Advent Family Devotionals
ADVENT & THE JESSE TREE
The Advent season is one of waiting, longing, turning. This is right where we are today, don't you think? We're waiting for this quarantine experience to end, longing for healing and a restoration of peace and joy, ready to turn our hearts and minds toward something else. Anything else!
Well, despite our pain and longing today, you and I sit at what I think is one of the greatest times ever. Why? Because for all of human history, the watching world sat on pins and needles awaiting the arrival of the promised Messiah; yet, today we have the privilege of knowing exactly who He is and that He has indeed come. If you and I will receive the gift God is holding out right now in the person of Jesus, God offers us a glimpse of what REAL Christmas magic looks like.
The name advent means “coming,” and this season is the reminder that God has come to us (not the other way around). Observed the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Advent offers us an invitation to pause and reflect on who Jesus is and the personal significance of his birth. What a meaningful and timely thing for us as disciples of Christ to do.
A quick note of background: traditional advent candles include four candles, three pink and one purple. The four candles are traditionally lit one Sunday at a time throughout Advent, symbolizing hope, peace, joy and love.
Our family instead uses a wooden Advent wreath on our kitchen table that holds 24 candlesticks, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas. Every night, we cozy up to the table, light another candle on our wreath, allow the candlelight to warm our faces, and read a portion of scripture that points us to Jesus. We trace His presence from creation all the way to the cradle (and later during Lent right on up to the cross) - the light of the world who has pierced the darkness all around us.
Lastly, we hang a special ornament that corresponds with our reading (ie. a globe for the creation story, apple for the entrance of sin, slingshot for the story of David, etc.) onto our Jesse Tree, which in our house is a smaller Christmas tree that we use just for these ornaments, a reminder of the new life that Jesus brings to our formerly dead-in-sin selves (verse below).
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1
Here's what you need to know…
-First, things can get kind of messy because, well, it’s real life. Prepare for imperfection.
-If you have kids, sometimes there are meltdowns and arguing about who does what (ie. light the candle, read the verses, hang the ornament, etc.). Doesn't feel ideal, but it'll be okay.
-Sometimes you might miss a day here or there. That’s okay, too.
-Stay the course! If you press through all of this, it will truly be magical, wonderful, special. His name is Wonderful, after all!
-The materials you use don't have to be fancy - one candlestick and some sticks in a mason jar would work just fine. And there are gobs of examples for Jesse Tree ornaments to find online, including DIY ornament sets and even some you can print and hang within minutes.
-Finally, I urge you to keep putting your own signature touch on it all, just like we've done over the years. Switch things up as your kids age out of the old activities, adjust things if you're celebrating alone or with adults only. Weave in a related activity (slingshots, anybody??), get out your art supplies, sing or play music, whip up something delicious related to your day's theme (rainbow cupcakes, maybe), etc. Learning should always be engaging and fun.
-Slow down. Be intentional, and take the time to allow yourself to be stirred.
-It's never too late to get started. Even if you only have a few days left, and even if the materials aren't fancy (they don't have to be), give it a try anyhow. Who knows? It might be just the little inspiration you need to behold the gift of Christmas like never before.
Invite Your Small Batch Inside
And by all means, if you are leading a discipleship small batch, come up with a creative way to celebrate together, or invite them to join you and your family during your own Advent reflections. There's no greater way to help them jump start theirs!
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE (ADVENT) THINGS…
Jesus Storybook Bible Free Advent Guide
What are your favorite advent traditions? I’d love to hear about them! Reach out to share your favorite advent ideas, resources and activities with me.