How is it possible that it is almost Advent already?!
Whether you are ready or not, the Advent season is soon upon us (it starts this Sunday!).
If you and I are not intentional, we will spend the entire month doing all the things--decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, baking cookies, attending parties, mailing Christmas cards, going to Christmas plays and recitals (the list could go on and on!), while completely neglecting to prepare our hearts and souls and ready them for the arrival of Christmas morning and all that this day means to us as followers of Christ.
So friend, I just want to take a quick minute to pop into your Facebook feed (or inbox!) today with a few ideas and suggestions that have
profoundly helped me, and my children, over the years to tend to our hearts in anticipation of Christmas.
If you've never established a personal or family devotional Advent tradition, this is the perfect year to do that, my friend! A great place to start is with a short yet meaningful devotional book. Check out this post (and the links it contains) for a meaningful, gospel-centered book by Nancy Guthrie or e-devotional by John Piper, to start off each day.
Feeling ready to try something outside the box? I can't tell you how much Bible journaling through Advent completely blessed my socks off last year. I plan to dive into that again this year, too. Check out this post to learn all about it.
Looking for a way to teach your kids about the meaning of Christmas? We've loved having a Jesse Tree (for a decade now!), and I love the way it builds upon each Old Testament story, culminating in the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. It is a fantastic way to see just how Jesus fits into the redemptive history of the entire Bible, as it doesn't just focus on the Christmas Story of the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Even discussing the Nativity scene can bring a fresh look at the gospel message for you and your children!
May we quiet our hearts to hear from God in a special way this holiday season! I pray we would learn and grow and experience the wonder of the incarnation in a fresh and profound way this Christmas.
Whether you are ready or not, the Advent season is soon upon us (it starts this Sunday!).
If you and I are not intentional, we will spend the entire month doing all the things--decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, baking cookies, attending parties, mailing Christmas cards, going to Christmas plays and recitals (the list could go on and on!), while completely neglecting to prepare our hearts and souls and ready them for the arrival of Christmas morning and all that this day means to us as followers of Christ.
So friend, I just want to take a quick minute to pop into your Facebook feed (or inbox!) today with a few ideas and suggestions that have
If you've never established a personal or family devotional Advent tradition, this is the perfect year to do that, my friend! A great place to start is with a short yet meaningful devotional book. Check out this post (and the links it contains) for a meaningful, gospel-centered book by Nancy Guthrie or e-devotional by John Piper, to start off each day.
Feeling ready to try something outside the box? I can't tell you how much Bible journaling through Advent completely blessed my socks off last year. I plan to dive into that again this year, too. Check out this post to learn all about it.
Looking for a way to teach your kids about the meaning of Christmas? We've loved having a Jesse Tree (for a decade now!), and I love the way it builds upon each Old Testament story, culminating in the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. It is a fantastic way to see just how Jesus fits into the redemptive history of the entire Bible, as it doesn't just focus on the Christmas Story of the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Even discussing the Nativity scene can bring a fresh look at the gospel message for you and your children!
May we quiet our hearts to hear from God in a special way this holiday season! I pray we would learn and grow and experience the wonder of the incarnation in a fresh and profound way this Christmas.
Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush. --Anonymous
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