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The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional
This four-week Advent family devotional by best-selling author Marty Machowski combines devotions on the theme of light and darkness with the story of eleven-year-old Mia and her grandmother as they prepare for Christmas. Grandma loves to share her faith, especially at Christmas time, and although she is blind, she can see the light of Jesus shining bright and helps Mia—and children of all ages—to do the same. Every year, Mia loves to spend the month of December with Grandma getting ready for Christmas. This year, they read a special devotional, The Light Before Christmas, together. Machowski brings families into their devotional time, sharing the story of Christmas. Through a Bible study of light and darkness, readers will discover how the theme of light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God’s plan of salvation. The Light Before Christmas contains thirteen devotionals—three for each of the four weeks of Advent and one more for Christmas. Each devotional includes a Scripture for the day, an object lesson, a focus Scripture, a question to discuss as a family, a song to sing together, and a prayer.
- GenresChristmas
96 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2022
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Marty Machowski
63 books125 followersMarty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for more than twenty years. As leader of their children’s ministry, Promise Kingdom, he has worked for many years to develop curriculum and devotional material that connect church and home. His passion is equipping families to understand the Bible as one gospel story and help them share that with their children. He is the author of The Gospel Story for Kids series including Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God (OT); The Gospel Story Bible; and the Gospel Story Curriculum: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament and the forthcoming Old Story New (NT): Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and Gospel Story Curriculum: Following Jesus in the New Testament. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2022
Marty Machowski writes some of the best family and children devotionals I have ever read! Machowski’s latest release, The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional continues that sentiment. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is written in the same vein as Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional. The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is part story and part devotional. Within the devotional is the story called, The Light Before Christmas. The Light Before Christmas tells the story of a Grandmother and her Granddaughter. During the Advent season, the Grandmother shares with her Granddaughter The True Light of Christmas. In between the chapters of the story are Advent devotion entries. There are 13 devotion entries total–3 devotion entries for each of the weeks of Advent. Each entry revolves around a different object lesson that corresponds around that particular day’s devotion, a Bible reference, both a “Think About It” and “Talk About It” section, and a “Sing Together” section (where there is a suggested Christmas carol to sing), and a prayer.
Marty Machowski comes up with the most creative ways to help engage the reader’s family into the Advent Season and it’s meaning and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is a great example of this. I loved the story aspect between the Grandmother and Granddaughter and it Ministered to me. I love the object lessons that are in the book and am inspired to use them in Ministry. I also love the flexibility the devotional allows. I believe that you and your family will get a lot out of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional and it’s truth. There is also a supplemental Curriculum that is based on The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional that would be a good option for your Church. If you are looking for an Advent devotional for the season, then I highly recommend The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional by Marty Machowski!
I would like to thank New Growth Press for giving me a copy of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is also on my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.
Marty Machowski comes up with the most creative ways to help engage the reader’s family into the Advent Season and it’s meaning and The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional is a great example of this. I loved the story aspect between the Grandmother and Granddaughter and it Ministered to me. I love the object lessons that are in the book and am inspired to use them in Ministry. I also love the flexibility the devotional allows. I believe that you and your family will get a lot out of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional and it’s truth. There is also a supplemental Curriculum that is based on The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional that would be a good option for your Church. If you are looking for an Advent devotional for the season, then I highly recommend The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional by Marty Machowski!
I would like to thank New Growth Press for giving me a copy of The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is also on my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.
December 24, 2022
Do you have an advent wreath or calendar? We have an advent wreath and use an old devotional with it that my husband used growing up that is for kids. My kids still like lighting the candles at dinner even though they are teenagers.
I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional. This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily. I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath. If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started.
Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother. I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind. It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson.
I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family. I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion. I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion. My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song. This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well.
There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of lessons that include Scripture readings, dramas, object lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.” I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class. Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.
Review Copy from New Growth Press. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2022...
I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional. This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily. I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath. If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started.
Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother. I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind. It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson.
I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family. I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion. I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion. My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song. This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well.
There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of lessons that include Scripture readings, dramas, object lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.” I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class. Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.
Review Copy from New Growth Press. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2022...
November 28, 2022
The Light Before Christmas is a new devotional book for families dedicated to the advent season. Written by author Marty Machowski, it is a devotion focusing on LIGHT. Contrasting light and dark, good and sin, these devotions will help families seek to understand God’s light in the world. It is designed to fit into under 15 minutes a day, three days a week. It is most appropriate for children ages 4-11, though the discussion will allow opportunity for older or younger folks to participate easily.
