What’s Advent About Anyway?

The Christmas holiday season is almost here! Many people are starting to get excited. Are you?

Have you wondered what the Advent season is about? What is the goal? Why do people participate? What value does it bring to your modern, extremely busy life – especially during a hectic month?

I’d like to tell you a bit more about Advent and why people still participate. Advent starts soon. It’s only days away.

The Advent Season has been celebrated for many years with rich meaning. Historically, an advent marks the arrival of a notable person or event. The notable person celebrated at Christmas is Jesus, and the event is the birth of God – becoming a human being! What a striking event!

God became a baby, born into the human tree. Wow. This requires a response! So much more than just traditions, gifts and wrappings, special foods and decorations, fabulous music – Christmas gives you a lovely opportunity to respond to this amazing event. Advent helps you celebrate joyfully with a time frame and a bit of structure to help you prepare your heart.

Often, a wreath with candles is used during Advent, lighting a new candle on each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. (This pix shows a portion of my own Advent wreath.) There are various tools, books, and devotionals that can add meaning to your traditional Advent celebration. I’d like to tell you about a wonderful tool.

This Tool is Great!

Celebrate Advent: A Life-Response to Emmanuel
$9.95 Add to cart

Celebrate Advent: A Life Response to Emmanuel is a little book I wrote to help people participate in Christmas Advent. It is my most popular book. The cover is festive, colorful, and inviting. When you open it, you see a layout that is easy to use. Attractive scroll artwork graces the pages of this book. Even with a full Christmas schedule, you can intentionally prepare your heart to welcome Christ in a few minutes each day. This tool is a fantastic, easy “add in” to help you remain focused in your Christmas preparations.

Here’s How It Works

This book is compact: short and sweet. It focuses on very short passages from Isaiah which are printed on the left page of the book so you don’t have to look them up. The book of Isaiah is filled with encouragement and truth. Then there is a brief thought on the right page for you to read followed by a few lines where you can record anything the Lord impresses on your heart as you read. Days 1-25 of Celebrate Advent are designed to inspire a response at Christmas that will affect your life all year.

Days 26-31 are designed to help you think about how you will live in the coming New Year. Use these days to set a fresh perspective by bringing elements you learn during the Advent month forward into the New Year. Ask the Lord to give you new understanding of His plan to become a baby in the human family tree.

Open your heart to simply receive Emmanuel just as the manger received the innocent, pure Baby Jesus. Let your life be the welcoming dwelling place of the infant King as the stable welcomed His birth. Let Him grow up in you as you determine that “He must become greater; I must become less.” (Jn. 3:30)

What is the Goal of Advent?

God loves you so much! That is why He became a human – Jesus, born in a manger. His life purpose was to be the sacrifice, our Savior, for all sins against God. He also is a model of how to live in close relationship with God. Now, you and I have hope of forgiveness and eternal life by a simple life response of trusting Jesus. We can live in God’s holiness. God’s love for you is fleshed out through Jesus. The goal of Christmas Advent is to focus on Jesus. To draw close to God by faith. To know His joy and love. And once you live inside God’s love and joy, you realize it is your privilege to respond with your life to Emmanuel. (How to become a Christian)

Order your copy of Celebrate Advent: A Life Response to Emmanuel. It’s a resource to help you draw close to the Lord this Christmas! December is right around the corner, so order now! You won’t regret your decision to use this wonderful tool this December.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Books make great gifts. They are affordable and keep on giving for years. Check out gift options that help people get into God’s Word.

Connect with Us and Get a FREE Resource!

SIGN UP and get – “How To Turn Scripture Into An Alive and Active Life” with practical ideas to refresh your Bible Study.

You will also receive weekly inspiring articles to read. If you are super busy, you can listen and multi-task, using the web player at the top of each article – OR – subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

Bookstore

Been Lied To?

May 29, 2023

Have you ever been lied to? I’m guessing you have. I have, too. It’s a devastating experience. You don’t know who to trust going forward. Consequently, that’s the power of a lie. It tears down trust and ruins what could otherwise be healthy and dependable. Although it’s become more common – even normal – to lie, all lies come from one place. Jesus identifies that source. Read More …

When You Need Something Sharp

May 22, 2023

Some days you need a newspaper. Other days, you need money from your bank. Still other days, you need a prescription for illness. More than not, you need your phone – or some other form of technology. Then there’s the day you need a good friend to talk to. But more often than you might expect, are days when you need something sharp – like a sword! For protection, accuracy, carving away, cutting a path, and making a point.

As we explore this content, I hope to provide a word picture you can take forward into daily challenges. Let’s face it. In today’s world, you need a practical tool that’s reliable, effective, safe, and strong. And it needs to be applicable and versatile with current life issues. So – you need something sharp. Read More …

A Resource For Better Thinking

May 15, 2023

I remember as a kid how excited I was when school let out for summer. That meant – freedom and fun. Then there’s the happy childhood memory of when I received a beautiful “Little Girl Lotion-Perfume” set from my grandmother at Christmas. As an adult, I’ve been thrilled when I owe less taxes than I thought – or get an extra bonus day off work. And at any age, there’s the joy of seeing new daffodils, tulips, and lilacs starting to share color and fragrance in spring. But nothing compares to how thrilled I was when I discovered a “Thinking Grid” in my Bible – a resource for better thinking! Read More …

Sometimes It Takes A Third Party

May 8, 2023

I don’t think there’s a person alive who doesn’t sometimes need a third party in some way. Surely, you’ve been there. I know I have. When you’ve done all you can, when you’ve reached the end of your knowledge or resources, when you simply can’t see clearly . . . that’s when it takes a third party!

Here’s the backstory . . . Read More …

When The Coffee Isn’t Good

May 1, 2023

I had a coffee nook some years ago. I LOVED IT! My favorite place to visit first thing in the morning was this little spot in my kitchen. Half awake with blurry eyes and a groggy brain, my slippers dragged me toward the coffee nook. And much as I’d like, my French Press didn’t make coffee on its own. So, in a drowsy state, I found it’s best to wake up a bit before making coffee. All it takes is one miscalculation to ruin the coffee. Too much. Too little. Knocking it over. Forgetting cream or sugar. That’s when the coffee isn’t good.

But there are more times the coffee isn’t good – in your daily life – even if you don’t like coffee! Read More …

It’s Your Choice

April 24, 2023

Do you ever get tired of making choices? You make them all day long! If you had to keep track of all your choices, you’d have thousands to track. God gave choice to each individual. Yet choice also brings significant responsibility to make informed, good decisions. Because choices can be overwhelming sometimes, you need support and assistance. Still, at the end of the day, it’s your choice. What will you do? Read More …

What’s Advent About Anyway?

Celebrate Advent: A Life-Response to Emmanuel