Doorways Into Hope And Joy At Advent And Christmas

It's that time of year ?Advent and Christmas are supposed to be seasons of quiet anticipation and peaceful wonder. Yet, despite what the carol says, we have few silent nights and even fewer days when all is calm. Advent and Christmas have become times laden with every kind of expectation: work parties, school break-ups, present buying, heavy traffic, people to remember, and so on and on.These prayers are a little breather. A rest from the hype. A chance to just be ourselves for a moment, just as we are, with the God who wants to keep things simple. Hopefully these words and images can help turn the silly season into the sanity season. They aim to bring us closer to the one we love.

Often, Christmas can come and go far too quickly, leaving us in holiday whiplash and wishing we had been more intentional to prepare our hearts for the TRUE Reason for the season. This study aims to remind us why we celebrate Christmas and to be drawn into a deeper relationship with Christ as we consider the four aspects of the Christian faith represented by the Advent season: hope, peace, joy, and love.

“Do not be afraid” was the message brought by angels to four people, while telling them life-altering news. Anxiety would be any humans response to protecting themselves from hopes being dashed again, a dramatic change of plans, dreams being crushed or feeling exposed—no longer able to hide the truth. The lives of Zacharias, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds from 2000 years ago will show you that even though the packages of life may appear barren, God is indeed a gracious giver, that He comes to save lives, not destroy them—for he is a Savior and a dream re-maker. You are one of His favorites, and He can come into the darkest of lives, flooding them with brilliant beauty and grace. The messages are rock solid even for you today, ready to hold you steady, going forward with hope, joy, love and peace when you, too, fear what next might happen. Daily worship songs and activities will lead you to live loved as you are beloved, and the study questions are perfect for individual use, groups, or family devotions. You will find a page to journal on each day as well as full color photos to accompany the activities, a few recipes, and gift ideas that will help you make joyful traditions in your own family for generations to come.

As a girl, Alia Joy came face to face with weakness, poverty, and loss in ways that made her doubt God was good. There were times when it felt as if God had abandoned her. What she didn't realize then was that God was always there, calling her to abandon herself. In this deeply personal exploration of what it means to be "poor in spirit," Joy challenges our cultural proclivity to "pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps." She calls on readers to embrace true vulnerability and authenticity with God and with one another, showing how weakness does not disqualify us from inclusion in the kingdom of God--instead, it is our very invitation to enter in. Anyone who has struggled with feeling inadequate, disillusioned, or just too broken will find hope. This message is an antidote to despair, helping readers reclaim the ways God is good, even when life is anything but.

Our Hope and Expectation explores the Advent season and celebrates the joy of the twelve days of Christmas and the day of Epiphany. It includes daily devotions based on year B scripture readings (in the Revised Common Lectionary) for Sundays and festival days between the first Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2020) and Epiphany (January 6, 2021). In addition to devotions, the book offers household blessings and prayers to enrich your preparations and celebrations.

When we join a group, be it Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotary, or Kiwanis, we expect to give it time and energy to fulfill the mission of the group. If we don’t participate, we receive no benefits from our membership. We don’t join a family, God puts us into one, but the same thoughts apply. Being in a family that lives separately under one roof is a huge loss. God could predict this, so we have the passage in Deuteronomy 6, which is worth re-reading from time to time. Prepare Our Hearts will give you new thoughts about your Christmas celebrations. It may help you appreciate that many people before us have longed to be ready for the birth of the Christ child and have taken time to alter their patterns and make room for activities that inspire. Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, can be a wonder-filled time for families to begin the practice of gathering as a family for a common purpose. During Advent, we prepare our hearts, thoughts, and homes for the coming of the Christ child. It is a perfect time for sharing, reading Scripture, and special stores about Christmas, singing, praying, and lighting the candles in the Advent wreath. The family is encouraged to plan for others and enjoy activities together. Families need encouragement in our day when many forces intrude. Think seriously how your family lives in December. Use the suggestions to make your own traditions. Most importantly, don’t allow the precious years with your children to vanish into nothingness. Prepare Our Hearts will contribute to memory-making that will be remembered long after the gifts exchanged no longer fit or hold interest.

Prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ with this popular and inviting annual guide. During the especially busy Advent and Christmas seasons, this book offers brief, down-to-earth reflections that bring prayer and Scripture into everyday life in a thought-provoking and lasting way. Through Catherine Upchurch’s reflections on Lectionary readings from the weekday and Sunday Masses, readers will grow in their understanding of the word of God. This book will help busy people achieve their goal of enriching their prayer life during the seasons of Advent and Christmas.