Coming Soon!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season with your family.  This year may have been the best for our family!  I will be continuing family devotions in the new year.  Please check back on January 1st, 2011 for a whole new year of learning and sharing together.

Day 25: Merry Christmas!

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.  

Day 23: Birth of the Messiah

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:6-7

Main Character:  Jesus
Scripture:  Luke 2:1-7
Symbol:  Manger

The initial results of the 2010 United States Census were released just a few days ago.  This year, the government received the highest response than any year in the past.  About 74% of households returned their surveys by mail, and the rest were collected through a door-to-door campaign.  If you are like me, you remember the endless television commercials explaining the census process that also encouraged families to respond as soon as possible.  This information is extremely important as it is used to delegate representative seats and helps to determine how over $20 billion in federal funds are distributed.

Luckily for us, we can fill out the simple ten response questionnaire and stick it in the mail.  Things were much different when the census was conducted the year of Christ's birth.  Instead of mail in response, every male was require to return to his hometown.  Joseph and Mary definitely did not want to be separated at this late stage of her pregnancy, so she decided to make the seventy mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem along with him.  Having two children of my own, I can't imagine sitting on a donkey for seventy miles at nine months pregnant!

There was no such thing as searching the Internet for a room on Priceline before heading out the door.  Joseph found himself without a place for his family to lay their heads once they arrived in Bethlehem late at night.  All the hotel rooms were full, and innkeeper's dream; Mary would find herself taking shelter in a manger instead of finding comfort on a plush bed.

Despite all this discomfort, the Christ child was born fulfilling all of the prophecies we have studied this month.  Just imagine what it would have been like to actually hear the cry of God.  After all the public shame of being pregnant out of wedlock, after nine months of physically carrying a baby, after a seventy mile journey, after sleeping in a cave - how wonderful it must have been to hear that little baby cry out as if expelling all the joy and frustration you had felt at once.  It was all worth it because the Messiah was born!

Ponder Points:

• God has never promised us that fulfilling his plan for our lives will be easy.  Have you ever felt frustrated at how your life is playing out?
• Discuss how Joseph and Mary must have felt the moment that they heard Jesus cry.  Do you ever wish you could actually hear the voice of God.
• Remind your children that in a few days we will celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Start getting excited today!
• As a special treat, check out this video:  A Social Network Christmas

Day 22: The Christ

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."  John 1:12-13

Main Character:  John the Apostle
Scripture:  John 1:1-18
Symbol:  Candle

Have you ever made bread from scratch?  If so, you know how rewarding it is to take that first bite of a loaf hot out of the oven.  For those of you that have never had the opportunity or desire, let's take a moment to look at what goes into the process.

First, you must proof the yeast which consists of adding water at the perfect temperature to the dry yeast with a sprinkle of sugar until it literally starts to puff up in the measuring cup.  Water that is too hot will kill the yeast, and water that is too cold will cause it to remain dormant.  The yeast is the most crucial ingredient as it causes the bread to rise and take shape.

After you mix the yeast with flour and other ingredients, you must knead the dough for a good 10 minutes.  Hopefully, you have been going to the gym because this is quite a workout.  The dough will then need to rest covered in a warm place for the next 2 hours.  Once it doubles in volume, you have to punch it down and let it rest again.  Some recipes call for several rounds for rising, punching, and resting.  The dough is formed, brushed with butter, egg, or milk, and then bakes for an hour or more.  It takes close to a whole day to get the perfect bite.

Compare all the work that went into making this bread with the work of creation.  Think of all the planning, calculating, and dreaming that went into God's creation story.  If one little thing had been off, the world we know would not exist.  I believe that while God was creating our universe, He knew that the pinnacle of his creation, man, would make the choice to mess things up.  We know from our lesson on Adam and Eve that their lust for power and stature with God caused them to be eternally separated.  We have also seen how their decision has rocked the rest of history.  How would you feel if your day's work at bread making was ruined because one of your eggs was bad?

Now, we come to our passage out of the book of John today.  John's writings are much more philosophical than the other gospel writers which can make them harder to understand.  But verse fourteen sums everything up - "...he gave them the right to become children of God."  Today is the day to reflect on God's foreknowledge and His reaction to our sin.  He did not ignore the inevitable, but instead created a plan to be carried out through history leading us to Christ.  Christ came to restore order, and it is up to us to accept this best gift of all.

Ponder Points:

• Think about all the other planets in our solar system.  As far as we know, none of them are inhabitable for one reason or another - too hot, too cold, not the right atmosphere.  Do you think that our earth is perfect for life on purpose or by coincidence?
• Have you ever made a plan that fell through?  What was your reaction?  Show your children that although God had a plan, he also made a back up plan and stuck with it.  Things were harder, but He still came through.
• If you children are old enough to understand and articulate the feeling of disappointment, discuss how God must have felt at the time of the first sin.  How do they show their disappointment when things go wrong?
• Most of us react poorly to disappointment.  Point out that God reacted by creating another way for us to eventually dwell with him through Christ. 
• You can also discuss how Jesus was not viewed by all as the Messiah.  He is continually rejected by people reacting poorly to disappointment in their lives.  Do you know someone who rejects Christ?  How can you set a good example for them?

Day 21: Trust

"But after he had considered this, an angle of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'"  Matthew 1:18-25

Main Character:  Joseph
Scripture:  Matthew 1:18-25
Symbol:  Hammer

I must admit that I struggled to come up with an illustration for today's lesson.  After some pondering, I have decided to simply explore this story with you directly from the text.  It is overwhelming to think of a situation that would mirror what Joseph was experiencing.

Picture this.  You are about to be married to a beautiful young woman when you discover that she is pregnant...and you KNOW it is not your baby.  Then, she comes to you and tells you that the child in her womb is actually conceived by God.  I know that I would have gone running in the other direction.  Instead, Joseph in his wisdom takes time to think and pray before he acts.  God rewards Joseph by sending him an angel in his dreams to ensure him that Mary is being honest.  Stick with Mary, Joseph, and you will be rewarded for your trust and faith.

Let's first look at Joseph's decision making process.  He did not rush to judgment and divorce Mary instantly.  At first, he thought he only had two decisions - divorce Mary quietly or bring her to the courts to have her stoned.  Through his patience and faith in God, he was shown the third option, which he took.  He stood by Mary and is now known as one of the most faithful men in history.

