...a time to reflect. This was the first Sunday of Advent, and for the first time anywhere, Steve & I lite the first candle in worship. We were to talk about the Traditions of Christmas starting w/the candy cane. It was first created in 1670 by a choirmaster. He had asked a local confectioner to make a candy that was in the shape of a sheperds crook, white in color (representing forgiveness), red stripes (representing the beating that Jesus took in our place), Minty flavoring (representing purification and cleansing) and a hard substance (representing the idea that Christ is the Rock that we stand upon)
Steve was asked to create a devotion for this Advent season so today's devotion was from Genesis 22:15-18.
It's about Abraham being obedient.(to the point of sacrificing his own son on the altar) This story is about God coming to man in love and compassion, desiring to have a friendship that would last. This is based on what God has done for us by sending Jesus and our obedience to God. When you read these verses, Why is it important to obey God? What are some ways your family shows that they obey God?
Worship today was not a formal affair, but rather a time set aside for families to discuss how they would give back to others this Christmas. Keeping Christ in Christmas! Hearing what God's words says about giving freely, and then taking 3-5 mins to talk openly w/your family about things you can do AS A FAMILY to keep Christ as their focus this year. Some ideas were: holding an open house for your neighborhood (b/c neighborhoods hardly connect anymore) going to a laundrymat and giving enough change to pay for someones laundry, making hot chocolate in an inexpensive mug for your garbage men...or leaving cookies in the mailbox for your mailman, buying a pack of gum for the WalMart cashier as you check out, babysitting as a family for a single parent and give them a giftcard to a coffee house.
I am sure your family can come up with one or two ideas on your own. Make that a discussion at the next dinnertable! What a gift this year, to understand the real meaning of giftgiving, and PLAY IT FORWARD!!
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