The Light Before Christmas by Marty Machowski

 

Do you have an advent wreath or calendar?  We have an advent wreath and use an old devotional with it that my husband used growing up that is for kids.  My kids still like lighting the candles at dinner even though they are teenagers.

About this Book from the Publisher: This four-week Advent family devotional by best-selling author Marty Machowski combines devotions on the theme of light and darkness with the story of eleven-year-old Mia and her grandmother as they prepare for Christmas. Grandma loves to share her faith, especially at Christmas time, and although she is blind, she can see the light of Jesus shining bright and helps Mia—and children of all ages—to do the same.

Every year, Mia loves to spend the month of December with Grandma getting ready for Christmas. This year, they read a special devotional, The Light Before Christmas, together. Machowski brings families into their devotional time, sharing the story of Christmas. Through a Bible study of light and darkness, readers will discover how the theme of light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God’s plan of salvation.

The Light Before Christmas contains thirteen devotionals—three for each of the four weeks of Advent and one more for Christmas. Each devotional includes a Scripture for the day, an object lesson, a question to discuss as a family, a song to sing together, and a prayer.

Review:   I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional.  This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily.  I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath.  If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started. 

Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother.  I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind.  It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson.

I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family.  I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion.  I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion.  My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song.  This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well.

There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of  lessons  that  include  Scripture  readings,  dramas,  object  lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.”  I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class.  Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.

Review Copy from New Growth Press.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.