The Journey to Advent

I have a little sign above my kitchen sink that reads, "Enjoy the Journey".  I forget it's there, honestly, but every once in a while it catches my eye or imagination and I'm reminded of what it means to enjoy (take pleasure in something) life.  This journey in life, in Mothers Together, in parenthood, in marriage, in relationships, in hoping for something better or different can seem long but it's in the journey where God raises up in us an unshakeable faith and strength built for eternity.  There's a part of us that is just directly wired to desire eternity and complete perfection; wrongs made right, and we get anxious on our journeys for God to move in our world instead of us in His.  That's really what Advent is all about, isn't it?  God's people waited for their Messiah. We wait for His return.  Celebrating Advent is supposed to be a way of life, but instead of lighting candles it's lived out in our hearts, minds, words, and actions. It's in the wait, in these journeys God has prepared for us, where we get the honor and privilege of faith and hope.  Faith in a God who is who He says He is and hope in a Savior who does what He says He can do.

Enjoy these Bible verses with me this week and consider where you are in your own journey.  Is your waiting filled with an expectant hope and joy?  I pray it is and continues to only be more-so in the days ahead.

(Micah was a prophet in Judah during a war-stricken time nearly 700 years before Jesus' arrival.) Micah 7:7- "But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me."

Psalm 39:7- “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."

Lamentations 3:25-"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

How beautiful are these words in Isaiah 30:18- "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."

Heavenly Father, I look forward to waiting on you in 2014!

Merry Christmas, MT
Jena M.

Hospitality - Welcome to my Home

​The idea of entertaining people in my home has greatly intimidated me in the past.  Even though I enjoyed it when it happened, it wasn’t something I volunteered to do often.  Our family hosted an annual Halloween party for a few years and occasionally my husband and I invited a couple over for dinner and board games, but the work that went into preparing took days!!  So, when the idea of an “open door” policy was introduced to me initially, it created a lot of anxiety in me.  Not only do I fight with comparison of my home, furniture, and decor, but even more that our real life won’t measure up, that our family, friends, and neighbors would find me somehow lacking as a wife, mother and homemaker.  

​Ironically, about this same time I found myself invited into a discipling relationship, invited into someone elses life, and this “open door” policy was not only modeled well, but this was the main tool used to point me towards Jesus and His Word.  Each time she hosted me, whether at her place of employment, a coffee shop, or her home she exuded hospitality and servanthood.  I found this relationship and everything it ignited in me so captivating that our surroundings always reflected the light shining from it.  Months went by which included numerous visits to her home and I experienced grand tablescapes and candles to laundry piled in the hallway and pitching in to do the dishes.  The biggest transition took place, we become family.  

​We recently moved, and now one of the things we look forward to the most is not entertaining our family, friends and neighbors, but hosting them in our home with an “open door” policy. This is NOT because the new house is bigger or better or newer, because it’s not!  It’s because now we see our home as an opportunity to provide a safe, loving, and nurturing place to grow friendships and build the family God makes.

​So, please, consider this your invitation!  We can sit back, put our feet up on an unpacked box, and over a cup of coffee share what God’s doing in our lives.

- Nanette H.

Family Fun Christmas Ideas

Tis the Season!  The holidays are upon us…and so is the hustle and bustle that comes with them.  That’s why this post will be short and sweet!  This year, I want you to take time to SLOW down and really enjoy this holiday season with your family.  A blog post I read the other day reiterated this same sentiment and I thought it was worth reading…hopefully you will too!  If you have the time, check it out: http://www.vitafamiliae.com/to-the-mamas-of-littles-during-the-holidays/.  In the meantime, here are just a few ideas to add a little sparkle to your holidays!

T  Make gingerbread cookies or a house and have fun decorating with frosting, sprinkles, and candy…it’s messy but fun and yummy too!  If you and your family aren’t too keen on gingerbread, mix up some regular sugar cookie dough (I hear Betty Crocker has a great mix J).  Break out the Christmas cookie cutters and let the fun begin!

T  Make a snowman ornament out of Styrofoam.  We made these one year for parent gifts when I was teaching.  I loved how easy and fun they were for the kids…plus they make wonderful little gifts or you can keep it for your own tree! 

*You need Styrofoam balls of a size of your choosing (we used a 2 ½” one).  Children can simply use markers for the eyes but glitter glue or googly eyes are super fun too!  Tiny pom poms, pipe cleaners, felt or other material can be used for the nose.  The mouth can be created using markers, glitter glue or yarn.  Finally, for the hat, use an old sock.  Cut off a section and roll back one of the cut edges to make a rim.  Secure by gluing onto the ball. To decorate the hat, simply tie a ribbon around the top.  For a little added fun, slide a small jingle bell onto the ribbon before tying.  Instead of a hat, make earmuffs for your snowman by gluing a strip of fabric or ribbon across the top of his head and adding pom poms over his “ears.”  Below is a sample picture (and no, our 2 ½ year old did not make this one!).  

T  Discuss different Holidays Around the World and how other countries celebrate (or don’t celebrate) Christmas and the New Year.  Many other countries celebrate with unique traditions, foods and crafts. 

