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Do you celebrate Advent season with your family?  There are many valuable resources to aid you in a special time of worship through this season, no matter the ages of your children.

When my kids were growing up, I wasn’t aware of this wonderful tradition, and only in the past few years have we begun to observe this tradition.

It doesn’t have to be long – just a few minutes each night, perhaps lighting a candle in the Advent wreath, or maybe just a passage of Scripture or time of prayer.  Perhaps a time of working on a special project of love for a family in need.

A new tradition

I’m super excited for our celebration, because it’s been something we’ve worked toward all year!

We established a “Thankful Jar” early in 2015, situated on our dining room table, a notepad and pen at the ready.

Each member of my family contributes to this jar by recording answers to prayer.  We don’t normally tell each other what we write.

So during Advent season, we will open a few of these blessings each night and reflect on God’s answers!

Our family awaits this special time with anticipation this year, knowing it will be a time of reflection on God’s faithfulness in our lives.  We’ve found a way to show God’s hand working in an extremely personal way.

“With a strong hand and an outstretched arm…His love endures forever.” ~Psalm 136:12

I cannot wait to share with you how God has worked in our lives with His strong hand and outstretched arm!

You have a God-story too

But I’ll bet you have strong testimony of that too.  Next year, consider making a thankful jar and celebrate Advent with the story of God’s faithfulness in your life too!

Because Advent is all about the story of God’s promise of a Messiah fulfilled to Israel, and His faithfulness to His people as they waited for the promise.

Israel walked by faith.  

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

To Him who alone does great wonders,

To Him Who by understanding made the heavens,

To Him Who spread out the earth above the waters,

To Him Who made the great lights,

The sun to rule over the day,

The moon and stars to rule over the night,

To Him Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

And brought Israel out from among them,

With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,

To Him Who divided the Red Sea in two,

And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

But overthrew Pharoah and his host in the Red Sea,

To Him Who led His people through the wilderness,

To Him Who struck down great kings,

And killed mighty kings,

And gave their land as a heritage,

A heritage to Israel his servant,

It is He Who remembered us in our low estate

And rescued us from our foes,

He Who gives food to all flesh,

Give thanks to the God of heaven

For His steadfast love endures forever.

~Excerpts from Psalm 136

This is only part of Israel’s story.  A story of God’s love, guidance, and faithfulness.

You have a story too.  This season, as you celebrate with your family, spend time reflecting on what God has done for you in the past year.

His strong hand and outstretched arm are evident, and if you pay attention to the details, you will see it!

I’ve written a guest post at my friend Melanie Redd’s blog about how to celebrate Advent with children of all ages, citing many resources!

Please take a moment to head on over and read this short list of ways to enrich your family celebration of Christ’s coming – I’ve done a lot of research and added many links for you to find these wonderful resources!

I wish you and your family a special Advent season.  I’d love to hear how you celebrate Advent, if you do!

And I’ll be back with a follow-up post during the Christmas season regarding our special thankful jar!