Another point to note, the text is very specific that the baby was conceived in Mary through the Holy Spirit.  This is a critical verse where God points out that our new Savior will be perfectly God and perfectly human at the same time.  He would have the ability to fully understand us in a way that no other false Messiah could.  In fact, the name Jesus means "the Lord saves" and the reference in verse 23 to Immanuel means "God with us."  Jesus could save us from our humanness and dwell fully with us as God.

Take today to remember what it truly means to trust and be faithful.  We need to take time in our decision making processes and focus on what God's will is in every situation.

Ponder Points:

• Talk about trust.  What does that word mean to each person?
• How do you know that you can trust someone or in something?  How did Joseph show trust?
• Have you ever reacted to a situation hastily?  How did that work out?  How would things have been different if you had taken time to act as Joseph did?
• Discuss what it would be like to stand out in society as Joseph.  How can we be more sensitive and welcoming as a church to people that are seen as societal outcasts?

Day 20: Repentance

"John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'"  Luke 3:16

Main Character:  John the Baptist
Scripture:  Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-18
Symbol:  Scallop Shell

I distinctly remember in elementary school a "game" that our teachers created to encourage good behavior.  They cut out strips in three different colors - yellow, blue, and red.  You could earn these strips of paper by sitting quietly at your desk, helping a classmate, keeping your desk neat, and completing assignments in a timely manner.  Ten yellow strips could be turned in for one blue strip.  Five blue strips could equal one red strip.  Lastly, ten red strips equaled a reward of pancakes with strawberries at a local diner.  I tried so hard to earn those strips, and I was devastated when one of my yellow prizes was taken away for speaking out of turn one day. 

I quickly grasped that the more good you did, the more you would be rewarded.  My motivation was not to have good behavior but to do what I could to earn a strip.  If I was going to do something naughty, I would check first to make sure there were no teachers around!  In our society, we are so quick to focus on strange forms of repentance.  We cut corners and work the system until we get our hands on the prize.  It seems like we are all taught to be good for the reward not because that's how we should act towards our fellow man.

John came to preach a different message.  Baptism was not to be done just as a sign to others that you were a good person; instead it was a turning of your mind and soul towards following the commands God had established.  I find it very interesting that John selected a quote from Isaiah when he was preaching to the crowds in Luke 3:4.  He wanted to point out that this turning, this salvation, was not just for the Jews.  It is for all mankind.  He gives specific examples in Luke 3:11-14 about how this "turning" is played out in real life situations.

Remind yourself today about the true meaning of baptism - it is an outward sign of an inward faith.  John baptized with water, but he did so only to point to the true savior, Jesus Christ, who would soon follow in his footsteps.

Ponder Points:

• If you have been baptized, take some time to discuss the experience with your children.  How was your life different before and after you made the choice to accept an inward faith?
• Is there something that you would like forgiveness for in this Christmas season?  How can you practically go about repenting for this particular action?
• John preached to both the outwardly good and bad alike.  Talk with your children about this concept.  Remind them that we all make mistakes and need forgiveness no matter how good our outward appearance.  Does your striving to look good on the outside prevent you from noticing your need for forgiveness on the inside?

Day 19: Joy

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."  Luke 1:41

Main Character:  Elizabeth
Scripture:  Luke 1:39-56
Symbol:  Mother Holding Child

One of the most joyous occasions in my life was the day I found out that my son, Brady, had a ninety percent chance of being born a healthy baby.  You may remember from my writings a few days ago that I experienced a miscarriage for my first pregnancy.  Once I conceived again, I had a viability ultrasound at 6 1/2 weeks along.  I saw a heart beat, and Dr. Lipscomb came into the room afterwards to let us know that everything looked wonderful with our little baby.

After my experience, I can only imagine what Mary must have felt like when meeting Elizabeth after her encounter with the angel Gabriel.  Mary was told that she was pregnant with the Son of God, but how could she be sure?  Yes, she said she believed, but wouldn't you still have a little voice of doubt in the back of your mind?  Elizabeth was delighted to have a miracle child growing in her own womb, and when she encountered Mary that first time her baby literally leaped in her womb.

Now, I want you to take a moment to think about the sanctity of life.  This little baby in Mary's womb was maybe three or four days old (about 70-100 cells) when she arrived at Elizabeth's home.  Already, the life of Jesus was forming, and His power was strong enough to have influence on the baby in Elizabeth's body.  Pretty amazing in my opinion!

Once Elizabeth confirmed to Mary that she was pregnant, she immediately began to praise God for the blessing she had received.  The power of the Holy Spirit surrounded their family and gave them encouragement instantaneously.

Ponder Points:

• When have you felt the most joyful?  Share these memories with one another.
• Do you find that you experience joy more from an object or an experience?  If you're like us, you take more joy in experiences.  Think about this when fretting over Christmas gifts!
• Do you immediately stop and thank God when you have a joyful experience?  How can you get better as a family for thanking God instead of just asking for things in prayer?
• Have you ever doubted yourself?  Was there someone in your life that reassured you that you were headed in the right direction?  Talk about that "Elizabeth" in your life and think of a way to thank that person for their help.

Day 18: The Hope for a Future

"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.'"  Luke 1:30-31

Main Character:  Mary
Scripture:  Luke 1:26-38
Symbol:  White Lily

While watching the classic Christmas movie "Miracle on 34th Street" earlier today, a line by the lead female lead played by Maureen O'Hara stuck out to me.  "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."  During this scene her character, Doris, is trying to convince her daughter to believe in Santa Claus after years of saying he was a mythical, foolish creature.  She was an unbeliever after a messy divorce and years of raising a child on her own.  It was only after the Macy's Santa Claus came into her life that she remembered what it was like to have hope.

Now, please don't think that I am trying to convince you to believe in Santa Claus.  There are some parallels with this story and our scripture lesson today.  Mary was a young, probably poor woman who was betrothed to be married to Joseph.  To find out from the angel Gabriel that she was expecting the child of God must have been an unbelievable experience.  Think of the faith that she must have possessed to willingly say, "'May it be to me as you have said.'" (Luke 1:38).  All of her common sense would lead her to believe that she would be publicly humiliated and criticized for becoming pregnant out of wedlock.  And what would Joseph think?

It seems to me that what helped Mary to move forward after this encounter was the belief that there was some hope for the future.  She had been promised that her son would take over the throne of Israel and restore the nation to its rightful state.  Furthermore, finding out the good news that Elizabeth would also have a miracle child gave Mary the confidence to believe in the impossible.