For many, the holidays are a joyous and celebratory time but I recognize this isn’t the case for everyone.  No matter what your circumstances are, my prayer is that you and your family can find a little joy…a little light this holiday season.

Happy Christmas to all!

Julie Collett

Advent...an exercise in Discipling

Cover of Waiting for the King 
Copyright 2008 Crossroads crossroads.net

As I look around at the busy store aisles crammed with holiday decorations, displays emblazoned with words describing this year's "it" gifts, and brightly colored lights and garlands hung from every possible surface I wonder how I can give my kids a taste of the true holiday behind the glorious madness.  How can I teach them what we are really celebrating?  How can I give them strong roots in our faith so they may one day branch out and teach their own children the truth nestled in the midst of the fluff?

I believe that celebrating the season of Advent as a family is an exercise in discipling that can strengthen those roots in me and help them take hold in my kids so they have a connection to hold on to as they grow and branch out in the future.  In Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen and Steve Cockram there is an excellent chapter on "What It Means To Learn" (Ch. 3).  They point out that, "the Greek word for 'disciple' (is) mathetes," which directly translates as learner.  And discipleship on some level means we are "orienting our lives around becoming lifelong learners of Jesus."

The chapter goes on to discuss a bit about how we learn.  Essentially there are three main ways we learn.  We may each have one way that speaks to us more than the others, but as Breen and Cockram put it, "we learn best when there is a dynamic interplay between all three at one time."  First you have the traditional classroom or lecture style which involves a teacher "passing on facts, thoughts, processes and information" to a student.  The second way is through an apprentice-type relationship - learning from someone who knows (and was once a pupil themselves).  In other words, watching a knowledgeable person work with or implement the knowledge you are trying to acquire.  In discipling relationships (as with other apprenticeships) it is about investment.  "Someone invests their time, energy, skills and life into ours, teaching us to do what they do."  The third way we learn is through immersion - when you learn almost passively by being surrounded by a particular environment, setting or culture and picking things up through experience.  "The key to immersion is having access to the culture you are hoping to shape you." Celebrating Advent as a family can employ all three learning methods, helping to strengthen the roots of our faith.

The word advent comes from a Latin word meaning "coming."  We have an opportunity to refocus a bit during the four weeks leading up to Christmas... to anticipate the celebration of the coming of the Christ child by learning about where he came from.  This Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and many of our kids made paper plate advent wreaths (though my son's immediately became a crown which he wore all the way home).  There was also a handout detailing an activity (lighting a candle (or candles), reading a scripture passage, and saying a blessing) to do as a family each Sunday of Advent.

If you would like ideas for creating an Advent Wreath look back here at our Advent post from last year.  With your Advent Wreath (or circle of candles, etc.) and the handout you have all you need to do your weekly Advent activity!  This first Sunday in Advent you light the first (purple) candle - the Candle of Hope which reminds us that God foretold the coming of His Son.  Read Romans 15:12, 13, "And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.' My the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Say the blessing, "Oh, Lord, fill us with a longing for You. Help us all to be open and eager, as we wait for Your coming with joy and excitement. In the busy days ahead, keep us in Your sight. Let us remember that it is You, our Lord, for whom we are preparing. In our fervor to welcome You in the royal way, it is so easy to forget how warmly You wish to be greeted. Oh, sweet Jesus, thank You for loving us. Amen."

If you would like to dive a little deeper into the "coming" of Jesus a Jesse Tree is a great way to learn more about "The Root of Jesse."  The tree is "named after the Jesse who was the father of David, the first royal branch in the tree of the Messiah to come." (A Jesus Advent Celebration by Ann Voskamp, 2010)  Each day during Advent there is a scripture passage to read, sometimes a prayer or discussion, and an ornament to hang that corresponds to the scripture read.

There are many resources out there for Jesse Tree devotionals and ornaments to print, make, or buy.  Ann Voskamp came out with a new book this year, The Greatest Gift, that leads adults (and older kids) on the Jesse Tree journey (when you buy the book you have access to beautiful printable ornaments to put on the tree each day).

If you have small kids a hands-on option with crafts (and optional printable ornaments if you don't want to do all of the crafts - or are like me and get behind and almost give up...just me?) is Truth in the Tinsel (An Advent Experience for Little Hands) by Amanda White.  Go to the website, purchase the e-book and you will have a daily Clue, Scripture, Ornament, Talk, and opportunity for More.  Again, if you are like me and maybe not ready for a daily activity there are alternate schedules included that focus on different things (Just the Basics, By Books of the Bible, Characters, Prophecy).

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love technology.  If you lean in that direction and ebooks and websites are more your thing, head over HERE for an online Advent calendar with links, videos, ebooks, etc. to help you and your kids celebrate Advent.  Crossroads is the church my family and I were a part of when we lived in Cincinnati and I love, love, LOVE these resources.  The video for day 1 is one of my favorite depictions of the story of Jesus' birth.

However you journey through the Advent season, use it as an opportunity to disciple your kids.  Tell them the stories, read the scripture, show them how to set up the Advent Wreath or the Jesse Tree, let them help with the activities so they are learning by doing, make (at least some of) the crafts or ornaments together so they are immersed in the journey through Christ's roots.

- Katrina K.