Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional

Love love loved it. What a fabulous family devotional. We were able to listen to the songs on Amazon Prime Music. The songs made it extra special. This is the 3rd advent we’ve done with the kids and by far our families favorite. We will definitely do it again next year!!

Loved this Advent Devotional! The best one we’ve done as a family so far! It was engaging, meaningful, had the right amount of activities and songs incorporated! I love that it was 3-4 days a week so we didn’t get behind! Plan on doing this one again next year!

A nice and easy family advent devo. We look forward to enjoying it again next year. The book is set up for three readings per week. Each reading contains scripture, context, activity, and hymns/songs, as well as discussion questions/ conversation starter. We included our 3 yo and she easily contributed/ responded and it was short enough to maintain her attention while being thought provoking enough to engage us (the adults).

A wonderful family advent devotional with an original story to illustrate the biblical truths. Definitely one to revisit.

Good family devotional for our whole crew to celebrate Advent. Didn’t do many of the activities listed, but found the discussions to be interesting.

Marty Machowski’s book Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional is a great Advent Devotional. The book is intended to be started 4 Sundays before Christmas. Prepare Him Room is divided up into 4 weeks of devotions, with 3 devotions per week. At the end of each week there is a chapter of a short story called Bartimaeus: A Christmas Story. There is also a special devotion entry to read on Christmas Day.

Before you start the devotional, it is suggested to do a Advent Wreath. The book explains how to do and utilize the Advent Wreath, which I appreciate from the perspective from someone who is new to the Advent tradition. Each devotion includes a Scripture reference, a thought or idea to bring the devotion entry together, a prayer, songs to sing and family activities to do together. Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional is a companion to the Prepare Him Room curriculum and music CD. You can use the devotional without the companion products. (I did.)

I loved the freedom and flexibility that the use of Prepare Him Room brings. As the adult and reader, I felt as though I had the flexibility to choose how and when to use the devotional. If I didn’t start the devotional in the recommended time frame, and I didn’t, that was ok because I could start the devotional when it was right for me. I also liked how it only had 3 devotional entries a week. That way if you needed to adjust the readings to your family’s schedule its easy to do so and doesn’t overwhelm you.

I loved the Bartimaeus short story at the end of each week. It was one of my favorite parts of the book. I liked, not only the flexibility of the devotional, but that each devotion entry is easy to understand yet truthful and that the discussions had from the devotions could be great ones. I appreciated that a big emphasis of the book is about giving back and sharing the Love of Jesus in tangible ways through the activities that are in the book and that the activities are meant to include the whole family. There are also cute illustrations sprinkled throughout the book.

I highly recommend this book–it’s become one of my favorite’s of the Season!

Our family loved this devotional __ super sweet way to focus on Christ this Advent season.

Great advent devotional! Love the Bartimaeus story!,
Recommended by a pastor at our church. This will become a tradition at our house!

Great advent devotional! Love the Bartimaeus story!,
Recommended by a pastor at our church. This will become a tradition at our house!

Excellent advent book to read as a family. My kids enjoyed it.

This book was incredible writing and giving us so must joy to read with also had and a greatest an Advent journey, discovering some of the most significant prophecies of the Bible-prophecies that foretold Christ’s coming hundred of years before it happened, Then fulfill you with some of prophecies tracing the redemptive plan of God all the way to Christ’s second advent with also provided activities to all of us with Christmas story “ Bartimaeus “ celebration with yours family. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book.

I know that this is a little late and I apologize but here lately I've had a lot going on in my life and I just wasn't able to do this until now.

This is such a delightful little devotional book. It's great for families and it can also be used for Sunday school groups during Advent.

It also has great instructions for making things related to Christmas and the children will love it too.

I too love Christmas songs and when the season is over I am disappointed. It's like everything goes back to normal. Sometimes that is good and others it isn't
To me, Christmas is special. It's when we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.
We should celebrate Him everyday and look up to him to lead the way for He is returning soon!! I so can't wait!! Are you ready?