Ponder Points:

• What are some things in your life that seem impossible?  Do you think any of these things could really come true should you have more faith?
• Talk to your children about what it must have been like for Mary to find out that she was pregnant before marriage.  This is a hot topic these days, especially with shows like MTV's "16 and Pregnant" and ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" glamorizing the topic.
• Have you ever felt like you stuck out from the crowd?  Discuss how God has the power to use your characteristics and challenges for good.
• Remind your children about all the difficulties the Jews had been facing throughout the Old Testament.  Review some of the stories we have studied over the last few weeks.  Why do you think the Jews need such hope and reassurance that everything would be okay?
• If appropriate, talk about why a Messiah was so important for the people in Jesus' time and for us today.  Jesus is the one that helps bridge the gap created with Adam and Eve's first sin.

Day 17: Anticipation

"But the angel said to him:  'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.'"  Luke 1:13

Main Character:  Zechariah
Scripture:  Luke 1:5-23
Symbol:  Pencil and Tablet

Silence is something I have learned to appreciate, especially over the last few weeks.  We have not received an official "diagnosis," but we are pretty confident that our newborn has colic.  He sometimes cries as much as 6-8 hours per day.  When he is not crying, he kicks his legs and moves his arms almost constantly.  Even as I sit here and write, my husband has been bouncing, cuddling, and swinging Ben in his arms for close to forty minutes.  It breaks our hearts to see him so unhappy, but it makes us treasure the moments when he is still, silent, and smiling even more.

What helps us to get through these trying hours of crying, the memory of the two babies we lost in a miscarriage and the trouble we had even conceiving the two precious boys that we have.  I was told at the beginning of February that we may not be able to have another baby only to find out at the end of February that I had been pregnant all along.  As I read the scripture lesson today, I can only imagine the confusion, joy, and surprise that Zechariah must have felt as the angel uttered the line in verse thirteen.  He was going to be a father.

Can you imagine being struck mute every time you had the slightest doubt in God?  That is what happened to Zechariah.  He had to keep all his emotions silent during Elizabeth's whole pregnancy and birth.  I'm sure he waited in great anticipation for the day that he would be able to utter the words, "This is John.  He is my son."  Be thankful for your children and the children in your lives today!

Ponder Points:

• Talk about the feeling of anticipation.  What is it like to wait for your presents on Christmas morning (for example)?
• Try as a family to not talk for 10 or 15 minutes while still interacting with one another.  How fast do you slip up?  Discuss what it would be like to not be able to talk for the whole 40 weeks of pregnancy.
• You can also use this opportunity to talk about obedience and miracles.  Zechariah was not very obedient at the start and was then struck mute.  As soon as he was obedient and announced John's name, his voice was restored.  Have you ever encountered problems as a result of being disobedient?

Day 16: Refining

"'See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the Lord Almighty."  Malachi 3:1

 **Special Note:  The computer I use to scan my drawings at home is on the fritz right now.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get the illustrations up again soon!**

Main Character:  Malachi
Scripture:  Malachi 3:1-6
Symbol:  Sun

With the soaring price of pure gold these days, there are articles all over the Internet about how to refine your own gold at home.  The process reads like something out of mad scientists laboratory.  You pretty much take your pieces of scrap gold from jewelry, old coins, etc. and coat it with two types of acid.  After letting it sit, you drain off the acid, collect what is left over, and soak it in uric acid.  You then rinse and filter it several more times and heat it with a blow torch before you are finally left with .999 percent pure gold.  Sounds pretty easy, don't you think?

I can't even imagine trying to complete the refining process at home with my two little ones and two cats running around!  The process seems to complicated and too hard to complete, yet our passage in Malachi today talks about how God is constantly willing to refine us and our behavior no matter what the circumstances.

Malachi was another prophet in the Old Testament that spoke to the nation of Israel after the exile.  He tried to show that people that they were constantly turning from God and breaking their promises of repentance.  If you have time to read other portions of this text, you will notice that he is the ultimate psychologist; he tries to get the people to realize what they are doing through questions that would prompt self-discovery.

This is our last portion of Old Testament text, and I find it amazing how well Malachi bridges the gap between the Old Testament promises of salvation and the fulfillment of that promise with the birth of the Christ child.  God has sent his messenger, just as promised, and He wants to work in us until we are like that .999 pure gold.  Now, there is no promise that this process will be easy.  As the new year approaches, look for opportunities to let this refining process begin in your life.

Ponder Points:

• Have you ever taken something that was unappealing to the eye and made it beautiful - maybe the Thanksgiving turkey or lumpy stones that you polished into gems when you were little?  Talk about this experience and what type of work went into the process.
• What do you think it means to say that God wants to refine us?
• He wants to remove all signs of sin and impurity from our lives.  Basically, He wants to mold us into Adam and Eve before the apple.  Now, we do not believe that this process will be completed while we are on earth, but we can work towards completion.

• In what areas do you feel you need some refinement?  What do you struggle with?  Discuss as a family one thing that you want to work on in the next year.  Write it down where it is visible and refer to this card throughout the year.

Day 15: The Call to Holiness

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

Main Character:  Isaiah
Scripture:  Isaiah 1:16b-20; 6:1-13, 9:1-7
Symbol:  Tongs with Burning Coal

While visiting family in Florida, we had the opportunity to attend church with my husband's father and stepmother at Church of the Springs.  This particular Sunday the youth pastor was going to preach for the first time.  My husband, Garrett, is a youth pastor himself, and he made a prediction that instantly came through; he guaranteed there would be some type of bathroom humor.  Right at the start of the sermon, the youth pastor introduced himself.  "Hi!  My name is John.  In Hebrew, it means 'God is gracious.'  It also means toilet."  Point scored for Garrett.  :)

Do you know the history behind your name?  As parents, we put a lot of thought into the names of our children.  Names in Biblical times were often given based on characteristics or promises of God.  I love that our last scripture passage today focuses so much on the name of the child that will be given.  We are immediately given insight into the characteristics of our Messiah.

Isaiah may be one of the most famous prophets in the Old Testament as he foretells the coming of the Christ child.  In fact, he is quoted over 50 times in the New Testament.  I am so thankful that Isaiah heard and responded to God's call in his life.

