Nations 4 Jesus

The 4/14 Window - Instilling the Foundations of Truth

2012-01-16T11:38:00.001-08:00

"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." ~ Deuteronomy 6:4-7

This email was forwarded to me from a lady by the name of Sharon Bridwell. I thought it was wonderful and wanted to share it:

Today in Sunday school we talked about the 10/40 window—that geographical part of the world that is least evangelized. Well, the Gospel is going forth with nearly 5 % of the population coming to Christ. And the emphasis will continue their geographically. And we will continue to pray for a greater number to hear and respond to the Gospel in those countries.

But have you heard of the 4/14 window that is now the next big missional focus? It’s a demographic age group. There are 2.2 billion kids in the world and those ages 4 to 14 are now considered the largest unreached people group today. Yes, it is still true that before the age of 13, kids are deciding what they believe. The wonderful things about kids is their ability to see no social boundaries and their enthusiasm for life.

Yes, friends, the mission-field has come to your backyard. When we hear "unreached peoples" we think of areas in the world that would take huge efforts to get to... and we certainly need Believers to go there with the message and love of Jesus! The more I research, I realize our children are now part of the "unreached" people group. Over many years of the world influencing & teaching evolution and portraying Creation from Bible as a "good story" our children and teens have lost sight of the truth God's Word. Ken Ham shows startling statistics in his book, "Already Gone" of 20 year olds who left the church because the church lacked the ability to equip and make DISCIPLES.

This verse in Deuteronomy is the picture of what it means to disciple your children. Taking your everyday life as an opportunity to show God's Love, Faithfulness, what it looks like to obey God, praise Him in good times, cry out to Him in hard times. It's important we show our children what it means to not simply go to church or call ourselves Christians... but to live as followers of Jesus and Disciples. My boys are reading a book called, "Playing with Purpose" a story of three athletes who love God. One was Tim Tebow. We learned that Tim was born in the Philippines to missionary parents. After they moved back to the states, Tim and his 4 siblings were home schooled. It is an encouragement to my boys to see how God can use a heart fully surrendered to Him for God's glory. Thanks to Tim's Godly parents... we can see the impact of the Kingdom of God. It has shaped all kinds of sports commentator's conversations and articles today. People across the nation are thinking about the Power of God and His impact in Tim Tebow's life.

As mothers, we have a huge influence. We need to instill the foundations of the truth of God's Word. Do not be discouraged... continue to commit your ways to the Lord, and remember the effort you pour into your children for the Kingdom of God will impact & shape our world and the future.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; His eyes examine them. ~ Psalm 11:3-4

Pray to end Human Trafficking - the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world

2011-12-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

This brothel keeper and her slaves are in a red-light district in Mumbai, India. The women and girls used in prostitution may be exploited 10 to 40 times a night, sometimes keeping as little as 20 rupees (less than 50 cents) per encounter. The Madam takes the biggest cut for herself, then pays the landlord, the pimps, and her "protectors." Government corruption is one of the driving factors behind the burgeoning trade in human beings.

Human trafficking is the illegal commerce in human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour - a modern-day form of slavery. It is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, and tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest after the drug-trade. Today there are between 12 and 27 million people trapped in forced labour, bonded labour and sexual slavery in the world. Nearly 80% of those trafficked are used for sexual exploitation.

In 2009, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) created a taskforce on human trafficking in an effort to raise awareness on this issue. The aim of the taskforce is to prevent and combat trafficking by developing strategic and effective actions and tools that will help equip local churches and their leaders to become responsive to the victims of human trafficking.

Answers to Prayer

Compassionate men and women have created businesses that offer a future and a hope to people who need a means to support themselves. Vocational training and the development of businesses which embrace God's purposes - and the women and men He has created - are key to prevention and an essential part of restoration for those vulnerable to and victimized by human trafficking.

There is an increase in anti-trafficking legislation in countries around the world. Pray for the just and consistent application of such legislation, adequate training for officers of the court and the political will and courage to see prosecutions to trial. Trafficking rings are often connected to very powerful and influential organized crime rings.

Challenges for Prayer

Human trafficking is accelerating globally. The trade in human beings has now surpassed drug smuggling as one of the most profitable businesses in the world. A disproportionate number of women are involved in human trafficking, not only as victims but also as traffickers. Female offenders have a far more prominent role in present-day slavery than in most other forms of crime. Pray for both the trapped and the traffickers, especially former victims who have become perpetrators. Pray that God would frustrate the efforts of those who make a living from the suffering of others.

Labour exploitation. Men are victims of trafficking, too. Many countries allow employers to seize the passports of their employees, increasing vulnerability to human rights and labour violations. Also, up to 10-15% of those working in prostitution in Thailand are men, a number of whom have been trafficked for such purposes.

Internal trafficking is growing inside many countries, making it much more difficult to identify victims and prosecute offenders. China is particularly culpable in this area; true figures for internal trafficking are substantial but undocumented, but most of the girls have been trafficked from other areas in China. Traffickers themselves report that it only usually takes one month to keep a girl under tight restrictions and then she is broken and surrenders herself to her captivity. There are currently around seven million prostitutes in China alone, and research has found that 80% of them were trafficked or forced in some way when they first started. A new trend is the appetite for girls 14-15 years old. The trade in virginity is very profitable in much of Asia. Traffickers employ handsome young men to bring the girls in; this lover then gets a cut from the girl’s income. A large part of the overall problem faced is corruption. Traffickers and brothel owners will be arrested but face small sentences and, with the right connections, can pay themselves out. Those who perpetrate such exploitation often have no understanding of just how wrong what they do is.

Sex tourism is burgeoning as the global financial crisis makes travel to some areas of the world a bargain at the same time that unemployment and growing desperation make women, children and families even more vulnerable to exploitation. Pray for the following specific situations.

Girls and sometimes boys in India are married to gods at an early age and end up in brothels. Many contract HIV/AIDS and die very early - by age 15 or 16. Is it another form of human sacrifice? Pray for the spiritual dimensions of this destructive practice to be broken by God. Even 8-year-old girls are for sale now in places. Pray for rescue of the children involved.

