Advent, for me, has always been a sanctuary for slowing down.
More than just reducing busyness, I am intentionally trimming expectations and taking time to slow down to hush the noisy clamour within my soul.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
John G Whittier
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace
At this moment of Advent, I feel God’s gentle reminder to hush the hurry, still my soul, and enjoy the season.
Derived from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming or arrival,” Advent extends to us God’s sacred invitation.
It calls us to pause amid our very busy lives, create the space our souls really need and prepare our hearts and homes for the coming King.
So every day during Advent, we gather our children around the kitchen island, play Christmas melodies in the background and intentionally slow to sit together and savour the Word.
We delve into God’s story our Advent Reading Plan! It has a special focus on understanding God’s grand narrative of salvation and what that story means to us!
And I know, this isn’t just about going through the motions; it’s an invitation to allow our children to experience Christmas in a way that extends beyond the festivities and the gifts.
Because this is what we know: embracing the true spirit of Christmas means staying connected to the Story— and allowing His story to touch our own story, so we can rewrite our life story through God’s love story, and simply, live our lives forward.
Stories, as we know, are powerful.
In various realms, from corporate leadership to personal anecdotes, storytelling has emerged as a crucial skill.
When I interview clients about their childhoods, they often encapsulate their entire experience in the form of a story.
Stories carry meaning, encapsulating truths that resonate in our hearts and communicating very profound messages.
But consider this: What if the Christmas story could illuminate the path of our own narrative?
What if understanding God’s grand plan changes the inner script that dictates what we believe about our lives and ourselves?
Our Special Advent Reading Plan
Our Advent Reading Plan covers in 24 days the big stories of the Bible from Creation to the Creche, the moment of Jesus’ birth. It doesn’t cover everything, but it will get us started in discovering how God’s story connects with our stories.
As you journey through God’s wonderful narrative of redemption, you will experience the joy and hope of discovering the greatest miracle of all time!
The Overall Plan
This is how the big narrative is broken down from Creation to the Creche:
God’s Creation and the Fall of Man
- Genesis of Identity: Creation’s Blueprint — Genesus 1-2 (read post here)
- Fractured Reality: The Fall’s Impact — Genesis 3
- Jesse’s Shoot: God’s Redemptive Design Unveiled — Isaiah 11
- Rise Above: God’s Call Amidst the Flood — Genesis 6-9
God’s Promise to Bless All Nations Through Hid People
- Abraham’s Promise: Blueprint of Blessings — Genesis 12
- Isaac & The Promised Fulfillment: Laughter is the Face of Faith — Genesis 17
- Isaac & The Birth of Faith: Nothing is Impossible for God — Genesis 21
- Isaac & Provision: The Test of the Heart — Genesis 22
- Jacob’s Ascent: Stairway to Ultimate Connection — Genesis 28
- Joseph’s Tapestry: You are Never Undone — Genesis 37
God’s Covenant with Israel
- Passover’s Liberation: Promise of Deliverance — Exodus 12
- Covenant of Love: Words Meant for Human Hearts — Deuteronomy 5-6
- Rahab’s Rescue: Scarlet Thread of Salvation — Joshua 2-4
Israel’s Divided Kingdom: Of Kings and Prophets
- David’s Heart: Anointing Beyond Appearance — 1 Samuel 8, 16
- Solomon’s Wisdom: Heart of Glory — 1 Kings 8,9
- Ruth’s Radiance: From Tragedy to Triumph — Ruth 1-4
- Elijah’s Call: Who Will You Worship —1 Kings 18-19
- Isaiah’s Life: Messiah Is Our Light — Isaiah 9,11
- Isaiah’s Message: The Suffering King for Us — Isaiah 52-53
- Jonah & The Tempest: The Gift of Storm — Jonah 1-3
- Habakkuk’s Watch: Vision is Birthed in the Valley – Habakkuk 2-3
The Promise Fulfilled
- A Powerful Seed: The Miracle of Foretold — Matthew 1
- Mary: A Space for God — Matthew 2-3, Luke 1
- Messiah, He Comes!: A Prophetic Fulfillment — Luke 2
And Friends, may I just invite you to take a moment to join our Advent Reading Plan and embark on a journey that goes beyond a busy routine—a journey that rewrites the true meaning of Christmas into your life.
Grab one for the kids as well. Simply click here or the picture below
May you be simply blessed in this season!
xx Liza