Getting Ready for the Season

Hello from the Farm! I haven’t written a blog post in MONTHS! What a whirlwind it has been at our house. On September 1st, the demolition on our big remodel project began and we are FINALLY almost finished. We may not have any Christmas decorations up yet and I haven’t even thought about some of my favorite things like writing, sewing and gardening since the project began, but, the good news is, we are in the home stretch! I am sure I will blog about it with a few before and after pictures soon!

In the meantime, I am working on slowing down and enjoying this Christmas season. It turns out that not having the chance to decorate yet for Christmas has been a good thing. I have been able to focus on what is most important to me during this time of year, celebrating Christ’s birth.

Recently, women in our church wrote daily devotions for the Advent season based on the biblical names of Jesus. I wrote a devotion based on Matthew 21:9 and Jesus, the Son of David. I have shared it beneath these fun pictures from Christmas 2020. If you would like to read all of the devotions, click on the link at the end of this post. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Son of David ~ Matthew 21:9

“It’s all in a name.”  For many people, lineage matters.  The simple mention of who someone’s parents or grandparents are, is enough to garner approval or disfavor.   To this day, when I visit my dad’s hometown of Gap, Pennsylvania, if people know I am Dr. Beacher’s granddaughter, or George Beacher’s daughter, there is an instant connection.  

     When we don’t know someone’s family background or there isn’t name recognition, it can often take time to build relationships and trust.  In a culture where importance is placed on a name and too often on perceived status, approval is initially granted based on lineage.  To some, family connections can be significant.

     The importance on lineage is nothing new.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and the exuberant crowd cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They recognized his kinship with King David.  They knew of his family history.  Through their salutations to the Son of David, they beseeched Jesus in Hebrew to “Save us,”  and they acknowledged his royal lineage.  Their praise-filled cries declared that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.  The Messiah from the seed of David had arrived.  (2 Samual 7:12-16).

     In Matthew 1:1 we read God’s account of the origin of Jesus Christ, “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.”  From his humble birth in Bethlehem, to his triumphant entry on a donkey, the people recognized his royal lineage.  

     Jesus, through his birth, crucifixion and resurrection, has made it possible for us to be joint heirs with him.  We are washed in the blood, made new, and we share Jesus’ name.  As Christians, we are grafted into this beautiful family tree.  The hymn “Family of God” is a beautiful reminder of this:

“I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,

I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood.

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, 

For I’m part of the family, 

The Family of God.”

     As we pause to celebrate the birth of Christ, we can rejoice in God’s divine plan.  Those who saw Christ in person, recognized the significance of his lineage as they cried out, Hosanna, to the Son of David!”  Now, through faith in Christ, we are part of that family. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, with thankful hearts, we praise you for sending your Son, a descendent of King David, to save us from our sins.  Lord, during this season of Advent, may we slow down and focus our hearts and minds on the precious gift of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Amen