Practical Advent is a daily blog series I’m doing throughout Advent this year. Join me on my blog each day for practical faith tips.

Practical Advent, Day 11

Since childhood, I’ve observed Advent each year. It’s been a wonderful way to build my faith and increase my anticipation of Christmas for all the right reasons. I highly encourage you to observe Advent as well, because it can help you be more intentional in this busy season.

In this Practical Advent blog series, I’ll have the same post format to give you about 10-15 minutes of practical tips for loving God, loving others, and loving yourself during the Advent season.

Praise

Each day of Practical Advent, I’ll share one of my favorite songs to listen to during Advent. Take a moment to praise God while you listen.

Here’s a peaceful, beautiful one – Light of the World by Lauren Daigle.

Ponder

Every day of Practical Advent, I’ll share a quote or idea from an Advent book in my collection for you to ponder, along with my thoughts and a few reflection questions.

Today’s quote is from an Advent book I’m reading now – Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes by Cynthia M. Campbell.

This is a unique, engaging Advent study that considers the story of Jesus’ birth from four vantage points. The author imagines each Gospel as a home, and the book includes illustrations to help you visualize her point. Each description is insightful and interesting. Though I’m very familiar with each Gospel account of Jesus’ birth, I had not compared and contrasted them side by side before. This brief book will give you a fresh look into the first Christmas and can help you dig further into God’s Word.

Here’s the quote I’ve chosen to share today:

“Hope is what we need, but as Cousin Mark reminds us, hope is to be found in the manger only because it is found first on the cross.“

Reflection questions:

1. How can pondering the manger at Advent increase your appreciation for the cross on Good Friday?
2. Where do you need God to give you hope this Advent?

Pray

On each post during Practical Advent, I’ll write an original prayer or share one I’ve written in seasons past.

Here’s a prayer I wrote a few years ago – A Prayer for Peaceful Priorities.

Pour In

Fresh greens in a vase with a few white and red chrysanthemums can lift your spirits. I treat myself to a cheap $5 bouquet from the grocery store every other week during the winter. I sometimes add in fresh greens from the evergreen trees in my woods. It’s a simple way that’s scientifically proven to boost your mood, so be sure to try it.

Pour Out

In yesterday’s post I mentioned sending just a few Christmas cards in the mail. Today, I’m suggesting the convenience of sending e-cards to more people who need a lift this Christmas. One of my friends recently sent me this animated e-card, and it is so beautiful! You can see the affordable pricing plans HERE. You might like this other option HERE too.

Just for Fun

Yesterday I attended a cookie exchange. I took a great assortment home with me. My contribution was the chocolate-hazelnut thumbprint cookies. You can get the recipe for it along with my favorite Christmas cookie recipes when you sign up for my newsletter HERE.

Here’s a funny story from the event. A precious 4-year-old boy entertained us all with his cuteness. When someone asked him when he turned four, he said with a “no-duh” look on his face, “After three.” This made us all laugh, and I hope it brings a smile to your face today.

See all new and/or previous posts in this series on THIS PAGE.

Find all my additional resources for Advent on THIS PAGE.

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