Day 9 – Try Try Again

Hey Dad,

You know, I mean well…honest. I have this vision in my head of making Christ the center of our Christmas celebration. I picture me sitting in our family room surround by my children in rapt attention, drinking in every word as I read a portion from Scripture and then bring out the nuances to their little attentive brains.

They bow their heads and prayfully dedicate themselves to godly living, sharing the Gospel, and honoring their parents.

Yeah, right. I know…I’m living in a dream world. But you know what? I keep trying.

In fact, I have this thing about the Christmas countdown. Maybe it started when I was a kid. I made countdown chains from green and red construction paper. For at least two days I’d carefully rip a link from the chain. Then I moved onto other things and later threw away a paper chain with at least 22 links.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried other things…like the Christmas tree banner that my sister made with countdown ornaments and the 25 votive candle set that we just got at Goodwill on our travels (very cool).

Two years ago I got a wooden Christmas tree box with 25 little doors. We made it through about six doors before we gave up. But one thing about me…I keep trying.

So this year I’m back at it. I decided I’d stick a verse in each of those little doors, and we’d read them at our morning devotions. So far so good. Don’t think to highly of me…it’s not very spiritual sounding. We just read and pray.

You may have tried something in the past to make Christmas the center of your celebration…and maybe you failed. It doesn’t really matter…but go ahead, and try again.

You ‘da dad,

Todd

In case you’re interested, here are the verses that we‘re using.

1 – The Word became flesh Jn. 1:1-14
2 – The birth of Jesus is foretold to Mary Lk. 1:26-38
3 – The birth of John the Baptist is foretold to Zechariah Lk. 1:5-23
4 – Mary visits Elizabeth, the mother of John Lk. 1:39-56
5 – John the Baptist is born Lk. 1:57-80
6 – An angel appears to Joseph Mt. 1:18-25
7 – Isaiah the prophet – Is. 9:6,7
8 – Bethlehem foretold – Micah 5:1,2
9 – Jesus is born in Bethlehem Lk 2:1-7
10 – Shepherds visit Jesus Lk 2:8-21
11 – Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple 2:22-39
12 – Visitors arrive from eastern lands Mt. 2:1-12
13 – The escape to Egypt Mt. 2:13-18
14 – The return to Nazareth Mt. 2:19-23
15 – Jesus speaks with the religious teachers Lk. 2:41-52
16 – John the Baptist exalts Jesus Mt. 3:1-16
17 – Jesus claims to be God Jn. 10:14-25
18 – Jesus eases John the Baptist’s doubts Mt. 11:1-4
19 – The transfiguration Mk. 9:2-13
20 – Jesus is the Good Shepherd Jn. 10:1-13
21 – Jesus blesses the children Lk. 18:15-17
22 – Jesus predicts His death, part 1 Mt. 16:21-17
23 – Jesus predicts His death, part 2 Mk. 9:30-37
24 – Crucified – Mk. 15:16-38,36-47
25 – Resurrection, ascension, and invitation of Jesus Jn. 20:1-31