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| It [is] only the beginning of the real story - The Last Battle |
Ornament: Crown or lion and lambScripture Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 28:1-20
Revelation
Revelation 21:1-22:6
Verse: Revelation 21:3
Christmas Song: Joy to the World
Hymn: Holy Holy Holy
Story: I will read two stories today - the resurrection and revelation to my children.
We cover a lot of ground today. Jesus is alive! He has defeated sin and death and left us with the gift of the Holy Spirit which He promised! Now we wait - eagerly and with hope for the next promise. We are to persevere when trials and persecution comes. We are to encourage one another to remember that Jesus will keep His promise - He WILL come. God has always kept His promises, and He always will.
Just as we began with the very good beginning, we now await the very good ending. Today marks the end of the 31 day Advent journey with my children this year. After today, we will take down the ornaments we made one by one and talk about each story and God's promises. And we will place everything carefully in a box with our other decorations to await next year. But even though our tree will be hidden in a box, we will still continue to remember the people and places God has used throughout history. We will continue to look forward and wait for the very good ending to the greatest story. Because of Jesus, this story that belongs to us! We will long to see our Snake Crusher, our Redeemer, our King! And He will dwell with us, finally and forever! We are children of the greatest promise and the Greatest Promise Keeper, God Himself!
As we continue to live in a world full of sin and sadness, we can wait with certainty that Jesus will come again and will make all things new. This promise is dear to believers, particularly during suffering. Most of us know people who are suffering greatly. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing someone believe the promises of God to be true. There are many saints that have been called home this past year. This is hard for us left here. But there will one day be no more pain or death or sorrow.
One of the habits I started last year was to read/memorize/quote the end of Revelation to my children each day. I think often, we can lose perspective on this earth and settle into our comfort - until something like sickness, cancer, or death comes - we then jerk out of our comfort and cling to God. Let us teach our children to have an eternal focus every day, so that WHEN trials and suffering come, they will be ready.
The last page in the last chapter of The Last Battle (by C.S. Lewis) puts everything so beautifully when Aslan, the great lion speaks:
"'The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.' And as He spoke He no longer looked to them as a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which every chapter is better than the one before" (210-211).
The best thing for us, is that we are not merely reading stories. We are a part of God's great story. It belongs to us and to our children. Remind them (and yourself) to trust God more than what your eyes can see.
"So keep waiting for him. Keep believing in him. Keep trusting that the story isn't over yet. God's promises never fail and the Promised One never disappoints" (Biggest Story 123).
One day, we will see Him as He is. One day, we will be with Him. God keeps His promises - He always has, and He always will.
Keep believing and trusting in the Promises of God and thank you for sticking with me on this journey this year! And who knows, maybe He will come for us before we can open our Advent box next year.
Tidings and Tidbits:
Hymn: Holy Holy Holy
Story: I will read two stories today - the resurrection and revelation to my children.
- The Big Picture Story Bible: The Very Good Ending (437-453)
- The Jesus Storybook Bible: God's Wonderful Surprise (310-317) and A Dream of Heaven (342-351)
- The Biggest Story: Chapter 9 (108-117) and Chapter 10 (120-125)
- The Ology: Jesus' Resurrection Defeated Death (120-123) and The Special Place Where God Lives with His People (217-219)
- The Gospel Story Bible: At the Throne Worshipping (312-313)
We cover a lot of ground today. Jesus is alive! He has defeated sin and death and left us with the gift of the Holy Spirit which He promised! Now we wait - eagerly and with hope for the next promise. We are to persevere when trials and persecution comes. We are to encourage one another to remember that Jesus will keep His promise - He WILL come. God has always kept His promises, and He always will.
Just as we began with the very good beginning, we now await the very good ending. Today marks the end of the 31 day Advent journey with my children this year. After today, we will take down the ornaments we made one by one and talk about each story and God's promises. And we will place everything carefully in a box with our other decorations to await next year. But even though our tree will be hidden in a box, we will still continue to remember the people and places God has used throughout history. We will continue to look forward and wait for the very good ending to the greatest story. Because of Jesus, this story that belongs to us! We will long to see our Snake Crusher, our Redeemer, our King! And He will dwell with us, finally and forever! We are children of the greatest promise and the Greatest Promise Keeper, God Himself!
As we continue to live in a world full of sin and sadness, we can wait with certainty that Jesus will come again and will make all things new. This promise is dear to believers, particularly during suffering. Most of us know people who are suffering greatly. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing someone believe the promises of God to be true. There are many saints that have been called home this past year. This is hard for us left here. But there will one day be no more pain or death or sorrow.
One of the habits I started last year was to read/memorize/quote the end of Revelation to my children each day. I think often, we can lose perspective on this earth and settle into our comfort - until something like sickness, cancer, or death comes - we then jerk out of our comfort and cling to God. Let us teach our children to have an eternal focus every day, so that WHEN trials and suffering come, they will be ready.
The last page in the last chapter of The Last Battle (by C.S. Lewis) puts everything so beautifully when Aslan, the great lion speaks:
"'The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.' And as He spoke He no longer looked to them as a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which every chapter is better than the one before" (210-211).
The best thing for us, is that we are not merely reading stories. We are a part of God's great story. It belongs to us and to our children. Remind them (and yourself) to trust God more than what your eyes can see.
"So keep waiting for him. Keep believing in him. Keep trusting that the story isn't over yet. God's promises never fail and the Promised One never disappoints" (Biggest Story 123).
One day, we will see Him as He is. One day, we will be with Him. God keeps His promises - He always has, and He always will.
Keep believing and trusting in the Promises of God and thank you for sticking with me on this journey this year! And who knows, maybe He will come for us before we can open our Advent box next year.
Tidings and Tidbits:
- For additional reading: Acts 1-2; Revelation 4-5
- Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed is something my children love to sing!
- Here is another favorite on the subject of resurrection
Resource Corner
Here is a link to some helpful questions for the new year if you like to have goals. I have gone through these questions several years now and find them very helpful.
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