"O Christmas Tree!" {part two}

pecan snowdrops

   

   Family traditions.  Sometimes you come to a point where you begin to question "Is this of any value?"  And you feel a certain level of emptiness with it.  You long for deeper meaning, for more significance in what you are doing.

   That is our heartbeat this Christmas season.  Our main focus this year was the changes we made to our tree.  We thought of ways that we could make a ritual like tree decorating...devotional.  It was all planned after last year's Christmas when we bought the ornaments.  Each of the tree's ornaments carries with it a symbolism and meaning, intended to point our hearts and minds to Christ in worship and praise.

   My husband spoke from Isaiah chapter one.  How God desires genuine worship from the heart.  Not just meaningless ritual.  Not just going through the motions because that is what we've always done.  God says in his word  "I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly."  Our worship means nothing to him if it is not from the heart.  It also means nothing to him if we have no desire to obey his word and say no to sin.

   We then came to the climax..."Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:

Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

   The blood of Jesus is precious to those who have faith in Christ.  We taught our children some of the symbolism behind the ornaments and then we sang hymns like "Nothing but the blood" and "Opened for me" as we decorated the tree.  I treasured this time.  I think we sang a few "Christmas" hymns as well, I just can't remember which ones.  I am looking forward to using some of the other ornaments as visuals for teaching the kids some other things related to Christ and the time of his birth.  To teach them about hope, joy, and peace.  What do these words really mean and why do Christians have them?  I have a bit of studying to do and I look forward to being blessed through that.  We have done different things throughout the years to keep the focus on Christ at Christmas.  This is just one way that we thought would contribute to that.  I love hearing from other people and gleaning from the traditions that have been a blessing to their families.  I'm also looking into possibly using an Advent calendar.  Anyone know a good resource for that?  I'd love to learn more about it.

It's official.  My children do not like eggnog.  An acquired taste perhaps?

Oh well, my husband and I enjoyed a little cup.  I sprinkled some cinnamon on mine.  : )

Earlier that day...before we decorated...

   Amera has greatly enjoyed piano lately.  She wants to practice whenever she can.  It's a blessing to us all as the music fills the house.

   A lot of effort went into preparing for an evening family devotions and tree decorating.  The cleaning, the baking, the ironing for Sunday.  We all worked hard, especially since, once again, my children needed a mother's organizing touch in their bedrooms...on top of every thing else that needed to be accomplished.  Thankfully by the time daddy got home from the men's "Steak and Skeet" activity, we were ready for some fun family time and a delicious dinner.  Kudos to Amera, she did a great job on her first time making the Poppy Seed Chicken.

Yes, my husband got "pig-piled" on the kitchen floor.  Willingly of course.  : )

...more from our "tree time"...

Javi exclaimed "This is the best Christmas tree ever!"

   This Christmas season has already been very special to me.  There is so much to be thankful for.  I'm excited about holding our sweet baby girl very soon.  I'm also delighting in the meditation of God taking on human flesh, born as a baby, the very reason for our praise and rejoicing during this season and all seasons for that matter.  "The lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  (John 1:29)