For my Family

We ran some errands yesterday and on our way home this song came on the radio. It was getting dark and it was a cold drizzly day, which always makes me feel at home. I was thinking about all my family back on the West Coast and how much I always miss everyone, more than I usually do, at this time of year. Well, by the time the song ended (though I've heard it at least 20 times in the past few weeks) my face was wet with tears and I was thankful the kids couldn't see my face.

So this is for Mom, Dave, Dad, Karen, Aaron, Sera, Nanny, Grandma Mach, Grandma & Grandpa...

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love

Even more then I usually do

And although I know it's a long road back

I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents under the tree

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light beams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light beams

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

If only in my dreams

Christmas Gifts

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights," James 1:17

Since we're spending Christmas in Illinois this year, we decided to open gifts early so we don't have to bring them all with us (on top of all the other gifts we're bringing with us). Here are some highlights of our gift-opening...

We first opened gifts from Uncle Aaron and Aunt Sera. Abbi got the American Girl movies, Molly and Felicity. She was so excited when she opened them. We hadn't seen Molly yet and it is so cute!

Caleb got his Lego Fire Hovercraft...it is so cool!

And Jacob received the Lego Naboo Starfighter and a really cool Lego book. I think we need to buy stock in Lego...if you saw the boys' room, you'd understand.

I made a prediction about what my gift was (this drives Jon crazy because I'm ALWAYS right). And guess what?! I was right!
Jon was very happy with his gift!

Phoebe decided the Lego boxes were just for her!

Next we opened gifts from Grammy & Pata. Abbi got a darling Groovy Girl along with some accessories for her.

Caleb got books! YAY! He was excited...he's become quite the reader lately.

Jacob received books, too. Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer...nothing like the classics!

Then it was on to the gifts from Jon and I. We got Caleb the Lego Firestation and a really FUN 2-player Nerf Dart Tag system. We're going to have to get some dart replacements...the kids have been playing with this everyday and it's so fun! I need to get another 2-player set so all the kids can play with Jon...

Jacob got Legos, of course. The Star Wars Republic Cruiser...it is so impressive.

And little Abbi got some clothes and accessories for her American Girl doll, Kit.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Neighborhood Gift Wrap

Last year our church began a new outreach...we set up in a few different neighborhoods in the area one Saturday in December and people can come have their Christmas presents wrapped for free, no strings attached. This year, the kids helped with the wrapping.

Here's Abbi with her great little friend, Catherine. Catherine doesn't live in our neighborhood, but she and her mom came to help out during our shift.
Here's Jacob pushing sweet, little Olivia. Olivia is the daughter of our AWESOME small group leader, Jason, and his wife, Sara. They have become very good friends and we are so blessed to have them in our lives. We've babysat Olivia several times and she is a doll! She adores the kids and they adore her.
Here's Olivia giving Jacob a few pushes. So precious!
I love this sweet little picture of Jacob and Olivia. Olivia was having a grand time tickling Jacob's neck.

Abbi and Catherine hamming it up in their Santa hats.

If Abbi is ever missing and you're looking for her, odds are good that you'll find her if you look up. She's usually high up in a tree somewhere.

Animal School Parable

This is really beautiful...

http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/wp-content/themes/179/aschool0832.html