When it comes to celebrating Advent as a family there are so many great resources available. It can be quite intimidating to find the one that is just right which is why I'm especially grateful for Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski. This simple book is separated into four sections, one for each week of Advent. Each section is composed of three parts which is especially helpful because it removes the pressure from parents to feel like they need to do an Advent related activity every day of the season. The book also contains a four part story for children to enjoy along with the Advent activities. I really like that the book has actual activities that parents can do with young children that will excite them as they learn about the various parts of the Christmas story. Helpful aspects of the book include the Introduction and How To Use This Book sections. My husband didn't grow up celebrating Advent and I only celebrated it a small handful of times so we found the information contained in these sections to be particularly useful. Prepare Him Room is biblical, simple and enjoyable for each member of the family. I give it my highest recommendation and look forward to using it next year and in the years to come! I received Prepare Him Room compliments of New Growth Press in exchange for my honest review.

When it comes to celebrating Advent as a family there are so many great resources available. It can be quite intimidating to find the one that is just right which is why I’m especially grateful for Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski. This simple book is separated into four sections, one for each week of Advent. Each section is composed of three parts which is especially helpful because it removes the pressure from parents to feel like they need to do an Advent related activity every day of the season. The book also contains a four part story for children to enjoy along with the Advent activities. I really like that the book has actual activities that parents can do with young children that will excite them as they learn about the various parts of the Christmas story. Helpful aspects of the book include the Introduction and How To Use This Book sections. My husband didn’t grow up celebrating Advent and I only celebrated it a small handful of times so we found the information contained in these sections to be particularly useful. Prepare Him Room is biblical, simple and enjoyable for each member of the family. I give it my highest recommendation and look forward to using it next year and in the years to come!

What a joy and delight reading this Christmas devotional! Not too long, not too short, just right! This book is very well thought out and planned, highlighting 12 different aspects of the Christmas story; 12 different things which make Christmas wonder-full! I also very much enjoyed the lovely short story. I don't have kids, but if I did I'm sure this would be an annual family favorite. __

Excellent for family devotions. Mixes Scripture, prayer, short teaching, crafts, and singing. Also weaves in a story about the meaning of Christmas. No pictures of Jesus (for those concerned about such things, but one of the activities involves setting up a manger).

This is a fun book to pull out and use to illustrate the real reason behind Christmas! I love the visuals that the book provides, since they are simple to set up, and yet help to drive home the message. I also like that there is a story woven into the devotions. This is a fun book to pull out and use as a family to help make memories and put the true meaning of Christmas at the forefront of your mind.
I received this book from the publisher. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving a complimentary copy.

This devotional by Marty Machowski keeps families from falling into the trap of commercialism by keeping the Word central in the home during the Christmas season and bringing hope to homes that need to hear the promises of God and witness their fulfillment in Christ. The 4-chapter story at the end of each week is a reminder that the meaning of Christmas is not just something to know from history but to know what it means for your story. If you are a family, especially with elementary-aged children, and are looking to keep Christ the focus this Christmas, then pick up your copy of 'Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional' and prepare your hearts to receive and celebrate Christ in your home this Christmas season!

Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional is a great devotional that all families and church groups should add to their Christmas time tradition. I enjoyed it. It includes some fun activities, as well as, reminding readers what the true meaning of Christmas is.
I give Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional five plus stars. I can not to use it again year after year. I highly recommend it.

PREPARE HIM ROOM is a great Advent devotional for families at Christmas time. It includes instructions on how to make your own advent wreath,words to Christmas carols, activities for each week of advent, and Bible verses, the devotional story and thoughts, discussion questions, a prayer and application. This devotional for be the perfect gift for your favorite young family going into the season of Advent, or even a great gift for your own family. I could even see it working for a children's ministry group as they meet together on Sunday or Wednesday nights. It includes crafts with lists of supplies needed so you could prepare ahead of time. Recommended for young families and church groups.

PREPARE HIM ROOM is a great Advent devotional for families at Christmas time. It includes instructions on how to make your own advent wreath,words to Christmas carols, activities for each week of advent, and Bible verses, the devotional story and thoughts, discussion questions, a prayer and application.

This devotional for be the perfect gift for your favorite young family going into the season of Advent, or even a great gift for your own family. I could even see it working for a children's ministry group as they meet together on Sunday or Wednesday nights. It includes crafts with lists of supplies needed so you could prepare ahead of time.

