Merry Christmas To You and Yours December 23, 2008

We have decided to take a two week break from blogging in order to spend this time with our families.May your Christmas be filled with the wonder of Christ’s love – who willingly came to earth in the form of a baby in order to restore our broken relationship with the Father.  Make the most of this season, and look for our blog to be up again on January 5th.  We leave you with a poem by John Newton,  and a video that your children will enjoy.  Merry Christmas!  (Note: We will post information about the Route 66 Club reading plan for 2009 on Monday, Dec. 29th, so be sure and check the blog then, and e-mail debiwalter@gmail.com if you would like to participate!)

I asked the Lord that I might grow, In faith and love and every grace, Might more of His salvation know, And seek more earnestly His face.  It was He who taught me thus to pray, And He I trust has answered prayer.  But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair!  I hoped that in some favored hour, At once He’d answer my request.  And by His love’s constraining power, Subdue my sins and give me rest!  Instead of this, He made me feel, The hidden evils of my heart.  And let the angry powers of hell, Assault my soul in every part!  Yes, more with His own hand, He seemed, Intent to aggravate my woe.  Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,  Blasted my gourds, and laid me low!” Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried.  Will You pursue Your worm to death?” “This is the way” the Lord replied, “I answer prayer for grace and strength.”  These inward trials I employ, From self, and pride, to set you free; And break your schemes of earthly joy, That you may find your all in Me!” — John Newton

Worth While Waiting December 17, 2008

I’ve heard of a very simple, yet effective way to envision our children for the true meaning of Christmas.  If you have a nativity, set all the pieces in their places, except for the Baby Jesus.  Let your children know that the Christ child was promised for hundreds of years.  God’s people waited and waited for the day when He would appear on the earth.  Christmas Day we celebrate the glorious event when Jesus was born in a manger.  Christmas morning make sure that you place the Baby Jesus in the manger before your children awaken.  When they come hustling into the living room, help them to pause and remember what they’ve been waiting for.  Once they realize that the Baby Jesus has arrived completing the nativity – sing Away In A Manger and Joy To The World.  For more great ideas check back tomorrow!

Posted by Debi

What Will They Remember? December 15, 2008

The Christmas holiday is in full swing at our house. Presents to wrap, cookies to bake, parties to attend. I have been wondering though how I can as a mom direct and guide my children’s hearts towards Christ during the craziest and busiest time of the year? How can I help keep the focus on the Greatest Gift, when it seems like everything else is screaming so loudly? What do I pray that my children will remember?

I pray that they will remember that this is the time when God came down as a man, a precious little baby, to bare the wrath of their (and my) sin. I pray that they remember as we read the Christmas story in Luke that it was out of His love that He sent His only Son. That is why we celebrate. That is why we worship, that is why we can worship. The Lord had a perfect plan from before time and this is the amazing way He carried it out!

So please join us this week as we seek to encourage you in your desire to make this a season to remember.

“Joy Has Dawned Upon the World” December 26, 2006

This is a modern Christmas Hymn.  I hope these words touch your heart the way they did mine!

"Joy has dawned upon the world, Promised from creation—
God’s salvation now unfurled, Hope for ev’ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above, Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky, With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life, Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place, Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother’s breast, Vuln’rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb, Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands, Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today, Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way, And by His blood He’ll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven, Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man, Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend! What a glorious myst’ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem, Now the Lord of hist’ry."

"Joy Has Dawned upon the World"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2004 Thankyou Music

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee December 20, 2006

"In the twelfth century the French mystic Bernard of Clairvaux wrote in Latin, "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee."  One of the blessings of songs like this is to build a vocabulary of delight into our minds even as the affection of spiritual pleasure is wakened in our hearts by the contemplation of Christ."

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Savior of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

O Jesus, light of all below,
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.

From God Is The Gospel, by John Piper

God came near December 19, 2006

"It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.  As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other.  If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words.  It came and it went.  It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it.  It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

But in reality, that particular moment was like none other.  For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred.  God became a man.  While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived.  Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable.  He who had been spirit became pierceable.  He who was larger than the universe became an embryo.  And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus.  Holiness sleeping in a womb.  The creator of life being created….

God had come near.

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conquerer, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter.  The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

No silk.  No ivory.  No hype.  No party.  No hoopla. 

Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception.  And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts…..

"I am with you always" are the words of a God who in one instant did the impossible to make it all possible for you and me.

It all happened in a moment.  In one moment….a most remarkable moment.  The Word became flesh.  "  Max Lucado

Posted by Elyse

Why? December 18, 2006

So why all this talk about traditions? Or what do you say to your children when they ask why you even have traditions?  Here is an excerpt from the book,"Treasuring God in Our Traditions" by Noel Piper that helps explain this:

"In the book of Exodus, Moses displays his understanding of the nature of children and the responsibility of parents: ‘And when your children say to you, "What do you mean by this service?" you shall say, "It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passed over the house of the people of Israel in Egypt” (12:26-27). Moses assumes children will ask why. And he instructs parents to give an answer that speaks of reality.  This instruction is all in the context of laying out for children ceremonies that will portray the answer.  He is giving them the answer, both spoken and displayed.  And the answer is God–God saved us, and we honor him, worship him, thank him.  We and our children need this kind of yearly repetition to impress us with the weight of what God has done. "

So in our traditions — spiritual and not-so-spiritual — let’s remember to help our children to honor, worship and thank Him! In everything we do this week, may we seek to impress them with the amazing weight of what the Savior did when He became man to take their sins.

Posted by Taraleigh