Resources for Advent

Last week I posted a challenge to think about making your Christmas extraordinary this year. With Black Friday behind us, are you ready?  I have four suggestions to share with you over the next few weeks.
 Today is suggestion #1:  Celebrate Advent

Advent is the four week period before Christmas.  Advent means "coming,"  it is a time to remember that Jesus came at Bethlehem, and that He will come again.  "Celebrating" Advent simply means to have the daily practice of reading scripture, marking the days until Christmas.  It is a wonderful family discipleship opportunity. Our kids are excited about Christmas - why not grab on to that excitement and use it to disciple your children?  I have listed below several books and resources for Advent.  May they bless you and your family.

For Family Worship:

The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Readings

Adventures in Odyssey Advent Adventures Reading 

The 25 Days of Christmas by Greg Johnson

Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada

For Your Individual Devotion Time:

Touching Wonder by John Blase  (The Kindle Version is FREE!)

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

The Night of the Child by Robert Benson (audio recording)

Let's Conspire to Create an Amazing Christmas

Today is the girls' last day of school for a week.  Mix a week off of school, an upcoming trip to NYC, and finally a nip in the air and I'll tell you our family is ready to kick off the holidays!  How about your family?  Before an Elf arrives, or the tree goes up, or you even start to burn up those credit cards in the name of Christmas, I want to share this incredible video with you.  I have used this video in speaking to church groups about Christmas for the last 5 years.  I love it!  I watch it every year ( a few times actually) to help me remember to keep what's important, important and to let the rest go.  It is my first step in striving to create an incredible Christmas for our family each year.  I hope it will inspire you to think intentionally about your Christmas season this year.  Over the next few weeks I will be posting four ways to make your Christmas season not only incredible for you - but for your fellow man both near and far.

I hope you will take a few minutes to watch this video - and let's kick the holidays off right!

Loaves, and fishes, and shoeboxes

Once a little boy handed Jesus his lunch and offered it to feed a crowd of hungry people.  One little boy's lunch passed through the hands of Christ, fed thousands. 

I turn on the news and see the devastated, I flip through the paper and see the hungry, and drive through town and see the hurting.  Through the lens of my adult eyes, I see the needs, I feel hopeless.  I turn on the news, I feel powerless.  I read the paper, I want to give up. 


But then my little girl gave up her birthday party gifts.  She said she had enough.  She invited her friends to help her fill shoeboxes instead.  She let the birthday gifts intended for one little girl, pass through the hands of Christ, and He multiplied them into Christmas gifts for twelve little girls. 

And through this beautiful child of mine, I see that Jesus still multiples fish, and loaves, and shoeboxes too... if only we're willing to offer them.