Advent was a foreign principle to me until a few years ago. I jumped into the Christmas season as soon as the the clock struck midnight and signified that October was past and November had begun. It took many years for me to realize the significance of cultivating a longing for the birth of Christ.
Now, I realize the benefit of seeking to develop a season not of celebration, but of yearing for the coming of Christ. Of course, that’s not to say I don’t do my fair share of celebrating throughout the season but I try to savor the waiting and to spend the Twelve Days of Christmas celebrating the first arrival of Christ and anticipating the day He returns.
But this yearning doesn’t happen on its own.
Left to itself, the draws of endless stream of commercialism and celebration would take over my heart. I have to cultivate a desire to long for Christ by what I allow into my home and my mind.
The first year, I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. I ordered an Advent wreath for my table and fumbled through what I thought might be appropriate prayers as I lit the candles every night at dinner. It was a little awkward and very simple. But it was lovely.
It created a space for the season of longing to be beautiful. Dinner by candlelight not only added a wonderful ambiance to our evenings, but brought our minds to a quieter place to reflect and draw near to God.
It made me hungry for more and I began searching for ways to mark the Advent season as one of importance.
I have found a few things over the years that I have loved and each year, I fall more in love with some of the ways God has moved the hearts of others to signify the season.
That’s why I wrote His Name Shall Be Called. I wanted to create a resource to help you stop and center your heart around longing for Jesus and all that He is this Advent season.
Here are a few other books and resources to help create a beautiful Advent season in your home.
Some of the links below are affiliates meaning that I receive a small portion (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to purchase as a result. I promise to only post links to items that I truly believe in.
Music:
Behold the Lamb of God – Andrew Peterson
The Light Came Down – Josh Garrels
Sacred Ordinary Days Advent Playlist
Salvation is Created – Bifrost Arts
The Advent Project – Willow Creek Church
The Joy of an Irish Christmas – Keith and Kristyn Getty
Advent to Christmas – Page CXVI
Books and Studies:
His Name Shall Be Called (My new ebook! Coming November 27th)
Dawning of Industructible Joy – John Piper
The Greatest Gift – Ann Voskamp
O Come Let Us Adore Him – Paul Tripp
For Your Home:
Jesse Tree (Ornaments and Family Devotionals)
“O Come, Let Us Adore Him” Mug
For The Kids:
Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift
The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats
General Advent Resources:
Ancient-Future Time – Robert Webber
Every Moment Holy – Douglas McKelvey
I hope these resources bless you this Advent season.
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Wow! So many great resources. I appreciate how you honestly said you stumbled through your first advent but felt it was so important. What a picture of us as Christians. How often we do stumble but keeping our focus on our Lord steadies us and keeps us going!
What a great list of resources!
This is lovely and I enjoy your honesty!
I love nativity scenes. I leave one out year round.
Excellent resources. Pinning this. I’ll be referencing throughout the season!!
Fantastic list! Thank you for sharing this! I usually get swallowed up in the festivities and about halfway through, I remember, ‘Oh yeah! It’s about Jesus!’ Thanks for providing resources that will keep me more focused!
Keith and Krystin Getty are awesome! We actually got to hear them in concert on Reformation Day!
“I have to cultivate a desire to long for Christ by what I allow into my home and my mind.” – Amen. It’s overwhelming and, at times, sickening the commercial madness of this season. It makes my heart heavy. I hadn’t celebrated or even heard of Advent, until my husband and I found our first church together. This particular truly embraced the Advent season and it was so refreshing to learn something new in my faith. It’s been a few years since my first Advent season, and this year we don’t have a church home. So my heart longs for the anticipation and celebration of the Christ child. This is an extremely helpful list! <3 Thank you for helping me find ways to celebrate in my home!
Lots of great ideas! Thank you for sharing!