Once upon a time the animals had a school. They had to create a curriculum that would satisfy everyone, so they chose four subjects: running, climbing, flying, and swimming. All the animals, of course, studied all the subjects.
The duck was very good at swimming, better than the teacher, in fact. He received passing grades in running and flying, but was hopeless in climbing, so they made him drop swimming so that he could practice climbing. After a while he was only average at swimming, but average is still acceptable, at least in school, and nobody worried much about it except the duck.
The eagle was considered a troublemaker. In his climbing class he beat everybody to the top of the tree, but he had his own way of getting there that was against the rules. He always had to stay after school and write, "Cheating is wrong," five hundred times. This kept him from soaring, which he loved, but schoolwork comes first.
The bear flunked because they said he was lazy, especially in the winter. His best time was summer, but school wasn't open then.
The zebra played hooky a lot because the ponies made fun of his stripes, and this made him very sad.
The kangaroo started out at the top of the racing class, but became discouraged when was told to move swiftly on all four legs the way his classmates did.
The fish quit school because he was bored. To him, all four subjects were the same, but nobody understood that because they had never seen a fish.
The squirrel got an A in climbing, but his flying teacher made him start from the ground up, instead of from the treetop down. His legs got so sore practicing takeoffs that he began getting Cs in climbing and Ds in running.
The bee was the biggest problem of all, so the teacher sent him to Doctor Owl for testing. Doctor Owl said that the bee's wings were too small for flying and they were in the wrong place. The bee never saw Doctor Owl's report, so he just went ahead and flew anyway. I think I know a bee or two, how about you?
The duck is the child who does well in math and poorly in English and is given tutorials by the English teacher while his classmates are doing math. He loses his edge in math, and only does passably well in English.
The eagle is the child who is turned into a troublemaker because he has his "own style" of doing things. While he is not doing anything "wrong," his non-conforming is perceived as troublemakeing, for which he is punished.
Who does not recognize the bear? The kid who is great in camp, thrives on extra-curricular, but really just goes flat in the academics.
The zebra is the heavy, tall, or short, self-conscious kid whose failure in school few realize is due to a sense of social inadequacy.
The kangaroo is the one who instead of persevering gives up and becomes that discouraged child whose future disappears because he was not appreciated.
The fish is a child who really requires full special education and cannot shine in the regular classroom.
The squirrel, unlike the duck who "manages," becomes a failure.The bee, oh the bee, is the child who the school just feels it cannot deal with, yet, against all odds, with the backing of his parents, has enough self-motivation to do well even though everyone thought he couldn't. I had the pleasure of knowing many bees.

Your child is a unique blend of talents, personality, and ingredients nowhere else to be found.
Some children are skilled intellectually, others are blessed emotionally, and many are born with creative ingenuity.
Each child possesses their his own exclusive collection of gifts.
Your child did not come with a direction booklet.
Effective parents are always learning, studying, and customizing the instructions for their individual child.
Each and every child is as unique as his fingerprints; a sparkling diamond of unparalleled beauty.
Don't let your child be a kangaroo!

Twas the Month Before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas when all through the land,
Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday ."

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets are hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At Kmart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, now Darden, now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "DreamTree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

14 Days of Homeschooling

14 Days of Homeschooling
(To the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas.")

On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can you homeschool legally?"
On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the fifth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me,"YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me,"How long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the seventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "They'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the twelfth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can they go to college, I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the thirteenth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: "They CAN go to college, yes you can do this, they can have graduation, we don't like the prom, we do it cuz we like it, they are missing nothing, we'll homeschool forever, WE ARE NOT STRANGE!, We give them P.E., and we give them tests, they are socialized, AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!
On the fourteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How can I get started, why didn't you tell me, where do I buy curriculum, when is the next conference, WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE? I think we can do this, if you will help us, can we join P.E. and we'll homeschool legally."

Gingerbread Houses

Every December, instead of doing our regular co-op activities, our homeschool group gets together and we all make family gingerbread houses. It's our annual Christmas party and it's always so much fun! Today was the day! Here are the kids hard at work on our little house.
After much time and hard work, the masterpiece is complete with tree and snowmen (and snow-dog, courtesy of Abbi). Notice the 'bushes' next to the door. This was Caleb's creativity.

Isn't is fun?! So colorful and looks delicious!

Each family has their picture taken with their house for the yearbook.

After all the gingerbread houses are complete, we do an ornament exchange.

Here's our group...Lighthouse Home Educators

Several families had already left, so this isn't everyone.

Here's Abbi with one of her best little friends, Bethany.

And here's Jacob with one of his best buds, Presley.

And here's me with one of my best buds, Leslie (Presley's mom). Leslie and I met at the very first field trip we went on with our co-op when we first moved to Georgia. It was at the Children's Museum in Atlanta and it was a cold, rainy winter day so there were only 3 families that went. Leslie's family was one of them. I'm so thankful to the Lord for putting this family into the life of mine. They are such a blessing to us.

And another of my best buds, Laura (Bethany's mom). I met Laura the first time we visited our co-op and she was actually the deciding factor in us joining this group. Her son, Elliott and Jacob are good friends and her daughter, Bethany (above) and Abbi are practically inseparable. Laura has been a great blessing to me. She challenges me and holds me accountable to the decisions I make.

