“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Sprit of the Lord will rest on him-
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and of might,
The Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:1-2

Then Paul reminds us again in Romans 15:12:

“And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

And Jesus, Messiah, confirms in Revelation 22:16:

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

I was bound and determined to find a stump to photograph today, preferably a stump, with a shoot bearing a bud or leaf (new life). The past few years for me personally have left me feeling like a rough-hewn stump, a jagged and cracked veneer with life and hope brimming beneath the surface. After passing several moss-covered stumps, this one appeared. Tears began to pool in my eyes and spill down my cheeks. From this stump, a vision of my ransom appeared… a cross. The symbol of my ultimate #hope.

As we begin Advent, let’s allow God to stir in our hearts as we await the gift of new life, eternal life that is coming.