Advent Devotion: December 8

Revelation 21:3-4

What is heaven going to be like?  It’s a question many people have tried to answer whether it’s books, movie, paintings, songs, or something else.  The reality is that we don’t know, the Bible tells us very little about heaven or what will happen to us when we get there.  But it’s fun to imagine it, when I was younger I thought that heaven would have this huge movie theater you could go to but the only movies you could watch where stories from the Bible and you would use your Bible as a remote. 

It’s fun to imagine what Heaven will be like but all we know for sure is that it will be amazing because we will be with God.  These verses are telling us it’s okay to look forward to heaven sometimes.  When God saves us he not only saves us to live a new life here on earth he also saves us to live in heaven with him forever.

Activity: Talk about what you think Heaven will be like, what would you like it to be like?

Advent Devotion: December 7

Revelation 21:1-2

I love the first day of school, everything feels new and fresh.  You might have new pencils, paper, erasers, and more.  You might even have a new outfit or maybe just a new pair of pants.  I never like school much but I always loved the first day because it was the start of something new.  When we become a Christian, God calls us into a new life, we are to live differently, treat people differently, and be like Jesus.  Being a Christian is kind of like the first day of school everything is new again it’s an exciting time and that’s what God calls us to in our new life.

Activity: Write some early New Year’s resolutions, specifically focusing on how you can better follow Jesus in 2018.

Advent Devotion: December 6

Isaiah 43:20-21

Do you have a pet, maybe a dog or a cat?   What do you have to do with that pet?  Feed it, take it for walks, brush it, pet it.  You have to care for it and make sure that all it’s needs are taken care of.  And in return it will love you back or if it’s a cat at least tolerate you.  These verses talk about how the wild animals honor God because he cares for them.  Our animals will often love and honor us because we care for them.  In the same way we should honor God by how we live our life and treat other people because God cares for us. 

Activity: What are some ways you can honor God?  Everyone in the family should write down at least one and try to do that by the end of the week. 

Advent Devotion: Dec 5

Isaiah 43:18-19

The Bible can be confusing sometimes, yesterday we learned about how God has cared for and protected his people, but this verse says forget the former things and do not dwell on the past.  These verses seem to contradict each other, but if you look at them together what God is actually saying is, yes I’ve done all these amazing things but that doesn’t stop me from doing new things as well.  God keeps working in our lives, he wants us to focus on the future.  What is God going to do in your life whether it be through school or work or a friend or family member. 

I recently watched Disney’s Meet the Robinsons, It’s an early CG movie from the mid 2000’s but the theme of the movie is about an inventor named Lewis and his motto is keep moving forward.  So keep moving forward in life and trust that God will take care of everything. 

Activity: Choose a few toys or clothes to donate to a charity for Christmas this year. 

Advent Devotion: December 4

Isaiah 43:16-17

God has done mighty things for his people, these verses highlight just a few of the things that God has done such as bringing the Israelites safely across the red sea under Moses, God says we should trust him because we can see and read about the things that he has done in the past.

But God hasn’t only cared for the Israelites, he also cares for all his people and that includes us as followers of Jesus, so how has Jesus cared for you in the past?   Remember that and say a quick thank you for giving us so much.  

Activity: List one way that Jesus has cared for you.

Advent Devotion: December 3rd: It's a Wonderful Life

If you’ve never seen the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life it’s worth digging up a copy.  You might need to make sure your kids are at least in elementary school to enjoy it but it’s a wonderful movie and story.  If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it here’s a brief summary. 

George Bailey has spent his life giving to the people of Bedford Falls and runs a building and loan company.  His uncle Billy loses $8,000 and George knows he will be held responsible and thrown in jail for theft.  He believes his life has been a failure and a waste and contemplates killing himself believing everyone will be better off.  But he is saved by the prayers of his family and an angel named Clarence who shows him how much he has helped and changed the lives of many people.  Ultimately George learns that he has touched the lives of many people in a positive way and that his is truly a wonderful life. 

There are so many lessons and messages that this movie can teach us but one of the most important ones is found in the interaction between Clarence and George.  Clarence jumps into the river to save George from killing himself.  Clarence, of course, is an angel sent by God to save George and show him how much his life is worth.  That basic message is that God often reaches out to us during our lowest points in life.  It’s true in George Bailey’s life and it’s true in our lives as well. 

He did this in the life of Joseph and Gideon in the Old Testament and in Peter and Paul’s life in the New Testament.  When we feel at our lowest point God will be with us to help us get through it.  He might do it through reading a passage from the Bible or from a good friend or family member or some other way but we know that God will be with us.

Another lesson we learn is that God wants us to look forward and focus on the life ahead of us. 

Read Isaiah 43:16-21

Here, God tells Israel that he is doing a new thing in their lives.  He says forget the things of the past and look to the future.  What has happened in the past, whether it’s good or bad, we can’t change.  Instead focus on all the opportunities in life ahead of you and trust that God will work it out. 

Activity: Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, together as a family and then discuss a few questions.

· What did Clarence do to help George?

· Why is George so happy when he finally gets back to his normal reality?

· What can we be thankful for that might seem ordinary in our lives?

Advent Devotion: December 13

John 1:1-5

One of my favorite Christmas Movie’s is Elf, starring Will Ferrell.  The movie is all about a man who was raised as an elf trying to understand the normal world.  In the movie Buddy the elf, learns that he is not just an elf but also, a man, a brother, a boyfriend, a son, and more.  Just like Buddy we all have different roles to play in life.  We might be a, brother or sister, mom or dad, son or daughter, friend, student, or many more. 

These first verses in John are kind of confusing but what the Bible is saying is that Jesus is God and has been God since the beginning even though he was only born as a man, 2000 years ago.  It’s hard to understand but the important thing to remember is that God loves us so much he became a man and came to earth to save us.

Activity: Talk about the different you have in life, do you have a favorite?