Fall Fun in the Leaves

We spent yesterday with our wonderful friends, the Bogaski's. It was a very cold day, but the kids insisted on playing outside. I went out to check on them and found this scene...

Look how tall that pile of leaves is!
They thought it would be fun to bury themselves...I love this picture of my 3 and Daniel (next to Abbi). Janae was on the other side of the pile so I couldn't get her in the shot.
This is the girls jumping into the pile. They ran from the tree (where you can see the boys waiting their turn) and then flew into it.
And now the boys turn. What fun to be a kid!

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 25th

December 25

Jesse Tree: Birth

Today’s reading: Luke 2:6-21
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The entire ocean of history, rises, surges, crests to this pinnacle in time. The beads of days have been strung and accomplished. The delivery, the culmination, is imminent. The ages hardly breathe before this bringing forth.

Angels come. Tidings are brought. Everything that has breath rushes to see this thing which has come to pass, this birthing of the cosmos into New Life.

Like the shepherds, we come with haste, hardly hoping, wild to see. And we find You, YOU, God with us, not in electrifying, intimidating, frightening majesty, but as a newborn, waiting, wanting, to be held close. We come, bow low, and embrace the baby, this God, who has saved us and redeemed the sweeping expanse of the Universe.

We hang the star at the top of the tree. The symbols are now all hung. We have read God’s breathtaking story----there is none like it. Like the shepherds, we enter into the dance of Creation, glorifying and praising God for all we have heard and seen this Advent.

The angels eventually return to heaven, the shepherds disperse with the news. But we, we are like Mary, who did not leave but kept all these things. We too keep You, Jesus, the most exquisite gift ever given. Long after the tree is packed away, You, Lord Jesus, remain at the height of our thoughts. We ponder You, Jesus, in our hearts all the year round.

You have come.

Please stay.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 24th

December 24

Journey

Today’s reading: Luke 2:1-5
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

It has been a breathtaking journey…from the very inception of life on Earth…to this, the bated-breath moments before His coming. Thousands of years, generations of people, all turned, waiting, ready for this breaking-forth, cosmic-shattering moment.

And we have come too. Dusty and weary, the baggage of our past heavy, we have also come up to Bethlehem----seeking the time of our deliverance.

We too are about to be birthed---from darkness into Light, from despair into Hope, from existence into ABUNDANT Living. The journey is almost over. Our waiting and yearning and seeking is almost a memory. We are almost there…because You are coming.

Lord, tired and worn, we smile now, we break into a run—the journey is almost over---or are we just beginning the greatest journey of all?

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 23rd

December 23

A Plan Like no Other

Today’s Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Joseph being a righteous man—and a carpenter—has a blueprint for a seemingly wise plan.

But God pierces a midnight dream with blinding light to tell righteous Joseph that his plan to quietly put Mary away isn’t a good one. Because he is betrothed to one carrying a baby who is unlike any other baby ever to draw in breath and cry on this planet. This baby is God. Very God with us.

Sometimes I too have drafted up what I consider righteous, goodly plans…and Light Himself shatters my night and says that there is another way…a brilliant , stunning way to God with us.

As radical and unbelievable as that plan sounds….it’s the plan I choose to wildly embrace.

Lord, You take the plans I build and turn them on their head! Imagine—who would ever have thought God would come and be with the likes of us?!! Come and change all my plans!

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 22nd

December 22

Believing the Impossible...

Today’s reading: Luke 1:26-38
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

It all did seem impossible: a woman as old as Elizabeth, a young unmarried girl like Mary, a descending Holy Spirit, a baby called the Son of God---who wouldn’t have raised a dubious eyebrow—and then grilled Gabriel with a million questions?

Not Mary. Stunningly, she accepts the wonder of it all, the miracle that the God of the starfields will come as her baby, that nothing---absolutely nothing ---nothing is impossible with God. That kind of staggering, simple faith lets one fall on bended knee and whisper, “Behold, I am the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)

You are coming—it seems so impossible. And instead of wildly scurrying around, oh, to be as Mary: quietly bending the knee --and opening my heart--in worship—to accept the unfathomable.

Lord, I desire to give you my heart, to let it be as according to Your Word. For with You, nothing--even Your coming--- is impossible. It is just that simple.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 21st

December 21

Repentance Makes a Way

Today’s Reading: Matthew 3:1-6
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Deserts are dry, parched, thirsty places. John knew this—the Desert of Judea was his home.

