Making Disciples During Advent

Here are some suggestions for slowing down and doing some intentional things during Advent to help our kids really connect with the prophecies in Scripture that foretold the coming of our Lord as Savior. I have not used any of these (yet!). I found them in searching for something to use this year. If you have used any of them, please comment and let me know what you thought. Furthermore, if you order and use any this year, please also comment so others can have an idea for coming years if it was a good resource. Bless you all as you seek to "make disciples" at home.
~Katherine

A Different Christmas Catalog

While your kids are perusing the toy catalogs as the holidays approach- take the opportunity to ditch the materialism and pull out a different kind of Christmas catalog! I am very fond of Samaritan's Purse and LOVE what they've done for the last two years at Christmas. They have a catalog-style publication of needs for their ministry. There are eight categories and a wide variety of projects to consider and contribute to. I cried as I read over the catalog that just arrived. I have a very special place in my heart for medical missions- so something like this just hits me in my soft spot.

This is really a perfect tool to use with your children to help them see a bigger picture this holiday season. There are things that kids can relate to and pick out to give like sports balls or warm blankets, food or milk, storybooks or Gospel lessons. Let your kids pick out a few things to give to their grandparents or others who really don't need a "gift". Samaritan's Purse will either send you a card to give to the recipient or they'll send it to them directly for you! Let's teach our children how blessed they really are- and help them to look beyond themselves this Christmas. Let's teach them-

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.' Matthew 25:40

God bless you as you seek to teach your children that God loves others as much as He loves them, help them not be "conformed to the pattern of this world" (Rom 12:2), and keep them from being "polluted by the world" (James 1:27)! (It's so easy for us all to do these things during the holidays!)
~Katherine