Advent-Week 2

Lia came through again! Here is week 2. Again, after each date it says "open box". Information on the boxes can be found here . There are verses to be read each day and Lia also includes different activities to help you reach out to others during this season of Advent.

Read Mark 1:1-4
1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a]
2It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way"[b]—
3"a voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "[c] 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
CANDLE TWO - The second candle (purple) "CANDLE OF PREPARATION" means His light and preparation. Preparation means to 'get ready'. "Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!" (Luke 3:4-6)

Sunday – December 6 – Open Box #7
Verse Luke 3:4-6
A Voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low, The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.
To prepare for Jesus’ coming to us we focus on him, listen to his words, and respond obediently to his directions
Activity:
A gift to baby Jesus was a very simple one but it came from his heart and had great value. Gifts from the heart are the BEST ones you can give or receive this Christmas. Give the gift of yourself to others by helping around the house or helping your neighbors with little chores Most important, give Jesus a gift this Christmas and remember Him in all your celebrations. He loves you so much and wants to be near you this Christmas.
One of the easiest gifts to give is your TIME and service! Help your kids to see another way of giving other than with material objects by making use of these coupons--or create your own! This is a habit that should last all year!

Here's a cute little idea for a gift from a child to a special family member or friend. Find a small box and wrap it well with pretty paper. (Homemade stamped wrapping paper would be great!) Tie it up with a beautiful ribbon and write or print this message on a nice gift tag:

I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a special gift
And wrapped it carefully.

But please don't ever open it
Just leave the ribbon tied
And hold it tightly near your heart
Because my love for you's inside!
Most important, give Jesus a gift this Christmas and remember Him in all your celebrations. He loves you so much and wants to be near you this Christmas.
Prayer:
As you pray tonight, tell Him how much you love Him. Ask Him to show you ways that you make Christmas meaningful to others this year.

Monday – December 7 – Open Box #8
Verse: Luke 2: 15-18
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Activity:
The Story of the Candy Cane The true meaning of the Candy Cane
Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for Jesus My Lord, that's for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!
Do you know some people who do not know Jesus? You could share the love of Jesus with them by copying this poem and giving them a homemade Candy Cane Gift.
You could do some sort of candy cane craft – example – have the kids attach the poem of the candy cane to a candy cane and let them give them out to friends/classmates – people at the store etc…
Prayer: Pray for those who do not know Jesus, ask the Lord to lead and direct you telling others about Jesus

Tuesday – December 8 – Open Box #9
Verse Luke 2:19
19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Activity: Make some time to go through your home and find any unused items that you can donate to charities or thrift store . Coats, clothes, shoes and boots, mittens, toys, appliances, kitchen ware, etc. There is also a Burmese family in our community that is starting with nothing – look at the list and see what we can give to them.
Prayer

Wednesday – December 9 – Open Box #10
Verse: Luke 2:20 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Activity: Sing the 12 days of Christmas: Here is another way to look at it:
12 gifts of Christmas--from an earthly suitor or the Great Suitor of our hearts, take your pick!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...a partridge in a pear tree.
The partridge represents Christ. He acts as a mother partridge does, luring predators away from her babies and risking her life in their stead. (Read Luke 13:34)

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...two turtle doves.
Two turtle doves stand for the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, God's love letter to mankind and "HiStory"!

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...three French hens.
Three French hens are the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...four calling birds.
The four calling birds represent the four Gospels---Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--which share the message which calls us to Christ.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...five gold rings.
The five gold rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy give a sweeping overview of man's sinful nature, our need for redemption, and God's plan to save us!

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...six geese a-laying.
The six geese represent the six days of creation. The eggs they lay are representative of life.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...seven swans a-swimming.
The seven swans are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, service or ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and mercy or compassion.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...eight maids a-milking.
The eight maids stand for the eight Beatitudes. (Read Matthew 5:3-10)

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...nine ladies dancing.
The nine ladies represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...ten lords a-leaping.
The ten lords are the ten commandments. (Read Exodus 20:1-17)

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...eleven pipers piping.
The eleven pipers stand for the eleven faithful apostles: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas bar James.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...twelve drummers drumming.
The twelve drummers represent the twelve fundamental points of the Apostle's Creed.
Prayer: Thank God for all the gifts he has given you!!
Thursday – December 10 – Open Box #11
Verse Luke 2:21b he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
Activity: Innotec Christmas Party – building toys 1 to keep – 1 to give away
Prayer Praise Him tonight for coming to earth and setting us free!

Friday – December 11 – Open Box #12
Verse Matthew 2:1-2
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him
Activity: Family Night
Prayer: Can you believe it's Friday already? Wow! These weeks before Christmas really fly by in a hurry! It is now less than 2 weeks until Christmas and hopefully you are having the very best Christmas season ever. This time you are spending together as a family each evening will be what you will remember many years from now. Long after your gifts have been opened and forgotten, the memories of this time will live on in your hearts
Thank God for your FAMILY

Saturday – December 12 – Open Box #13
Verse Matthew 2:3-6
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"
Activity: Make luminaries to light up your driveway /porch –http://www.essortment.com/all/luminariesmakin_rkut.htm or http://www.merry-christmas.com/activities/activity_4.htm
Prayer: Pray that as we get closer to Christmas – let us shine Jesus’ light in all we do