But repentance changes all that. Repentance is preparation for quenching, for new growth, for rain showers of hope and fertility. Repentance washes away our sins and makes a straight path for You, God to come near.

And so people came out of their own personal deserts, to confess, repent and plunge themselves in the cool, flowing waters of the River Jordan—to be washed clean of the past and its pain…and to be drenched in newness of Life.

In the wrapping and the baking and the preparation, have I repented and prepared the way for You, Lord?

Lord, may I repent, for the Kingdom of heaven—You—are near. In the midst of it all, may I take time to repent—for that is preparing the way for You to come to me.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 20th

December 20

Preparing Hearts in the Silence

Today’s Reading: Luke 1:5-25
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Four hundred years of silence….deafening, pressing, unbearable silence…waiting for a word from the Lord. And now the silence is shattered. God speaks: “Do not be afraid…your prayer has been heard.”

God has heard our heart howls. Our fears now melt away for our prayers have been heard. Our Savior is coming, our Deliverer, the one who will shatter all that binds us, and we will know freedom like only in our dreams, abundance we thought only fantasy.

So count the moments. Turn.

Make hearts ready for the Lord.

Lord, Good News---the BEST news---has shattered the emptiness of our existence. And now we are silenced at the awe of You hearing us….and coming. So we ready the most important thing: our hearts.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 19th

December 19

Waiting

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk 2:1, 3:16-19
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

‘Tis the season of waiting. Countdown calendars, numbering days left, anxiously ticking off hours, all the world awaiting that grand and glorious day.

But do we stand on the watchtower, up on the ramparts, eyes fixed on the horizon, scanning for signs of…You? Is all the world on the edge of its seat, dangling with bated breath…craning for the first glimpse of God on history’s stage? Is my heart pining for You, Lord Jesus?

“Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vine” (Habakkuk 3:17), we only have eyes—and a longing heart--- for You, Lord. You, Lord, are whom we await and it is You who gives us Joy.

Lord, may I be up on the heights, desperate for the coming of

He who brings Joy to the World .

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 18th

December 18

The Time is Here

Today’s Reading: Esther 4:10-17
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

An orphaned Jewish girl handpicked from among thousands of well-manicured beauties to be the King’s new bride—it seems the stuff of Hollywood and movie screens. But God’s drama has sweeping ramifications: the deliverance of the entire Jewish race. As Mordecai declares to Esther: “You have come to this…position for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)

Just like You, Jesus. You came to this position—a swaddled, red-faced baby in a cold, dark barn---for such a time as this. Your coming is the dividing, definitive point in all of God’s drama: Your birth divides history into the time before You and the time after You. Since the very first tick of Earth’s time, all of time has been waiting, groaning, yearning, for You. And here it is: You have come for such a time as this—and You’ve come for all time.

As Esther came to deliver a people, You come to deliver all people. Esther said it, but didn’t need to do it: “And if I perish, I perish.” You came…and You did just that.

Lord, You come for me and my time and You perished—for us all.

Could there be a greater gift?

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 17th

December 17

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Today’s reading Micah 5:2-5
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

Far from home and family and security, in a backwater town of Bethlehem, comes a ruler, not only of Israel, but, yea, One whose reign is to the very ends of the Earth—and time.

It is as the songwriter wrote: “O little Town of Bethlehem…our hopes and fears of all these years are held in thee tonight.” All of humanity, hinged on that one night in Bethlehem. We leave our burden of fears in a stable on a Bethlehem back street and return home light and full of hope—anchored, unwavering, iron-clad hope. We now “live securely”’ (Micah 5:4), because of He Who was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. O little town of Bethlehem is the birth town of He who came and changed everything—especially us.

Lord, You come to a hick town like Bethlehem out of a passion for the likes of me. The Hopes and Fears of all my years are held in Thee, Lord, ... always.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 16th

December 16

Staggering Extremes

Today’s reading: Jonah 3:1-4:4, 11
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

It is just like You, God: You’d go to any and all lengths—even having a prophet sit for three days in the cavernous belly of a great fish—to turn people to Yourself. And when Jonah relents and finally brings Your message to Nineveh, Nineveh does just that: confesses, repents and turns towards You, Lord.

