Day 14 Advent Candle: This is the last day of the Bethlehem Candle week! Light your first and second candle. Bible Verses Mark 1:1-11 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:  "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,  WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;  THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,  'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,  MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."(NASB) I have always wondered why God chose the moment of Jesus' baptism as the one in which He would say that last line, "in You I am well-pleased." I remember looking and looking for it in my Bible once and thinking that God had spoken the words after Jesus' birth! You'll notice that even though we are preparing for the birth of Christ, that we are also focusing on His presence in our lives as He comes into our hearts as Savior. John the Baptist is a key figure in Advent because he represents the heart change we need in order to receive Christ, in order to see Him and recognize Him! This recognition does not come for many until they reach adulthood and that is why I think that John's ministry after both he and Jesus are grown is still relevant to the sentiment of preparation at Advent. I know that God took many years to prepare and soften this stubborn girl's heart! LOL We read before how Jesus came into the world but the world did not know Him. God worked throughout history to clarify without a doubt that Jesus was the awaited One and people still missed Him! So, John the Baptist is like God's way of showing us that He never gives up on us. If we miss Him once, God will show us the way through events and people and a change of heart until we become His own! Jesse Tree Verse: 1 Samuel 16:1-3 Symbol: A horn of oil which Samuel used to anoint young David as king. Article/Devotion Here are two great articles from John Piper of DesiringGod.org which discuss how both non-Christians and Christians prepare their hearts and minds for Christ to come into their lives. Preparing to Receive Christ: Something More Than Flesh and Blood Preparing to Receive Christ: Willing to Do the Will of God Dinnertime (or anytime!) Discussion 1 Peter 1:13 says "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (Actually, read 1 Peter 1:3-21 for the whole picture!) Look forward to the grace. Live it out every day and be prepared for action! That is how Peter recommends that Christians who await Christ's return get through the trials of this life. Just as believers long ago lived on the hopes of a Savior, so we hope for His future coming! Do you think that we are getting ready for Jesus in the same way that the first believers did? How are we similar--and different--in what we feel and anticipate about the coming King? Word to Know Repentance: Easton's Bible Dictionary says that there are three Greek words in the Bible which mean different kinds of repentance. In the first, which is used in Matthew to describe Judas (metamelomai), repentance means "a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart." The second meaning is "to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised." Of the third meaning, "evangelical repentance", as Easton refers to it: "Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments." Whew! I find it so interesting that God shows us through the specific words He uses that repentance involves the heart and not just a state of mind! Book Suggestion The Journey to Bethlehem by Chris Molan. From CBD: "Travel with Mary and Joseph through the hills of Galilee and down the Roman road to Jericho. Hurry through the barren wilderness, pause before the splendor of Jerusalem, and seek for a room in crowded Bethlehem. Chris Molan's vibrant and sympathetic portrait of everyday life in Roman Palestine provides fresh insights into the wonder of the story of Jesus' birth." Art The paintings below are by Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish artist of the Baroque era in the late 1500's and early 1600's. They are called "Holy Family With Saint Elizabeth" (or "Madonna of the Basket". I love the gentle way Jesus touches the face of His cousin, John! So sweet...as if they know what they will mean to one another later.) and "Adoration of the Shepherds". An interesting note: In most images of the latter painting, the woman in the center has a VERY low-cut gown on. But here, the dress is different! I don't know if there are two paintings, if a restoration changed the dress, or what happened! Rubens lived an unsettled life as a child after his family was forced to leave Belgium because of religious persecution and, in Germany, his father's indiscretions led to the family's house arrest. It wasn't until after Rubens' father had died that the family was free to return home to Antwerp, Belgium. But Peter's mother was poor as a widow and sent him to work as a page in the court of a countess. Soon, though, he was allowed to leave and begin his study as a painter. Peter Paul Rubens was a master painter by the age of 21, but it took several years for him to develop himself and his reputation. He painted mostly portraits at first. In 1600, he took a trip to Italy that would change his style; he studied the works of da Vinci, Caravaggio (who most influenced Rubens' work), Titian and Raphael. He was lucky enough to land a position with a nobleman who owned one of the richest collections of Italian art outside of the Vatican. By the time he married in 1609, Rubens was well on his way to a flourishing and influential career. His subjects included religion, mythology and the popular hunting scenes which his benefactors requested. He is one of the most versatile painters of his time. Rubens was not only an artist but a diplomat as well. His connections with prestigious families in Europe gave him influence and enabled him to pursue different subjects and styles as he grew older. In his old age, he moved away from the dramatic movement, shadow and light of Baroque painting and favored landscapes or light and fanciful scenes which led the way to the Rococo period. Read even more about Peter Paul Rubens here: Biography of Peter Paul Rubens (You know the drill--parents, preview the art!)     Christmas Carol or Hymn Once in Royal David's City Cecil Francis Humphrey Alexander was the wife of an Irish bishop in the 1800's. She wrote a hymnal for children in 1848 called Hymns For Little Children which included this Christmas song. She was the author of about 400 hymns, including "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Mrs. Alexander also wrote poetry from a very early age. She published a poem called "Burial of Moses" in the Dublin University Magazine and it is said that Lord Tennyson called it one of the few poems by a living poet that he wished he had written! Holiday Tradition & History Yule Log Once again, we find a Christmas tradition with a history deep in ancient pagan rituals which has transformed over thousands of years! Though few people burn an actual yule log today, it was a practice which began as early as 5000 B.C. in the time of Moses and continued until the early 1900's. It's amazing how many cultures throughout history embraced the symbolism of burning a tree or log as a way to either appease a god(s) and/or drive away evil spirits. The ancient Egyptians