For When You Don't Want to Miss Jesus this Holiday Season

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 God doesn't cut off all the big cheaters, bad liars, weaselly sneakers, battling brothers, fighting families, and brokenhearted from His family tree...He adopts all the messy and broken and imperfect people into His tree... 
-Ann Voskamp

It was December of 2008 and it had been a year like no other. The catalysing moment of the year being loosing my first husband and becoming a widow at age 24.

I was on a random trip to the Christian book store when a small collection of devotionals caught my eye. I didn't have much energy for deep Bible study in that season and I was nearing the completion of a degree that included classes in homiletics, hermeneutics, and the like. But I was certain I needed to be close to Jesus that Christmas in a way I never had before. So I bought that little devotional and thus began my journey into celebrating Advent, a tradition that has shaped my holiday season ever since. 

Even in the most difficult or overwhelming Christmas seasons practicing Advent has brought respite, even if only for a few minutes, each day of December. Every year I fear missing Jesus and every year I cling to Him through the hand of Advent.

Jesus comes right to your Christmas tree and looks at your family tree and says, "I am your Rescuer, and I will set you free from all the brokeness and sinfulness and sadness." -Ann Voskamp

Maybe upon reading the title of this post you dreaded thinking about the holiday season so early in November. But if you really want to hold onto Jesus this year the most important thing you can do is prepare your heart now.

Get your copy here

One way I'm preparing my heart is through Ann Voskamp's Unwrapping the Greatest Gift. This family celebration of Christmas is the perfect Advent resource for all ages and seasons of life. While the lovely full color illustrations and story format will hold children's attention the beautiful language and theological depth will go straight to the heart of any adult.

This exquisite hardcover book is heirloom quality and perfect for your coffee table. It will be a beautiful daily reminder this Christmas season of the love that came down for us. To set us free. To give us grace. And to offer a holiday that is about more than us. A holiday that is about an eternal gift to all of mankind.

 Jesus in the manger, who makes Himself bread for us who are hungry. Jesus the Savior in swaddlings, who rescues us from the darkness when we hold onto him, the Light of the World. Jesus who makes what all of us really want the most; Christmas. -Ann Voskamp

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of Unwrapping the Greatest gift but all opinions expressed here are my own.