Today’s Jesse Tree ornament and story is the fabulous story of God’s power against evil influences, the story of Elijah found in 1 Kings 18: 17-39. It is the story of miracles, of a fire that burned even though the wood, stones and altar were doused with water. And all this because Elijah called on God to overcome the Baal worshippers’ gods.
The new testament Chrismon is crossed keys. The statement reads:
“When Jesus said to Peter ‘I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 16:19), He was referring to the Apostle’s privilege of opening the kingdom [Church] to both Jew and Gentile. The Jews received the Gospel when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The first Gentiles to accept Christ were those of the household of Cornelius (Acts 10). The keys, therefore, symbolize that all people, regardless of race, will be welcome in Christ’s Church.”
Tomorrow, we light the third candle, traditionally called the joy candle, in the Advent Wreath. It is pink in color. Only one more Sunday occurs before Christmas.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.