Ponder Points:

• Can you think of a time when you have heard God calling you?  Share this experience and how you responded.
• How do we hear God's call?
• Through prayer, study, and others!
• Take some time to look up what your names mean.  There are lots of sites on the Internet.  You may get a few laughs out of this exercise.  Does your personality match what your name means?
• Talk as a family about the four names listed above.  What do they mean to you?  Can you think of an example of how Jesus fulfilled each one of these names?

Day 14: Unlikely Heroes

"If it pleases the king," she (Esther) said, "and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let and order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces.  For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people?  How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?"  Esther 8:5-6

Main Character:  Esther
Scripture:  Esther 3:1-15, 5:1-7; 8:1-17
Symbol:  Ring

Have you ever had the chance to watch a caterpillar develop into a butterfly?  This was once of my favorite learning experiences from elementary school.  Each day I would race into the classroom to see this little fuzzy, ugly caterpillar as it formed a chrysalis and then emerged as a wrinkled blob only to turn into a beautiful monarch butterfly a few hours later.  How amazing that this unlikely and unassuming caterpillar would turn into such a beautiful creature! 

On the day all of our butterflies emerged, we had a big send off party where we released them out on the playground and watched them fly away.  I am sure there were a few tears shed over releasing our beautiful new creatures.  I can also remember Mrs. Edmonds reassuring us that our "brother and sister" butterflies would find each other again as they migrated down south once the snow came.  It was here way of reassuring us that everything would be okay.  Our little friends would have the strength to make it on their own.

Reading these passages from the book of Esther draws me back to this memory.  The text tells us that God gave Esther beauty that made her stand out from all the others.  She was an orphan living with her uncle Mordecai when the king himself selected her as a wife.  Imagine how he must have felt watching the little girl he loved leave to start a life of her own.

Not only was Esther beautiful, she was also smart and brave.  She took action when she heard of a plot to eliminate the Jews from the surrounding land.  More importantly, she relied upon her faith and the practices of prayer and fasting to help her make crucial decisions.

Esther is the only book in the bible where the name of God is not used.  Many critics have argued over the years that it should have been left out of the text altogether.  It is important to note that although His name is not uttered, we can see God working through each and every situation described.  He gave Esther her brains and beauty, He allowed her to be selected from the masses as queen, and He put Mordecai in the right place at the right time.  Let's use today to remember that God does reveal himself in quiet and unexpected ways.

Ponder Points:

• Have you ever witnessed God working in a quiet and unexpected way?  Discuss theses times as a family.  If not, think of some ways that you can try to be more observant of God working around you.
• Esther showed lots of bravery in this story.  Point out to your children a time you have seen their bravery come through.
• Ask your children for an example of a time they saw someone act bravely.
• A footnote in my bible reminds us that when God works in our world we have a few options.  We can plan, pray, and trust and obey or we can disobey, demand, and despair.  Which category do you find yourself in most of the time?
• What are some ways you can start to plan, pray, and trust and obey?

Day 13: The Threat of False Gods

"Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."  1 Kings 18:37

Main Character:  Elijah
Scripture:  1 Kings 18:16-39
Symbol:  Stone Altar

Have you ever encountered a modern day street prophet?  I'm talking about one of those guys that wears a sandwich board and screams doom, gloom, and repentance.  There was one of these men that would visit our campus at the University of New Hampshire on a regular basis.  He would stand in the middle of the quad screaming through a microphone at all of the students walking back and forth to class.  I must admit that I would intentionally walk the long way to avoid him.  I used to think that he was destroying the work of all the other campus ministries by his antics.  After all, people didn't want to hear that they were going to hell they wanted to hear how they could get to heaven.  Do you see the difference?

We meet the prophet Elijah in today's lesson.  He may in fact be one of the most well known prophets of the Old Testament.  I can just imagine that when people saw him coming they had the same reaction I did to the street prophet.  Elijah was a true prophet sent by God to preach repentance to the people of Israel.  He did not come to comfort the people but rather to confront their poor behavior.  How quickly the Israelites forgot God's faithfulness and turned to worshipping the false god, Baal.

The "moral" of today's story is that there is a time and place for confrontation.  We need to be careful of our methods, but it is important to point out behavior that is disobedient to God.  I can almost guarantee that we will find ourselves in a situation a some point where we will need to be a little more like Elijah.  If he had not stood up for what was right, the whole nation of Israel may have turned away from the true God.  We need to remember that confrontation is not always fun, but it is necessary.

Ponder Points:

• Have you ever been confronted by someone?  Did you listen to that person or did you ignore them?  Why?
• Discuss what makes a successful confrontation.  Usually, it is done privately, with love, and focuses on one specific behavior.
• Elijah was on God's side before he confronted anyone.  How can we make sure God is on our side before taking a stand?
• Talk about the power of prayer.  Also, it is important to turn to scripture to see what God has to say about the topic.
• What is an idol?  What are some things in our lives that we turn into idols quickly?  What can we do to turn away from this idol and back to God?
• Remember, an idol is anything that turns us away from God.  This can be anything from work to video games to sports. 

Day 12: A Shepherd for the People

"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says:  I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.  Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth."  2 Samuel 7:8-9

Main Character:  David
Scripture:  1 Samuel 16:1-13, 17:1-58; 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 7:1-17

My son, Brady, had barely ever seen a cartoon...that is until I went on bed rest a few weeks before our second son, Benjamin, was born.  I was in the hospital, and my husband found himself needing a way to keep Brady entertained while he got ready for work or prepared dinner.  It was during this time that Brady was introduced to an unlikely superhero - Perry the Platypus.

Perry stars on the Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, a cartoon about two brothers who make their own fun through imagination and creativity.  They carry out their extreme adventures while their older sister does anything possible to "bust them."  The secondary storyline follows their pet platypus, Perry, as he assumes his secret identity as Agent P and takes on the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  Perry is a very unassuming character and is always tasked with the most critical of missions.

Now I know this may seem pretty strange to say, but Agent P shares many of the same characteristics of our main character in today's lesson.  David was an unlikely hero, selected at a very young age to be anointed as God's chosen king for the people of Israel.  This was the most critical position in the kingdom.  He was the youngest of Jesse's sons and grew up tending his father's flocks of sheep.  When he volunteered to take on Goliath the Philistine everyone thought he was crazy.  David was confident because he knew God was on his side.

The skills David attained young in his life helped him as he took the throne over the kingdom of Israell at the age of thirty.  He would move from shepherding sheep to caring for God's people.  Now, David did have his faults and stumbled along the way, but overall he trusted God and found success.