Recommended for young families and church groups.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Marty Machowski has quickly become a favorite author in my home. With an 11 year old daughter and twin 2 1/2 year old boys I am always on the look out for new material to help me point them to Christ. My wife and I also currently teach a 1st-3rd grade Sunday School class and have found The Gospel Story Bible to be an extremely valuable resource. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive this new release focusing on the birth of Christ. Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus is the perfect resource for families and churches to use this Advent season to point children to God's Big Picture plan in the birth of Christ. His birth is so much more than the birth of a baby and Machowski skillfully relates Old Testament promise to New Testament fulfillment in this wonderful book.

The goal of Prepare Him Room is "to take you on an Advent journey, exploring some of the most significant prophecies of the Bible-prophecies that foretold Christ's coming hundreds of years before it happened. Then, it will lead you through the fulfillment of those same prophecies tracing the redemptive plan of God all the way to Christ's second advent." Prepare Him Room is divided into 4 sections each with 3 parts. Each section covers a week, offering 3 devotions per week. The layout for each week covers three main topics: 1) God's Promise 2) The Angel's Announcement and 3) The Fulfillment of God's Plan.

In Part One of each week God's Promise is examined. These promises are from: Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 7:10-14, Micah 5:1-2 and Isaiah 42:1-7. This part of each week is set up to introduce children to various prophecies made in the Old Testament concerning Christ. Part Two, The Angel's Announcement, then turns the children's attention to the visits that Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds had as well as Simeon's announcement in the Temple. Part Three, then helps the children to see how God's plan didn't start in the manger, rather, God planned to save a people for Himself through Christ before the foundation of the world. In the fullness of time Christ came into the world and died, rose and ascended into heaven and will one day return. This is the big picture: God will complete His plan perfectly! Each week moves along this same path of Promise, Announcement, Fulfillment in a wonderful way to show kids how Christ coming to the world to secure redemption for His people is the central theme of the Bible.

Each week also concludes with Bartimaeus: A Christmas Story. This is a heart warming story that plays out in an orphanage during Christmas time. This is such a nice addition to an already wonderful devotional book. I read through the story in one siting and look forward to reading it with my family and Sunday School class in the coming weeks.

The Prepare Him Room Curriculum edition comes with a multimedia CD in addition to the book. The CD is loaded with lesson plans (PDF format) for three different age groups: Preschool (3-5 year olds), Lower Elementary (grades 1-3) and Upper Elementary (grades 4-6). Each lesson plan also comes in Color or Black & White which is helpful if printing color pages in large numbers doesn't fit in the church budget. These lessons break each week down for the teacher, showing what activities to do, what Scripture to read, what points to bring out, what to sing, when to pray, etc. Every section includes a time frame so the teacher can prepare ahead of time how they will flesh the lesson plan out in the classroom. This is definitely worth the purchase as it has so much to offer anyone who teaches in a classroom setting at church. I have already started looking through the lesson plans in anticipation of using it in the coming weeks.

This is another outstanding work from Marty Machowski as he continues to provide the church with great resources! I highly recommend this book!

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of family traditions to include putting up decorations, gathering together for a sumptuous meal, and unwrapping presents early on Christmas morning. Much has been said about the commercialization of Christmas and the tendency to forget the true reason we even celebrate the occasion. Marty Machowski in his helpful family devotional aptly titled Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus, returns the reader to the proper focus of Christmas, namely the incarnation of the Son of God and all that entails.

As noted, this book is a devotional and thus is written in a manner that allows it to be used over the course of the Advent season as part of family devotions. Each week of Advent has three parts devoted to it by Machowski, each focusing on a particular element of the coming of Jesus. In an effort to maximize family participation in the devotions, Machowski provides suggested activities such as listening to Handel's Messiah or constructing an Advent wreath. Additionally, he outlines a Scripture passage which forms the crux of that week's devotion to include some very helpful commentary.

I also appreciated the tips for conversation provided by Machowski such as the example provided by Mary the mother of Jesus and her trust of God's plan. The focus on praying together as a family with suggested prayer topics as well as hymns by which to join together in song and the suggested craft activity round out each week's insightful devotional material.

Many may already have well established family traditions while others such as my own family are searching for ways to begin what hopefully will be longstanding traditions. Regardless of which of those spectrums you may reside, I highly recommend Machowski's book as something to either include in what you already do as part of your Christmas traditions or as a great place by which to start a worthwhile tradition. In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is very easy to forget the reason for the season. Thus, having a devotional that will help return the focus to its proper place, namely on Christ, will help ensure your family is fully able to "Prepare Him Room".