Advent plans

I get excited about advent. Probably more so than about Christmas day itself. I love the lights, markets, mulled wine- and I love advent calendars and nativity scenes. I could happily fill our home with them (not that that would take long!) Instead of just filling my pinterest board with loads of lovely ideas I thought I would share a few of them here. 

A couple of years ago I discovered an advent activity for children called 'Truth in the Tinsel.' It's an e-book that takes you through the Christmas story, with a scripture to read and an ornament for little hands to make each day. What really impacted me about this was the philosophy behind the writing of this book, based on this bible verse:

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

The author rightly points out how big, bright and exciting Christmas is, and she wants to harness that to excite her children about Jesus. 

We tried 'Truth in the Tinsel' last year. It's very craft based and my children are not- they enjoyed the first few days of crafts, and we displayed them on some Christmassy branches that we have. They loved hanging their decorations on the tree; I loved having a visual display of the Bible story of Christmas (I'm sure to anyone else it looked like some badly painted toilet rolls but we liked it!) Once they went off the craft side of things, I did a hide and seek game with a Bible verse and ornament hidden round the house every morning. 

We did what we set out to do, that is, we talked about Jesus and read from the Bible every day during advent, and they had fun doing it. 

For younger children one of my favourite websites for advent activities is sunhatsandwellieboots I got the 'hide and seek wisemen' idea from here, and she has plenty more. 

My favourite story Bible EVER is the Jesus Storybook Bible. Beautiful words and beautiful illustrations. Everyone should read it, no matter their age. Having said that, it is too wordy for both my children just yet.   Faithgateway have a free printable advent calendar based on this book (just sign up for their newsletters.) As much as I want my children to fall in love with this book, I am probably going to leave this one till next year. 

The most famous Bible-based advent plan seems to be the Jesse Tree. There are loads of resources and descriptions out there but the one I keep hearing about is by Ann Voskamp. I have my eye on this book (which amazon says isn't even out yet- what?! It's November!) But I have decided instead to get this- not for the children, just for me. I can hardly wait for December to start it. And actually, the most effective way I find of talking to my children about Jesus is when I am immersed in discovering him for myself and it becomes part of my everyday conversation.

Bring on the glitter.

Standing on holy ground

When Job’s three friends... heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.  Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

When things got tough with Alice's illness, one of the greatest comforts to me were my friends, who came and sat with me. They cried with me, prayed with me, brought food. Mostly they were just there. 

Now it is my turn to do the same for my friends who are going through tough times. They taught me well, my friends, on how to be there for someone who is in the depths. And honestly, seeing their faith in action in the midst of trouble is nothing short of amazing. They choose to believe in His goodness and to trust Him even when nothing makes sense.

Brokenness is a holy place. 

I grew up attending a church with a crucifix on the wall. The image of Jesus' broken body- the ultimate image of brokenness. After a few years they replaced it with an image of the resurrected Jesus with arms outstretched in welcome. 

The truth is, we need both. Yes, Jesus is victorious, the triumphant King, but first he was broken. 

We have a God who chose to share in our brokenness. And so in our lowest moments we can know Him like never before. And we can trust that he will bring us through, to share in his victory. 

So if your friend is sitting in the dust like Job, show up. Take cake or chocolate or soup. If you don't know what to say, don't say anything. Listen, pray, sit. 

You may well meet Jesus there.

An autumn walk

Now that both children are at school and nursery, Friday mornings have become my quiet time. A couple of weeks ago I took some time out from the to-do list and went for a walk in the lovely Victoria Park.

As I walked the treasures from God's word that I had been reading that week were in my mind, and I found myself in a bit of a conversation with him. It felt like going for a walk with Jesus.

It made me long for Heaven, and to imagine what it will be like when we can really walk with him.

Then, studying the Bible with my friends this week, this verse really struck me:

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3)


God used to walk in the garden with Adam and Eve. And even after they had disobeyed, He came looking for them.

We were made to walk and talk with Him.

We lost that privilege. But Jesus got it back for us.

Looking up

I recently discovered a writer whose every word has me hooked and whose story has me in tears. She does a wonderful thing on instagram called 'Adoration'. Every day she shares one aspect of God's character with a Bible verse, and encourages us to 'look up', to fix our eyes on him and praise him.

I love it. It's like hoarding a little piece of treasure in my heart every day.

Those treasures add a different light, a different perspective, to my everyday.

The emphasis is on praise but it is affecting the way I intercede for others too. As I get to know the Giver better I can more easily imagine the gifts he is just waiting to bestow.

And I am discovering anew that when we let His Word in, He draws close and whispers to us.

Most of you know that Alice recently had another day in hospital and another operation. Compared to previous hospital stays, this one should have been child's play. And she did brilliantly. But I didn't do so well. Normally I can steel myself to face whatever is coming, but this time I just couldn't. Dave had to handle to hard stuff like anaesthetics as the memories of previous hospital visits were taking their toll on me.


Then I looked at my verse for the day, and it went straight to my heart.

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

He knew. He knew my mother's heart which ached for my child having yet more procedures and medicines. And he was there with the very words which I needed to hear. I was able to be the child and rest on his lap.

http://everybitterthingissweet.com/adoration/adoration-explained/

Stories

I started this blog as a way to share the story of what God was doing in my heart. I carried it on because I wanted to put into words the glimpses of heavenly perspective that God was giving on my children's stories.

I keep coming across this view in other people's blogs. They are aware that God is doing something amazing, and the way they express it is to say 'He's writing my story'. They very often say something along the lines of  'I didn't know it would be so hard; I didn't know it would be so beautiful.'

The story of the Bible basically goes- God creates- man messes up- God fixes.
Our lives- our stories- show the wounds, the tell-tale signs of the 'man messing up' bit, whether directly through our own actions or just because we live in a broken world.
But once we allow the Author of our lives access, he can start to mend.
Once we look for Him, we will see his handwriting, his signature.

'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.'*

No one wants to be brokenhearted. But it is oh so wonderful to have Him close. 




*Psalm 34:18