It’s here. We’ve been planning, preparing, praying, and talking about it for weeks. Now it’s week One and Jesus says, “Come.”
Come hear my story. Come remember with me. Come worship.
I am overjoyed that we are in this together. I love the thought of hundreds of families all over the country each day telling the stories of Jesus.
This month, each week, I will be sharing with you a glance of the week ahead. This is what it looks like for one family to do the Jesse Tree.
Remember that we have been doing this for 6 years now, so what you see was not accomplished in one season of the Jesse Tree. It is my prayer these glimpses into our journey will be an encouragement to you, not an expectation.
So, let’s start at the very beginning…
DECEMBER 1ST–ROOT OF JESSE
“Jesse’s family is like a tree that has been cut down. A new little tree will grow from its stump. From its roots a Branch will grow and produce fruit. At that time the man who is called the Root from Jesse’s family line will be like a banner that brings nations together.” Isaiah 11:1,10
Just as we all have a family tree, Jesus had a family tree. His family has a story. Just like any story, there are times of joy, sadness, hurt, and hope. But there is always love. The Jesse Tree will help us trace through the the greatest LOVE story. It is a story about God and us.
Just as a tree is a picture of growth and life, Jesus is the HOPE in this story.
No matter what His family went through –Jesus is like a green, vibrant, healthy branch that reminds us that God had a plan all along to rescue us from death and give us new life.
We made this ornament from a branch in our front yard. We made it to remember that Jesus is the hope of Christmas. Our hope for new life.
This ornament means even more to us this year because we have moved since then, and it was taken from one of our favorite trees in our front yard.
DECEMBER 2ND–CREATION
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
God created all things. He made me and He does not make mistakes. God created us with a desire for Him. From the beginning God loves us and wants to spend time with us.
My kids love to draw pictures of the things God created as we read the story. Draw six boxes and let them fill it in with what God created each day.
Go for a walk around the neighborhood and look for a reminder of God’s love in His creation. Can you find a heart?
December 3rd–The First Sin
“So the Lord God drove the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he had been made out of.” Genesis 3:23
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They sinned. It is impossible for a holy, perfect God to be close to sin. Adam and Eve had to leave the garden of Eden.
Just as God created us with a desire to know Him, we are now all born with a desire to sin. To disobey. To do things our own way. It’s impossible for us to be close to God because of our sin.
What is sin? It’s missing the mark of perfection.
Have you ever tried to get a bulls-eye every single time? Make a target and “shoot” at it with Nerf guns or sock balls.
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. It’s impossible for us to get close to God without help. Or someone.
Here my kids are acting out the story of Adam and Eve. (Have you noticed that my kids do not like to wear clothes during the Jesse Tree?! Ha! They like to be comfortable at home so that usually means lots of undies.)
God did not want it to be this way. He had a plan.
December 4th–Noah and the Flood
“Noah did everything the Lord God commanded him to do.” Genesis 7:5
The evil in the world grew. People forgot about God. God wanted to make the world clean again. He sent a big storm to wash away all the sin in the world.
But there was one man who loved and obeyed God. Noah.
God had Noah build a boat, and he and all his family, and two of every living thing climbed aboard the boat.
Noah and his family were saved from the flood and God’s plan to protect the family line of Jesus was protected.
God even sent a rainbow into the sky to remind us that He would never flood the earth again like in the days of Noah.
My daughter painted this rainbow last Christmas. It now serves as a reminder in our home that God always keeps His promises. My kid’s favorite activity to this day though is to make a rainbow out of Skittles!
December 5th–Abraham and God’s Promise
“Sarah became pregnant. She had a son by Abraham when he was old. He was born at the exact time God had promised him.” Genesis 21:2
Even though the flood washed the earth, it could not wash the people’s hearts. The people of the Earth continued to hurt each other and do things their own way. Not God’s way.
But nothing is impossible with God, and He was going to save the whole world through a family.
God promised Abraham a family as large as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.
Abraham believed God. Faith is what pleases the Lord. Not acts, not doing, but faith.
God gave Abraham a son, named Isaac, in his old age and it was the start to the blessing God was going to give the world through his Son.
Here is “stars” in the sky. Thanks to one of the toys my kids have, we were able to make a tent and look up at the stars. Or better yet–go outside and look at the real stars!
December 6th–The Offering of Isaac
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” Genesis 22:8
God asked Abraham to worship Him even though it was going to be really hard. God asked Abraham to give back his only son.
Abraham loved his boy. Didn’t God just tell him that his family was going to be a large as the stars in the sky? How could that be true if he gave his only son away?
Again, Abraham trusted God.
God provided a ram for a gift instead of his son Isaac.
This can be a heavy subject to tackle with little ones. We have chosen to tell this story to our children even from when they were very young because it is the perfect illustration for what Jesus did for us.
We have taken the opportunity to share the gospel with our kids through this story.
God provided a ram and provides for us in many ways. Make a paper chain for your tree. Write down ways God has provided for your family on the chain.
December 7th–Jacob’s Ladder
“I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. And I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
God continues to unfold His rescue plan through Isaac.
When Isaac has a dream of a ladder going up to heaven, God reminds him that He is blessing all the world through His family.
I absolutely love that this story follows up the Offering of Isaac because it gives you a wonderful illustration to show your kids how Jesus is like “our ladder” to God.
Love my “Pinterest” worthy craft?! The kids built a ladder out of popsicle sticks. My son did this one when he was 2. You can see the glue to prove it.
Jesus is like our ladder to God. He makes us right with God, forgiven and holy, so we can be with God forever in heaven.
That’s week One at a glance! I can’t say this enough but we are praying for you. Praying for your family to know and fall more in love with Jesus through this month!
There is not as much activity on the blog this month as we ALL are busy enjoying the Jesse Tree with our families. Please join us on Facebook for daily encouragement and tidbits along the way.
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