“He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 18:2-3

Definition of Childlike:

• marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness.

• delight.

• resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child

Are there things about Advent that gives you a sense of childlike feelings or emotions? I have loved Christmas most of my life. I love the tree decorating, shopping for the perfect gifts, wrapping presents, giving presents, seeing the beautiful lights, exchanging good tidings with friends and strangers, sharing meals with friends and family, watching the enchantment in the faces of children as they see Santa and the toy aisle in every store, holiday foods and drinks, to mention a few! I also look forward to singing Christmas songs, especially the ones at church describing Jesus and His birth, they transport me to my youth, an opportunity for me to revisit those precious memories of special individuals who helped shape my faith from a very young age. This past Sunday, my church presented our annual children’s Christmas program and it was a great success, topped out with Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Angels and of course Jesus! The children wore homemade costumes and sang songs and had two separate storylines happening simultaneously, great producers and performance!!

One can experience Advent with the delight of childlike experiences without having children. Christmas whether secular or religious, is not about age but about heart.

Jesus spoke about childlike attributes while talking with His disciples in Matthew 18:1-5, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Jesus was instructing the disciples to have mature and responsible minds and the hearts like children. C.S.Lewis paraphrased Paul’s writing from 1 Corinthians 13:22 by saying this…

There are many ways to experience the childlike emotions of Christmas, the writer of the book I’m reading suggested the following:

• Do a “Jesse Tree,”. I had no idea what it was and if you already know, that’s awesome. Basically, it’s a bare branch hung with symbols of stories from the Old Testament, creating a family “tree” for Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child — a Christmas prequel. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” With doing a Jesse Tree each day of Advent read a passage from the Old Testament and hang a tiny/small ornament representing it, something like a globe for creation; a whale for Jonah; or a boat for Noah.

• Collect ornaments.

• Create traditions with friends or family or both

• Be a secret Santa to someone.

Questions for Reflection:

• What do you think Jesus means by “becoming like children? *Be trusting, open and honest.

• What childish activities do you enjoy at Advent season? If you don’t have any, do any of the suggestions listed above interest you? *I am interested in doing the “Jesse Tree.”

• C.S.Lewis also write this, “Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only ‘as harmless as doves’, but also ‘as wise as serpents’. He wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim.” What are some ways to balance a “child’s heart” and a “grown up’s head?” *Be kind, treat others as you want to be treated, share, be fair. Do you think Lewis succeeds in. Alan Inc the two in the book, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?” Why or why not? *Short answer, YES…I love the writings of C.S.Lewis and the imagery that spins in my imagination!

~Peace~

References:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Using_Your_Head

http://www.biblegateway.com/

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Genesis 15:1-18

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,”

I had the pleasure of meeting and discussing today’s Advent message with a group of women from my church. We meet every Wednesday morning for Bible Study, I am blessed to be part of this group of extraordinary women!! We talked and shared our experiences of God’s promises and His faithfulness to fulfill those promises made. The story of Abram and Sarai, (Abraham and Sarah) is recorded in the book of Genesis.

“When God changed a person’s name and gave him a new name, it was usually to establish a new identity. God changed Abram’s “high father” name to “Abraham,” “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5) and his wife’s name from “Sarai,” “my princess,” to “Sarah,” “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15–16).” ~https://www.google.com/search?q=abram+became+abraham&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

God’s promises extend to you and I, not just the individuals we read about in the Bible. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and to make a way for everyone to be in relationship with God through himself. Abraham indeed is the father of many; many sons and many daughters in many nations!

One of my favorite songs growing up in the church was “Trust and Obey,”. It really is that simple! I invite you to open your heart to Jesus this Advent season and lean on His promises. If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, this is your moment. God is waiting with open arms to welcome you home. Pray this prayer, “Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen”

Friends, if you are accepting Jesus and need to speak to someone, I am here to prayer with you and for you. I also encourage you to reach out to a friend that is a believer or a church for more information. You are so loved by God!

Prayer:

Holy One, you have promised to be with us. Watch over me, protect me, and bless me. Make your presence known through your grace and peace. ~Amen.

~Hope & Peace~

References:

https://hymnary.org/text/how_firm_a_foundation_ye_saints_of

Author: K. (1787); Author (attributed to): George Keith (1787); Author (attributed to): R. Keen (c. 1787)
Tune: ADESTE FIDELES
Gospel Acclamation Songs
Published in 1882 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/the-sinners-prayer-4-examples.html