Preparing My Heart for Advent

by Ann Marie Stewart

PREPARING MY HEART FOR ADVENT   Does the holiday frenzy leave you jaded toward the real meaning of Christmas? Do you find yourself loathing "Christmas music" two days after Thanksgiving?        Preparing My Heart for Advent challenges women to immerse themselves in Scriptures during the months of November and December so that they are more likely to keep Christ in Christmas rather than becoming entangled by obligations and commercialism. It accomplishes its purpose with a two-fold thrust, serving as both a seasonal Bible study and devotional. Each day of the November  studies corresponds to a December devotional reading on the same topic. For example, readers will study Joseph on November 10th only to refresh their learning on this topic with a devotional reading on December 10th.    Each week in the November Bible study portion offers refreshing thoughts for meditation and reflection. Spiritual significance is offered for common Christmas imagery, and the historical background of familiar carols is explained in detail. Suggestions are given for reaching out to others during the season of giving.    The December devotionals aim to keep readers in the Word of God during the busiest season of the year, celebrating and reflecting in a way that reinforces their studies in November.In the author's words, Preparing My Heart for Advent will encourage readers to "stop, look, listen, and experience Immanuel-God with Us-wherever we are. Put on a familiar carol, pour a cup of peppermint tea, and settle into a reflective look at a birth unlike any other!

Genres: Christmas

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2005

About the author

Ann Marie Stewart writes fiction about real families with real problems. Her books are ultimately READ-eemable--rewarding stories worth a reader's time.

Raised in Seattle, WA, a blind date on the east coast meant a move to the other Washington and ultimately living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When she's not writing, she's waterskiing, watching UVA basketball, thrift shopping with her two twenty-something daughters, or hanging out with her husband and a whole flock of fuzzy sheep on Skye Moor Farm, in Virginia--where unscripted drama provides plenty of entertaining material!

Reviews

[Tammy Mannarino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've picked this up in previous years and could never stick with it. This year, I prevailed and it was well worth it. As is the author's intention, the first half of the book goes much slower than the second. I particularly enjoyed the histories of various Christmas Carols. I appreciated that Stewart recounted the history of many Christmas traditions without shying away from the fact that many of them were pagan traditions co-opted by the Christian faith to eliminate other forms of worship.

[Suzanne Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Marie Stewart does amazing work. She digs into detail and sheds a new light on culture and traditions during Jesus’ life. I always look forward to her studies! I intend on doing this study each Christmas.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful Advent study! I especially appreciated the format of the book with the month before Advent to study and learn and the month of Advent with devotionals to continue to reflect and ponder Jesus' birth and the story of the Christ child.

[Julia Tomiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional for steering your heart in the right place for Advent and beyond.

[Anna Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a nice guide through advent, the beginning was a bit tedious as we revisited the characters repeatedly in the same weeks. The upside was that I really felt like I knew the characters from their featured passages in the Bible. What I most appreciated about this book was it's making me focus on the birthday of Jesus sooner. Starting in November really did help me prepare better for Christmas. I still didn't get everything done that I had hoped, but there was a peace this season that truly a blessing.

[Jennifer]

This is a wonderful Bible Study/devotional. During the month of November, the author presents a different Bible Study each day. During December, she provides shorter devotionals that correspond to the November studies. It is a wonderful devotional, perfect for the Christmas season.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book last season. I like starting to think on Christ and the prophecies and story of His coming before all the craziness can ensue. My heart was stayed on Him alone last year and I pray the same for this Christmas as I commit to daily think on Him! This study helps!