Jesse Tree

December 9 Leah Glasses             Leah was the unloved wife of Jacob. She saw how he doted on Rebecca. Even though Leah had giving Jacob sons, he still loved her sister and not her. That had to hurt. When have you felt unloved, overlooked, discarded? How did that feel? Did you sulk or do some self-analysis […]

December 8 Jacob Ladder             Jacob was a man with issues. He was dishonest and frightened. While on the lam, he had a dream—a ladder appeared to him that reached to heaven. On the ladder were angels. Then Jacob heard the voice of God promise that he would always be under God’s protection. A rather dramatic

December 6 Hagar An abandoned woman and child             She was abused, beaten, maltreated because of who she was—a slave. Not only a slave but a woman of differing ethnicity, who was blessed with a pregnancy. Finally, she and her child were put out of the house driven into the wilderness with no means of food

December 6 Hagar An abandoned woman and child             She was abused, beaten, maltreated because of who she was—a slave. Not only a slave but a woman of differing ethnicity, who was blessed with a pregnancy. Finally, she and her child were put out of the house driven into the wilderness with no means of food

December 5 Sarah  A smile             Sarah laughed to cover her doubt. She was incredulous at the thought of having a child at her age. Doubt—the feeling that paralyzes us or causes us to laugh to cover it. Discernment is needed. Why doubt a trustworthy source? Why trust a dubious source? Can extraordinary events happen—a child late

December 4 Abraham  Field of Stars             On old man receives a promise—he will be the father of a great nation more numerous than the stars of the heavens. Life is full of promises—spring, pregnancies, first day of school, a wedding, planting seeds. What keeps us hoping even when life’s circumstances suggest the promise is empty? Faith!

December 3 Noah.  The ark             Humans are frail creatures prone to misdeeds, so bad that God desired to start over again. Ever long to wipe your life clean—start over without the mistakes, errors, pains, and sorrows of the past? How much water would be needed to do just that? God needed a global flood to cleanse

December 2 Cain and Abel. A stone altar             Out of jealousy, Cain killed his brother Abel. How often, motivated by jealousy, do we “kill” others. There are many ways to kill without taking life—slander, gossip, mistreatment. How we deal with bouts of jealousy is what is important. Take a moment to count your blessings. After

December 1 Adam and Eve. An Apple             It slithers up, oiling the lies so they become easy to swallow. Evil makes passions like jealousy, hate, anger, unchecked power, greed and dishonesty seem alright. We are weak. We forget at what cost our inability to resist comes. Yet, aware of our weakness, to redeem us, a

November 30 Creation. The Earth             “Let there be light!” These four words set into motion a power stronger than the chaos, the darkness, the raging winds. Out of the nothingness that had been before, came everything—and it was good! Since God created all from nothing, conquering darkness and chaos, imagine what God can do in