How to Journey the Path of Remembrance

There are many ways to Remember...

Isaiah 11:1 "A Shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, a branch out of his roots." 

The Jesse Tree is a vehicle to connect the Old and the New Testament, 4000 years of history.  The prophecy of Christ to the fulfillment of Christ, the story of the Faithfulness of a Loving, Holy God.  The branch is a biblical symbol of newness out of discouragement, it holds great Messianic promise.  Throughout the history of the Israelites there is always a longing for the Messiah, a king that would rescue them from oppression.  They yearned for freedom and deliverance from the tyranny of the world.  From their extreme rebellion, to the years of walking in the commandments of God, the promise stood true.  For God is in the business of Covenant Keeping. 

So how do we go about Remembering? 

Daily readings from Scripture take us down the path of recalling the faithfulness of God. 

Symbols, that turn into ornaments, for small or large tress, or maybe even a branch collected in your own back yard.  Use your imagination, ask your children their input.  It doesn't have to be hard, simple is sometimes the very best.  The visual connection between the symbol and the story is very powerful. 

Now, pick a time of the day that you and your family can commit to doing this from the Sunday after thanksgiving until Christmas.  It may be the morning at breakfast or before bedtime at night.  Make the commitment, it is worth the memories!  It is worth the remembrance!  It is worth the anticipation!

There are some amazing places to visit to find more detailed information from people more knowledgeable than this homeschooling mom. 
 Jesse Tree Readings
a complete overview, as well as the daily readings, theme, and symbol to be used in a chart form
Parent Devotionals
a great daily devotional for you, as the parent, to understand and be equipped to share with your precious children the blessing of this story
Devotions from Faith Magazine for the Jesse Tree
Another set of dynamic devotions for the family
Ornaments you can print
Faith magazine has a set of ornaments that you can print for your own creative use, for free!  Although you can buy ornaments, we are choosing to make our own.  Remembrance is more powerful when our own hands are used to create!!
A Holy Experience
Ann has written an ebook for Jesse Tree Devotionals for the Family, it will be available for download this Sunday.  She is an amazing writer, the book will be fabulous.  You can also find Jesse-Tree Devotional books on-line and at your local Bible bookstores.  Do what works for your family, what is easy for you, what will insure your commitment!

I plan to blog each morning with my own written devotions that you are free to use!
Won't you join me?  Come, let's take a journey together!

A visual reminder to us and our children of the faithfulness of God.

A way to illuminate your Holiday Season by Rememberence.

A timely tradition that will keep us longing for the Bridegroom.

The Jesse Tree

In years past our family has read an "advent type" devotional beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Being partial to all things Jewish, we stumbled across a set of books by Arnold Ytreeide.  Mr Ytreeide yarns a wonderful story of 3 Jewish children (3 separate books) that are living in Israel longing for the coming Messiah.  The books climax with the birth of Jesus.  Although they are a work of fiction, the historical and cultural details, as well Scriptural accuracy has brought our family to a new understanding of our Savior and the olive branch we have been grafted into. 

This time every year the children begin talking about pulling the books out of the school closet, dusting them off, and preparing to read them again.  Memories made that cannot be stolen or broken.  Although each of them can tell you every detail of each story, it is a tradition now, a part of our season that keeps us ground in who we are, what we are longing for and the gift of redemption we have been given. 

This year, I have decided to add a little something.  So with much anticipation I pray that this "new-to-me" idea will become as beloved as the stories of Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha. 

Enter the Jesse Tree.  It is the act of remembering, of going back through the Grand Story God has knitted together since the beginning of time itself.  It is hearing again the story of HIS faithfulness to His people, to our family, to each of us as individuals.  In the busyness of this life, especially the holiday season, we are so often distracted and, hard as it is to admit, forgetful of this wonderful, amazing story.  Of this LOVE story our Father God has written to us, this fabulous mercy he has, this unrelenting passion for His Children.  We must never forget, we must tell it to our children, we must pass on this legacy because if we do not, then who will?  This grace so unfathomable, it must be told, over and over.  We must never be SO busy that we cannot stop and do what Moses commanded the Israelites, to talk about it when we sit, when we rise, when we lie down, when we walk and when we eat. 

Can you do that with me this season?  Can you NOT forget?  Can you remember with your children?  Can you stop and give thanks?  Can you look forward with anticipation to the return of our Bridegroom?  This is no little thing, this is life changing and life giving.  This is family altering and perspective shifting.  This is the gift to be had this season. 

Come, lets take our children's hands and follow to see where the Lord is going to lead.  I cannot promise that it will only take a little time, for questions and discussion may arise that need answering.  I can promise that you and your children, the dynamics of your family will NEVER be the same.  All for a small commitment of time.  It is worth the investment. 

Tomorrow, I will share more in detail how we will remember, the devotions we will use, just what it is all about and again I will invite you.  This journey is not to be missed!