Yes, our God is, as Jonah ironically laments, “…a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love…” (Jonah 4:2) And You do indeed go to stunning lengths to draw people to Yourself: like taking on flesh, being as born as a helpless baby in a smelly cattle pen, hanging on a bark-covered cross by nails pierced through flesh, descending three days into the very pit of hell, to buy back people as wicked as any Ninevite--just like me. Yes—You are a God abounding in love--- mind-boggling, staggering love.

Lord, You come, a wild lover of souls, driven by extreme passion, to turn us to You. And we do, Lord—we turn with open arms to You.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 15th

December 15

Jesse Tree: The Glorious Impossible

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 11:1-9
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

It all sounds unbelievable: a shoot from a stem, a wolf laying with a lamb, a child playing near the cobra. But the day is coming when the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and the impossible will be possible. You will come again, Lord, with righteousness and faithfulness as Your belt, and You will do the impossible: all will be righted, all will be fair, and all will be flooded with the indescribable glory of You.

You came once to a manger and a cross and the world was forever changed. And we can hardly believe—but we do—how the world will be breathtakingly transformed when You come again!

Lord, You came—to the manger. You come—to my heart. And You will come again—to do the glorious impossible.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 14th

December 14

Spectacular Clarity

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 18:17-39
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Fireballs hurling down from heaven---it doesn’t get much more gripping and spectacular than that, does it? God steps forward to declare to His people with breathtaking clarity: I AM HERE. The men, women and children who witnessed this blazing act of God, fell on their faces and worshipped.

But You, God, have performed something even more spectacular than mere falling flames to proclaim that You are here. You have come Yourself, Omniscient, Omnipotent One, in the flesh, here, to our dusty world…right there in the stable barn. And like the Israelites, we fall on our faces and whisper, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

Lord, You are Emmanuel. God with us. It doesn’t get more spectacular—or clear---than that.

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 13th

December 13

More than a Babe

Today's Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Without that burning ball of flame 93 million miles away, we would live in the inky, barren blackness of cold, forever night. Remember what that felt like? I do. I remember life before You, when I lived in the land of the chilling shadows of death. The hopelessness of my existence carved out an aching, dark hollow in the pit of my being.

This is the season where houses and lamp posts and shop windows twinkle, bedecked in strands of shimmering lights. We drive around in the blackness to gaze on this festival of flickering bulbs. But the coming of that babe in a manger floods our entire universe with glorious light! The Child born to us is so much more than a babe—You are our God, our Counselor, the brilliant Floodlight of our World. You are our dawn. And the Son never felt so warm.

Lord, the Light has dawned! I step out of the cold shadows of death and bask in the radiant warmth of You, luminous Father and our Prince of Peace!

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 12th

December 12

The Shepherd King

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-5
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

David was given a king’s crown…but asked to be a shepherd. You knew what You were doing when You chose David to shepherd Your people. David had been a shepherd all of his life, leading the flock to lush pastures and carrying home the lost lambs. And caring for people is not so very different. A king on a throne needs the same compassion, the same wisdom, the same vigilance as the shepherd out on the hills.

You come, Jesus, to be our Good Shepherd, for You embody infinite wisdom and sacrificial compassion for the flock. Not only are You the shepherd of our souls, but You are our glorious King of Kings who laid down His life for the sheep.

And I am Your found, worshipping lamb.

Lord, You are my King and my shepherd---and You find me, a lost lamb. What better expresses my love for You who laid down Your life than for me to bow low and worship you, my King of Kings?

Jesse Tree Devotional for December 11th

December 11

Looking on Hearts

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Samuel came to Jesse, looking for the one to anoint. As I come looking for the One who can restore and fulfill. It is the season of seeking.

Samuel was seduced by the beauty of Jesse’s sons, as I am enticed by the shimmer and sparkle of the season.

To both of us, You come and say, “The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

I align the tree, thumb through the cookbooks, set the CDs on random play, light the candles, read seasonal stories. And You come, but not for any of that. You do not look on things we gaze upon; You are not enraptured with the decor, the smells, the sounds.

You have come seeking too, Lord. You come seeking hearts.

Lord, as I meditate this Advent on the story of the Jesse Tree, the story of Your coming, may I too come—to You. And in this season of looking for that perfect something, may You find that which You seek: an open heart.