Simblissity: Day 8

Day 8, the second Sunday of Advent

Advent Verses

The second week of Advent begins today, and for me, there is a change in the air. Last week introduced an anticipation and hope that held such excitement! This week issues in a sweet reverence. Our candle this week is also traditionally purple as a color representing repentence. It is called the Bethlehem candle to remind us of the place God had prepared for Christ. Five hundred years before His birth, God was already sharing the location plans for the birth of our Saviour. He prepared a place for Joseph and Mary. Through John the Baptist He led men to prepare the way of the Lord. This is traditionally a week of preparation.

Another name for this Candle is the Peace Candle. Our peace was purchased at a price. Our dear Saviour gave much that we might have peace with God. Isaiah 9:6 calls Him our Prince of Peace. Most of our verses this week will speak of the price He paid; the price foretold long before it happened.

But today's verse is Micah 5:2, which told us He would be born in Bethlehem; specifically, the Bethlehem of Judea. There were several villages in Palestine that shared the name Bethlehem, but God left no room for confusion here. Matthew 2:1 confirms this birthplace.

Jesse Tree

Today's verse tells of Jacob's name being changed to Israel:

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." - Genesis 32:28

That's a lot of story to sum up with our children, but very interesting! A simple drawing of a ladder makes a nice ornament for today. If you are making ornaments, today would be a fun day for children to tie or glue a small ladder out of sticks or toothpicks.