Ponder Points:

• Have you ever felt inadequate or out of place?  Share your stories and remind your children what traits they possess that could help them feel more comfortable in these types of situations.
• Many people in our society have never grown up around animals and may not understand the concept of a shepherd.  Discuss what characteristics make a good shepherd:  attentiveness, caring heart, self-confidence, awareness of the animals' needs, etc.
• Why would God select a shepherd like David to lead the Israelites?
• David started making a big difference at a young age.  Talk to your children about their dreams and goals.  What can you do to support them?

Day 11: The Fall of Jericho

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful."  Joshua 1:8



Main Character:  Joshua
Scripture:  Joshua 1:1-11; Joshua 6:1-20
Symbol:  Ram's Horn Trumpet

Our family attends many youth sporting events as a part of his work as a youth pastor.  We have students that attend schools all over the county:  public, private, Christian, and Hebrew.  At almost every event we attend, we witness the same thing - parents acting like children.  Isn't amazing how we preach good sportsmanship to our children and then yell at the referees or talk poorly about members of the other team?  What type of example does this set for our children?

This type of behavior also extends in other parts of our day to day life.  Do you stop to let someone pull out into a busy intersection?  Do you follow the speed limit or talk/text on your cell phone while driving?  Do you act responsibly when having alcohol?  Are you honest in all your dealings, both public and private?

I hope this does not come across as condemning.  It just is something to think about.  Our lesson today is all about setting a positive example.  The Israelites have just been wandering the desert for forty years after receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.  Moses has passed away, and Joshua has just taken leadership.  By now, the Israelites should have been in the Promised Land.  They disobeyed God and were denied the gift of a home and place to rest.  After realizing their mistakes, God gave them the years of wandering to teach the next generation how to follow His commands so they could inherit the land that should have been their parents.

Joshua was an excellent choice of a leader for several reasons.  He had grown up following the positive leadership example of Moses.  He was also one of only two remaining people to have witnessed the plagues and the Exodus; he could truly remember what it was like to suffer.  Above all else, he was confident that God would deliver on his promises.

None of the Israelites doubted the selection of Joshua as a leader.  He had and would continue to set a positive example for the people.  Thanks to his leadership and trust, the Israelites were able to capture the city of Jericho from their enemies and inherit the Promised Land.

Ponder Points:

• Discuss with your children the power of setting a positive example.  What are some ways they can stand up for what they believe is right on a day to day basis?
• Has there been a time recently when you have set a bad example for your children?  Point out your mistake to them and apologize for what you did wrong.  You may just be amazed at how your children respond!
• By doing the right thing, Joshua was able to take the city of Jericho.  Try to think of a time when doing the right thing paid off.  Share your stories with one another.

Day 10: Giving the Torah at Sinai

"Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire.  The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.  Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."  Exodus 19:18-19

Main Character:  God

Scripture:  Exodus 19:1-20:20

Symbol:  Tablets of the Torah

Now all you parents out there, don't get too excited about today's passage!  We have finally come to the ten commandments.  As a small child, I was regularly reminded about number five - honor your mother and father.  Instead of focusing on this passage as being a rule book, I would like us to take today to examine the last commandment.

Moses and the Israelites had been wandering through the desert for three months to the day after the parting of the Red Sea.  Can you imagine camping for three months straight unsure about your next meal, where you would go to the bathroom, what animal or bug might be lurking around the corner, and how you would keep your children entertained?  Finally, they arrived at Mount Sinai; this would become a resting place where they would encounter God.

Like any society, God knew they would need some structure to keep order.  Moses was presented with the tablets of the Torah, otherwise known as the ten commandments, while the Israelites gathered at the bottom of the mountain.  All ten of these commands were designed to help them live peacefully as a group while keeping their hearts and minds focused on God.

Most of us can probably that we are pretty good at observing most of these commands on a daily basis.  We typically do not use the name of God in vain, don't steal, don't murder, and don't commit adultery.  The last command of resting has become particularly hard for me as the years have gone by.  Sunday in one of the worst days for me to try to rest as my husband is a youth pastor and spends about ten hours at work.

On the other hand, there are those that take the idea of the Sabbath to the extreme.  Some say no work is to be done which includes doing anything that "creates a change to the environment or any object."  Also, no cooking or food preparation is to be done.  They also condone allowing anyone else to do work for you which means no shopping, no going to the movies, or no going out to eat.  Pretty extreme?

Our challenge today is to balance the concept of rest and worship with day to day necessities.  Jesus himself performed healings and other miracles on the Sabbath day.  I do not mean for this to be an excuse to do whatever we want on our day of rest, but it helps offer some perspective. 

Ponder Points:

• How do you handle the Sabbath in your household?  Do you schedule unnecessary activities on Sundays that cause you to miss time in worship or time together as a family unit?
• Do you think it's a good idea to participate in extracurricular activities that require a Sunday commitment?
• How can you carve out some more time for rest and worship on a day to day basis - especially during the hectic holiday season?
• Over and over again in our lessons the past few days we have seen God providing for his people.  God has given us the gift of rest, and it is important that we do not ignore it!

Day 9: Passover and Exodus

"And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'" Then the people bowed down and worshped.  -Exodus 12:26-27

"The Lord is my strength and my defense, he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him."  -Exodus 15:2

Main Character:  Israelites
Scripture:  Exodus 12:1-15:21
Symbol:  Lamb

Our family has watched a lot of sporting events over the years.  Everyone seems to take the most joy out of the big games.  You know, those Super Bowls where your favorite team is playing their rival.  The Red Sox - Yankees in the playoffs.  Federer and Nadal facing off on the tennis court for Wimbledon glory.  The last round when Tiger and Phil Mickelson were separated by a shot.

I always find it interesting to see how these elite athletes respond to a high stakes challenge.  Even more interesting is their response when they win.  This lesson features Moses, one of the most well known men in the Old Testament, about to face one of the biggest challenges of his life.  To give you a little background, he has just finished confronting Pharaoh with the plagues.  Pharaoh is still unwilling to release the Israelites from slavery.

Moses is now about to have the biggest confrontation to date with Pharaoh.  The Holy Spirit had just passed through the land taking the lives of the first born of all people and livestock who had not participated in the Passover sacrifice.  Moses and God's people flee the country only to be hunted down by Pharaoh's army.  God truly provides by parting the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape and then closing it back together over the pursuing army.

