One gift I give myself during the Christmas season is to spend some quiet moments each day with an Advent devotional. (and coffee)
My friend, Kae, introduced me to Advent when my girls were little. She grew up with the candles, wreath, readings and carols that make Advent so special.
Dave and I tweaked the system to work for our little family and it became a big part of our celebration of Jesus' birth.
This year, I was looking for a new Advent book for myself and I found a great one, thanks to my blogging friend, Katharine Barrett, who just wrote one.
Walking to Bethlehem: A Devotional Journey Through Advent
The format is simple and delightful. Perfect for me.
Here is what you will enjoy:
*Scripture reading, lesson/teaching
and a carol for each Sunday in Advent.
*a devotional reading for each day with
the Scripture and carol printed right in
the book. (I love this, so I can throw it in my purse
and head to Starbucks without adding the weight of my
Bible.)
*an introduction to some of the Biblical
characters of the Christmas story
*some of the fun (and funny) Barrett family
traditions
*a little history on some Christmas
practices
*great recipes (do not miss the story behind
"Shutty Cakes", and be careful how you pronounce it)
As a special bonus, Katharine wrote fun readings for kids for each Advent Sunday. I loved them.
I enjoyed the book so much and look forward to reading it again this Christmas.
You can find Walking to Bethlehem: A Devotional Journey Through Advent on amazon. It is available in print or e.book.
And now for the giveaway. Leave a comment on today's blog and I will choose one reader to receive a e.book of this great devotional. Thanks, Katharine.
Does your family celebrate Advent?
ps. Three of the stories made me cry.
Linking to Jen and the sweet Soli Sisters.
My friend, Kae, introduced me to Advent when my girls were little. She grew up with the candles, wreath, readings and carols that make Advent so special.
Dave and I tweaked the system to work for our little family and it became a big part of our celebration of Jesus' birth.
This year, I was looking for a new Advent book for myself and I found a great one, thanks to my blogging friend, Katharine Barrett, who just wrote one.
Walking to Bethlehem: A Devotional Journey Through Advent
The format is simple and delightful. Perfect for me.
Here is what you will enjoy:
*Scripture reading, lesson/teaching
and a carol for each Sunday in Advent.
*a devotional reading for each day with
the Scripture and carol printed right in
the book. (I love this, so I can throw it in my purse
and head to Starbucks without adding the weight of my
Bible.)
*an introduction to some of the Biblical
characters of the Christmas story
*some of the fun (and funny) Barrett family
traditions
*a little history on some Christmas
practices
*great recipes (do not miss the story behind
"Shutty Cakes", and be careful how you pronounce it)
As a special bonus, Katharine wrote fun readings for kids for each Advent Sunday. I loved them.
I enjoyed the book so much and look forward to reading it again this Christmas.
You can find Walking to Bethlehem: A Devotional Journey Through Advent on amazon. It is available in print or e.book.
And now for the giveaway. Leave a comment on today's blog and I will choose one reader to receive a e.book of this great devotional. Thanks, Katharine.
Does your family celebrate Advent?
ps. Three of the stories made me cry.
Linking to Jen and the sweet Soli Sisters.
You're welcome! And thank you for your wonderful words! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteGlenda... you have the best ideas. Thanks for sharing your family traditions that inspire the rest of us. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOoh that sounds like a great devo! We have a couple Adevnt devotionals on our shelves that my husband and I love but I'm really starting to look for one more geared for families. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteOh Glenda, I agree with Darla, you DO have the best ideas. Also, I met Katharine at Allume!
ReplyDeleteI always get good ideas from you,Glenda! I would love to do this with our family this year! Looking it up on Amazon tonight! With Love, Shauna
ReplyDeleteThank you, Glenda for inspiring me to pick up a devotional again. Stress at work has made my blood pressure go into the danger zone. I spend my morning telling God I don't want to go to work. I'm thankful for my job but need things to calm down. I'm sure a devotional would start my day out right. I'm heading to the bookshelf to dig one out! Jean S.
ReplyDeleteOoh, sounds good. Sounds like time to dust off the tradition!
