December 1 marks the first Sunday of Advent for 2013.

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. It is the start of the new calendar year for the Christian calendar. Traditionally, the season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and continues through December 24, while the Christmas season starts on December 25 and goes until the Epiphany on January the 8th.

It seems that we often skip the season of Advent and jump right into Christmas. I wonder if Christmas would hold more meaning for us if we took the time to prepare our hearts to receive our Savior. That is the whole purpose of Advent. And that is the purpose of this devotional. It’s my prayer that by taking the time to read through these devotions during Advent that Christ will become even more special to you during the holiday season—and through the rest of the year too!

The word advent from the Latin adventus (Greek parousia), means “coming” or “arrival.” The season of Advent is focused on the coming of Jesus as Messiah (Christ or King). Our worship, scripture readings, and prayers not only prepare us spiritually for Christmas (His first coming), but also for His eventual Second Coming.

This is why the scripture readings during Advent include both Old Testament passages about the expected Messiah, and New Testament passages about Jesus’ Second Coming. We also read passages about John the Baptist, whom God sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the hearts of the people for Him.

Enjoy this Advent season, and may God bless you and your family.

Please click on the link below to download today’s devotional!

First Sunday of Advent

Captivating colors

                                                 and

                                                   tempting textures

of luscious yarn never fail to lure me into big or little knitting shops I happily stumble across. Such was the case the other morning, and I, entranced, open the door and follow my eyes to the skeins posing on the shelves.

I walk back and forth weighing my options, considering my ever-growing list of people to receive knitted Christmas gifts. Poking around the shelves, I find a perfect project to knit up quickly. With chunky yarn on big needles, even I, a notoriously s-l-o-w knitter, will finish five of them with time to spare before Christmas.

The bell jingles and the door shuts behind me as I head back to the car. The glinting sun illuminates the display window, stopping me in surprise. A Scripture glistens off the glass. Funny, I hadn’t noticed it on the way in, two of my favorite things juxtaposed like this.

This unexpected gift of scripture and yarn knitted together makes a happy spot in my soul. Why haven’t I ever thought about the work of my hands as being something sacred? Might my hands actually capture a bit of His beauty, reflect a bit of His creativity in every stitch, every pattern I make? My heart says “yes.”

God snuck in this Sacred Everyday at Always In Stitches today. Where have you found yours?

Pray on!

Christmas, one of the most meaningful times of the year, is only a few weeks away. I’m scurrying around trying to get the house ready for one of my favorite seasons. It’s always a good reminder to me that as I bask in the twinkling lights, glistening tree, and stockings hung by the fireplace and smell the fresh fragrant pine and freshly baked goodies of Christmas to remember my spiritual preparation as well.

I’ve looked back over Christmases past and rounded up several Only By Prayer Christmas resources that will help you prepare for Christmas during this season of Advent.

God With Us—This is one of Mary Kane’s free Bible studies that will help you put your focus on our Savior this Christmas.

Something to Celebrate—This is a blog post I, Jane, wrote about adjusting my vision and focus at Christmas.

Advent 2011 Podcast—Mary and I recorded this podcast and filled it with suggestions on how to make Advent a special time in your life and in the life of your family.

Christmas Story: God Uses Every Day People Podcast. In this podcast, Mary and I discuss many of the people in the Christmas story and look at how God uses everyday people (like you and me!) to bring about His plans and purposes in the world.

You may also want to check out my More Than a Baby: An Advent Devotional. I wrote this e-book a few years ago, so the dates won’t line up exactly, but I’ve packed this devotional with scripture, photos/artwork, music, a daily focus, and prayer.

Mary and I hope these resources bless you as you prepare for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the expectation and the preparation of the season as we ready our hearts and minds for the coming of the Savior. God wants you to know that whatever you are facing this Christmas season you have reason to hope and rejoice because He is with you. To do the study “God With Us,” just click on the link.

<p><a href=”https://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1556″>Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

O Come Let us Adore Him

These words have been ringing through my mind today as Christmas draws near, and it’s more than the obvious reason that I’ve heard this Christmas carol on the radio or that Christmas is only five days away. Much more. God has been readjusting my vision this Christmas.

Christmas 2011 will be a different Christmas for us. It’s the first Christmas that we won’t have both of our children with us. For the past 23 years, the four of us have always been together to celebrate. We have our traditions, our special things that we do together as a family to welcome Christmas Day. They’re very much a part of what makes Christmas Christmas for me. Maybe too much so?

As many of you know, our son Jesse is on a walk across America to raise money for the burn center at Riley Hospital for Children where he was a patient in June of 2010. Three months ago when Jesse decided to do this walk, I thought surely he couldn’t be meaning to miss Thanksgiving, his birthday and Christmas. Could he? When I asked Jesse this over the phone, he said, “Mom, how is that going to look if I fly home for Christmas when people are sponsoring me, and I’m supposed to be walking across America?”

The reality that I knew was coming but had been avoiding thinking about had arrived. With the certainty that Jesse would not be home and possibly not Amber either as she now has her fiancé and his family to consider for Christmas plans, I was forced to look at where I was getting my real joy for Christmas from. Was my joy coming from my perfect plans all going according to schedule, or was it from the gift of Jesus in my life?

As I have had to adjust my perception of celebrating Christmas, God has been shifting my focus to where it should be. The priceless gift of having Jesus as my King is coming clearly into focus. To know that He is with me each day in the nitty-gritty good-and-bad that makes up my life is what God is showing me I should be celebrating.

I’m wondering what your Christmas will look like. Maybe you’re struggling through a painful divorce. Perhaps you’re hooked up to a chemo IV. Or maybe you’re blessed this year to have all of your family with you. Whatever your life is or wherever you are this year, Jesus is there. And that’s Something to celebrate.

O Come let us adore Him …

Pray on!

Happy Advent! Mary and I would love to have you join us as we discuss Advent and how you can get ready for Christmas during this time of preparation.

We’ll be discussing the background of Advent, ways you can celebrate it with your family, and the meaning of Isaiah 7:14. Don’t let the busyness of the season prevent you from truly celebrating Christ’s birth.

To listen to the podcast, simply click the arrow below. You may also subscribe to us on Apple podcasts.

Podcast Notes

Isaiah 7:14

Nathan: to give, to entrust, to bestow
Sign: owth: a distinguishing mark, a miracle, proof, a remembrance, a warning
 Son: Ben: banah: to build, rebuild, establish, make permanent, to be built up
 Name: Shem: name, reputation, fame, glory
 Emmanuel: el Emanuel: God, God with us

 Resources:

www.crivoice.org/jesse.html

www.blueletterbible.com

Also, here’s a link to last year’s Christmas podcast on Christmas Story: God Uses Everyday People

More Than A Baby devotional:  https://onlybyprayer.com/our-products/more-than-a-baby-an-advent-devotional/