6. DECORATING THE TREE

THIS SERIES: CHRISTMAS TREE DIARIES

We live between ages. The rule of God swept into history through the coming of the Messiah, and continues to advance until that day when every knee will bow before the Lord of Heaven and Earth. We do not live in the midst of an equal struggle between light and darkness; the victory has already been won on the Cross, and our job as citizens of an alternative Kingdom is its enforcement. We are literally tasked with bringing Heaven to earth.

Living between ages, our actions not only impact the here and now, but are also proclamations in the heavenly realms of our future expectations; the Bible is full of visual temporal demonstrations of eternal realities. Our celebration of Christmas can be a sentimental journey of limited impact, or we can use the trappings as powerful means of transformation.
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As we decorate the tree, we can take a long-standing convention and invest it with significance, so that it becomes a tool of faith, rather than a nice but empty festive tradition. It is my conviction, and experience, that such ordinary things hold the potential for profound encounters with the Lord, and can be one of the means by which Heaven invades earth. (Please read the previous posts in this series for context.)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

The meditations and declarations for this section are in PDF form, so that they can be printed if wished. Engaging with them during the actual process of decorating the tree makes this traditional activity very special. However, as this will not fit everyone’s circumstances, they can be pursued just as effectively in any quiet period, after the tree is dressed, either at one sitting, or in small chunks spread over a few days.
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You will need a few specific tree decorations, bought or homemade:

o   A miniature crown or something gold to symbolise kingship or sovereignty.
o   A little nativity scene or manger to signify the birth of Jesus.
o   A small cross or something to represent the blood of Jesus. (We use a tiny cross made of
     Bethlehem olive wood, and some ruby-red glass baubles.)
o   An item which speaks of the Messiah and His anointing to set people free. (An ichthus
      fish, a small sword or a key, might be possibilities.)
o   A decoration which speaks to you of the Holy Spirit. (Dove-shaped tree ornaments are
      usually easy to find.)

And some additional ornaments, (see the PDF).
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​For each section, allow enough time to read and reflect on the scriptures; centre down and connect with the Lord. The written prayers and declarations are not ‘liturgy’, but examples and starting points. Ask the Holy Spirit to loose His ‘river’ of prayer, and allow His words to rise up in you and overflow! 

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​NEXT WEEK: For those who have been unable to engage with this week’s meditations because of time-constraints, next week’s post will be a simpler version—a Christmas Tree Prayer.

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[Photo credits: Gavin Tyte (cross); Markus Spiske (bauble); Annie Spratt (greenery) @ Unsplash, with thanks]