the greatest gift {the advent of the Messiah} day 1

For the next 24 days my family and I will read, "The Greatest Gift," by Ann Voskamp.  After going through the book, I wasn't sure if my children would be able to understand Ann's poetic writing, so I somewhat broke it down in plain English, just a bit, that way I wouldn't have to keep going back asking them if they understood and rereading certain parts.

What I wrote for them, I've decided to post here for those of you who are interested in going through the daily readings, but for whatever reason can't afford to get the book.  I'm also sharing because I want to open the door for other's who are participating in the daily readings to have a place where we can collectively get together and share our stories and pictures.  For that reason I've added a link up.  Also if you are interested there is a private Facebook group which has started for those who are reading the book.  You can go here to their page and request to participate.

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot." Isaiah 11:1

Why is this passage of Scripture important?

Well first, let's find out what a shoot is.

What is a shoot?

"Shoots are new plant growth, they include stems, flowering stems with flower buds and leaves.  The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will eventually develop."

Okay, this is a little backwards, but it's how I work.  Now let's see what a stump is.

What is a stump?

After a tree has been cut and felled, the stump or the tree stump is what remains.  The remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground.  Stumps may show their age defining rings of a tree as well.  Stumps are sometimes able to regenerate into new trees.

Jesse's family

Now we're ready to take a look inside Jesse's family.  Jesse was the father of David {Ruth 4:22; 1 Sam. 16:11-13}

These verses explain that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come from this blood line.  But wait.  You want to know why the blood line is important.

Ann points out in the book that back then it wasn't your accomplishments that made you important, it was your family line.

When we look at the line that our Holy God, allowed His Holy Son-- the Messiah to come through, we understand that our loving God is no respect of person.

Christ came through a messed up family.  David's son's were battling.  David, though he was a man after God's own heart and he was a man whom God loved dearly had committed adultery and he murdered the husband of the woman with whom he had the affair with.

Also it is worth nothing that during this time, women had no voice.  Yet God chose to name four women in this advent story of Jesus.  Four messed-up, broken women.  In this story of the advent, "the coming of the Messiah." In the coming of Jesus Christ our greatest gift, Ann Voskamp shows us by God allowing Jesus to come through this lineage He is saying to all of us who mess up and screw up and make mistakes that regardless of how messed up you and I are, no matter what we've done. . .

He is saying, "I am your God."  "I am one of you." "I'll take you."  "Will you be mine?" "Will you take me?"  "Will you accept me?"  "Let me be a gift to you."  "Take me."

Recently my children have met some people who have told them that, "Jesus wasn't born in December."  Their point to my son and daughter is to show them that the "white" man tries to enslave blacks by getting them to worship their "white."

I told my children that the month that Jesus was born in is not what's important.  What's important is that He was born, and that He is a gift from God to anyone who wants it.  He is a gift that we don't deserve, but He is ours for the asking.

So here we are, ready to behold and take part in sharing the advent of the Messiah with others.

Are you joining us?  Will you join us in the count down to the greatest gift ever given?

Here's how you can join us:


Today's Reading {December 1}

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot--yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.  And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord...

In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world.  The nations will rally to Him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place."  ~ Is. 11: 1-2,10

This post is linked to the Time-Warped Wife

xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook