Day 19 Advent Candle: Light the first two candles and then the Shepherds' Candle. Bible Verses Zephaniah 3:14-17 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. "The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.(NASB) One of the reasons for our great joy this season is in remembering why Jesus came. Our old church used to sing a version of Zephaniah 3:17 which said, "The Lord your God is in your midst; a warrior who saves!" We can all relate to the redeemed Jerusalem because with Jesus, God has taken away His judgments against us! And it is a comfort to me that our God, Father and Son, experiences joy because that means it's OK for us to feel that way, too! Christians look at the humble, serious, sacrificial acts of Jesus and the weighty reasons why He came to us and sometimes feel that joy is out of place--we must be reverent and serious. While that is true, we overlook the fact that Jesus experienced joy as well! Take care to remember that Jesus says of His message of salvation, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11) Article/Devotion The Glory We Beheld Like today's verses, this article reminds us that we still have something to look forward to! Dinnertime (or anytime!) Discussion Yesterday we read about how we exult over God and today we read that our joy is reciprocated. God delights in us and rejoices over us! What a wonderful thought! I think when we all return to Him there is going to be a lot of joyful shouting! LOL Have everyone in your family take turns sharing something about themselves that they think makes God joyful. It can be difficult to get started...sometimes we don't want to think about the good in ourselves. But our salvation in Jesus makes us ABLE to please God and it helps to remember that the good in us is His Holy Spirit working inside us. When God sees even the smallest bit of HIS goodness reflected back to Him from us, He rejoices! And, as Jesus shares in Luke 15, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Word to Know Zion: Zion. "Zion" is likely derived from a Semitic root related to a fortified tower atop a mountain. Its earliest appearance in the Bible equates the stronghold of Zion with the City of David (2 Sam 5:7). Zion, then, was the fortified hill of Jebus conquered by David. Zion was originally a geographic term for the City of David, but with the extension of the city northward to incorporate the Temple Mount, Zion came also to signify the dwelling place of Yahweh (Psalm 9:11; [9:12]). The move of the ark of the covenant from the tent in the city to the temple proper may have prompted the shift of name. The name "Zion" is seldom used in historical passages, but it occurs frequently in poetic and prophetic compositions as a synonym for all Jerusalem. In time Zion took on figurative as well as geographical connotations. Jerusalem is called the "Daughter of Zion (Isa 1:8) and the "Virgin Daughter of Zion" (2 Kings 19:21). Jerusalem's inhabitants are called "sons of Zion" (Lam 4:2), the "women of Zion" (Isa 3:16), and the "elders of the Daughter of Zion" (Lam 2:10). In these expressions the city has been personified. The extension of a place name to refer to its inhabitants recognizes that the character of a city is determined more by the traits of its population than by its buildings. A visitor to modern Jerusalem will be shown the western hill rather than the City of David as Mount Zion. Through changing usage over the centuries the name has migrated to the west, but archaeology has shown that the original site was identical with the City of David. No matter where the name rests geographically, Zion's true significance is in the heavens where God's dwelling will be with his people (Rev 21:3-4). (Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) Book Suggestion The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. This is a Christmas classic! As Booklist says, "The six Herdman children are the terror of their town. When they take over the annual Christmas pageant, everyone rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas. 'Very funny and . . . touching.' " Advent Extras Art Gustave Doré is one of the most honored illustrators in history and he never took a single art lesson! Born in Strasborg, Doré was a child prodigy who began drawing and illustrating at age 5. By his death at age 51 in 1883, he had created over 10,000 illustrations and engravings! When Gustave was 15, his family went to visit Paris for the first time. One day while taking a stroll, the family passed by a publishing company with some engravings in the window. The next morning, Gustave faked illness and when his family went sightseeing without him, he hastily put together some sketches and marched down to the publishing company. He went to the office of Charles Philipon and laid his sketches on the desk declaring, "This is how that set of illustrations should be done." Philipon was astonished and asked Gustave to produce another illustration in front of him. And, of course, Philipon and the entire office were amazed! Philipon did not allow Gustave to leave his office; he tracked down Gustave's family and signed the 15-year old to a generous contract and invited the boy to live with him. And that is how Gustave Doré got his professional start! Over his astonishing career, Gustave Doré published books and political cartoons (which paved the way for the cartoonists of today!) as a young man and was later commissioned to illustrate such classics as Don Quixote, Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven, Danté's The Divine Comedy, Milton's Paradise Lost, and Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner. But perhaps his greatest undertaking came with his work for The Illustrated Bible. Although he worked in ink and woodcuts for most of his life, in the 1860's he tried his hand at painting and even sculpture. His religious and other paintings were on display in London for 25 years and then toured America. He was also commissioned by the British--who gave him the acclaim in his fine art venture that the French did not--to do some large religious paintings which became world-famous. His work has graced hundreds of books and even magazine covers. Vincent Van Gogh, a great admirer, said that Gustave Doré was an "artist of the people". His work, although perhaps not his name, is honored throughout the world and continues to be reprinted to this day. An Illustrated New Testament This is a beautiful showcase of Doré's Biblical illustrations along with the verses that inspired them. Bible Illustrations 96 of Doré's Bible engravings. Some are intense. Slide Shows The Bible illustrations in a slide show format along with verses. A nice way to view them! Collection of Gustave Doré Illustrations by Doré from his work on The Divine Comedy and others. Some of these are a bit dark in subject matter so please preview. (His work is known for exaggeration and quite frankly, some pictures are scary because of the literature he was illustrating.) Christmas Carol or Hymn Silver Bells Jay Livingston and Ray Evans were an award-winning songwriting team of the 40's and 50's. They scored with hits like "To Each His Own" and "Another Time Another Place". (They also wrote the silly theme song for the t.v. show "Mr. Ed"!) So it was no surprise that they were called upon to write the lyrics for an upcoming musical comedy starring Bob Hope, a remake of the film The Lemon Drop Kid. They set right to work and soon realized that the movie called for a different sort of Christmas song. Until then, most Christmas carols--and Christmas films--were set in either Bethlehem or a country/rural atmosphere of some sort. But for The Lemon Drop Kid, Livingston and Evans needed to come up with a song that would reflect Christmas in the bustling city! Something that would capture not only the sights of a downtown Christmas, but the sounds as well. As they sat in their office, one of the songwriters picked up and shook a small silver bell--inspiration hit! Before bringing the song to Bob Hope, however, they decided to try it out on Ray Evan's wife first. They did, and she immediately laughed! Puzzled, they asked her what was so funny and she referred them to the silly sounding chorus: "tinker bell, tinker bell, it's Christmastime in the city". "Tinker bell" was soon changed to "silver bells" and the song was complete. Bob Hope went on the make the song famous--and a later rendition by Bing Crosby helped to launch it even further! And Bob Hope continued to sing his "Silver Bells" to G.I.'s serving all over the world in his tours with the U.S.O. 'Round the World at Christmas Christmas Around the World--for your homeschool! A good article about how to make the study of Christmas in other countries the basis for a history/geography study. India Less than 1 percent of the population in India is Christian. In late October/early November, the Festival of Lights or "Diwali" is celebrated by Hindus and has the country in a festive mood with colorful dances and parades in the street, music, lights and firecrackers each night. When the Christian celebration of Christmas comes in December, many people of other religions continue to keep their special lamps lit during the season and take part in some of the more commercial, Westernized practices of Christmas. The reason behind Christmas is known to all and respected. Christian families begin to decorate in early December, but because no pine trees can be found, mango or palm trees are adorned with lights. The poinsettia plant which grows wild in India begins to bloom and turn red during the Christmas season! Families begin to do a thorough cleaning of their homes and churches as well as doing repairs so that everything is in tip-top shape by the time Jesus' birthday arrives! Some Christians will gather to raise the Christmas flag, which is white with a red cross in the center. On Christmas Eve, Christian families will attend a late service which lasts 2-3 hours long and has many speakers, songs and sometimes pageants or plays. Many times they will bring non-Christian friends and neighbors with them to church. They also line the roofs of their homes with the "dipa" lamp--a small clay lamp with a wick and oil which are from the Diwali festival. When non-Christians ask why they use the lamp in December, it serves as an opportunity to share about Christ! After the late church service, parties begin with games and refreshments. Gifts are given to children and servants. Servants in some areas will present the head of the household with a fresh lemon, which is seen as a sign of respect and a wish for prosperity and long life. The Christians