The champion within Moses did appear during this encounter.  He trusted God and followed directions.  His teammates - the Israelites - grumbled and complained about whether or not God would come to their aid.  Moses reassured them and led them through this extremely frightening ordeal.

Now with this "win" under his belt, how would Moses respond.  Would he take all the glory?  Would he announce to the world that he was going to Disney?  Would he recite all the hours of work he had put in to make this moment possible?  This is where Moses' true character is displayed.  Chapter 15 shows us Moses and Miriam's response to God's incredible act.  They immediately start singing praise to God.  Not only were songs used to express thanks, it was also a way to pass down important oral traditions.  This is definitely a moment in time that they would like all future generations to remember.

Ponder Points:

• Talk about a victory you have enjoyed witnessing.  What made this moment so important?  How did the team or person respond to their victory?
• How do you respond when something good happens in your life?  Do you immediately thank God?
• Brainstorm some different ways that you can thank God.  Choose one to implement daily as a family.
• Notice how the Israelites immediately began to doubt God once they faced a difficult situation.  How do you respond when facing difficulty?  What can you learn from this lesson about doubting?

Day 8: God's Leadership

"So now, go.  I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."  Exodus 3:10

Main Character:  Moses
Scripture:  Exodus 2:1-4:20
Symbol:  Burning Bush

What would you picture if someone asked you to describe the leader of the free world?  If you are like me, you would jump to the traditional image of the President of the United States - tall, handsome, former athlete, rich, articulate, from a political power family, male, and caucasion.

In our scripture passage today, we once again witness God calling someone unexpected into leadership.  Moses was born to a Hebrew woman out of the tribe of Levi.  At the time, the Hebrews were the lowest class.  In fact, many babies were killed instantly by the Egyptians.  Moses was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter and was raised as her own.  As he grew older, he killed an Egyptian he witnessed beating a fellow Hebrew man.  We also need to remember that he had some type of speech impediment.

Now let's compare Moses to my list above.  No particularly tall or handsome.  Not a former athlete, although he does have some wealth and power being the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter.  But, he did just commit murder and is now wanted by the Pharaoh to pay for his crime.  He is male but is definitely not from the predominant racial group.

Moses is then called by God to lead all of the Israelites out of slavery into the Promised Land.  Moses himself can hardly believe what he is hearing.  He questions God several times about whether or not he is really the one.  God reassures Moses by encouraging him to bring Aaron along as his right hand man.  Once again, we see God providing for the one He has called.

Ponder Points:

• Ask your children to describe their version of a popular person.  What characteristics does that person possess?
• How does this compare with Moses?  What characteristics did Moses posess that made him valuable to God?
• Tell your children what characteristics you observe in them that would make them good leaders in the kingdom of God.  Encourage, encourage, encourage!



Day 7: God's Providence

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  Genesis 50:20

Main Character:  Joseph
Scripture:  Genesis 37:1-36; Genesis 49:29-50:26
*NOTE:  If you would like to study the whole story of Joseph read Genesis 37:1 - Genesis 50:26.
Symbol:  Colorful Coat

One of my father's favorite stories to tell is about an "interaction" I had with my brother Luke at the age of about eight or nine years old.  Interestingly enough, this is the first time I remember willfully lying to my parents.

I lived in my grandparents home during elementary school.  The "Crow's Nest" was a beautiful 14 room Victorian set at the top of Cotton Mountain in Wolfeboro, NH.  Our playroom was on the complete opposite side of the house from the main bedrooms, so my parents invested in a monitor and intercom system to stay in contact while we played.

Now being the oldest child, I thought I was the boss.  My brother was only about three years old and was not following the detailed instructions (otherwise known as bossiness) I was sending his way.  To teach him a lesson, I picked up a wiffle ball bat and smacked him in the back.  My father must have traveled at warp speed from his bedroom up to see why my brother was screaming at the top of his lungs.  "WHAT HAPPENED!?!"  I calmly looked in his face and said, "He hit himself in the back with a bat."  Needless to say, I received a spanking.

I'm sure Jacob would have wanted to spank his eleven boys after discovering what had happened to his youngest son, Joseph.  It was no secret that Joseph was Jacob's (also referred to as Israel) favorite son.  Fuel was added to the fire when Joseph shared with his brothers that he had been having dreams that suggested one day he would rule over his brothers.  One day the older brothers decided to throw Joseph in the equivalent of a septic tank and then sell him as a slave to the Egyptians.  They went so far as to kill a goat, wipe its blood on Joseph's coat, and then tell their father he was eaten by a wild animal - and I thought my lie was ridiculous.

Over the coming years, Joseph would find himself falsely accused of attempted rape, locked in a prison cell, prophesying to the Pharaoh, and saving the country of Egypt from severe famine that blanketed the region.  Ironically enough, Joseph's brothers had to come beg him for food needed to survive.  Time after time, Joseph served his brothers with love and respect despite what they had done to him.  God used Joseph's horrible circumstances to accomplish good works.

Ponder Points:

• Think about how rude and disrespectful Joseph and his brothers were to each other.  Think of a time you fought with your siblings.  How can you learn to treat each other better?
• Parents, do you find yourself playing favorites with your children?  How can you make each one of your children feel special this week?
• Discuss how to make the best out of bad circumstances.  Try to think of a specific example in your current day to day life where you could use a change of attitude.
• Remember that God was faithful to Joseph.  He will use each and every one of us to accomplish good if we remain obedient and faithful.



Day 6: Assurance of the Promise

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised."  Genesis 28:15

Main Character:  Jacob
Scripture:  Genesis 28:10-22
Symbol:  Ladder

I was a sophomore in high school when our point guard on the basketball team graduated.  With no "heir apparent" our coach asked me if I would be up for the task the following year right before the start of summer ball.  I had always been one of the taller girls on the team and had played in the forward or center position, so this took me a little by surprise.  Not to mention, I had injured my knee during the track and field season that April and was still limping around and attending physical therapy three times a week.

My response:  "I guess so."  Looking back, I would not have been up for the challenge had my father not encouraged me along the way.  He gave me ideas for dribbling drills that I could do without moving my legs very much.  He took me to McDonald's on the way home from surgery that July and said I would be up and running the court in no time.  Dad also reassured me that I was "game smart" and that is what mattered most.

Then there was my mother who carted me back and forth to physical therapy, filled up my ice packs, and reminded me how much she loved me.  She was also the one that gave me the courage to fight through the pain I was feeling.  I went on to have two successful years at that position with their encouragement and reassurance helping me the whole way through.

