Advent 12-Promise of Salvation

December 8

Read Numbers 21:4 –18; John 3:14, 15; & John 6:40

Christ points to the saving power of faith in God’s promise that looking at the bronze serpent in the wilderness would save the bitten Israelite from the venom of the serpent as a clear prophecy of the salvation granted to all who believe in Christ the crucified. A promise of salvation given by Christ. 

The hymn, ’Lift High The Cross’ encourages us, like Moses, to lift the cross of salvation so that a dying and sinful humanity may look to Christ in faith and be saved. Verse 5 of “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” points back to the promise of a Savior first given in the garden of Eden.

Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who has truly kept His word,

And at last to us did send Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.

What the fathers most desired, What the prophets’ heart inspired,

What they longed for many a year, Stands fulfilled in glory here.

Abram’s promised great reward, Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord

Him of two-fold race behold – Truly came, as long foretold.

As Your coming was in peace, Quiet, full of gentleness,

Let the same mind dwell in me Which is Yours eternally.

Bruise for me the serpent’s head That, set free from doubt and dread,

I may cling to You in faith, Safely kept through life and death.

Then when You will come again As the glorious king to reign,

I with joy will see Your face, Freely ransomed by Your grace.

For the Family:

The Tau cross is the symbol of the cross on which the bronze serpent was raised. As you hang the symbol on your Tree of Promise ask for the strength of the Spirit and guidance to help you lift up the cross.

Bible Journaling:

Advent #12

Promise of Salvation
Numbers 21:4-18

Bible Journaling
Connie Denninger 

From the Kitchen:

Sour Cream Cookies (Schinecken Rolls)

Wilma Zalman

If you want a cookie that fits the devotion you can make another batch of roll out cookies and use an alphabet cookie cutter to cut out T shapes. Or, you can just try these cookies. No connection to the study, but really good!

Pastry: 

4 C flour 1 ½ C butter 3 egg yolks (slightly beaten

1 C sour cream 1 tsp vanilla ½ tsp salt

• Cut flour and butter together using pastry blender
• Blend beaten yolks, sour cream, vanilla and salt together
• Add to flour and blend well. Chill dough for at least 8 hours.
• Make 2^nd batch of dough.

Filling:

6 egg whites 3 TBS confectioner’s sugar 1 tsp vanilla

• This is sufficient for both batches of dough.
• Beat whites, sugar, and vanilla together until stiff. 
• Divide each batch of dough into 2 parts. Keep dough you are not working with refrigerated.
• Roll dough out in conf. sugar. Roll dough into large circle and cut the circle into 16 triangles
• Brush with egg mixture & Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar
• Roll each triangle from large end to small point and shape into a crescent
• Bake on greased pan at 400 for 10 – 15 minutes. Makes 64 pastries

These sound difficult, but they are not hard. If you know how to roll out a pie crust you can do it. They are a very elegant cookie that Virginians like to serve at bridal showers.

 Tree of Promise Devotions

Natalie Grace Hartwig