The demand for prostitution in Thailand must cease. Thailand draws vulnerable women and girls into its borders to satisfy Thai men, foreign sex tourists and "expatriates" alike. Contrary to what is most visible, the vast majority of prostitution in Thailand (over 90%) caters to Thai clients. Presently most ministries reach out to those women and men working as prostitutes who service foreign clients. Pray that God might raise up ministries, especially Thai-led, to those men and women servicing Thai clients. Pray that the Church would take a stand for sexual purity. Pray that public policy makers would implement justice and effective policy that addresses those who use prostitutes, and not just the sex workers themselves. Widespread corruption within the police and government helps to perpetuate this ubiquitous structure of wickedness.

Eastern Europe and the Central Asian states situated on the Silk Road are highly vulnerable to sex trafficking. A combination of poverty, lack of moral grounding, strong organized crime rings and weak governments work to exploit tens of thousands of women. While every Eastern European country struggles with this challenge, it is mainly though Kyrgyzstan that trafficking of girls from the whole of Central Asia occurs to the Gulf States, Turkey and Europe. One large problem faced is corruption in state structures which prevents their effectiveness in combating trafficking. Churches are young and unaware of the problem, and they are not ready, able or willing to actively press for solutions. The political situation in the country does not currently allow for government collaboration on this issue.

The hidden nature to prostitution and trafficking in the US, Western Europe and other developed nations needs to be brought into the light. There is a lack of awareness regarding the connections between prostitution and trafficking, as well as the degree to which most cities and neighbourhoods house trafficking activity. Western culture has become so accepting of the exploitation of sex and sexuality that the danger exists of making prostitution and sexual degradation normative.

Praise God that more churches, organizations and even governments are beginning to combat the global demand for commercial sexual and labour exploitation. Pray that God would change the hearts of those who commodify others for their own gain.

Victims returning to their homes and countries of origin experience ongoing difficulties in reintegration. Leaving prostitution and trafficking is not only incredibly difficult but complex and often requires a huge amount of support. Pray that families would not shun daughters that society tells them are ruined. Pray also that the Church would become a family to those feeling without help or hope. The global Church, operating locally, can be a powerful force in the battle against human trafficking, and for the restoration of its victims. Pray for the faithful Christians who leave their homes to visit dark streets and give hope and help to women forced to sell their bodies, and for the believers committed to walk and work as their companions on the long journey of restoration.

Christian response to the issues surrounding human trafficking and the people involved varies by country. Pray for the following specific situations, which are just a few prominent examples among many:

Spain. Thank God for evangelical Christians in Spain who approached the major political parties in their country to ask what they were planning to do about prostitution. "If you will draft a legislation that is good for women in Spain," the Christians were told, "we will bring it to Parliament." Pray for continued governmental co-operation and for legislation that bears good results.

India. Christians and churches in India are making conscious efforts to address issues related to prostitution and human trafficking, but it has been a struggle at every stage. While there are positive signs of redemption and rehabilitation for victims, there is still a struggle to help the Christian community accept these rehabilitated people and especially arrange marriages for the young adults. The Indian Church has not fully welcomed them into fellowship in many places.

United Kingdom. We praise God for those churches - particularly the emerging ones - that are making conscious efforts to fully accept those formerly caught in trafficking rings and to disciple them. There are over 60 church-based projects that provide this and other support across the UK. Despite the increased awareness of the problem, however, many of these projects are laying off staff due to lack of funds. Please pray for a well-equipped and sustainable Christian outreach to flourish.

Philippines. Pray for more labourers to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of women, men and children trapped in prostitution in the Philippines. Pray also for the few Christian organizations already working there: Kalinga Ministry, YWAM-Olongapo, RENEW Foundation, FOCUS, Samaritana, Sinalikway Outreach, Christian Cultural Development Foundation and Sinag.

We follow the Son of Man, who came to seek and to save the lost. As we pursue His purposes in these dark places, we can be confident that the darkness has not, and will not, overcome Him.

This information was taken from Operation World

Angels from Scandinavia - the impact of a short-term mission trip

2011-12-26T21:18:00.001-08:00

A group of young missionaries from Global Ministries

"And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

"Before 1991 the Gospel had managed to attract very few converts in a particular district in central India. Seven years later, hundreds of newly baptized believers from at least 24 different people groups are learning to follow Jesus. They are gathering regularly in village level churches...How did so many people suddenly turn to hope in Christ from centuries of practicing animistic spiritism blended with Hinduism?"

Part of the answer lies with short term Christian mission groups, coming to this region of India from around the world. But what are short term missions?

According to Wikipedia, "a short-term mission is the mobilization of a Christian missionary for a short period of time ranging from days to a year; many short-term missions are called mission trips. The short-term missionary is a fairly recent innovation in the global missions movement, but many short-term missions agencies are seeing an increased number of trips that consist of a week up to a year.

Generally, missionaries have been men and women who dedicated large portions of their lives to serving overseas in Christian service. In the past 50 years, churches have moved toward mobilizing young people for short-term trips.

Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and Operation Mobilisation (OM) were two of the first organizations to utilize short term missions. In the late 1950s, OM Founder George Verwer began mobilizing young people for summer missions. In the summer of 1963, over 2,000 people joined the first short-term mission teams with Operation Mobilization. They worked throughout Europe and found creative ways of getting behind the Iron Curtain.

Youth With a Mission (YWAM) began in the 1960s under the leadership of Loren Cunningham. He pioneered short term missions and introduced the idea that young people could be missionaries. Generally, missionaries were expected to have extensive theological training before going into the foreign mission field, but YWAM provided short-term opportunities for young people who had a passion for Jesus Christ to share their faith in a way that was powerful and effective."

Although some have been critical of short term missions, seeing them as being disruptive and costly, many others look at them as a way to open the eyes of young people to the needs of the world around them. Planted in these short term missionaries is a love for and a concern for the lost, with the hope that these short term missionaries will themselves become either goers or senders in the future.

Despite the controversy over short term missions, God can use them mightily to further His Kingdom and His glory. This brings us back to the district in central India. This movement to Christ began with a local, Christian man who had a burden to share the Gospel with his people. After a few key community leaders came to Christ, they gathered for a week of teaching in which a visiting foreign Christian researcher shared stories of people groups in other countries that were coming to Christ.

The Indian Christians realized that Jesus was not just a local god but God of the world. "This insight was further reinforced when short-term teams with foreigners would come to help. One such team had located in a village populated entirely by Poharis. The Poharis are highly transient hunters who engage in animistic rituals while honoring Hindu brahminical priestcraft. They had asked for someone to come and teach them about Christ, too. But the only ones available were a short-term team of young Scandinavian women who could not have been further removed from them in almost every way.