Jacob, the focus of our study today, also found himself being put into his position in an uncharacteristic way.  He was the second son of Isaac and probably assumed his older brother Esau would inherit his father's blessing.  Their mother, Rebekah, knew God had promised Jacob would receive Isaac's inheritance.  When it appeared the blessing was going to Esau, she stepped in and convinced Jacob to lie to his aging father to gain his blessing.  Esau was furious when he found out what had happened and vowed to kill Jacob upon Isaac's death.  Jacob was forced to flee and found himself near Bethel - the same location where Abraham almost sacrificed his father in our previous lesson.

Once again, something very special happened at that place.  God sent Jacob a dream reminding him that he would receive all God had promised Abraham.  As the third generation in line, he would continue to see his offspring grow more numerous than the stars in the sky.  In fact, his twelve sons would become the founding fathers of the tribes of Israel.  This encounter began a change in Jacob that would help develop him into a trusting man of God.  Just like I received assurance from my parents, Jacob received assurance from his heavenly father that everything would turn out as promised.

Ponder Points:

• Use today's lesson to talk about encouragement as a family.  How often do you encourage one another in your home?
• Is there someone you know at work or school that could use encouragement?  Discuss how you could put this lesson into practice and follow through!
• Promises are easy to make and hard to keep.  This is the third day in a row that we see God fulfilling his promise. 
• What do you think shows someone you are really serious - what you say or what you do?
• Discuss a promise you have made and how you have followed through.
• Remind your children that even though we are not perfect, God is perfect.  He made a promise that would be fulfilled step by step through history - ultimately leading us to the birth of Jesus.

Day 5: Offering of Isaac

"Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.'  And the two of them went on together." Genesis 22:8

Main Character:  Isaac
Scripture:  Genesis 22:1-19
Symbol:  Ram

The son of family friends chose to travel to Japan while in college as part of an exchange program.  His group of friends stepped off the high speed rail to meet their host.  After exchanging greetings, they learned from the guide that they would have to travel to another platform to buy the next rail ticket needed to get to their final destination.  This was an extremely daunting task as they had all their luggage in tow.  "Just leave it here.  It will be safe," explained the guide.

You can just imagine how rediculous this seemed to our friend and his companions.  Not only did his suitcases contain all his clothing for the trip, but also his laptop and new SLR digital camera.  Now here is the amazing part.  The guide proceeded to prove his point that their belongings would be safe by placing about five dollars worth of currency on the ground a few yards away.  Everyone watched in amazement as three different people found the money, picked it up and asked everyone around if it belonged to them.  When they received a negative response, they put the money back on the group where it originally laid.  The fourth person that found the money followed suit, except he turned the bill into the ticket collector for safe keeping.

Point proved, the group of Americans williningly dropped their belongings on the platform and left to purchase their new tickets.  Imagine if we lived in such a society!  The trust and obedience displayed in this experience reminds me of our scripture lesson today.

Abraham was asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.  He was told to walk a distance of about 50 miles even though he was over 100 years old.  Not to mention that the whole time he knew he was being asked to sacrifice his one and only son;  the same son God had promised to him in our previous lesson.  Honestly, I don't think I would have the strength to make that kind of journey.

Notice that Abraham's obedience was rewarded with confirmation of God's previous promise - he would provide success and salvation for Abraham's family.  The ram in this story should remind us of the Lamb of God - Jesus - who would be offered as a living sacrifice for our sins.

Ponder Points:

• This scripture passage may be a little scary or hard to explain to younger children.  We make some adaptations by saying that Abraham was going to have to "give up his son" or "send his son to go bye-bye."  It seems silly, but that's how our son can best understand.  Point out to your family how hard it would be to be separated forever.
• Why is it so hard to be obedient?  Point out that most of the time when we don't obey we are being selfish.  Is there a certain rule in your house that is hard to obey?  How can you work together as a family to encourage obedience.
• Feel free to talk about how old Abraham was and how hard it would have been for him to obey God by walking so far.  It makes our rules seem not so bad!
• Show that Isaac was also very obedient.  He followed all of Abrahams instructions with very little questioning.
• Lastly, spend some time sharing with your children how the ram is a symbol for how God provides for us.  Make sure they understand that the ram is a symbol for Jesus.  Jesus will have to be sacrified to make God's promise come true; the promise that we will no longer have to be separated from God.

Day 4: The Promise

"He took him (Abraham) outside and said, 'Look up at the heavens and count the stars -- if indeed you an count them.'  Then He said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"  Genesis 15:5

Main Character:  Abraham
Scripture:  Genesis 12:1-7, Genesis 15:1-6
Symbol:  Field of Stars

Do you know that it is estimated that a septillion snowflakes fall to the earth each year?  Yes, that is one followed by 24 zeros for you non-math geeks!  Interestingly enough, some scientists also believe this could be close to the number of stars at any given time in our galaxy.  Isn't it amazing the way God works in creation!

This morning we received a rare gift in North Carolina - it started snowing.  Not only is it snowing, but it is actually sticking to the ground.  It is as if were are all being told, "Christmas is here!  Get excited!"  I can only imagine the wonder that Abraham was feeling as God was giving him a similar sign.  Abraham (also known as Abram) was living in a pretty difficult period of time where godlessness abounded.  In his personal life, he dealt with the stress of having a wife who was barren.  Yet, God called this unlikely man to become the "founding father" of His greatest generation.

God made a promise to Abraham that He would give him and his wife Sarah (Sarai) the gift of a natural born son.  This would be the start of a family tree so great that it would outnumber the stars in the sky.  Imagine the old man staring up in wonderment at the clear, starry sky.  It's important to note that like most of us, Abraham and Sarah let their excitement turn to impatience.  Sarah went so far as to tell Abraham to have a child with one of her servants - and so Ishmael was born.  This led to conflict and jealousy between the two women.  It would take a full 13 more years before Abraham (now 99 years old) and Sarah would become the parents of Isaac.  This would be the line of descendants that would bring us to Jesus.

Ponder Points:

• With your younger children, discuss the concept of how strange it would seem to Abraham to learn he would have numerous descendants.  Can they think of something too big to count?  Maybe sand on the beach or cars in the crowded parking lots.  :)
• What promise did God make to Abraham?  How was it fulfilled?
• What promises do you feel God has made to you and your family?  What's it like to wait for that promise to come true?  Do you trust God or do you try to make things happen on your own?
• This lesson provides a good opportunity to talk about praying for God's direction with your children.  Maybe try praying for something specific with your children at bedtime tonight.

