Our Peace

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come forth for me  one who is to be ruler in Israel,whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth;then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace."

Micah 5:2-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

"Here in a dark cave as a flickering torch casts high shadows of long-horned oxen on the rough-hewn logs, there is no sound but the munching of hay by the cattle.  In the midst lies the young mother, forgetting for the moment her discomfort, for in her arms lies the Babe, her baby boy.

Who would dream that He is the Kings of kings and Lord of lords?  Those chubby little hands that clasped the straw in His manger crib were soon to open blinded eyes, unstop deaf ears, and still the troubled seas. That cooing voice was soon to be lifted to command demons to depart and teach men of the Way, and to raise the dead. Those tiny feet were to take Him to the sick and needy and were finally to be pierced on Calvary's Cross.

That manger crib in remote Bethlehem became the link that bound a lost world to a loving God. From that manger came a Man who not only taught us a new way of life, but brought us into a new relationship with our Creator. "

Billy Graham, Christmas the Father's Gift p.24

Advent Readings

There are several advent books I have bought over the years that I read during this season. In addition to reading through the Christmas story in the Gospels, I especially like to read verses from the Old Testament that point to Christ's coming as well as verses about who Jesus is. Here is one advent reading plan I have been following for years:

*The Birth of Jesus Advent Verses

December 1 - Luke 1:30-33

December 2 - Luke 1:41-42

December 3 - Matthew 1:20-23

December 4 - Luke 2:1,3

December 5 - Luke 2:4-5

December 6 - Luke 2:6-7

December 7 - John 1:14

December 8 - Luke 2:8-9

December 9 - Luke 2:10-12

December 10 - Luke 2:13-14

December 11 - Luke 2:15-16

December 12 - Luke 2:17-19

December 13 - Luke 2:20

December 14 - Luke 2:21

December 15 - Matthew 2:1-2

December 16 - Matthew 2:3-4

December 17 - Matthew 2:5-6

December 18 - Matthew 2:7-8

December 19 - Matthew 2:9

December 20 - Matthew 2:10-11

December 21 - Luke 2:28-32

December 22 - Luke 2:38

December 23 - Luke 2:40

December 24 - Mark 1:9-11

The Coming King Advent Verses

December 1 - Genesis 3:14-15

December 2 - Genesis 22:18

December 3 - 2 Samuel 7:13

December 4 - Isaiah 7:14

December 5 - Isaiah 9:6

December 6 - Isaiah 9:7

December 7 - Isaiah 35:3-4

December 8 - Isaiah 40:3-5

December 9 - Isaiah 40:10-11

December 10 - Isaiah 42:1-3

December 11 - Isaiah 52:13-15

December 12 - Isaiah 53:1-2

December 13 - Isaiah 53:3-4

December 14 - Isaiah 53:5

December 15 - Isaiah 53:6

December 16 - Isaiah 53:7-8

December 17 - Isaiah 53:9

December 18 - Isaiah 53:10

December 19 - Isaiah 53:11

December 20 - Isaiah 53:12

December 21 - Jeremiah 23:5-6

December 22 - Micah 5:2

December 23 - Zechariah 9:9

December 24 - Luke 1:31-33

"Jesus Is..." Advent Verses

December 1 - Revelation 22:13

December 2 - John 6:35

December 3 - John 8:12

December 4 - John 10:7,9

December 5 - John 10:14,15

December 6 - John 14:6

December 7 - John 11:25

December 8 - John 1:1-2

December 9 - John 1:3

December 10 - John 2:4-5

December 11 - John 1:35-36

December 12 - Luke 3:21-22

December 13 - Romans 5:1-2

December 14 - Ephesians 2:14a

December 15 - Ephesians 2:19-20

December 16 - Hebrews 9:15

December 17 -Hebrews 1:3

December 18 - Hebrews 4:15-16

December 19 - Isaiah 9:7

December 20 - Isaiah 11:1-2

December 21 - Isaiah 11:10

December 22 - Hebrews 7:25

December 23 - Philippians 2:5-8

December 24 - Philippians 2:9-11

*from Celebrating Advent, by Norma Weekman and Susan Walker, Holidays Fit for the King, 2008

My kids and I are also doing a "name of Jesus" each day. More on that tomorrow!  My favorite traditions I do with the kids are Christmas books and a new nativity set each year. This year I went crazy and bought 3 new ones. I have 40+ Christmas books my Mom collected over the years and she so graciously passed them down to me this year. I treasure them!!  

What are your traditions?  

With JOY and ANTICIPATION,

Leeanne