While discussing Christ with these young women with pale skin, bright blond hair and blue eyes, the Poharis began telling about a particular priest in their village. Five years prior he had passed through a period when most of the people thought he was crazy. He often seemed tormented by spirits. They brought him repeatedly before various gods and goddesses for healing. All the while he kept saying, 'People who look like angels will come from around the world to our village. They will tell us about the real God. We should follow Him.'

When they asked, 'Do you think that we are those people?' he responded, 'I don't know yet.' But after four days of listening, he trusted the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him as his Savior. In the end, most of those residing in that particular village were baptized." (excerpt from the article "A Movement of Christ Worshippers in India" by Dean Hubbard).

God began preparing this people group five years before missionaries ever showed up! Though the missionaries seemed foreign to them in so many ways, the Gospel penetrated their hearts and they were changed for eternity.

For further information on short-term missions, go to Short Term Missions which has links to mission trips with over 100 different organizations.

Jesse Tree - Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All (Day 28)

2011-12-23T22:39:00.001-08:00

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

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:10-14

Christmas Eve: Jesus

Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-20

Jesse Tree Symbol: Mary holding Jesus (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

The birth of Jesus...the God of the Universe come down to us, taking off His royalty and putting on human flesh, leaving behind all His glory to be born as the son of poor, humble parents. Heralded by thousands of angels, worshipped by lowly shepherds, lulled to sleep by the sounds of the animals He had so lovingly created.

Can we begin to comprehend what happened that night? The moment that God took His first human breath? The moment that He first saw the world He had created through human eyes. The realization that the capacity to love, which He had placed in each human being, was now being poured out on Him by His earthly mother and father.

What joy God must have felt!

He had felt the sting of rejection and death with that first rebellious bite of fruit in the garden. His heart was heavy when He commanded Adam and Eve to leave the Garden, when He shut up Noah and his family in the ark, when He brought down the fire of judgment on demon-worshipping peoples.

But now, finally, His plan was being set into motion. He was here! Here on earth to show the people He had created, His infinite love. No longer would He rely on prophets to tell them. Instead, He would tell them in person,,,in person. Oh blessed Heavenly Father, what You did for us is too great for words!!!

Yet, You did use words...the words of the angels..thousands and thousands of angels - "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

"They sang of Christ, and the salvation which he came into this world to work out. And what they said of this salvation was this: they said, first, that it gave glory to God; secondly, that it gave peace to man; and, thirdly, that it was a token of God's good will towards the human race.

There had been no peace on earth since Adam fell. But, now, when the newborn King made his appearance, the swaddling band with which he was wrapped up was the white flag of peace. That manger was the place where the treaty was signed, whereby warfare should be stopped between man's conscience and himself, man's conscience and his God...Do you not feel my brethren, that the gospel of God is peace to man? Where else can peace be found, but in the message of Jesus?...And what a peace it is, beloved! It is peace like a river, and righteousness like the waves of the sea. It is the peace of God that passeth all understanding, which keeps our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God has good will toward man for He gave His Son. No greater proof of kindness between the Creator and His subjects can possibly be afforded than when the Creator gives His only begotten and well beloved Son to die." Taken from a sermon delivered on Sabbath Morning, December 20, 1857, by

the Reverend Charles H, Spurgeon.

May that be our prayer this Christmas Eve, as we gaze upon the baby in the manger...Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. And may this prayer be not only for our family and friends but for all the world.

Lord Jesus, just as You were born into a manager so long ago, may You be born into the hearts of men, women and children throughout the world tonight!

The above commentary is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. They don't know about a God who loves them, made them unique and celebrates who they are. They need our prayers.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Another way to give is by giving a gift to those, throughout the world, who have very little. It might be a chicken, or sheep or a goat...maybe you can help pay for the digging of a well or provide a sewing machine to a widow so she can provide for her family. There are many ways to help this Christmas. Visit Gospel for Asia and take a look at their Christmas Catalog.

Jesse Tree - The Names of Jesus (Day 27)

2011-12-22T21:29:00.001-08:00

"you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:21-23

Friday: Names of Jesus

Bible Reading: see below

Jesse Tree Symbol: labarum (symbol of Christ with a P and X) (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

What's in a name? Do the titles and names of Jesus hold a significance? In the days when the Bible was being written, the Israelites often chose names for their babies based on the child's character or appearance, i.e. Esau (hairy) and Korah (bald). Some babies were named because of an incident at their birth or their names were based on some hope or prayer of the parent, as in Zechariah's name (God has remembered). Sometimes babies received the name of an everyday object, like Tamar (palm tree), and Tabitha (gazelle). Parents often named their children by the time of day they were born. For example: Shaharaim (dawn), Hodesh (new moon). The condition of the mother also frequently inspired a name: Leah (exhausted) and Mahli (sick).

Jesus, however, was named prophetically. Matthew 1:20-23 says, "But after he had considered this, an angel 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.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'"

Why are there so many different names of Jesus? The names serve as a description of who Jesus is and how He works in the lives of individuals. Some scholars have located over 700 titles and different names for Jesus in the Bible. Today, as we near Christmas, may we take a moment to reflect on just a few of the names given to Jesus in God's Word.

God - Jesus is called God in several passages in the Bible. Along with His sinless life, miracles, and resurrection from the dead, His claims to be God stand firm (John 20:28).

Lord - In the New Testament, this term is used as a salutation to honor a man of distinction. The disciples used this term to salute Jesus as their teacher and master (Matthew 22:43-44).

Word - This title was used by the apostle John to describe the mission of Jesus. The title states Jesus' Godhead and eternal and absolute deity (John 1:1, 14).

Messiah - The long awaited "anointed one" who would deliver Israel. Jesus came to deliver mankind from sin and death (John 4:25-26).

Alpha and Omega - These two characters were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. This descriptive title expresses the eternal nature of God - the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8; 22:13).

Savior - Jesus is the person who rescues mankind from an eternity in hell.

Redeemer - "One who frees or delivers another from difficulty, danger, or bondage, usually by the payment of a ransom price." In the New Testament, Jesus is viewed as the ultimate Redeemer who gave His life as a ransom (Mark 10:45, Titus 2:14).

Light of the World - Jesus is the Person who brings true knowledge of God. Those who reject this light bring judgment upon themselves (John 8:12; 3:19-21).

