Advent... Preparing for the King!

At our home, during the Christmas season, we try hard to focus our

hearts on Christ...

I often find myself sad during the holidays, 

for various different reasons, 

one of them being the fact that so many seem to be joyful 

over Santa, or their Elf, or what they are going to "get"...

In conversations with people about their holiday festivities, 

Jesus is rarely mentioned... yet He is the reason we have Christmas...

So... in an effort to make sure our boys know the real meaning of Christmas, 

and in an effort to keep MY heart in the right place, 

we celebrate Advent.

We have a very simple advent wreath with candles... 

we light the appropriate candles each day, have a short devotion,

and talk about preparing our hearts for the coming of our King.

This year we have an advent tree that we place simple ornaments on, 

each one corresponds to the devotion we read, 

each having a symbolic meaning to remind of us God and His great love for us...

And we are reading a chapter from Jotham's Journey each day...

This book has been absolutely wonderful and has captured my children's hearts and attention, 

as well as my own!

And our celebration of Advent would in no way be complete

 if we did not read the passages detailing the story

of Christ and His birth found in Luke...

We take our time reading through these passages, 

savoring them and discussing the events together.

So, what are you doing to prepare your heart for the coming of the King??

He is coming again... and it just may be soon...

"Stir us up, O Lord, to make ready for your only-begotten Son.  

May we be able to serve you with purity of soul through the coming 

of Him who lives and reigns."  Advent Prayer