Many of you arrived here by signing up for my Advent audio guide, Journeying to Bethlehem Together, and for that I’m grateful. It’s a joy to have you here as we hold longing together.
I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to observing Advent, and if not a total newbie, at the very least I’m a lazy observer. I like to keep it as simple as possible. None of us need more expectations during a time of year already fraught with unruly lists, disappearing money, and social obligations.
In order to help you observe Advent the lazy way alongside me, I thought I’d offer a few resources. May I make a suggestion? Choose one thing off this list, just one, that might lead you closer to Jesus this season.
Books:
Light upon Light: A Literary Guide
Compiled by writer Sarah Arthur, this collection of prayers, poetry, readings, and scripture is the perfect companion for the season. I’ve used it for a number of years, and it is by far my favorite resource.
Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation
This slim volume of poems by Luci Shaw is a lovely way to begin or end the day. Her poetry is accessible and written with such care and precision. A great starter for those who don’t typically read poetry.
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
I bought this book recently, and I’ve enjoyed the perspectives from the numerous authors featured in this compilation (Aquinas, Bonhoeffer, Donne, Eliot, L’Engle, Lewis, etc.) It’s dense, and often I re-read each entry to fully grasp the depth and richness of it, but don’t let that deter you. I highly recommend it.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas
This gorgeous children’s book by Ann Voskamp is a must if you have children. I use it with my kids every year, even though they’ve outgrown it (and they would happily tell you so!), because I love the language and the structure of the stories. A must for families.
The Wonder of the Greatest Gift: An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent
This is Ann Voskamp’s Unwrapping the Greatest Gift for littles. I bought it for all of my nieces and nephews this year, and they love it. It’s a beautiful book with an Advent activity, and I could see it becoming an heirloom to pass down to the next generation.
Music:
At Christmas, I typically listen to classic holiday music on whatever radio channel I can find. However, this year, I wanted to be more intentional about my listening for Advent, and it’s made a big difference in the tenor of my heart and home when I choose music that prepares my heart for Jesus rather than preparing me for a visit from Santa.
Melanie Penn’s Immanuel is the perfect antidote to an overdose of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It’s a gorgeous concept album, and her voice is angelic.
Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson is required listening this time of year.
Songs for Christmas Time by Lowland Hum is a folksy-acoustic take on classic hymns and Christmas songs. I just discovered this album recently, and I think it would be great to choose a few songs from the album for a different kind of playlist.
Speaking of playlists, I love Bri McKoy’s “Christmas with a Crisp” on Spotify. While not specifically for Advent listening, she has superb taste in music, and has curated this unconventional musical delight.
