Celebrating Christmas with your family.

Christmas is coming and we all know that many times we can get caught up in the business of the season. We don't always take time to celebrate Jesus' birth. Programs, parties, shopping, card writing, and what not can really busy our families and us. A suggestion I would like to make to you all is to consider having an Advent. My parents had us kids do this at home for a few years and I must say it was quite helpful in remembering the Reason for the season. I believe they used the book Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration by James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, James Montgomery Boice, and R. Sproul. You can find the book at Amazon for about $9.

Maybe it is time for you family to try something new this year. I have plans on starting this with my boys this year and I hope it will help them keep Christ in Christmas.

Other suggested reading:

The Season of Advent Anticipation and Hope by Dennis Bratcher

Celebrating Advent with Kids - How Make and Advent Candle Wreath

Advent Wiki

" And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

Luke 1:26-38 (KJV)