Advent

I have missed you. It has been so long...

My life has been changing quite a bit recently and we are doing well adjusting. 

I couldn't wait any longer to share with you about Advent ( although I must admit: I'm a tad bit late). Advent has already begun and for the first time my sweet little family and I are having advent daily in our home! But don't let this confession deter you from observing it this year with your family-it is never to late to remember and reflect on the coming of our Lord and Savior!

Last year I read a book called 25 Days, 26 Ways to make this your best Christmas ever by Ace Collins you can download it straight to your kindle! I was inspired during the Christmas Season last year by reading it like a devotional. I began reading it again this year and loved being reminded of the beauty of this season! The first chapter in the book talks about Advent and it made me go searching for what it meant and how to incorporate it into our Christmas tradition. Here are some inspiring thoughts I discovered along with 3 different ways you can practice Advent this year. 

here is an excerpt from the above mentioned book: 

Advent is a Latin word meaning "the coming"...In the beginning Advent started on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ran until Christmas Eve. Essentially, the church leaders of the day set aside four weeks to consider what the coming of Jesus meant not only to the world but also to every individual's soul."

Collins also gives three reasons for Advent. Take some time this Christmas to reflect on these:

1. Reflect on what it means for God to come to earth in human form as a baby.

2.Consider how accepting Jesus as Savior changed your very existence.

3.Know that Jesus is coming back. 

Here are three different advent calendars to walk you through this Christmas Season!

Free Jesse Tree Advent Family Devotional

This is the one our family is following this year. I love how it guides us through the Bible from the very beginning reminding us that the Lord's plan of redemption began in Eden.

Many ways to keep an advent calendar

Maybe next year I can start ahead of time and make a cute calendar like these!

Last but definitely not least Collins suggests at the end of his advent calendar chapter (chapter 1) to use the gospel of Luke as a biblical Advent Calendar! What a great and simple idea. The book has 24 chapters just the right amount to help you focus on Jesus' birth and life! 

and an excerpt from the first chapter of Luke...

Luke
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary   ²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name wasMary. ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”^[c]29 But when she saw him,^[d] she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” ³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible.” ³⁸ Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.Mary Visits Elizabeth
   ³⁹ Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?⁴⁴ For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”The Song of Mary
   ⁴⁶ And Mary said: 

      “ My soul magnifies the Lord,        ⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.        ⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;       For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.        ⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,       And holy is His name.        ⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him       From generation to generation.        ⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;       He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.        ⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,       And exalted the lowly.        ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,       And the rich He has sent away empty.        ⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,       In remembrance of His mercy,        ⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,       To Abraham and to his seed forever.” 
⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Let's Remember the real reason for the Season~Gracefully Daisy