Lamb of God - This title refers to the Old Testament sacrificial system where God accepted the blood of animals as atonement for sin (John 1:29, 36). Jesus' blood made atonement for sin!

Ruler of Creation - Christ existed before the creation of the world and He is sovereign over it (Revelation 3:14).

Mediator - Because Jesus is fully God, He can represent God to man. Because He is fully man, Jesus can represent man to God. Reconciliation is possible (1 Timothy 2:5).

Bread of Life - Jesus is the one and only supplier of true spiritual nourishment (John 6:35).

Way, Truth, and Life - Jesus is the only way to heaven, the only source of truth, and the foundation of all life (John 14:6)!

What do the names of Jesus mean to you? Do they have personal significance? Is Jesus your Savior, your Mediator, your Redeemer? If not, I encourage you to learn more about Him and accept the gift of salvation He has offered to you.

(content for the above commentary was taken from Names of Jesus.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Humble and Believing Worship (Day 26)

2011-12-21T21:17:00.001-08:00

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them...The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:16-19, 20

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Thursday: Shepherds and Magi

Bible Reading: Luke 2:8-20; Matt 2:1-12

Jesse Tree Symbol: Star over the manger (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

"The only class of people considered lower than shepherds were thieves. Even Gentiles were afforded more respect...I (the angel Gabriel) found myself baffled by God's logic. Were the plan mine, I would have roused the sleeping world by trumpeting the birth of the Messiah in the Temple and in the royal courts. I would have engaged the important people in welcoming the new King to earth...But not God.

He said, 'I will announce the birth of the Savior only to those who care to know it, only to those looking for a savior. Those who want a king to lead them into battle or a leader to make them rich will not know what to do with My Anointed One. If the rich and the learned and the powerful care to find Him, they will have no trouble. I have made the time and place of His birth known to all mankind for many centuries," taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

God is so good and so different from the way we operate. The very first people he told, after the birth of Jesus, were young, poor, looked-down-upon shepherds. Maybe equivalent in our day to telling a bunch of migrant workers or the homeless. "Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these 'nobodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebodies,'" 1 Corinthians 1:28 (The Message). But these were people who were searching for Him. People who had much time on their hands to pray, little of earth's worldly possessions to distract them and desire in their hearts to know Him.

For an instant, the veil between Heaven and earth was removed and they got a peek into Heaven to see the glory of the angels as they celebrated the Messiah's birth. What a moment! What a privilege!

"On the eastern side of the Arabian desert...a cloister of Magi preserved the traditions of the Babylonian and Persian astrologers. As they looked into the western sky, high above the horizon, a new light triggered a memory...Daniel's calculations...a king! But not just any king. The King of the Jews. A King who would eventually rule the world...They travelled more than three months to see the new King and when they found Him, they did something extraordinary. They fell down on their faces and worshipped!" taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

Foreigners, learned scholars, wise, intelligent men. Eager to find the one, true King. So sure of Daniel's ancient prophecies, confirmed by "a star in the east," that they bow down before a small child and hail Him as the King of Kings. And their gifts...gold to honor a King, frankincense in recognition of Christ's role as our ultimate priest and intercessor before God and myrrh to signify the suffering and death that Christ would undergo for us.

May we, like the shepherds, humble ourselves before God, truly seek Him with ready hearts and may we, like the wise men, believe His Biblical promises and bow down before Him in worship.

What can I give Him, Poor as I am!

If I were a shepherd I would bring Him a lamb,

If I were a wise man I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him, I'll give Him my heart.

from the song In the Bleak Midwinter

The above commentary on Matthew and Luke is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Joseph, a Father's Heart (Day 25)

2011-12-20T21:02:00.001-08:00

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel 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."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

Wednesday: Joseph

Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Jesse Tree Symbol: Carpenter's Hammer (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

Joseph, adopted father of Jesus...what was he like? Strong, brave, trusting, righteous, gentle...I've always felt a tenderness toward Joseph.

He's not mentioned very often in the Bible, but the few times that he is, those instances show his inner character. His kindness and love for Mary when he planned to divorce her quietly rather than stone her; his trust in the Lord after the angel spoke to him; his protection of Mary and Jesus throughout their journey to Bethlehem, the birth, their journey to Egypt and then the final journey to Nazareth and the time with Jesus at the temple.

Through all this, Joseph stands out as a man of quiet strength, integrity, trust in God and love for his family. Just what God was looking for when He chose the man who would be the earthly father to Jesus.

I could say more but I think the words to these two songs say it so much better. Please take a few minutes to listen to them and reflect on who Joseph was.

Joseph's Song by Michael Card

Joseph's Lullabyby Mercy Me

Joseph had a father's heart. And he held the Father's heart, in his arms, that night so long ago. May we marvel, once again, at the wonder of God come to earth, into a family, into the arms of a humble carpenter from Nazareth. Praise You Lord for Your plan and for Your love.

The above commentary on Luke is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Mary, the Face of Trust (Day 24)

2011-12-19T19:53:00.001-08:00

"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. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'" Luke 1:30-33

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

Tuesday: Mary

Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38, 46-56

Jesse Tree Symbol - White Lily (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

Mary...the mother of Jesus. Woman blessed above all other women to have been chosen to be the mother of God come to earth.

She was only 13 or 14, born to a family of humble means but a strong, devout faith in God. Promised to be married to a man who loved God. Living in a time when pregnancy outside of marriage carried the death sentence, to be carried out by those who knew her.

When the angel Gabriel comes to her to tell her the incredible news, she has some questions but she never doubts. In the faith of this humble young girl, the Gift of God found the acceptance He had awaited from the beginning of time. She whom the Almighty made "full of grace" responds by offering her whole being: "I am the Lord's servant...May it be to me as you have said."

When she arrives at her cousin Elizabeth's home, because the Lord knew she would need the encouragement and belief of this Godly woman, Mary utters these words, known today, throughout the world, as the Magnificat. Reflect on these words of faith, trust and hope.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers." Luke 1:46-55

Praise God for the humble willingness and trust of Mary. May we desire this same faith and trust in God, no matter what He asks us to do.

