Tis the season, friends, to focus our hearts on the coming Babe who changes everything! Advent is here, and we are l-o-v-i-n-g this season of anticipation, of holy, of grace. There are so many ways to prepare our hearts for Christmas, and several friends in the (in)courage community have used their gifts to create resources that will help us all to focus on the Reason for this sweet season. We thought we’d compile some of our favorites into one handy dandy list for you! Read on, click thru, be blessed.
The Ann Voskamp Collection, available at DaySpring.com, includes:
- The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas
- Sculpted Resin and Paper Jesse Tree Ornament Sets
- Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas
- The Greatest Gift Study Group DVD study
DaySpring’s Advent Calendars
There are Advent Tabletop Devotionals, a Peanuts Christmas Story Felt Advent Calendar, a gorgeous Taper Candle Holder from the Everlasting Light collection, and more!
Some of our favorite ways to celebrate the season from our community include:
- Grace for Moms Grow with Me Family Advent Experience
- Shaun Groves Christmas Vol. 1 album (available on iTunes)
- Amanda White’s Truth in the Tinsel: an Advent Experience for Little Hands
- She Reads Truth Advent plan
- Lara Williams, ‘then came Jesus’ study – also available in the Hello Mornings Advent Powerpack
- Naptime Diaries Advent Calendar + Devotional
- Anna Rendell’s A Moment of Christmas: daily Christmas devotions for time-strapped moms
- The (in)courage Christmas Countdown! Follow along on our Facebook page, and on Instagram and Twitter with #inChristmas, and be blessed by a daily image and scripture inspired by Ann Voskamp’s latest Advent book, Unwrapping the Greatest Gift.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which is an awesome way for us to support our friends and continue to do what we love to do for all of you!
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Phew! Do we know talented amazing people or what? As you prepare your hearts for Christmas, in whatever way is just right for you, know that you’re being prayed for and appreciated and loved by the (in)courage team. A blessed Advent season to you & yours.
How are you counting down the days to Christmas?
Are you using any of the resources listed here? We would love to hear!
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
(in)courage,
I have been loving my time reading Ann’s book, “The Greatest Gift” this Advent season. Even if I have to make an appointment with myself, it is crucial that I set aside the time each day to reflect on Jesus and what an unfathomable gift He is to our frail world. It’s hard to grumble when my heart is set on gratitude. Amidst the chaos of Christmas…I NEED this! Every day I decorate my Jesse Tree with one more of the beautiful paper ornaments as I watch the story come together. Thank you for beautiful and meaningful resources to help us focus on what this season is truly about.
Blessings,
Bev
ohAmanda says
Awww, thanks for including Truth in the Tinsel! Honored to be among like-minded, Christmas-lovin’ folks. There’s nothing like turning the magic of Christmas into worship of Jesus. I love it!
a
Michelle Anderson says
I’m following The Greatest Gift and She Reads Truth and loving both enormously!
Tara says
I’m not a Mom but am reading through Anna’s devotional. I also am reading the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp for the first time. Loving them both!
Carissa says
I love the advent prayer chain from a company called Weave. The have a print out to make a advent chain that leads my family in praying for those who don’t have Jesus everyday.
Angela Elliott says
Hi I am reading Ann Voskamp’s book “The Greatest Gift” this year for advent and loving it. I looked at the resin ornaments and the price said 300.00 dollars. Is that correct?
Crystal Stine says
Hi Angela! That’s the correct price for the resin ornaments – the paper ornaments are $30.
Donna@MoreThanHungry says
I put together a Swedish Style Advent Wreath this year (posted on my blog). I’m also participating in an on-line book club for Advent through the Henry Nouwen Society. It’s the first time in years I’ve done something special for Advent and I’m loving it.
Kelly Smith says
She Reads Truth has been a great way to start each day! I love the new life breathed into Old Testament scripture.
Joyce says
My Tuesday Bible study group is using Ann’s book, “The Greatest Gift” and will be using our Jesse tree ornaments at home. I really love the sculptured Jesse tree ornaments, but I cannot purchase them at this time.
Joy says
Thank you for sharing such wonderful resources!
This year we’re really enjoying the beautiful words and pictures each morning from Ann Voskamp’s UNWRAPPING THE GREATEST GIFT as we add ornaments to our Jesse Tree. In the evening we’re reading John Piper’s THE DAWNING OF INDESTRUCTIBLE JOY and then BARTHOLOMEW’S PASSAGE (from the JOTHAM’S JOURNEY trilogy) as our bedtime reading.
Our family is so thankful for those in our lives who have encouraged us to slow down, prepare our hearts and soak in the wonder of Advent.