Last week's devotions focused on Luke's account. This week's passages are from Matthew and Isaiah. Again, a lot of these ideas were inspired and taken from Melanie's great Advent devotions. Please check hers out! If you have any ideas on activities to go with these passages, please write a comment!
Day 8: Matthew 1: 21,22 The Lord Saves
Without going too deeply on Mary's virgin birth, I am going to mention how an angel visited Joseph and told him to name the baby Jesus and explain how Jesus is a Greek form of Joshua which means "the Lord Saves." And then I am going to talk about how the reason the Jesus came as a baby was to die on the cross to save us from our sins.
Talking about salvation is an ongoing conversation we have in our house. One tract that I recently shared with Koko is One Way. I do have to admit that I don't agree with all of Chick Publication's tracts, but this one is a great way to explain salvation to children and adults!
Activity: Read the tract and if I have energy, find branches outside and use some twine to make a homemade cross ornament. I was inspired by this snowflake ornament. Cute, aye? Or, you could just make a body cross. Have a child lie down with his hands on his sides vertically and the other child on top horizontally. This only works if you have one very lightweight child. Otherwise, you could be the vertical pillar and have two kids on each side as the horizontal line.
We also made homemade Christmas cards. What a humbling experience!
Day 9: Matthew 1:23 God with Us
My kids know how the baby will cry when he's not near his mama and as they also value being with me, they understand the importance of being connected and together. So today, we will talk about how Isaiah from long ago said that someday God would send a baby and call him "Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." We will talk about what it means that God is with us mainly how God chose to become human so he could be our friend and died for us so we could be with him forever in heaven.
Activity: Paper doll chain of two to symbolize Jesus and us. Or just hold hands and say how Jesus always with us in our hearts. Sometimes I am too tired from doing an advent celebratory activity and devotion activity, so I am trying to make these very, very simple and uncrafty!
Song: "Immanuel" by Michael Card and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
We felted a fleece ball for the baby.
Day 10: Matthew 1: 24 Joseph's Obedience
I am going to talk about how Joseph obeyed God's commandment right away and how hard it is for my children and me to obey God.
Activity: Show a hammer, explaining how Joseph was a carpenter and how carpenters use hammers to do their job and then play with the hammering activity set we have and if I have time, to set up the Montessori activity with craft foam and golf tees!
We did the hammering activity, but I've since decided that craft foam is less than desirable.
Day 11: Isaiah 9:1,2 The Great Light
I am going to talk about how Jesus is the great light who shows us where to go. I am also going to share how darkness is associated with sadness and how light here also refers to hope.
Activity: At night turn off the lights and then turn on a flashlight or light a candle.
Song: "Light of the World' and "This Little Light of mine."
Made popcorn. We were all amazed that we could do this on the stove!
Day 12: Isaiah 9: 3 Rejoice Before You
Isaiah compares the joy of Jesus' birth to the joy of a successful harvest and war. I imagine both are celebrated by a party. I am thinking I will talk about how we were so excited that our garden produced so many tomatoes and cucumbers and how were so happy every morning when we saw another ripe fruit. For older kids, you could discuss the joy of doing well on an exam, etc.
Activity: Do a "happy dance" celebrating Jesus' birth. Jump up and down like David praising God after a battle.
Song: "Joy to the World"
Never got to this. We went to an outdoor market.
Day 13: Isaiah 9: 4 Shattered the Yoke
Koko is really into prisons and policemen these days so she will be able to understand how the Israel suffered in captivity. I will talk about how Jesus frees us from prison and burdens because he forgive us.
Activity: Have the children carry something heavy (to them) and keep on adding objects until they complain. Then take all the "burdens" away and explain that's how sin is heavy and how God takes it away. Also, for additional fun, use a wooden chopstick (the take out variety) and put on two books. Explain how this is similar to a yoke and then break the chopstick for a visual aid.
Never got to this. For the Advent activity, I wrote, "Look for book" and they had to search for the I-Spy Christmas book. We polished all our wooden things, including our new cutting boards!
Day 14: Isaiah 9:6 Wonderful Counselor
I am going to talk about how Jesus came to this world so he could be our wonderful counselor. He wants to talk to us and be our guide and it is important it is to listen to his quiet voice in our hearts. This would be a good time to discuss how hiding God's word by memorizing it can be a way that God talks to us because when we are tempted or discouraged, God can use a verse to encourage us.
Activity: Blindfold one child and using your voice guide him or her around the room on a relatively easy path ie. around a chair.
Kids loved this activity! We wrote a letter to Paskali
No comments:
Post a Comment