Advent Season is over, but we are currently in the 12 Days of Christmas. Here are a couple of books that you might want to purchase now during the "After Christmas Day Shopping Season" to put away for next Advent Season.
About the Book:
Guide kids and their families into the heart of Christmas with this gospel-focused, four-week Advent curriculum.
Prepare Him Room by children’s best-selling author Marty Machowski takes a biblical, theological approach to the Old Testament promises and New Testament fulfillment in Christ in a way kids can understand.
With age-appropriate instruction and activities for three different learning levels—preschool, lower elementary, and upper elementary—Prepare Him Room builds gospel hope and enduring theological depth into each child’s celebration of Christmas.
Prepare Him Room is a tool for families hoping to focus on Jesus during the Christmas season. Parents, teachers, and caregivers will find a whole Christmas story—from the prophecies concerning Jesus to his birth, death, and resurrection; culminating in the return of Jesus.
Readers will have the resources necessary to counter the commercialism, materialism, and sentimentalism our culture celebrates each Christmas.
Four weekly lessons feature a New Testament Bible story, a look at Old Testament promises, an object lesson, a craft, a coloring page, and a Christmas carol to sing together.
Prepare Him Room will change the way kids and families at your church celebrate Christmas. The corresponding curriculum Prepare Him Room is sold separately. Challenge your family to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
My Thoughts and Review:
Every year I always see my friends looking for an Advent book to use with their family. A few are out there, but none like this. Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski is a COMPLETE Advent Study Book. The book is very hands on with activities to do, songs to sing, verses to read and remember, and Bible reading time. I really appreciate that the activities are geared toward all ages.
One of my favorite activities in the book is the very first one, making an Advent Wreath. The Advent Wreath is an important part of Advent and to have one that is made by your own family is special!
If you are looking for a GREAT Family Advent Devotional, I HIGHLY recommend Prepare Him Room.
About the Book:
Know someone frazzled, sad, or lonely this Christmas? A Better December by Steve Estes applies Solomon’s Proverbs to holiday stresses. Playful and tiny, this illustrated work would be a good gift for your unbelieving friends as it gently introduces Jesus during a month when they are more receptive.
Combining true, heart-warming stories with pen-and-ink illustrations, the book uncovers and answers our December longings. Beginning with bite-sized chapters of Solomon's advice to frazzled, lonely people at Christmas, Steven Estes presents the ancient sage as penning his blockbuster Proverbs to help future readers through holiday stress and even sadness. Meant to be shared with all who long for a better December, it points the way to true comfort and a true home.
My Thoughts and Review:
December is a month that I have come to loathe. We are supposed to be celebrating the Advent season, but for many, like myself, it just brings added stress and loneliness. For some it also brings anxiety and/or depression. For me, I get major anxiety during December because I want everything to be PERFECT for my boys and to be able to get them what they want. Sometimes it isn't possible to get them everything they want and I fear they are going to "hate" me. For some people, it is they are missing a loved one or are lonely during the Holidays.
A Better December is an EXCELLENT book for anyone who experiences the fear of December. Steven Estes, the author, gives examples of why some experience the fear of December. He then uses Proverbs to give encouragement on how to put aside the specific fears and be able to enjoy the Advent Season and the month of December.
I can honestly say I truly wish I had this book a few years ago and been able to enjoy more holiday seasons with my boys and family!
I HIGHLY recommend this book for those who fear December and are looking for encouragement to be able to enjoy the Advent Seasons going forward!