The Magnificat has been sung within the Church for thousands of years. It is believed to be one of the oldest hymns there is. There have been many renditions of this song. One I found especially beautiful and touching was the Magnificat sung by Richard Wu in an album dedicated to the people of North Korea. You can hear it at the Magnificat in song

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Preparing our Hearts (Day 23)

2011-12-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

The scallop shell represents baptism

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins," Luke 1:76-77

"the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.' " Luke 3:2-6

"(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)" Luke 7:29-30

Monday: John the Baptist

Bible Reading: Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-20 7:18-35

Jesse Tree Symbol: Scallop Shell (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

Preparing hearts -- that was the mission of John the Baptist. "John told the people to make a highway in the desert for their God. He told them to make the crooked ways straight and to make the rough places smooth.

John wasn't really talking about building a highway upon which Jesus could travel. He was really talking about the hearts of the people. He was calling people to prepare their hearts to receive Jesus so that he could walk among them and live with them." This excerpt was taken from the children's message Prepare the Way from Sermons4kids.

Those who had prepared their hearts, following John's preaching, were able and eager to believe that what Jesus said was good and right. They left John the Baptist to follow Jesus. John had prepared the way to Jesus. But those who scoffed at what John said, those whose hearts were too puffed up with pride and judgment of others, missed out on the Messiah. They were not prepared when He came and they did not believe His message.

In this time of holiday preparation, with only 6 days left until Christmas, are we preparing our hearts for Jesus? Is there room, amongst the presents and lights and parties, for Him to walk? Are we focused on Him as the celebrated guest at His birthday party or will we even notice that His place has been filled by things of the world...by the trappings of the holiday?

I encourage you, in these last few days before Christmas, to take time each day to prepare your heart to celebrate His birth and then, spend some time preparing your children's hearts.

May we greatly anticipate the celebration of His birth and prepare our hearts for His ultimate return!

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Waiting with Hope (Day 22)

2011-12-17T20:49:00.001-08:00

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.

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:13-17

4th Sunday in Advent: Gabriel

Bible Reading: Luke 1:5-25

Jesse Tree Symbol - angel (go to Jesse Tree ornaments)

400 years of silence...that is the length of time between the last words of Malachi and the words of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah. 400 years without any revelation from God. Had discouragement set in? Had hope grown cold? How long, oh Lord, before you come to us as our Messiah, as our rescuer, as our redeemer? The Jewish people still longed for a Messiah but many had lost hope and no longer really looked for Him.

Is this why Zechariah did not believe the angel Gabriel when he was told? Had he lost hope and was just going through the motions? Or, had the bitterness and sadness from years of hoping and praying for a child, with no answer, left him unwilling to believe that now, in his old age, God would finally grant him a son?

His unbelief is reminiscent of Sarah when she was told that she would become pregnant in her old age and have a son. Yet God's answer is the same: "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Genesis 18:14

400 years of silence...yet, what were the last words of Malachi before this blanket of silence fell upon Israel? "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6

And now what were the exact words of the angel Gabriel concerning this miracle baby? And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke 1:15-17

The time of waiting was finally over! The stage was being set for the arrival of the King of Kings! And His arrival would be heralded by His cousin...a miracle baby...a baby who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would be reminiscent of the great prophet Elijah.

400 years of waiting...actually, for us, it is over 1,900 years of waiting...waiting for His return, waiting for the completion of all that Jesus has promised us. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

May we wait with hope, pray with hope, long for Jesus with hope. "For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay." Hebrews 10:37

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Jesus, Our Intercessor (Day 21)

2011-12-16T20:48:00.001-08:00

Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death.

The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer:

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.

And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions. Esther 4:10-17

Saturday: Esther

Bible Reading: Esther 4:10-17

Jesse Tree Symbol: golden scepter (have your children draw a scepter on a circular piece of paper)

Esther, beautiful Jewish queen of King Xerxes...a man who had the ultimate power of life or death over everyone. Mordecai, uncle to Esther, devout Jew who will not back down to anyone. Haman, descendent of Agag and sworn enemy of the Jews.

Haman goes before King Xerxes and accuses the Jews: "There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them," Esther 3:8-9. King Xerxes agrees to this mass slaughter which, unknowingly, will include his own wife Queen Esther.

Mordecai finds out and begs Queen Esther to go before the king and ask for mercy and a stop to the killing. The fate of the entire Jewish population in this kingdom rests on Esther.

There is an accuser today as well...but he doesn't just accuse the Jewish people like Haman did...he accuses the entire human race. His name is Satan and he wants nothing better than to destroy all the human beings who are so precious and dear to the Lord God.

But in the fullness of time, our King of Kings comes to Bethlehem and makes the whole universe his court. He hears the words of the accuser, but unlike King Xerxes, our King does not agree with the accuser. For the accuser's words hold no power anymore. They were broken at Calvary. They were silenced by the absolute sacrifice of the King Himself. "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.'" Revelation 12:10

So, we do not have to cower on our knees before the King of Kings, wondering if He will reach out His golden scepter of mercy and spare our lives. Instead, we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

For it is not a golden scepter that is held out to us in the throne room of the universe, but the hands of Jesus Christ which took the iron nails to save us.

The above commentary on Esther is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Look, watch, wait, stand in awe (Day 20)

2011-12-16T20:38:00.001-08:00

"Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." Habakkuk 2:1

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." Habakkuk 3:2

Friday: Look, Watch, Wait, Stand in Awe

Bible Reading: Hab. 1:1-5, 12-13, 2:1-3, 14, 3:1-2, 19

Jesse Tree Symbol: stone watchtower Jesse Tree ornaments (use ornament for Friday but cut off the scripture reference since they are different)

Look...watch...wait...stand in awe

We are to look for the Lord, watch for Him and what He does, wait for His actions and timing and then stand in awe of what He does. Enjoy the following verses which illustrate this:

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

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." Isaiah 40:26

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16

"Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!"

Nahum 1:15

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" John 1:29

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." Matthew 28:1

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him," Revelation 1:7

Watch - "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:9

"O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress," Psalm 59:9

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

Micah 7:7

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matthew 7:15

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:42

Wait - "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4

"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift (the Holy Spirit) my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." Acts 1:4

"while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," Titus 2:13

stand in awe - "My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws." Psalms 119:120

"Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven." Job 25:2

"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." Ecclesiastes 5:7

"When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel." Isaiah 29:23

"When the crowd saw this (Jesus' teaching and miracles), they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:8

They were all filled with awe and praised God. 'A great prophet has appeared among us,' they said. 'God has come to help his people.'" Luke 7:16

"Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." Acts 2:43

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe," Hebrews 12:28

The above commentary on Habakkuk is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Love Your Enemies (Day 19)

2011-12-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

"When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened," Jonah 3:10

Thursday: Jonah

Bible Reading: Jonah 3-4

Jesse Tree Symbol: whale (have your child draw a whale on a circle of paper for today's ornament)

The story of Jonah and the whale is a story that many children know. The focus tends to be on the wonder of a fish swallowing a man and then spitting him out alive after three days. But is there more to this story? What lessons can we all learn from Jonah?