and Sumerians were the first groups of people to burn a large log in celebration of winter solstice when the dark days of that season would finally begin to grow longer. Norse vikings who also celebrated the winter solstice with many rituals were the ones who gave the yule log its name. The word "yule" comes from the Norse word "jul" which means "wheel". The Nordic people believed that the seasons were part of a large wheel, turning through time. Romans adopted many different gods, even after the death of Christ, and part of their Saturnalia festival at winter solstice involved a similar yule log tradition. When the Vikings invaded Britain in the Dark Ages, they brought the yule log tradition with them and it remained long after as Celtic Druids and Gaelic Europeans found ways to incorporate the log burning into their own religions. They dragged a log big enough to burn for several days into their homes and anointed it with salt, holly, wine and spices. The ashes leftover from the yule log were considered powerful enough to ward off evil and protect homes from lightning! As the Celts and Vikings were using the yule log in their practices, Christians in Europe were celebrating the Feast of Lights, which later became known as Christmas. Unrelated to the pagan yule log ritual, these Christians burned a log during their celebrations to show the end to darkness when Jesus, the eternal light of the world, came to earth! Later, the practice of burning a yule log at Christmas also symbolized good versus evil, the death of sin and Christ's triumph over it. The Christian custom of the yule log continued for six centuries and by the time England was invaded by the Normans in 1066, most families observed the tradition. During the yule log's most popular time, British families were supposed to find, cut and haul their own tree. The tree for a yule log was suppposed to be on their property or near their home and large enough to burn for the twelve days of Christmas. Then, after dragging it home, usually with a team of oxen, the tree was set outside to dry for an entire year. It was rubbed with spices, rum and wine so that it would be especially fragrant when it was burned the following year. The scents reminded Christian families of the magi's sweet-smelling gifts to baby Jesus. When the following Christmas arrived, the yule log lighting was a very special event! The family hauled in the huge log on Christmas Eve and marched it around the kitchen three times. Then, it was placed in the fireplace and holly leaves and more spices were added. The family waited for their town's church bells to ring and announce the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas celebration. After the bells rang, the mother or other woman of the house brought out a piece of the last year's log, set it by the fireplace and washed her hands very carefully. Everyone said a prayer. Then, her husband would splash holy water on the log and throw three glasses of wine upon it; the three glasses stood for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Another prayer for a prosperous new year and thanksgiving was given. Only after these rituals could the mother finally light the piece of timber and then light the yule log. Everyone held their breath, believing that if the yule log did not light on the first try, misfortune would befall that family in the coming year! Once it was successfully lit, however, everyone threw in a final sprig of holly to show that they were throwing their past troubles aside and asking God for forgiveness. Over the final few centuries, the practice of lighting a yule log changed in many areas of the world. It came to America and became popular in the South for a time. Although this tradition is no longer widely practiced by Christians, it can be remembered as one of the most significant religious family rituals of Christmas. 'Round the World at Christmas In the Philippines, there is no mistaking when Christmas is coming! Beginning in late October, entire towns begin to decorate with lights and flashy signs, play Christmas music and are well into the work of making the famous Christmas "parols" which are paper lanterns in the shape of a star. Families pass down the tradition of parol-making from generation to generation and nearly all homes hang them outside or carry them in the streets at Christmas. Parols are made from bamboo frames. Usually the men in the family cut and shape the star frame while the women and children cut and paste colored paper onto it. Then, paper shapes, pom-poms and other decorations are added and tassels are hung from the points of the star. The Philippines is the only Asian nation in which Christianity is the religion chosen by most people. Nine days before Christmas, the real celebration starts with a special Misa de Gallo mass where the story of Jesus' birth is told. The next day, parols are seen all over the town and firecrackers explode every night! Serenading "cumbancheros", or strolling minstrels, play on instruments made of coconut shells, split bamboo and even tin cans. They sing happy songs while playing on their homemade banjos and tambourines, finishing with "Maligayang Pasko" (Merry Christmas) sung to the tune of "Happy Birthday" (to Jesus, of course!). Each year, in every church congregation, a couple is chosen to play Mary and Joseph in the annual Panunuluyan pageant (say that 3 times fast, haha!). They dress in costume and reenact the trip to Bethlehem that Mary and Joseph made, stopping at doors along the way. Of course, even though they are turned away as Mary and Joseph were, families join the couple as they make their way to the church. Everyone carries their parols to light the way! After the Christmas Eve mass, everyone goes home for the feast known as Noche Buena, a meal of thanksgiving and prayer...and ham or roasted pig, meats and salads, cheeses and beans! On Christmas day, mass is held every hour of the day so that everyone will be able to attend. Many services include a "pastore", or play, based on the Christmas story. Finally, when the play is over, a star will come down on a wire to rest above the manger! Christmas Parols Coloring Pages, Cooking and Crafts Simple Christmas Parol Here is a very easy version of the parol (star lantern) you can make. Making Star Lanterns Want to try the real thing? Here is a nice article and detailed instructions for making a parol with the traditional wooden frame (and, if you're daring, actual lights inside!). Christmas Ornament Picture Frame Use the template to make this cute and easy ornament! Good for kids to give to grandparents. Christmas Carolers Coloring Page Christmas Fun at Lil' Fingers Christmas fun for toddlers and preschoolers. Christmas Fun! Online Story--Red Boots for Christmas Click through this nice Christmas story from Lutheran Hour Ministries. Christmas "Mad Lib" You can really only play this once so make your answers GOOD! Movie Time A Garfield Christmas 1991 Home | Contact teachingmom 3.0    ©2003-2007 teachingmom.com All rights reserved. *Copies for personal home use permitted, however no part of the TeachingMOM Advent Calendar may be reproduced on the web or sold in any format. Permissions were personally granted, as necessary, for the use of images, articles, and book excerpts found within this portion of our website. Thank you.