in India live as a light to those around them at Christmas. They use the season to share the light of Christ around them and provide services to the community so that they have opportunities to share the Gospel. I enjoyed this short article about what it's like to celebrate Christmas in India, a predominantly Hindu country, as a Christian: Christmas in India: It Could Still Happen Here. And here is a lengthier article by a Christian Indian (be sure to click "continue" at the bottom of the pages to read all of it): For Those Who Love Both Christmas and India. Here is a poem for you to enjoy: Christmas in India by Rudyard Kipling DIM dawn behind the tamarisks—the sky is saffron-yellow— As the women in the village grind the corn, And the parrots seek the riverside, each calling to his fellow That the Day, the staring Easter Day is born. Oh the white dust on the highway! Oh the stenches in the byway! Oh the clammy fog that hovers And at Home they’re making merry ’neath the white and scarlet berry— What part have India’s exiles in their mirth? Full day behind the tamarisks—the sky is blue and staring— As the cattle crawl afield beneath the yoke, And they bear One o’er the field-path, who is past all hope or caring, To the ghat below the curling wreaths of smoke. Call on Rama, going slowly, as ye bear a brother lowly— Call on Rama—he may hear, perhaps, your voice! With our hymn-books and our psalters we appeal to other altars, And to-day we bid “good Christian men rejoice!” High noon behind the tamarisks—the sun is hot above us— As at Home the Christmas Day is breaking wan. They will drink our healths at dinner—those who tell us how they love us, And forget us till another year be gone! Oh the toil that knows no breaking! Oh the Heimweh, ceaseless, aching! Oh the black dividing Sea and alien Plain! Youth was cheap—wherefore we sold it. Gold was good—we hoped to hold it, And to-day we know the fulness of our gain. Grey dusk behind the tamarisks—the parrots fly together— As the sun is sinking slowly over Home; And his last ray seems to mock us shackled in a lifelong tether. That drags us back how’er so far we roam. Hard her service, poor her payment—she is ancient, tattered raiment— India, she the grim Stepmother of our kind. If a year of life be lent her, if her temple’s shrine we enter, The door is hut—we may not look behind. Black night behind the tamarisks—the owls begin their chorus — As the conches from the temple scream and bray. With the fruitless years behind us, and the hopeless years before us, Let us honor, O my brother, Christmas Day! Call a truce, then, to our labors—let us feast with friends and neighbors, And be merry as the custom of our caste; For if “faint and forced the laughter,” and if sadness follow after, We are richer by one mocking Christmas past. *Tamarisks are small flowering trees and shrubs that grown near saltwater. Coloring Pages, Cooking and Crafts All of these joyful, musical verses this week and today's Christmas carol make our theme today: BELLS! Christmas Bell 1 and Christmas Bell 2 Two pretty Christmas bell coloring pages. Sleigh Bell Cookies I have never tried these, but OH do they sound yummy!! *There are so many fun things you can do with jingle bells from the craft store! Use them to decorate packages, put them on your children's shoelaces (if you can stand it!), sew them on mittens or scarves, create bracelets with them, or use them on a wreath or hanging from pretty ribbon to put on your front door! You can even alternate bells with large beads for Christmas tree garland. Jingle Bell Wreath Here are directions for the wreath I mentioned! Bell Ornament You can paint the little pot and add glitter or glue patterned tissue paper (like decoupage) to this simple ornament. Easy Christmas Crafts from Mothers-home.com This is just a general collection of some simple Christmas crafts you can do with items around the house. Try Out Batik A popular and fairly easy craft from India is Batik! Draw a design on your cloth and then dye in different colors after covering the parts that you don't want to dye with wax. (*A half and half mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax is best.) You can experiment with colors and crinkling the waxed fabric before dipping into dye. Very pretty! Not sure about hot wax and your young children, but still want to try Batik? Here is an easier version using cold water dye and white glue! White Glue Batik Christmas Fun! Christmas Checkers Simple but classic fun. Let It Snow Globe Create a snow globe scene and watch it snow! Home Holiday Preparations Today's Tips: *Be sure you have watered your fresh Christmas tree! *Take the time (why are you laughing?) to clean and declutter any areas of your home where guests will be hanging out, not just to be Martha Stewart but so that any photos you take of friends and family won't include your clutter! (I've learned this the hard way...) *If you have time (still laughing?) practice some of the easier recipes--such as those for beverages--to be sure they turn out all right. Movie Time The Lemon Drop Kid (1951 with Bob Hope) Full of puns and fast-talking Bob Hope humor. Hope plays a con man who must come up with a scheme to pay back the mobster he accidentally scammed before Christmas arrives. 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.