A Great Advent Devotional for your Family: Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski

Burk Parsons tweeted something yesterday that deepened my resolve to examine our parenting around this time of year:

Parents: Are you parenting your kids to look forward more eagerly to the coming of Santa Claus or the coming of Christ?

— Burk Parsons (@BurkParsons) November 30, 2014

Of course, its easy to turn something like this into a massive guilt trip and throw yourself into a legalistic, law-based mindset about Jesus-centeredness during advent, but my heart is indeed to show my kids Jesus, and it is impossible to escape Santa this time of year. What to do?

It is difficult (though worth it) to craft a daily devotional for my wife and kids to make sure we keep our focus grounded. However, there is also the option of using a devotional someone else has created.

Marty Machowski has created a wonderful resource for us in Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus. My family is using it this season, and I love it.

This short video introduces the book:

With an activity, scripture to read, explanation of the scripture, prayer for the family, and music to sing along to (from the accompanying new album from Sovereign Grace Music!), this is a great way to start or end the day for 3 days of the week, each week of advent.  If you are a Sunday School coordinator, there is also a curriculum version for your classes available.

Hurry and get a copy now if you don’t already have a plan. There is still time to get going this Advent, or get ready for next (since you are thinking about it now and won’t be later :-))

Also check out these other great resources on teaching the Gospel to your children:

• Show Them Jesus by Jack Klumpenhower
• The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski
• Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman
• Old Story New and Long Story Short – Ten minute family devotionals by Marty Machowski
• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

Please let me know of any other great Gospel-centered resources for kids and parents you know of!