ADVENT DEVOTIONAL
The weekly advent devotional will be posted Sundays in Advent, with a special 12 Days of Christmas section daily starting on Christmas Day. Or you can download a copy here.
The Twelfth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Thank you for coming that we may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Idea: Do something nice for medical staff at a local hospital, education staff at a local school, firefighters at a local station, and/or etc. You get the idea!
The Eleventh Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Help us to not merely listen to Your Word, and so deceive ourselves. Help us do what it says.”
James 1:22-25
James 1:22-25
Idea: Spend an hour or so going through your closets and drawers to find clothing you seldom wear and donate it.
The Tenth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Thank you for providing Jesus who is the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to You.” John 14:6
Idea: Spend 20 minutes or so online, either alone or as a household, researching poverty issues in your area. Make a commitment to volunteer or donate more during the coming year to serve the poor.
The Ninth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Let us be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Idea: Those of us privileged to live in places where we are free to pursue our faith sometimes forget there are people in other places whose celebrations of Christmas could come at the cost of their freedom or lives. Go to www.persecution.com and read about Christians being persecuted throughout the world. Then take some special time to pray for them.
The Eighth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Let us live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic and compassionate, love as brothers, and be humble.” 1 Peter 3:8
Idea: Start the new year by signing on as a participant to BlessEveryHome.com and select Lutheran Church of the Master as your home church. It’s free and confidential. It gives you the tools to become a Light for Christ in your neighborhood through praying for, caring for, sharing the Gospel with, and discipling your neighbors. You will be provided tools to be able to know your neighbors by name so you can begin to build relationships with them. You will receive optional daily reminders with a prayer prompt and 5 neighbors to pray for that day.
The Seventh Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Let us be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, and to give the glory and thanks to the Lord!” 2 Corinthians 9:11
Idea: Put Together “Blessing Bags” to keep in your car for someone in need. You’ve probably seen the idea. Keep a large Ziploc bag filled with small items which can be easily handed out if you come upon someone who is homeless or begging. Inside the bag might be items like warm socks, granola bars, gift cards for a local restaurant, a toothbrush, soap, a Bible, or anything else you might think could be helpful
The Sixth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Let us be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as through Jesus, You forgave us.” Ephesians 4:32
Idea: Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or shelter.
The Fifth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Let us be merciful, just as our Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
Idea: Keep saying Merry Christmas! A friendly Merry Christmas to a clerk or friend or stranger or whoever; goes a long way in not only preserving the joy of Christmas and sharing the message of Christ’s love but shifting the ‘over and done with’ mentality of a secular understanding of Christmas.
The Fourth Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Thank you for being faithful and just in forgiving us our sins and thus purifying us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Idea: Go to the Dollar Store and fill your cart for the One14 Food Pantry, a local women’s shelter, homeless shelter or… you get the idea!
The Third Day of Christmas
Scripture: “Help us to love because You first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Idea: Have a family movie night watching it together, Facetiming or Zooming. Have everyone put their favorite Christmas movie suggestion into the proverbial “hat” and pull one out. That will be the movie for the night. Order a pizza to make it extra fun or have a pizza delivered to the home of those who will be watching remotely.
The Second Day of Christmas
Scripture:“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in Hope.” Romans 15:4
Idea: Rather than returning “the ugly sweater” you’ll never wear or the kitchen gadget you’ll never use, give it away! Many places and individuals will benefit from those unwanted items. The sweater will keep someone warm, and the gadget will be sold in a secondhand store to generate funds for a ministry.
The Christmas Elf
How does Santa know if you’re good or bad,
Does he call or text your mom or dad?
Is he watching you both day and night?
Does he follow close to not let you out of sight?
Does he call or text your mom or dad?
Is he watching you both day and night?
Does he follow close to not let you out of sight?
No, Santa has a helper to keep an eye on you.
He assigns an elf to stick to you like glue.
Every morning when you wake, try and spy,
From what hiding place I’ll be keeping an eye.
He assigns an elf to stick to you like glue.
Every morning when you wake, try and spy,
From what hiding place I’ll be keeping an eye.
Read more...
The Christmas Santa
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list,
He’s checking it twice,
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s checking it twice,
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
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The Christmas Gift
We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain
Moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain
Moor and mountain
Following yonder star
[Chorus]
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
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The Christmas Tree
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
How lovely are thy branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Stay bravely green in wintertime
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
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