Our story begins with Jonah refusing to go to the city of Nineveh and tell them about God's love. But why?

Nineveh "was an ancient city on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in ancient Assyria. Its ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, Iraq. Nineveh was an important junction for commercial routes crossing the Tigris. Occupying a central position on the great highway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, thus uniting the East and the West, wealth flowed into it from many sources, so that it became one of the greatest of all the region's ancient cities.

The stone carvings in the walls include many battle scenes, impalings and scenes showing Sennacherib's men parading the spoils of war before him. He also bragged about his conquests: he wrote of Babylon "Its inhabitants, young and old, I did not spare, and with their corpses I filled the streets of the city." He later wrote about a battle in Lachish 'And Hezekiah of Judah who had not submitted to my yoke...him I shut up in Jeruselum his royal city like a caged bird. Earthworks I threw up against him, and anyone coming out of his city gate I made pay for his crime. His cities which I had plundered I had cut off from his land.' (Wikipedia)

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire, the empire that had taken the nation of Israel into captivity and was threatening the very existence of Judah under Hezekiah's reign...see the recent Jesse Tree devotional Empty Threats and Empty Tents for more on this. Jonah hated them. He thought they deserved God's wrath and destruction. He had no compassion or forgiveness in his heart towards them.

"Perhaps Jonah had actually seen these cruel, ruthless, bloody Ninevites periodically coming down into his land and raiding his people. Perhaps he had even suffered the loss of loved ones at the hands of these merciless people. In the ancient world, the record for the bloodiest and most vicious kinds of cruelty belongs, perhaps, to the Ninevites. They found more incredibly ingenious ways to be cruel than any other nation that has ever lived. They were brutal and godless and sinful -- and Jonah hated them. The one thing that he wanted more than anything else was to see Nineveh destroyed. Yet when God told him to go announce to Ninevah its destruction, he said, 'I know you too well, O God. If anybody, by repenting, gives you half a chance to be merciful, you'll change your mind and won't carry out your sentence upon them,' (Jonah 4:2). So he fled to Tarshish.

That's amazing, isn't it? What a revelation of the knowledge of God and of the character of the God of the Old Testament! From time to time, those who do not believe the Bible...say that the God of the Old Testament was a vengeful, wrathful God, a God of black thunderclouds and bolts of lightning, and that he was always killing people off. Well, do you find that here? That is not the kind of God that Jonah knew...God loved these Ninevites, even though Jonah hated them. Jonah: The Reluctant Ambassador

Jesus taught the same lesson of compassion for enemies, both in word and deed. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you," Luke 6:27-31

We, as adults and children, have much to learn from Jonah. We must never forget that we are not in a war with people, we are in a war with Satan. The people that we consider enemies are just prisoners of war taken captive by Satan. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The power of God, which is the power of love, can turn an enemy into a best friend. Showing love to an enemy pleases God and proves that we have great spiritual maturity," Ephesians 6:12.

Who we perceive as enemies will vary...school bullies, the popular crowd, ex-spouses, business associates, terrorists, "axis of evil" empires...the list goes on. But "we must always remember that as citizens of heaven we are ambassadors sent to represent the kingdom, and our King, Jesus Christ. Only by compassion and love can we represent the God of love, the God of compassion. We show love even to our enemies by doing good to them.

The most important way we show love is through prayer, this is where spiritual battles are fought and won. (Praying for our enemies) will cause the compassion of God to flow through our hearts as a river of life. It will change our enemies' life and even if they are not affected it will definitely change our life, which is God's plan anyway," How to Love Even Your Enemies

"Now, I am not sitting in judgment on you. I stand with you in the dock concerning this. I am asking your heart, as I ask mine, "Isn't there an awful tendency among us to be like Jonah?" Do we really demonstrate to others the heart of the God who loves a world that is staggering on in blind, willful ignorance and that does not know where it is going?

He has sent us men and women to be a sign to this generation. And what is that sign? It is the sign of Jonah, the sign of resurrection, the sign of people who once were dead who have been made alive in Jesus Christ. Isn't that why the Lord said, "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth," Matthew 12:40.

Isn't that the heart of our proclamation, that here is a God who can bring life from death, who can resurrect those who are swallowed up in the belly of a whale or fish -- lost, hopeless -- but redeemed? And the witnesses to this proclamation are the resurrected lives of those of us who, like Jonah, declare this message in our day." Jonah: The Reluctant Ambassador

The above commentary on Jonah is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - A Peaceable Kingdom (Day 18)

2011-12-13T21:22:00.001-08:00

The Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks

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

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord--

and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. Isaiah 11:1-10

Wednesday: Kingdom of Peace

Bible Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

Jesse Tree Symbol: Crown (Jesse Tree Ornaments 2)

Today's devotion is a time to reflect on the words of Isaiah. How often do you think about the kingdom that is to come? What about your children?

Today, after reading Isaiah, you may want to spend time just imagining what Heaven will be like, based on Isaiah's words. What will it be like to meet Jesus? Who else do they look forward to seeing? What animals do they want to pet and hug...I know this is one thing my children love to talk about.

A world at peace...we can place our hope and trust in this reality. Oh blessed day when Christ returns!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come

Let earth receive her king

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing

The above commentary on Isaiah is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - The Faith of a Prostitute (Day 17)

2011-12-12T20:42:00.001-08:00

"I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you...for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." Joshua 2:9, 11

"But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho--and she lives among the Israelites to this day." Joshua 6:25

Tuesday: Rahab

Bible Reading: Joshua 2, 6

Jesse Tree symbol - scarlet cord (have your children draw the side of a wall with a cord, colored red, hanging down from it - like above picture)

Rahab, a prostitute, a foreigner, destined to be destroyed with the entire pagan city of Jericho when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Rahab was a very unlikely woman to become part of the family tree of Jesus Christ. But that is exactly what God did for her. "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David." Matthew 1:5-6

One thing stands out about Rahab...her faith in God. But how...how did she come by this faith? God has "made every nation of men...so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27) Think about that for a moment...every nation of men...not just the Jews but those from Jericho as well. God had placed a witness for Himself in Jericho. Unfortunately, only Rahab and her family chose to side with God.

