December 3rd

 

 

I love to wake up each morning and see our home decorated for the Christmas season, but my favorite time of the day is at night when the tree is lit.

Today we read about Zechariah in Luke 1:5-25.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that God was going to give him and Elizabeth a son who would prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.

(Now don't envision a classic Christmas scene where everyone is sitting quietly around Dad while he reads eloquently from the Bible.  So far all three nights have involved someone crying because they can't sit where they want to sit, haven't been given the nativity figurine they wanted, or haven't been chosen to read the Christmas story.  Just more opportunities to teach and model patience, love, and the ability to be happy for others when they have something or get something we want.

 

Here's what Carl was up to today.  He made a countdown chain to help the kids remember how many more days until Christmas.

 

"But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.  An he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

Luke 1:13-17 ESV