Day 3: The Flood

"Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind."  Genesis 9:13-14

Main Character:  Noah
Scripture:  Genesis 6: 9-22; Genesis 7:17 - 8:22; Genesis 9:8-17
Symbol:  Rainbow

The story of Noah and the flood is one that most of us have heard in the past.  You know how it goes - the world is corrupt, Noah builds an ark, the animals march in, the flood comes, then the water recedes for Noah and his family to repopulate the earth. 

To many, this may seem like a pretty far fetched story.  Earlier this year, there was even a great deal of talk about whether the ark had been found on the top of a Turkish mountain.  A popular search engine pulls 4.79 million results for the phrase "location of Noah's Ark."  There are handfuls of scientists, believers and skeptics alike, that have dedicated their lives work to proving or disproving this passage of scripture.

Today, I challenge you to focus on some of subtleties of this passage rather than they mystery of what happened to the giant ark.  Most people in Noah's day probably thought he was psychotic.  It took amazing faith and trust to dedicate his life to following what he knew was God's plan.  In exchange for his faithfulness, the God of the universe came to Noah's level and formed an unbreakable promise.  This pact with Noah is an essential part of our Christmas story.

Noah had three children of his own - Shem, Ham, and Japeth.  They assisted their father in building the boat and joined him along with their wives on the forty day journey we studied today.  Shem is particularly important to our story.  Luke 3 lists the genealogy of Jesus, and who is included - Noah and Shem.  God fulfilled his promise to Noah by ensuring his family played a role in bringing salvation to all of mankind.

Ponder Points:

• This is a great way to reinforce the concept of obedience that we began to study yesterday.  What was the result of Adam and Eve's disobedience compared to Noah's obedience?
• Remind your older children that even though Adam and Eve initially disobeyed, God used them anyway.  It is possible to be redeemed from your mistakes!
• Have you ever been teased for being different?  Share with your children how you have used one of your unique traits to help others.
• Remember the rainbow!  It was a visible sign of God's covenant of Noah.  Talk about a time you have witnessed a beautiful rainbow.  Let your children know that this an everyday way that God reminds us that He cares for us.
• Noah's actions set up his sons for greatness.  How can you as a parent or mentor set up a young person in your life for success?



Day 2: The First Sin

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."  Genesis 3:6

Main Character:  Adam and Eve
Scripture:  Genesis 2:4 - 3:24
Symbol:  Apple

Being a parent, I am now more aware than ever before of the result of that day in the Garden.  We have entered what some call the "terrible twos."  A good friend of ours commented that they begin now and end when your child is eighteen.  If I am completely honest, it is amazing how fast I can go from being completely enamored with my son to wanting to go hide in another room when he starts a tantrum.  These moments are not often, but they do occur. 

These times give me a glimpse into what God must have felt when Eve then Adam took a bite of the forbidden fruit.  Before those bites everything was literally perfect.  There was no shame, no guilt, no anger, no regret, and no tantrums.  One small decision changed everything.

I would argue that this is the most important piece of scripture we will read over the next several weeks.  Without the first sin there would be no need for Christmas.  Fortunately, our awesome God had a plan in place to bridge the gap that immediately formed when He found himself separated from the pinnacle of His creation.

Ponder Points:

• Use today's scripture lesson to begin the discussion of what sin is with your family.  This is can be extremely difficult concept to understand.  Depending on the age of your children, keep it as simple as possible.  Ask them to describe a time when they felt scared, lost, or alone.  Can they remember a time when they disobeyed you? 
• With your older children, take it a step further by discussing instances in our community or world where they see the result of this separation from God.
• Consider this - Adam and Eve made one small decision that changed the course of history.  Discuss the good and bad choices you have made along the way that have impacted your life.
• Above all else, it is important to remind our families today that we have been separated from God, and the baby Jesus will be the "unlikely one" that will bring us back together.



Day 1: Creation

"So God crated man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

Main Character:  God
Scripture:  Genesis 1:1 - 2:3
Symbol:  Dove

Have you ever tried to build a gingerbread house?  Every year around this time the Grove Park Inn located in Asheville, NC invites competitors from all over the country to enter specatular gingerbread houses, no gingerbread mansions, into their annual competition.  They have even been featured on the Food Network. 

This competition is so inspiring that last year I decided we should make one at home...with our 14 month old.  I had visions of a perfectly square gingerbread cottage that would be held together with sumptous royal icing and covered with sparkling gumdrops and candy canes.  Let me just tell you, it was a disaster.  I could not grasp why the sides would not stand up straight, why Brady could not put the candy right where it was "supposed to go," and why there was icing EVERYWHERE.

As I read the creation story in preparation for today's lesson, I immediately thought of my gingerbread nightmare.  No matter how hard I tried, my creation would never be competition worthy.  Fortunately, when God created the heavens and the earth He was much more in control.  Every piece of creation was perfectly made, especially the first man and woman.  They were pure and carefree, not unlike a dove.  This symbol reminds us that God created man to live with him and to share the beauty of all else that had been created.

Ponder Points:

• What is the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen in nature?  Why do you like this thing so much?
• Have fun with this question!  Try to encourage your children to appreciate the beauty of God's creation and the hard work that went into making things so intricate.
• Why did God make the first man and woman?
• Discuss how God created them to share in the beauty of creation with Him.
• Brainstorm ways you can take time to appreciate the things around you more this week.  Pick an idea and carry it out.

Introduction to the Jesse Tree

Do you ever feel like it is becoming harder and harder to remember why we celebrate Christmas?  How do you make this wonderful season more about the birth of Christ rather than just presents?  I came across the Jesse Tree concept while looking for some unique ways to teach our children about what Christmas is all about.  If you do not have children or yours are grown, this study is still for you!

The Jesse Tree study uses symbols and passages of scripture to follow the fullfillment of God's promises and the lineage of Christ through the Old Testament until the birth of Christ.  Each day, I will post a scripture passage along with illustrations and questions.  Take 15-20 minutes a day to travel with our family through these devotions.

Start today by reviewing 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Isaiah 11:1-10 to learn where the Jesse tree gets its name.  Notice that by selecting David to be king, God is already teaching us to expect the unexpected.

"...I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem.  I have chosen one of his sons to be king."  1 Samuel 16:1.

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."  Isaiah 11:1