythatHecriedHisfirst

crysothatwecouldknowwewillalwayshavehope.

TodayisthedaythatwecancelebratewhatChristmasisreallyall

about:Jesus.ChristmasisaboutHim,and--letmetellyoualittlesecret--every

dayofeveryyearisaboutHim,too.ItisaboutthetruththatHewillneverever

leaveus…nomaterwhat.Hegivesuspeace,Hegivesusjoy,Hegivesushope,

andHegivesusHisloveforever.So,enjoyyourday,havefun,laugh,eat,be

happy,andcelebrateJesus!

_________________________

YoucanfindushereElyseFitzpatrickFacebookTwitter:@ElyseFitzInstagram:@Elyse_FitzBlog:TheResurgenceJessicaThompsonFacebookTwitter:@thejesslouInstagram:@thejesslouBlog:GiveThemGraceJamiNatoTwitter:@jaminato1Instagram:jaminatoBlog:TheNatos

[i]ManyofthereadingchoicesaretakenfromtheRevisedCommonLectionaryDailyReadingorTheBookofCommonPrayerReadings.[ii]Unlessotherwisenoted,allScripturequotationsaretakenfromTheHolyBible,EnglishStandardVersion®(ESV®),copyright©2001byCrossway,apublishingministryofGoodNewsPublishers.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved.[iii]MyBlueHeaven,Hawn/SylbertMovieCompanyandWarnerBrothers,Burbank,California,1990.