Lamb of God - Day 11 - Holiday Haiku Challenge

Welcome to Day 11 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge Today's guest, author Angie Mosteller, has thrown down the poetic gauntlet. Join the fun by penning a simple haiku inspired by Jesus, the Christ-child, the Holy...

Lamb of God

Lamb of God

by Angie Mosteller

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I cannot help but ponder the fact that he was born to die – that God’s intention from the beginning of the world was to give his life for the sins he knew we would commit. Only a perfect human life could atone for human sin. Thus, the God of the universe entered into His own creation in order to give his life as a sacrifice for us.

Jesus is often called the “lamb” because in Jewish tradition, it was most often a lamb that was sacrificed for the sins of the people. Yet, Jesus “the lamb” is also our shepherd. Jesus said of himself, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep” (John 10:11). Not only did the shepherd lay down his life for his sheep, he actually became one himself. What a great mystery! The shepherd became a lamb in order to save his flock. Interestingly, the title most often applied to Jesus in the book of Revelation, and the title that he carries into eternity, is “the Lamb.” The Bible records that at the end of time, “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).

Angie is a follower of Christ (of the evangelical sort), the wife of a smokin’ hot philosophy professor, a homeschooling mom, and author of the book Christmas, Celebrating the Christian History of Classic Symbols, Songs and Stories. In her free time, she likes to work on her website Celebrating Holidays where she gathers resources to help families build fun and meaningful traditions. One of her favorite Christmas traditions is to sing a classic hymn or carol with her family each night (and if you enjoy poetry, you will be surely be moved by the rich and beautiful language of these songs). Angie has compiled 25 Days of Christmas Music on her website, and if you want to sing along, there is a lyric video for each song!

Mary - Day 10 - Holiday Haiku Challenge

Welcome to Day 10 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge  

I have a handful of favorite authors, and this sweet gal is counted among them. Becky Keife writes lovely prose and always searches for contentment. The coupling of those two attributes leads her readers to desire that same peaceful satisfaction which can only be found in Christ.

Becky is a self proclaimed word lover, coffee drinker, and Jesus follower. She writes to slow time, give thanks, and awaken to God's daily wonders and grace.

I hope you will get to know her on her blog, BeckyKeife.com, or on Facebook.

Today Becky challenges us to write a haiku based on Jesus' mother

Mary

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Watchful Wonder

By Becky Keife

Can you imagine how Mary must have felt those last weeks leading up to Christ’s birth? Not only was she becoming a mother for the first time—a wild, scary, joy-filled adventure wrapped in so many expectations, hopes, and dreams. But she was becoming the mother of the Christ child. Her son—God’s Son. The promised Messiah.

What will he look like? What will he sound like? How will I raise him? Will I know what to say, what to do? How will I help him fulfill His Father’s plans?

Oh, how the questions must have swirled in her heart! Surely she was anxious to some measure. What woman wouldn’t have been? But Mary, chosen for her faith and steadfast obedience, must also have been full of joyous anticipation.

What will my son teach me? What ways will my trust in the Father grow deeper? When will Jesus’ true nature be revealed to the world? Will I get to see it? Will I be blessed to support him, cheer for him, pray over him each step of the way?

Christmas marks the end to Mary’s nine months of waiting for Christ’s birth while ushering in the beginning of a lifetime of watchful wonder. We have been given a similar invitation.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your Son. Prepare our hearts through this advent season to receive the fullness of His coming in fresh ways. Awaken our minds to the wonder waiting for us in You. May we be as humble and patient as Mary, living eyes-opened and heart-surrendered to the work you plan to do in and through us. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

If you have missed any part of our haiku challenge, find a complete list of our daily themes here.

Silent Night - Day 9 - Holiday Haiku Challenge

Welcome to Day 9 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge I hope you are enjoying this advent exercise in condensing your devotion down to one praiseworthy thought each day. Adventing amidst your holiday hustle, all harnessed in 17 short syllables. If you have missed any of the privious post in this series, find them all here.  And now, onto today's challenge.

Silent Night

Silent Night

by Colleen Mitchell:

God comes quietly, and only quiet hearts will be ready. The world waited in 400 years of prophetic silence so it could hear his first breath. He could have come any other way, but he came quietly and the first to know were the ones who we were still enough to notice the slight shiftings in the heavens, the cry in the cold. How can you silence yourself to hear how he comes?

My guest today is Colleen Mitchell - wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth and five precious little ones in heaven. She and her husband serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home. She works out what it means to love Jesus and live the Gospel as an adventure at her blog Blessed Are the Feet.

John 3:16 - Day 8 - Holiday Haiku Challenge

Welcome to Day 8 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge  

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Today's haiku is based on John 3:16. I challenge you to meditate on these familiar lines from Scripture in light of Christmas, then pen your own 17 syllable response. If you have forgotten your Jr. High teacher's lesson describing how to write a haiku, read this beautiful post by guest author (and Jr. High teacher) Bethany Hockenbury for a short and worshipful refresher.

And now, I give you today's #holidayhaiku writing challenge:

John 3:16

Be Still and Know - Day 6 - Holiday Haiku

Welcome to Day 6 of our Holiday Haiku Challenge

Today's guest shares my name and my love for words. I'm so pleased to introduce my sister-in-law, Cathi Speake. She is mother to my two nephews, wife to my brother, and a wicked talented Jr. High Teacher who loves to teach her sevvies (7th graders) the art of the haiku.

Her Holiday Haiku Challenge is to write 17 syllables inspired by Psalm 46:10

Be Still and Know