O Christmas Tree - how you help me remember the Messiah!

December 8, 2024

advent devotional #2 - o christmas tree - how you help me remember the messiah!

Each ornament we hang on our tree comes with special memories. We have handmade ones - by both adults and kids in our family, special ones passed down from my grandmother and my mother that hung on my family tree when I was growing up, and beautiful ones purchased on every big trip we have taken abroad and across the USA. Each one stirs up memories and emotions in my heart. I love the remembering! Do you have ornaments like this? If so, I hope you tell the stories of the ornaments as you hang them and bring back the joys of the moments in time that they represent.

For me, the most special ornaments are the manger scene ornaments - each unique and precious, because Christmas is not about the tree, it's about the person - Jesus Christ, and about remembering that He came to earth as EMMANUEL and became God with us at that moment. He is God with us still, and I want to remember that every day, not just at Christmas.

Remembering is important, but I also want to look ahead. My husband and I have both been studying the book of Revelation this year. It has caused us to look ahead more intentionally as the Day draws near, so this year we are adding a new element to our Christmas tree decorating time. We are going to play the Messiah while we place ornaments on the tree. So many of the choruses and solos from Handel's Messiah are words straight from Biblical prophecy and from the book of Revelation. I sang the Messiah in choir during my college years and the melodies ring in my head as I have been reading the verses during this study.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Price of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15

"Hallelujah! For the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth! King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Revelation 19:6, 16b

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." Revelation 5:12

I hope you will play this Holy-Spirit-inspired music and sing along this Christmas - remembering when Jesus came to be with us as a baby in Bethlehem and looking ahead to His glorious return!

by Jeannie Blocher, Fort Wayne, IN
Body & Soul® Spiritual Impact Team

Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.

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