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| God chose David to be king because God was getting His people ready for an even greater King who was coming (JSB 120) |
Christmas Song: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
There is great poetic beauty in Isaiah 11. Only God could take something like a tree stump or root and make it beautiful and fill it with life. Every fall, as I am surrounded by nature dying and preparing for winter, I am reminded of these verses. When spring comes, we see those shoots of life coming up with those brilliant greens. We just recently moved and have been clearing out a bunch of junk from our back "jungle." There is a tree stump back there that is so ugly. Clearly, the tree had been cut down, but in one little corner, there are shoots of green coming out of it. Every time I see that old ugly tree stump, I remember the promise of God to preserve His people - to bring life from death, to bring light to darkness. God preserves His people. God delights in saving His people. God has the power to bring forth life from our sinful and dead souls. Christ is our root, and we are grounded and given life through Him.
Here is a beautiful setting of some advent liturgy, O Root of Jesse
O Root of Jesse, Thou on Whom
The Holy Ghost shall rest;
Whose boughs through all the world shall bloom
With healing virtue blest:
Tidings and Tidbits:
Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
- Big Picture Story Bible: God's Blessings Grow (167-185)
- Jesus Storybook Bible: The Teenie, Weenie ... True King (116-121)
- The Ology: Chosen (143-145)
There is great poetic beauty in Isaiah 11. Only God could take something like a tree stump or root and make it beautiful and fill it with life. Every fall, as I am surrounded by nature dying and preparing for winter, I am reminded of these verses. When spring comes, we see those shoots of life coming up with those brilliant greens. We just recently moved and have been clearing out a bunch of junk from our back "jungle." There is a tree stump back there that is so ugly. Clearly, the tree had been cut down, but in one little corner, there are shoots of green coming out of it. Every time I see that old ugly tree stump, I remember the promise of God to preserve His people - to bring life from death, to bring light to darkness. God preserves His people. God delights in saving His people. God has the power to bring forth life from our sinful and dead souls. Christ is our root, and we are grounded and given life through Him.
Here is a beautiful setting of some advent liturgy, O Root of Jesse
O Root of Jesse, Thou on Whom
The Holy Ghost shall rest;
Whose boughs through all the world shall bloom
With healing virtue blest:
True Vine, in Whom we must abide
To bring forth plenteous fruit;
Whose branches, when by tempests tried,
Are firm in Thee their root:
To bring forth plenteous fruit;
Whose branches, when by tempests tried,
Are firm in Thee their root:
Thou art a shelter from the heat
That burns the thirsty ground:
A hiding place when tempests beat
Upon the plain around.
That burns the thirsty ground:
A hiding place when tempests beat
Upon the plain around.
O Root of Jesse, day by day
To Thee our prayers we send:
Come now, and through the world, we pray,
Thy healing leaves extend.
To Thee our prayers we send:
Come now, and through the world, we pray,
Thy healing leaves extend.
We wait in faith, we wait in prayer,
Until the happy time
Wherein Thy branches fruit shall bear
Through every distant clime.
Until the happy time
Wherein Thy branches fruit shall bear
Through every distant clime.
To God the Father glory be,
In majesty adored;
To Jesse's Root, the Son; and Thee,
O Holy Ghost; One Lord. Amen.
In majesty adored;
To Jesse's Root, the Son; and Thee,
O Holy Ghost; One Lord. Amen.
- Look in carols for the theme of the root or rod of Jesse this year.
- Take the kids out and find something you can make into an ornament from nature. This is a great opportunity to talk to them about seasons and how only God has the power to give and preserve life.
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