When the spies enter Jericho, why does the king of Jericho send a messenger straight to Rahab's house to ask about the spies? "The king of Jericho was told, 'Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.' So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: 'Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.'" Joshua 2:2-3. Maybe someone had seen them enter her house or, maybe Rahab had a reputation for talking about and possibly believing in the God of the Israelites.

Whatever the reason, her faith saved not only herself, but her entire family. "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." Hebrews 11:31. They had to believe her story and put their trust in God Almighty. Reminds me a bit of the story of Noah.

She and her family are saved through a scarlet cord...representative of the lamb's blood on the doors during Passover and later, the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...the blood that saves us from eternal destruction.

The story of Rahab is repeated again and again throughout the world. There is a group of people...a tribe, a village, a nation...hopelessly lost in the clutches of Satan, destined for eternal destruction. Yet God has preserved a witness for Himself. One person, a few people, a family, who believe differently than their neighbors. Then the spies enter. Yet, these are not spies searching out the area for information on how to destroy it. No, these are men and women trying to find clues within the culture on how to save it, on how to share the love of Christ with them. We call these men and women missionaries.

In every culture God has preserved for Himself a testimony. In His mercy, He has permitted every culture in the world to retain a portion of the truth. If a missionary goes into a region, searching the culture for its grains of truth, and then affirms that these ideas ARE true, and then presents the Gospel as the REST of the truth, he and the Gospel will quite often be received. For more on this, please read my blog post Eternity in their hearts

Rahab was the bridge between her culture and God. And she speaks to us today. We must never think that a group of people is unreachable. We must pray for a witness for God in every culture so that, like Rahab and her family, lives might be saved and God will be glorified.

The above commentary on Joshua is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree -Words of Old Fulfilled (Day 16)

2011-12-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

"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, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Isaiah 9:6

Monday: Jesus - prophecy

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7;

Jesse Tree symbol - scroll (go to Jesse Tree ornaments and

select the symbol for "Third Wednesday of Advent" but cut

off words when you use it)

Prophecies about Jesus fill the Bible. Isaiah, especially, speaks much of the coming Messiah. Today's devotion will highlight some of the prophecies concerning his birth and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus.

What is a prophecy?

A prophecy is the future told in advance, by God, through a prophet.

"I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, `My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'" Isaiah 48:2-5
Prophecy, according to God Himself, is not just a guess or luck or coincidence.

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21
The Old Testament contains about FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE prophecies about the Messiah. Here are some of the prophecies that deal with the birth of Christ:

GOD WOULD COME TO EARTH AND BE BORN AS A HUMAN MALE

"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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."

Isaiah 9:6-7 All of Isaiah's prophecies were given around 700 B.C.

BORN OF A VIRGIN
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

FROM THE HOUSE OF JUDAH
"Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above."

Isaiah 37:31

FROM THE ROOT AND STUMP OF JESSE
"In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious." Isaiah 11:10 "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." Isaiah 11:1-5
FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID
"In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it--one from the house of David--one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness." Isaiah 16:5

BORN IN BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Micah 5:2

BE FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE
"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan -- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:1-2

HIS BIRTH WOULD TRIGGER A MASSACRE OF INFANT BOYS

"This is what the LORD says: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.'"

Jeremiah 31:15 This prophecy was given around 625 B.C.

Jesus fulfilled many other prophecies during His lifetime. May these truths encourage us as we place our hope in Jesus this Christmas.

The above commentary on the Old Testament is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Empty Threats and Empty Tents (Day 15)

2011-12-10T22:46:00.001-08:00

"Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 'O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

"It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.

They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God.'" 2 Kings 19:14-19

Sunday: Hezekiah

Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18-19

Jesse Tree Symbol: An Empty Tent (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

In the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah (after Judah and Israel had split into two nations), the king of Assyria (the most powerful empire at that time) had captured Israel and "deported Israel to Assyria...This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated His covenant," 2 Kings 18:11-12.

The Assyrian king was now knocking on Judah's door, insulting God's name and telling the people that they would be defeated. "'Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, "Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria." Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them,'" 2 Kings 19:10-12

When Hezekiah heard this, he was troubled. But, instead of panicking, he took the letter, went to God's temple, spread it out before the Lord and prayed. Interestingly, the first words out of his mouth are not "Save us!" Instead, he speaks of God's majesty and power and of the insult that Assyria is committing against God. "Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God." 2 Kings 19:16

The Jewish race had been chosen by God to show the nations of the world God's power and majesty. Hezekiah realized this. His first concern was that God's name was being insulted and mocked. God's reputation was being attacked and Hezekiah was jealous for God's name and reputation. Why? Because Hezekiah loved God. He stood in awe of Him and desired that all nations would hear of the Lord and follow Him.

God, too, wants His name to be praised and honored. One reason is that He knows that we are created to love and praise Him. For more on this, read Why Does God Want Our Praise? God also knows that the only way to eternity with Him is by believing in the name that is above every name. 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Ezekiel 33:11

One thing Sennacherib did not realize is that "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1 God caused Sennacherib to suddenly fear another attack on his kingdom. In addition, "that night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there," 2 Kings 19:35-36. When those in Judah looked out on the morning scene before them, all they saw were the bodies of their enemies and empty tents. Those empty tents represented the emptiness of Sennacherib's threats towards the only true God.

God desires that His name be known and worshipped. He chose Israel to carry out this calling but they were not always committed to this. To ensure that the people of the world would know His name, God Himself came to earth. Not with any royal fanfare but in gentleness and love.

Jesus' greatest desire while on earth was to glorify the Lord...to make His name and His character known so that all people would turn to God and be saved. "Jesus...looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you,'" John 17:1

That is what our mission on earth, as Christians, involves. We are to glorify God. To shine the light on Him so that others will want to know Him and follow Him. At Christmas time we have a wonderful opportunity to share with our family and neighbors the story of God come to earth and why it is that we love Him so much.