ReplyDeleteAnne
Wonderful idea...I usually pick up the Advent devotional book our parish hands out but this might be a better choice. I'd love to read the ebook. Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy family never celebrated Advent but each and every Christmas Eve, Mom would gather everyone at the Christmas tree and read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke.
ReplyDeleteSince moving from my parent's home, I've continued the tradition; it's one of the most missed with Dave.
Oh, I would love it. Time out to remember Christ Immanuel. We won't have all of the trappings of a traditional white Christmas in LA. Everything has changed and we need to find new ways to celebrate Jesus in the middle of the glam and dirt of our new city.
ReplyDeleteYes i would like to join in this year.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I will have to find this book & add more traditions to the ones we aready have :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteHollie Stromberger
I would love to win this. I have gone to four different stores this week trying to find books for advent, with no success. We did some simple activities last year, but I would really like to step it up this year. It added so much to our season last Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I have struggled to "get into the Christmas spirit" as it falls in the heart of summer here in South Africa (and very few people decorate). I was planning to teach Sunday School this year using Advent lessons. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to help keep "Christ in Christmas". This will probably be good to use in my Bible Study group. Thank you for the idea.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book. we used to celebrate it with candle lighting and reading when I was a child. You made me think about Advent again.... thanks.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Advent! We haul out candles, calendars, homemade decorations-- you name it, every year the kids and I explore new ways to prepare for Jesus's birthday. I can't wait to check out this book. Thanks for the recommendation. And as always, thanks for stopping by the Overflow and making me smile.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Well, you've inspired me to try and do the same this year. The book sounds great - thanks so much for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this, Glenda. Would enjoy an Advent devotional this year....might even write one. We shall see...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds sooo good! An advent devotional sounds perfect! I might jump on board and try it as well! btw... you can join our Coffee Friday Party with this post this coming week ;) I saw you mentioned "coffee" :)
ReplyDeleteI love Advent...every year I do a little more to celebrate it. Now, a devotional, that's a good idea, and I bet Katherine does a great job with that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling about a great resource, I try to add something new each year..I will put this book down on my wish list
ReplyDeleteMy husband has introduced the church we are at now to the advent season. They never did anything and I really missed it. It's special to do it with the family, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, we do Advent at our church. We participate in writing the Advent devotional printed and passed out to our church members.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your ideas, Glenda. And I will definitely be checking out this book. I'm so enjoying preparing for Advent this year...thank you!
ReplyDeleteSarahx
I love starting new traditions with my young, growing family!
ReplyDeleteAfter living in Scandinavia I have always loved Advent but have never been able to make it a successful practice. I love all you shared and this sounds like a great book to help one make the most of the season. Thanks for sharing! Maybe this year I can do it!
ReplyDeleteI remember growing up with an advent wreath and lighting a new candle every Sunday. As Travis and I anticipate our little ones we are keen to begin establishing our own traditions.
ReplyDeleteWe do celebrate Advent at our house. We do daily readings over dinner, make a wreath and light candles every evening and we have a traditional Advent calender we use too. Can't wait for it to start this year and its just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteI love Advent! It's been so wonderful to be here at the Mills Church where Advent has become one of the "rhythms" of our church. I've never done a devotional book with Advent before. What a lovely tradition!
ReplyDeleteWhen we were newly married, my husband told me we should not put up the tree and the decor till after advent. What is he talking about, I thought???? And so for years we did not have decor and our house felt so bare. But then came my little boy asking where was the tree? How come in his friends' homes they were all brightly lit up? And my husband relented! But we do celebrate Advent in our community. Patsy
ReplyDeleteI have never done Advent. I haven't done it with my children, but this book sounds wonderful and has me intrigued and interested. I remember counting down the days to Christmas with little doors that had chocolate surprises,but it wasn't spiritual or about celebrating Jesus or anything. Thank you so much for being such a great encourager to me and a wonderful blog friend. I love the idea of a devotional.
ReplyDeleteYou are very inspirational. I have read everything I can about how to do Christmas in a Christian way. I want my children to know the importance of Christmas. Way more than the shopping experience or all the gifts they can get.
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to this book! An Advent devotional?? Who would have thought?!
Teresa