The story of Mia and her grandmother starts each week of the devotional with a short piece of the story, just a few pages. It is followed by 3 devotions on the week’s theme: light, darkness, rescue, and come to the light. There is an object lesson for each devotion, a few verses of scripture to read and consider, a “think about it” section, and reminders to sing the hymn of the week and pray. Before the devotions begin, there are instructions for creating your own advent wreath if you choose to follow this tradition.
My Thoughts:
I was drawn to these devotions based on the idea of studying light and the light of God. I do not participate in advent, as many do, but the idea of a study of light was appealing. I honestly struggled with the writing of this and the way the devotions were written. The author took on the metaphor of light and ran with that, rather than the meaning of the scriptures. Many of the scriptures were not in context when used and that lessened what could have been a really strong study.
The weekly story between Mia and her grandmother was sweet and I loved the idea explored between being physically blind and spiritually blind. This part of the devotional was good, though very short each week.
The story of Mia and her grandmother starts each week of the devotional with a short piece of the story, just a few pages. It is followed by 3 devotions on the week’s theme: light, darkness, rescue, and come to the light. There is an object lesson for each devotion, a few verses of scripture to read and consider, a “think about it” section, and reminders to sing the hymn of the week and pray. Before the devotions begin, there are instructions for creating your own advent wreath if you choose to follow this tradition.
My Thoughts:
I was drawn to these devotions based on the idea of studying light and the light of God. I do not participate in advent, as many do, but the idea of a study of light was appealing. I honestly struggled with the writing of this and the way the devotions were written. The author took on the metaphor of light and ran with that, rather than the meaning of the scriptures. Many of the scriptures were not in context when used and that lessened what could have been a really strong study.
The weekly story between Mia and her grandmother was sweet and I loved the idea explored between being physically blind and spiritually blind. This part of the devotional was good, though very short each week.
November 1, 2022
If you’re looking for a real family (or classroom) Advent adventure, then Marty Machowski’s devotional is for you. The Light Before Christmas includes elements of a typical devotional but is delightfully more engaging. In addition to the expected Scripture verses, commentary, and reflection questions, Machowski weaves a story of Mia and her blind grandmother that unfolds over the four weeks of Advent. The sessions include an opening activity, hymns to sing, and crafts to complete (including instructions).
The topic of the devotional is “Light” and is based on Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:2. As such, it’s a unique and refreshing focus for a Christmas devotional. Each week includes 3 sessions that include about 3 pages of information and activities. Each includes a Warm Up, Read the Word (a few sentences), Think About It (insight and reflection – a few paragraphs), Talk About It, Sing Together, and Pray.
The songs are common hymns, such as O Come O Come Immanuel and The First Noel. The Think About It sections include interesting facts, such as how big the galaxy is and how many stars there are.
There is a classroom version available. I didn’t read it, but it’s clear that this devotional would also work great in a classroom setting.
New Growth Press doesn’t list an age range in their Amazon listing. I suggest 6+ years old to grasp the concepts, but younger children would certainly benefit along with their older siblings.
I read an advance copy of this book with no obligation for a positive review.
The topic of the devotional is “Light” and is based on Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:2. As such, it’s a unique and refreshing focus for a Christmas devotional. Each week includes 3 sessions that include about 3 pages of information and activities. Each includes a Warm Up, Read the Word (a few sentences), Think About It (insight and reflection – a few paragraphs), Talk About It, Sing Together, and Pray.
The songs are common hymns, such as O Come O Come Immanuel and The First Noel. The Think About It sections include interesting facts, such as how big the galaxy is and how many stars there are.
There is a classroom version available. I didn’t read it, but it’s clear that this devotional would also work great in a classroom setting.
New Growth Press doesn’t list an age range in their Amazon listing. I suggest 6+ years old to grasp the concepts, but younger children would certainly benefit along with their older siblings.
I read an advance copy of this book with no obligation for a positive review.
December 31, 2024
We worked through this devotional over the month of December (finishing after Christmas). We enjoyed the devotionals and the theme of light in the darkness but Mia's story wasn't always engaging. We also didn't do the activities or the singing. Nevertheless, this was a good devotional, even in a more streamlined way for our family and I recommend it.
December 26, 2025
Very faithful in terms of biblical content. But the activities / object lessons weren’t as intuitive as I had hoped. And the storyline (about a little girl and her grandmother) was overwhelmingly feminine. It didn’t connect well with our boys. We loved the weekly Christmas hymns though!
October 14, 2025
Well done. Not overwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews