It has been a great season of anticipation! Throughout these weeks of Advent, we have read his stories, sang the Christmas songs, drew pictures of the verses and had rich conversations. Each week we kept it simple using the guide below. The Season of Advent – December 2-December 24 1. December 2-8 – Prophecy – Isaiah 9:2-7 God Card Christmas – I believe Father God is a generous giver of great gifts. 2. December 9-15 – Bethlehem – Micah 5:2-5 God Card Muscle – I believe Father God is strong for me. 3. December 16-22 – Shepherds and Angels – Luke 2:8-20 God Card Shepherd – I believe Father God is a shepherd. 4. December 23-24 – Wise Men...
Read MoreThe Christmas boxes are outside on our deck just waiting to overtake our home! Not sure how I feel about all of that! So here is the conversation Father and I had this morning! “Father, the girls are so excited about decorating for Christmas. I am staring at all those boxes out on the back deck that have been cooped up in our garage all year. They are dirty and dusty, and there are so many of them. I don’t want all of that mess in our house. I can’t keep up with the mess already going on in our house. How do I cope with what is about to happen? And I am supposed to like all of this – enjoy it! I can’t believe we have already had 10 Christmases as a family! 10!...
Read MoreOur kids love scavenger hunts! So, we tend to move in the direction of things they enjoy when we want to teach or affirm something. As we continued the focus on God card #6 – I believe God is Christmas, we decided to paint the picture of where we have come from and what place in history does the Christmas story rest through the fun of a scavenger hunt! We gave each one of them a slip of paper with some things written on them that they had to find and bring back to the kitchen table. And it was from these things that we painted the picture! Maya: picture of clouds, wrapping paper roll, mirror Ada: people, baby Jesus, cross Carson: sword, dragon, people, rock It was a...
Read MoreWe continue this week with God card #6 – I believe God is Christmas. He is a generous giver of great gifts. We weren’t ready to move on, still so much to discuss. As I began the day at the kitchen table, I found my Bible already there waiting for some conversation. So, I just opened it and found myself at the end of Matthew. Strange, I said to Father. The last chapter of Matthew, the death, crucifixion, the resurrection and now the Great Commission. Is this what is on your mind? We are talking about Christmas, you know. Shouldn’t I be at the front end of this deal? But I read on. The Great Commission, some of the last red letters in the Bible. His...
Read MoreFather gave me this phrase in 2011. Not sure why or when. I just know that I began saying it over and over to myself in those moments that I needed it. “Begin again” is his whisper to me, his reminder of grace new every day, every hour, every minute. And so as I was thinking how to start this new year of study and exploration with my family, this phrase came to mind – “begin again.” We begin the next chapter of a new year in November with the beginning of Advent. Many people start thinking of the new year beginning in January with the turn of the year. But, the liturgical Christian calendar that has been kept for years and years begins with...
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