Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas

As we all know things get a little crazy during this time of year.  We start making lists of things to do and things to buy; it seems like these lists never end!  In the most recent years I have tried with all my heart to really focus on Christ (not that I don't during the other months of the year!).  I try not to feel overwhelmed about what the world has tried to make Christmas about (the best deals for the best gifts). Don't get me wrong I do love to give gifts during this season, but I personally want to make Christ my number one priority.  As a mom of three boys, who are always excited about Christmas (what child isn't) I try to keep there focus and hearts on Christ.  I want them to understand what it is that we are really celebrating.

With that said I want to share with you some things I am personally doing or have done during this time of year.  I really love this time of year and even more I love when my itty bitty family grows closer to each other and to Christ.

For us Mommas:

Advent Study: Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus by GoodMoringGirls

Really excited about this 4 week study.  If you have done any of the Bible studies with Good Morning Girls you will not want to miss this one.  You seriously grow so much in the Word!

For our Kids:

TRUTH IN THE TINSEL

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I did this last year with my boys and they really enjoyed it.  This is a great way to teach them about Christ and the reason why we celebrate Christmas.  There are crafts that you make each day.  It really is a lot of fun.  Here are some pictures of  last year :

I also used this: WHAT GOD WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS

One week before Christmas one of my boys would one a box and we would listen to a part of the story.  We would try to make it super exciting until the final day.  On Christmas they discover God wants them!  It really is great to see my boys excited about Christ!

25 JESUS CENTERED CHRISTMAS BOOKS

Something new I will be doing this year is reading a book a day.  This is such a wonderful list of 25 Jesus - Centered Christmas Books.

Another idea to go with it is this one:

 

Wrapping each book!  I will have the boys unwrap a book a night and this will be our family time together.  On some nights we double up being that we are in ministry and some nights we get home late form church.  Either way I can't wait!!

Morning Devotions with DaySpring

I recently received this wonderful Advent Tabletop Devotional from Dayspring to review.  When I opened it I knew exactly when and how I was going to use it.  I am really excited about this devotional because it really is so easy to use and I can do this with my boys over breakfast.  It really is a great way to start our mornings.

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Each day has a scripture to read and then a question at the bottom.  I will read and discuss with my boys over breakfast.  I will try to simplify the questions for them, but either way it will be a great way to start our mornings together.

This is what I have planned ... so far!  I hope you have,  in some way, been inspired! 

For His Glory and By His Grace,

Monica

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LLCCM - Fear Scripture Copy Work

Let The Children Come to Me Printables

"Leading Children to Christ One Verse at a Time"

This new set of bible verse copy work can be used if you are using CTB (Child Training Bible), or any other bible study with your children.  You can use these for your morning devotionals as well.  My reason for doing this is basically - I LOVE THE WORD - I WANT MY CHILDREN TO LOVE THE WORD - AND - I WANT TO SHARE THE WORD!

I believe with all my heart what the Word commands us to do in Deuteronomy 11:18-20

¹⁸ So keep my words in your hearts and minds. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates. 

These printables are NOT of the bible verses used in the CTB, but they can be used with them or on their own.

If you would like to see more scripture copy work and other printables please look under my "PRINTABLES" tab above! Enjoy!

LLCCM -Fear CopyWork


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For His Glory and By His Grace,
Monica

By His Grace I am What I am

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This is probably my favorite times of year. I love Autumn!  The cold air, the colors, the warmth {family}, the togetherness; the excitement that a season of opportunity and change are right around the corner.

I look forward to this time because many celebrations are coming up for me; my anniversary, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every year it starts about a week before my anniversary that I start meditating on the past year.  I begin to ask myself questions like, did I go a good job at being a wife? a mother?  Did I bring peace to my home this past year? Did I yell less this year? Did I love more this year? What do I need to improve on? Seriously this list goes on!

I don't do this to make myself sad and crazy and try to fix things in the last few months of the year, I do it because I want to prepare myself for the coming year (even if we are two months away!).

Autumn is really a beautiful time of the year.  We can see the greatest artist at work on His canvas - the world around us! I started to think about really what happens in Autumn and realized the leaves and flowers are dying.  I know that doesn't sound beautiful, but that is the way it is.  Everything falls, withers away or dries up.  Is this good?  I believe YES! This starts the beginning of an opportunity for something new, fresh and full of life to come in its time.

With all of this in mind I look back at my life, this past year.  I ask God to restore only the "leaves" that need to come back into my life.  I ask God to help me with the areas that I struggle with in my marriage, with my children and with myself.  I look forward to this new season of cold, shorter and darker days.  This is my opportunity to draw closer to Him.  My opportunity to be filled by Him.  My opportunity to look less at the world for answers and more to Him for answers. My opportunity to quiet myself and listen for His still voice.

PRAISE the LORD all of this is possible because of HIS GRACE!  I don't deserve this new opportunity but BY HIS GRACE I CAN RECEIVE IT!  Many times I have failed but His mercy and grace brought me to my feet.  Many times I just wanted to do it my way but His mercy and grace humbled my heart.  Many times I gave up but His grace and mercy carried me through.

 This is ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE HIS GRACE AND MERCY!

"But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me ... But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me. "

1 Corinthians 15:10

I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, 

"By the grace of God I am what I am." 

~John Newton~

For His Glory and By His Grace,
Monica 

LLCCM - Disobedience Scripture Copy Work

Let The Children Come to Me Printables

"Leading Children to Christ One Verse at a Time"

This new set of bible verse copy work can be used if you are using CTB (Child Training Bible), or any other bible study with your children.  You can use these for your morning devotionals as well.  My reason for doing this is basically - I LOVE THE WORD - I WANT MY CHILDREN TO LOVE THE WORD - AND - I WANT TO SHARE THE WORD!

I believe with all my heart what the Word commands us to do in Deuteronomy 11:18-20

¹⁸ So keep my words in your hearts and minds. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates. 

These printables are NOT of the bible verses used in the CTB, but they can be used with them or on their own.

LLCCM - Disobedience CopyWork

23 Days of Thanksgiving {Printables} !!

Let The Little Ones Come to Me Printables

"Bringing Children to Christ One Verse at a Time"

I wanted to share with you a NEW set of Printables that I have created just in time for THANKSGIVING! Is it too early??!!  NEVER!!  For those of you who like to have everything printed out and ready for the new month, this set of printables is perfect!

The focus of this set is to prepare the hearts of our children (as we enter into this new season of GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT!) to be thankful for what they have and to always look to God.  I created this because I wanted to really focus my sons'  hearts to see everything we have as a blessing and what we don't have doesn't mean we are not blessed.  During November I will be focusing on being thankful and giving.

The set includes: 23 copy work bible verses, a calendar, a few coloring pages.  All come in black and white and color and in manuscript and script. 64 pages in total!

If you would like to see the other pages please visit my shop here.

Below I created some FREE coloring pages that can be used with the 23 Days of Thanksgiving set.  

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Scripture

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For His Glory and By His Grace,
Monica