Preparing for advent takes a plan and intention

Plus here's an ornament download

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

We plan for weeks and even months what gifts to give, how to decorate our home, what events to host or attend. We spend hours coordinating Christmas pajamas and outfits for pictures. We labor over the perfect Christmas card to send. We focus on creating a magical season for our children.

But. Are we as intentional preparing our hearts for advent?

Have we lost our focus on the true meaning of the season? Yes, we say Jesus is the reason for the season. But do we really live it?

When Jesus arrived to planet Earth, the world was unprepared. May we not enter our season unprepared to celebrate and worship our King.

In 2013 I released a 7 day Christmas devotion, Seeking Christmas. I have since taken it out of circulation and recently revised and updated it. I’m sharing it here on Substack with paid subscribers.

A paid subscription is $5/month - less than a cup of coffee, and I hope with each reading, it fuels you far better than your favorite latte.

What you will receive each day for 7 days:

• A daily devotion, with audio, that guides us to remember, read, reflect, and rejoice.

• Ornament downloads. If you have young children, create the ornaments together. Each day hide an ornament and let the kids find it. Gather and read the scripture for the day. Lead your children based on your time reading the day’s devotion. If you don’t have children, still make the ornaments and enjoy seeing them on your tree all season long.

• A daily family activity. Each day includes an idea to help you create traditions and memories while connecting the day’s devotion to an activity that will help you remember what you read.

The first day will arrive in your inbox on December 1st. I’ve included the ornament downloads here today so you can get a head start on making them with your family. Some of you are super creative and will go all out. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Each day for 7 days Seeking Christmas will arrive in your inbox. You will have forever access as long as you are a paid subscriber. You can revisit as many times as you like.

Here’s what my mornings will look like beginning December 1st. I’ll wake in the early dawn hours while my family sleeps and the world is on the brink of waking. I’ll pour a cup of coffee, snuggle with my dogs and a cozy blanket, turn the fire on and hit play from my inbox. I’ll listen to the devotion. I’ll sit quietly with the Lord after and ask Him to speak to me. I pray my heart is quietly waiting to hear His voice.

This is how I hope to start my days this advent season. In a posture of seeking and sitting with my Lord.

This Christmas may we truly understand we don’t need more stuff. We need more Jesus.

Download your ornaments.