The above commentary on 2 Kings is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Seeing with God's Eyes (Day 14)

2011-12-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2

Saturday: David

Bible Reading: 1 Sam 16:1-23

Jesse Tree Symbol: Shepherd's Crook w/sheep in background (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2)

In our humanness, we are quick to look at someone and pass judgment on them based on what they look like. We do it all the time even though we, as Christians, know we shouldn't. Even Samuel, a man who heard audibly from God, did the same thing.

God had called him to anoint another king for Israel since Saul had disobeyed the Lord and lost His blessing and His support. Samuel went to the family of Jesse (where the name of our Jesse Tree comes from) and was sure He knew whom God had chosen when he saw Jesse's tall, handsome, oldest son. But that was not God's choice. Neither were the next six sons. It wasn't until Jesse called his youngest son, a young shepherd named David, that God finally said, yes, he is the one.

In this time of choosing, God told Samuel something about His character: The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7

This is a lesson we need to teach our children and ourselves regularly. We are naturally drawn to attractive people, to people who look like us, to the strong, the athletic, the talented. We need to fight against this tendency and instead, ask God to help us see people with His eyes.

When we see people with His eyes, we will look at a child with Downs Syndrome and recognize the precious spirit within that child...a child made in God's image. When we look at someone who is scarred by some sort of tragedy, we will see the beautiful person they are on the inside. When we see someone from a different race, we will see a potential brother or sister in Christ...someone who we may spend eternity with in Heaven.

And when we look at Christmas, we will see past Santa, the presents, the trees, the lights, the food and parties, and instead will see God, in human flesh, come down to help us see people with His eyes. To help us love the outcast, the sinner, the not-so-beautiful...maybe even ourselves. For each of us has a precious spirit within us that God loves so much that He was willing to shed all of His glory to win back to Himself.

As we see with God's eyes, we will see Jesus.

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:2-5

The above commentary on Judges is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - God understands our fears (Day 13)

2011-12-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

"During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp." Judges 7:9-11

Friday: Gideon

Bible Reading: Judges 7

Jesse Tree Symbol - Ram's horn trumpet (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2

Israel, once again, had fallen under the persecution of another people, the Midians. God chose a man, Gideon, to lead them out of slavery. But who was Gideon" He, like Moses, was a man who immediately questioned God's choice of him as a leader: "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."Judges 6:15 He then went on to test God, not once but twice, with the wet and dry fleece. When God, through His loving patience, showed Gideon that indeed, He was truly calling him and would be with him, Gideon obeyed.

But Gideon is human and thankfully, God recognizes that. After God had reduced his army from 32,000 men to only 300, "in order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength had saved her," Judges 7:2; He knew that Gideon would be fearful. How could an army of only 300 defeat an enemy who "had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore?" Judges 7:12

God can do anything, but we humans often need to see His miracles more than once for us to believe Him. So "during that night the LORD said to Gideon, 'Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.'" Judges 7:9-11

What a wonderful God we serve! He knows that sometimes the things He asks us to do seem so impossible. We want to simply "trust and obey," but fear gnaws at us and uncertainty clouds our vision. It is at those exact times that God will often step in and encourage us, showing us, through various means, that He is God and He is still on His throne and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Even Jesus, at the Garden of Gethsemane, needed the Lord's encouragement in the trial He was about to face. "He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." Luke 22:41-43

If we will step out in obedience, like Gideon and Jesus Christ, we will find that God is patient with our fears and will encourage us in the journey. We serve a loving, patient and understanding God!

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile

Jesse Tree - Is He Safe? (Day 12)

2011-12-07T23:47:00.001-08:00

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."

Exodus 20:18-19

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

Matthew 19:13

Thursday: God at Mt. Sinai

Bible Reading: Exodus 19:1-20:20

Jesse Tree Symbol: Ten Commandments (go to Jesse Tree ornaments 2 and look for Ten Commandments)

Today, do we really understand the fear of the Lord? Do our children? God is God...the creator of the Universe, our creator. He is holy, awesome, mighty, without equal and He is to be feared.

Often times, when I have read about the "fear of the Lord" to my children, I have explained it as "great respect." But, if you read through the Word, the fear of God by those who encounter Him in the Old Testament is true fear.

"Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 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. The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them." Exodus 19:17-22

There was great fear at the thought of meeting God at Mount Sinai or anytime He appeared. Even the appearance of angels struck fear in the hearts of humans who saw them. Almost every time a person saw an angel, they fell back in fear and the angel's first words were always: "Do not fear."

I believe C. S. Lewis, in his timeless tale, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, portrays this fear of God well in his portrayal of Christ as Aslan, the great lion. Aslan is the King of the Beasts, and the real ruler of Narnia. When the children, Peter, Susan, Emond and Lucy, are talking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, trying to find out information about the land of Narnia which they have stumbled upon, Susan asks the beavers, "Is he (Aslan) safe?"

Mrs. Beaver says, "If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly."

Lucy asks, "Then he isn’t safe?"

And Mr. Beaver says this famous line about Aslan: "’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you."

Yet, this great and powerful and mighty God, a God to be feared and greatly respected, who deserves all the praise, worship and honor of all people throughout all time, shed His awesome appearance, His commanding presence, and came to earth as the most helpless of all God's creation - a tiny baby.

When Jesus walked the earth, He showed us the tenderness and gentleness of God. He did not thunder from a mountain and reign down awesome and terrible judgment on those who were doing wrong...as many of the religious leaders and some of His own followers asked Him to. Instead, He reached out and touched the leper and the prostitute, He asked for the little children to be brought to Him, He cared about lack of wine at a wedding and hungry people on a hillside. His loving touched raised a daughter and a son to life and ultimately, His willingness to shed all His majesty and royalty and die on a torturous cross, raised each of us from death to life.

Yes, God is not safe. He is to be feared. But He is oh so good.

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Hebrew 12:18-24

The above commentary on Exodus is part of a 4-week Advent Reflection for the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is similar to an advent calendar. Every day you will read a Bible passage to your child(ren), discuss what it means to them in personal terms and color an ornament to hang on your Jesse Tree. A fuller description of this can be found at The Jesse Tree

When you are finished today, you might want to discuss how Christmas is about giving much more than getting. One way that your family can give is through their daily prayers. This might be a good time to pray for a specific country or for a group of people who do not know about Jesus. Today, over 2 billion people, 1/3 of the earth's population, have never heard the Gospel message. We need to step out in obedience and pray for them as God asks us to.

Two great websites to help you do this are:

Unreached of the Day

Operation World go to Featured Nation and click on Country Profile