My daughter was just a few weeks away from being 2 years old when I picked up a little Advent book from the clearance section at a Christian bookstore. There were flaps in the back to open each day of December. There were pictures of baby Jesus, some little devotions and snippets of Scripture.
The first day my little girl was giddy about opening the flap, reading the book and doing the devotion — which included making a little ornament. It was nothing fancy, I assure you. Probably a piece of construction paper and some stickers.
The next day, even though the book didn’t mention anything about an ornament, my daughter insisted we make another! So, each day, we’d read the book and make an ornament based on what we had read. Pretty soon we abandoned the book, pulled out the Bible and started making ornaments based on the real Christmas Story.
For the next two or three years, we did the same thing — read the Bible story, made an ornament and talked about what was happening in the passage. Did the sheep hear the angels? Was Mary excited about having a new baby? Where did the wise men live?
In these small moments, my daughter was meditating on and internalizing God’s Word. She got the details of the story planted down in her heart — and God has promised that this living Word will grow in her life!
So, a few years later, I put our little adventures into an ebook called Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. Thousands of families all over the world have bought this book and used it to lead their kids to the best present of all, Jesus.
It’s a simple little book. Each day you’ll read a passage of Scripture, make an ornament to go along with the Scripture and then follow the “talk about it together” section to discuss more about the story. There’s even a “do more together” section with suggestions to extend the activities and lesson.
The book is designed to empower parents to lead their kids to Jesus. There are printables, easy instructions, supply lists and even alternate schedules for those crazy busy holiday days. But it’s not just another thing to add to your full celebration of elves on shelves and parties and wrapping and shopping. This is an experience.
Truth in the Tinsel is a way to lead your kids to Jesus, to introduce them to the baby who was born for death and resurrection. It’s a tool to help children and families make Jesus the center and focus of the sparkly, magical, bright and shiny Christmas season. I’d love for you to join us as we experience Jesus together this year!
By: Amanda White, OhAmanda
Click here to download Truth in Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands for only $7.99. Amanda has graciously provided a coupon for (in)courage readers to use for an additional 20% off! Just use code INCOURAGE20 at checkout!
Amanda,
What a great idea. I love the fact that you are engaging young minds early about the truth of Christmas!! Everyone needs to hear the absolute truth of Christmas and not what the world says. Your ornaments look super nice–y’all did a great great job!!
God Bless!
Thank you, Beth! It has been so fun and a huge blessing to see my kids love God’s Word!
a
oh this sounds like just the thing that would bring good memories for years to come, long after I am gone and my grandbaby is a grown woman. Do you sell hard copies of your book?
It’s an ebook right now. But lots of people like to print it and put it in a binder. I like to use my iPad so it doesn’t get glue and glitter all over it. 😉
a
December 1, 2013
Dear Amanda,
I am a grandmother of two boys 11 and 15 years old. What a blessing you are! The Lord Jesus Christ will reward you because you have honored Him and have taught your children about Him. Everything starts in early life, and I know He will bless you and them abundantly. However, I would like to make you aware of our enemy Satan and his demons, that many Christians forget that he is always around to snatch us from the Lord. So be always alert and in discernment.
As a woman of God – a Greek native that left Greece at 10 years old, and I am also an American Citizen – by the Lord’s will I became a Born-Again Christian many years ago, against my religious Christian Greek Orthodox parents, as for them this was a sacrilege, because now as an adult I was baptized again. Greeks are ingrained in the Christian Orthodox religion and don’t want to hear about being Born-Again Christians. It is unfortunate; because it appears that the majorities are blindfolded.
At 8 years old of age the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in my bedroom, I knew Who He was, but I was terrified, and He could not talk to me. After many tribulations, years later He drew me to Him and into His ministry. The enemy is attacking me continuously, but the Lord has taught me how to fight him back, so I am not afraid of the enemy. The Lord Jesus Christ has healed me many times to the shock of my doctors, and He promised me that He will always heal me against every attack the enemy brings to me because he wants to kill me.
If you wish, you can answer me through my e-mail, as I don’t have Face book, Twitter or anything else because I don’t feel comfortable with any of these services.
I am writing to you from Greece, as the Lord brought me here temporarily on an Apostolic mission and to show me what’s truly happening here and throughout the European Union. I will return back to Southern California where my residence is in the Lord’s timing as He already has revealed this to me to continue with His work and also to write some books from His Holy Spirit that He has revealed to me.
God bless you and your loved ones abundantly and thank you for being a wonderful mom and a true Christian that loves our Lord Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas to you and your loving family!
Love in His Name,
Loving Grandmother
I often wonder why a journey takes so long? Why we can’t just start over? Each Christmas now I look at the Christmas Story, my kids are now parents. The Tinsel & a tree were not just common place, but, it seems the gifts were always
a common event. Though, today, I see my kids with their own children, I’m convinced the “Christmas Story” the journey, we connect the truth of God ‘s gifts, even though I wish I would of read more to my children, done more to instill why we celebrate Christmas, JESUS is in their thoughts & lives, Its evident the Tree
roots were planted, so amid the absence of what I could of instilled, Jesus overrides
and I’m so certain the tinsel reflects His love a reminder of His shinning Love in my grown children’s lives. That’s the greatest gift of all.