Weekly Advent Activities for the Family

Today kicks off the first day of Advent. If you're anything like me, sometimes you can feel overwhelmed by the options to participate in this holiday.

Rather than feeling like you're doing too much or too little, you can find simple ways to reflect on the coming of Jesus this Advent as a family.

Below is one simple activity you can do with your family each week of Advent to prepare your heart to celebrate the coming of Jesus this Christmas.

Week 1: Names of Jesus

Let's spend some time reflecting on the many wonderful traits of our Savior this Advent.

At the top of a poster board, write "Jesus" in large letters across the top.
Read through the following Scriptures to uncover some names for Jesus: Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:1,5, Micah 5:2, 4, 5a, Jeremiah 33:2, 15, and Matthew 1:23.

Using sticky notes (or just markers), write (or draw) some of the names Jesus used in the readings and stick it to the board. Take a moment to praise Jesus for these different attributes as a family.

Decorate the poster board while listening to Christmas hymns and hang up the poster board where your family can see it to be reminded of how wonderful Jesus is.

Here's a list of potential names for Jesus from these Scriptures: Immanuel, Creator, Healer, Light of the Nations, Forgiver, Righteous Branch, Ruler, Ancient of Days, Shepherd, Teacher, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Righteous Judge, Faithful.

Week 2: Praising Jesus
This season we often read and hear about different biblical people praising God for His greatness—Mary, Zechariah, the shepherds. Let's spend time this Advent learning a Christmas hymn to direct our praise to Jesus. Select one of the following hymns to listen at home while doing chores or driving to and from school this Advent:

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
• Go Tell It on the Mountain
• O Little Town of Bethlehem

Make one of these songs the Christmas hymn of the season for your family and learn all the verses through listening to it over and over. Praise Jesus and incorporate good theology in Christmas song form.

Week 3: Inviting Others to Behold Jesus

This week, let's focus on how we can invite others to behold the beauty of Jesus. Ask a non-Christian family over for a hot cocoa bar (hot chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream, and any other fun toppings) one afternoon or evening. You could watch a Christmas movie or do some minute-to-win-it style games to add a dash of holiday festivities. Invite the family to come to your church's Christmas Eve service with you.

Week 4: Loving Like Jesus

This week, let's show love to others who may feel overlooked or lonely this holiday season. Send a Christmas card to a homebound senior or someone in your community walking through a difficult season. You could make your own cards or send a family Christmas card with a note on it. Pray for the person selected together before dropping the card(s) in the mail.

May these activities come alongside your family and help you reflect on the coming of Jesus in beautiful and sweet ways this Advent.

*Originally written by me for my local church for Advent 2024 and adapted for my blog

CHRISTMAS REBUS (FOR YOUNG READERS)

 

Christmas Books to Foster Faith This Advent

Each Advent season, I pull out our ever-growing stash of Christmas books from storage for my family to read together. But each year I crave books that do more than just tell the Christmas story, but invite my kids to ponder the true meaning of Christmas in creative ways.

This year as I prepare for another Advent season, I wandered through dozens of Christian publisher websites to select some unique Christmas literature for children. Stories that shine the light of creativity as we near another season of preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

While I haven't read all of the books below, I hope they spark interest to add some new titles to your family's Christmas story collection before Advent begins.

1) Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent  By Arnold Ytreeide

Follow along Jotham as he searches for his family and stumbles right into the middle of the birth of Jesus. This is one of four books in a Family Story for Advent, the Advent Adventure series.

2) The King is Born (The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series)

Experience the Christmas story in a new light. Join Peter and Mary as they visit baby Jesus, assist the wise men, and stop a thief.

3) Andi's Circle C Christmas  (Circle C Beginnings series)

When a visitor takes all the fun out the holiday break, Andi discovers she might be able to help the guest.

4) The Shepherd Girl of Bethlehem  By Carey Morning

A shepherd girl searches for her father and finds him in Bethlehem.

5) The Action Bible Christmas: 25 Stories about Jesus' Arrival

Read about 25 eyewitnesses who share about the birth of Jesus and dive more deeply into the story with discussion questions.

6) The Siamese Kittens and the Christmas Hedgehog  By Michael A. G. Haykin

Three kittens learn about caring for the needy on Christmas Eve.

7) The Promise and the Light: A Christmas Retelling  By Katy Morgan

Walk in the footsteps of Mary, Joseph and Zechariah as they experience the first Christmas. Morgan is a talented writer who weaves biblical truth into captivating narrative for young readers.

8) The Legend of Christmas: An Untold Story of the Real St. Nicholas  By Theresa White 

Discover the true story behind Santa Claus and how his faith despite persecution made a lasting example.

May this Advent season bring a renewed awe at the first coming of Christ as a family.

The Peace We Need This Christmas

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

As the days become shorter and the nights longer this winter, darkness greets me quicker than I want. I find myself longing for the sunrise each morning and compelled to put up my Christmas lights to combat the encroaching darkness. This extended darkness makes my days seem too short. Fleeting. I find my heart longing for hope and peace in the uncertainty the night often brings with it.

Perhaps you understand the weight of darkness as well. Concern for a child. Waiting. The grief of loss. Broken systems. A crumbled dream. Discord in relationships. The losing battle against sin.

Oh, how we long for peace. For the day war is not on the radar. When darkness no longer advances. When injustice doesn’t prevail. And death’s sting ceases. As Advent unfolds, we receive a word regarding the hope and peace our hearts ache to see.

In Isaiah 9:6, we have been given a gift in the form of a child, a baby. This gift—Jesus—will bring us a just kingdom and keep doing God’s extraordinary work. He will guide us in God’s ways (and turn our own plans upside down). He is mighty and strong. He will be our Father in charge through all the ups and downs now and forever. He holds peace in His right hand.

Jesus is both the gift and giver of peace. For believers, we will live in this kingdom with Him—and this truth sparks hope to endure in our faith until that day. For this lack of peace on earth won’t have the final say.

As the Christmas hymn, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” reminds us:

All glory be to God on high
And on the earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas, we can rejoice in the Prince of Peace who left the splendor and peace of heaven to step down into a broken, unjust world and usher in peace for you and I—for we were on His mind to be recipients of this peace.

Jesus is the light and peace the world—and all of us—need this Christmas and always.

Originally published on The Round Farmhouse.

Advent & Christmas Book Ideas For Your Family

Advent begins on November 27th this year! As parents, if we want to be prepared to dive into the season we should decide which resources to utilize this year to guide our families. Whether you have preschoolers or elementary-aged kids, here are nine resources to consider:

1) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This book is one of my favorites to read with my boys each Christmas. Through compelling and hilarious fiction following the crazy Herdman family, Robinson engages young readers with a modern understanding of the incredible gift Christ is and how this should change the lives of everyone. If you haven't read this with your kids, you should! Robinson helps kids see how powerful the coming of Jesus truly is.

2) The Littlest Watchman by Scott James

This storybook is a creative way to engage kids with the beautiful message of the Christmas story. Young readers can identify with having to wait for Christmas just like the main character, Benjamin. 

3) The Littlest Watchman Advent Calendar by Alison Mitchell

This is a great advent calendar for kids ages 5–8. I used this with my own boys for a few years and loved it. Since it accompanies the book, it's a great way to keep things simple while still focused on the heart of Advent with kids.

4) Jesus Came for Me: The True Story of Christmas by Jared Kennedy

This board book for preschoolers walks through key elements of the Christmas story from the arrival of John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus, to the visit from the wise men.

5) The Light Before Christmas by Marty Machowski 

This family Advent devotion incorporates fiction with devotions on the meaning of Christmas. I'm looking forward to diving into this with my boys this year!

6) The Christmas Promise Storybook by Alison Mitchell

This storybook walks young kids through the Christmas story and traces the faithfulness of God to keep His promise.

7) 12 Days of Christmas Around the World by Wycliffe Kids

This free guide will take your kids on a journey to learn how other cultures celebrate the holidays. This resource is highly adaptable depending on your family's needs. It can be as simple as five minutes (and skipping the activity) or take longer if you have time to do each day's suggested activity.  

8) Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids by Asheritah Ciucui

Using story, the author engages kids with who Jesus is. Young readers will learn how Jesus is the Bread of Life, Light of the World, Resurrection and the Life, Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, etc. as a mother tells about her encounters with Jesus as a girl.

9) The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Kit by Sally Lloyd Jones

Zonderkidz created a free downloadable Advent kit that pairs with The Jesus Storybook Bible. Each day kids can make an ornament that matches the story of the day. The Advent kit also includes Advent music, memory cards, and coloring pages. 

ADVENT IDEAS FOR MOTHERS WITH YOUNG KIDS

The descent toward the end of the year and Christmas always feels sudden to me.

It feels counter-intuitive to start thinking about Advent before Thanksgiving, but I’ve learned over the years that a little planning ahead helps prepare my boys’ hearts—and mine—for Christmas.

The busyness of these final two months of the year can sometimes get in the way of what really matters. We can easily get caught up in “the things that are seen” and “transient”—Halloween costumes, bags of candy, school projects, travel plans, gift ideas, photos for Christmas cards—and leave little room for “the things that are unseen” and “eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). While we know preparing our hearts and minds during Advent is wise, it can quickly become lost in the midst of a thousand things calling for our attention.

Read the rest of my article on Momma Theologians.

5 Global Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids

With Christmas around the corner, consider a gift for your child that will help them think globally. One step toward cultivating a heart to pray is raising awareness about different cultures around the world. Here's a list of gifts to consider for your child this holiday season.

1) Discover The World Game

If your family enjoys playing games together, then this may be a fun way to incorporate global awareness into family fun. Race around the world and learn about different places as you travel to various destinations across the world.

2) Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream

This middle grade book series by Hena Khan follows a fourth grade Pakistani-American boy who wants to play basketball. This is a good introduction into the Muslim world, but in an engaging way for kids.

3) World Globe 3D Jigsaw Puzzle

This globe puzzle will provide a great indoor activity while raising awareness about where different countries are located. Once assembled, kids can find various countries you pray for as well.

4) Maps

This beautifully illustrated map book will invite your kids to flip through its pages and learn more about the world. It incorporates a variety of information: animals, history, plants, events, and well-known figures.

5) Around the World Activity Book

If some traveling is in store for you this holiday, then consider snagging a copy of this activity book to teach your child about the world in a fun way.

Free Global Advent Guide

 

Looking for an advent resource to use with your family? Want to add a global element to preparing your family's heart for Christmas? This advent resource created by Wycliffe Bible Translators is for you!

12 Days of Christmas Around the World will take your kids on a journey to learn how other cultures celebrate the holidays. This advent resource is highly adaptable depending upon your family's needs. It can be as simple as five-minutes (and skipping the activity) or take longer if you have time to do each day's suggested activity. 

This guide provides a brief parent overview at the beginning (with a list of supplies) and a way to engage with each day's lesson. If you don't think you can handle 12 days worth of material, then consider selecting four of the 12 days and incorporate one each weekend from Thanksgiving until Christmas.

Consider adding on a brief time to pray for the people from the country you learn about that day. Even a 30-second prayer is a good way to model the importance of praying for the nations.

Curious to check out this resource? Click here to access the Wycliffe PDF file.

CHRISTMAS: LISTENING TO TRUTH

For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
- John 18:37


With two days on my children's countdown calendar until Christmas, I yearn for the truth of Christmas to shine into the depths of my heart. I want to silence the competing voices this holiday season so I can embrace the beauty of Christ coming to bear witness to the truth.

In John 18:37, Jesus stands before Pilate—the final moments leading up to the cross— and discusses His kingdom. Pilate fails to recognize the kingship of Jesus. Instead Pilate focuses his attention on the immediate concern of maintaining his own power and image.

Jesus is the King of kings, but left the riches and splendor of heaven to become poor for us out of love. He came knowing rejection, shame, and misunderstanding would be His norm. But He also knew some would one day listen to Truth and follow Him.

The cultural baggage of Christmas can sometimes distract me from embracing the difficult path of Christ. Nothing about the Christmas story was easy. A young, unmarried girl giving birth without her support network. The whispers of others who assumed the worst about Mary and Joseph for marrying her anyway. A young carpenter thrust into fatherhood and finding a job in an unknown place. Thousands of baby boys murdered in King Herod's crazy attempt to secure his earthly kingship.

Truth can be inconvenient and not well received. It involves risk. And yet without Truth we have no hope for peace with God. As Christians we cannot force anyone to believe the Truth, but we are commanded to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to proclaim it. The story of redemption doesn't begin with Jesus' birth. It began back in the garden.

I hope this Christmas I prioritize the kingship of Christ over my own comfort and ease. I want to marvel at redemption and how Christ's birth affirmed our deep need for help had arrived. May I listen to His voice and point others to do the same. For His kingdom is eternal.