The Light Before Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional

Every Christmas we do a devotional from Marty Machowski, and this one was a real treat! Highly recommend for advent!

My family is looking forward to doing this Advent devo this year as we have other books by Marty Machowski and each is done so welll! Children young, older, and old (because age doesn't matter) each enjoy his writings.

Beautiful story! Our school is using this as a guide for Advent-themed prayer services.

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.

Are you looking for a new Advent devotional to read with your family this year? Marty Machowki’s The Light Before Christmas is an amazing 4-week advent devotional that our family loves. It weaves a story of Mia and her blind grandmother that will captivate the hearts of your children and open up meaningful conversations with your children. It has a little bit of everything from Scripture, reflections, music, crafts, object lessons, and many activities. It’s a great way for your family to celebrate the birth of Christ together. There is also a curriculum for Sunday Schools that is wonderful!

Advent devotionals are a wonderful way to help your family focus on what matters most this Christmas season, and we highly recommend this one!

I have received this product from New Growth Press in exchange for my honest and unbiased product review; all opinions are my own.*

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!

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.
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 Light Before Christmas is an outstanding advent devotional for the whole family. The devotionals focus on light and the role it has in the Christmas story and ultimately our salvation. Thirteen devotionals are included in the book which allows for three devotionals each week of advent plus a final devotional for Christmas day. Each devotional follows the same format and includes an activity, music, and prayer. Whether your family has participated in family devotionals during advent in the past or this is the first time doing so, The Light Before Christmas is an outstanding resource.

While this complimentary book was provided for review by New Growth Press, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.

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.

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.