Guess what? It's December 20! Here's today's Advent devotion.  

Please share an Advent family tradition or memory that you do now or perhaps did when you were growing up:

My family was very traditional when it came to Advent. Every year, my mother would put the Advent wreath up on top of the television (we no longer can do that with the “advent” of the flat screen television). She would open the Bible (I still have that Bible) to the Christmas story and then she would say to my sister and me, “Now before you turn the television on, I want you to think about the birth of Jesus Christ and what an amazing event this was in the world.”

We always had our big meals on Sundays after church. No, we didn’t go out and eat. We sat around our kitchen table. When we were finished, my father would take out a devotional book he had and read a devotion. It was very important to my father that he be the one to read it, so no one ever questioned that. The Christmas of my senior year, and right before we were to light the last candle, my father asked me to read the devotional. My mother and I had tears in our eyes, and it was a very memorable moment.

Share your favorite Advent hymn and why it speaks to you

Our family’s favorite Advent hymn is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” We have made it a recent tradition to look up different versions on YouTube and listen to it. The favorite versions we have heard sung so far are by Selah and another one by Enya. Take the time to look them up on You Tube and enjoy them like we have.

I’m afraid that the reason it is our family’s favorite Advent hymn is because I kind of demanded it. I get tears in my eyes with almost every version I hear of it, and I think my family has followed suit. When we sing it at church, I get all choked up sometimes and can’t even sing properly. The majestic message this song portrays just melts us, and in this day and age with all that is going on in the world, it seems even more poignant.

Advent Scripture

Our favorite Bible verse for Advent is 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (King James Version, as that is what Bible my mother always had open at Advent).

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” –1 Thessalonians 4:17

Advent Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, during this Advent season and all year round, let your light of peace and love shine on our troubled world. Give us eyes to see the signs of your presence in the world. Help us to prepare our lives and homes to receive the one who exclaimed “I am the light of the world”. We need that light to shine brighter than ever and give us strength through all the difficult times the world now faces. May we be ready to receive the love you offer us and have the courage to share that love with others. Amen.

Tom & Sarah Gunlicks, Trevor and Skylar

Please share an Advent family tradition or memory that you do now or perhaps did when you were growing up:

Advent was a very special time in both the Schei and Thompson households as we prepared to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Since the birth of our daughter, Ingrid, three years ago, we have carried on many traditions of our childhood while creating new memories of our own. In honor of Ingrid’s first Christmas, we purchased a toy Nativity scene for her to play with and to provide us additional opportunities to teach her the story of Christmas. When we took out the seasonal decorations and Nativity sets last year, Ingrid, at the age of 2 ½ noticed a very important piece of her Nativity scene was missing … .Baby Jesus! After searching many stores and the Internet for replacement pieces and searching every hiding spot for toys in our house more than once, Baby Jesus lying in a manger was found and Ingrid’s Nativity was again complete! Throughout her life, we will tell her the story of this event not only because of its charm, but to remind her of the importance she placed on Jesus at such a young age.

Share your favorite Advent hymn and why it speaks to you

The amazing music of this season is anxiously anticipated throughout the year in our family. The beautiful melody and simple telling of Jesus’ life, from birth to resurrection, makes “Savior of the Nations Come” a favorite Advent hymn.

Advent Scripture

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” –Isaiah 9:6–7

Advent Prayer

Dear God, during this season of preparation, help us focus our thoughts on you and the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Marti & Brad Thompson, Ingrid

Please share an Advent family tradition or memory that you do now or perhaps did when you were growing up:

Earlier today, Marnie yells from her office “Erik, can you do an Advent devotion?”

“Yeah,” I said under my breath, not too thrilled about doing it. Yet, just as Westley from the movie, The Princess Bride, always said, “As you wish” to Princess Buttercup, I figured I might as well do the same to keep the peace.

As I sat there, twiddling my thumbs, gazing off into space, I thought of nothing. At that moment I decided to text my mom to see if she could spark a memory or two about any Advent traditions we do. It appears that I’m not as forgetful as I thought. My family does not do anything too specific for Advent. However, this is the time that my mom starts decorating for Christmas. Oh, what a wonderful time of the year!

There is nothing like reminiscing over Christmas ornaments as we hang them on the tree, or pouring ourselves a glass of eggnog after our mom makes me and my siblings put up Christmas lights on our 20 plus foot pine trees during a cold, windy day. “Great sibling bonding time” I’m sure she’d say!

But, this is also the time of year when the whole family comes together to celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, while occasionally throwing in a viewing of the movie, Christmas Vacation. And to top it all off, on Christmas Eve, my family and I get to watch the graceful dancing of my sisters as they re-enact the night Jesus was born. What joy it brings to the heart and a great reminder of how precious Jesus truly is.

Advent Scripture

“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” –1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

Advent Prayer

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Erik Aamlid

Please share an Advent family tradition or memory that you do now or perhaps did when you were growing up:

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” These words can be seen in so many places this time of year. It doesn’t say, “Jesus is ONE of the reasons for the season,” and yet, sometimes it can feel this way when things get hectic. As most of us can relate, the season quickly becomes filled with recitals, parties, gift exchanges, shopping, baking, and the list goes on. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, we can be nearly exhausted, and might find ourselves hoping that we haven’t forgotten anything “important.”

When I was growing up, we couldn’t open presents until we had first read the Christmas story as a family and had sung Christmas carols. As my brothers and I grew and had families of our own, we have continued this tradition. The kids are growing older now, most in high school and college, and they have pretty much all outgrown the angel, Mary, Joseph, shepherd and king costumes that were made for our little family pageant. But the tradition lives on each year with the reading of the story and the singing of the carols … a time to slow down and focus on the one true reason we have all been so busy this season … to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Share your favorite Advent hymn and why it speaks to you

My favorite hymn, though hard to choose just one, would have to be “Silent Night.” I love the feeling of peace and contentment that washes over me as we sing this lovely lullaby, often by candlelight in church. And everyone, even the youngest children, can sing along, welcoming this tiny baby Jesus, who has come into the world to bring everlasting life.

Advent Scripture

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. That will be for all the people.” –Luke 2:10–11

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to quiet our hearts and our minds, and to focus on the birth of Jesus, knowing that this is the only “important” thing we need to remember this Christmas. Amen.

Jennifer & Eric Larson, Isak, Britta and Siri

Please share an Advent family tradition or memory that you do now or perhaps did when you were growing up:

Each year, our family creates handmade Christmas cards. The rules are simple: Nearly anything goes as long as it doesn’t involve a computer program. We have created cards from recycled paper scraps, cut designs into a woodblock, sewed Christmas trees of felted wool, and pasted stickers and stars on fancy cardstock. Over the years, our card-making activities have enriched our family’s celebration of Christmas. We all participate. Even when our daughter was very young, she placed stamps on the envelopes and sorted the finished pieces. We make the cards for family and friends, but they have also been a tangible way to mark the weeks of Advent and think about Christmas.

Share your favorite Advent hymn and why it speaks to you

We are held “captive” by a lot of stuff in our lives. It might be a financial worry, family concern or health problem. But no matter what the issue, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” reminds us to invite God into our midst and rejoice that he is with us.

Advent Scripture

“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” –Isaiah 40:31

Advent Prayer

Come Lord Jesus, we are waiting for you. Help us to be ready to receive your love and share it with others during this Advent season and throughout the year. Amen.

Doris Haugen & Jim Smorada, Libby