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I was looking for recommendations on materials to use with my girls and I got wonderful feedback! I linked some of my friends favorite resources to use! These are all available on Amazon so you can have them in time for Advent season!

The Christmas Star from Afar

A Tradition For the Whole Family

Start off by reading the book as a family.

Kids know mom and dad are in on the fun!

Take turns hiding the star, let the younger ones have a chance to hide the star for their older siblings.

Don’t worry if you forget to hide the star one night! This is not a magical flying star so it can be hidden later that day. Star From Afar is a NO PRESSURE tradition.

https://amzn.to/374eAym

Little Hearts Prepare Him Room

Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room is a family Advent devotional designed to grow alongside the hearts of your little ones. Allowing you to go deeper as children grow older, the readings of the well-known texts call children and parents alike to taste the grace of Christmas and to apply that grace to the parts of life that don’t make sense. With scriptures primarily from the gospels of Luke and Matthew and themes from the Westminster Confession of Faith, both content and reflection questions intend to address the heart of the matter: what God says about us in His Word and how His truth shapes our lives.

https://amzn.to/2Qj5eZJ

The Shepherd on the Search

Embark on a family journey and find Christ in Christmas!  During the Advent season, begin reading the story of your shepherd’s timeless journey in a beautifully illustrated interactive children’s book, and let the fun begin every day as you hide your shepherd and your children find him in a new place along the search!  The shepherd’s journey begins anew every Christmas season and ends on Christmas day as your shepherd finds his way to the manger. Make meaningful Christmas memories, as year after year your family delights in helping your cuddly shepherd retell the timeless story – that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas.

https://amzn.to/33D16rf – the book

https://amzn.to/2p89vnn – the book and Shepherd (not prime eligible)

Jesse Tree Ornaments – Coloring Activities Book

This is a fun project to help kids learn more about the Christian faith. This Jesse Tree helps to tell the story of the Bible from creation to the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesse Trees can be used during Advent to help prepare for Christmas. This book has 24 ornaments to color and cut out and a pattern to make a tree out of construction paper to display the ornaments. There are also Bible stories for children and Bible passages for each ornament

https://amzn.to/2ruPYhH

Jesse Tree Book and Ornaments

Bring Christ back to Christmas by giving your children a devotional experience that adorns your tree with Christian symbols.

The Advent Jesse Tree offers 25 devotions for each day from December 1st to December 25th, Christmas Day… The day Christians celebrate that God’s purpose was finally revealed in the coming of the savior, Jesus Christ. Each devotion traces the heritage of Jesus through the stories and prophecies of the Old Testament. This book enables individuals and families to engage in a more meaningful celebration of the Christmas season. These daily Advent devotions are written in two versions (one for children and one for adults) including a scripture, a story and commentary, questions to ask, a prayer, and a song.

Each devotional story is paired with a representative symbol that traces the heritage of Jesus… Such as a lamb, a dove, a rainbow, a heart, a star, etc. Children and their parents can utilize the symbolic line art printed with each daily devotion to craft meaningful ornaments. These symbols coincide with the prayers, memory verses, questions for children, and songs found in the devotions for that day.

Finally, on Christmas day, your tree will be filled with reminders of 25 Bible stories that led up to Christ’s birth.

https://amzn.to/36TPiTs – book

https://amzn.to/2p7Nbu6 – ornaments

The Advent Story Book

Benjamin Bear cannot wait for Christmas to come. To help the time pass more quickly, his mother tells him that every day when he opens a door on his Advent calendar she’ll tell him a story about another little bear and his long, arduous journey to Bethlehem.The little bear, led by a glittering star, meets many others on his travels. His adventures, filled with acts of heroism and kindness and many small miracles, show him the path to the Christ Child. A beautiful book that teaches the true spirit of Christmas.

https://amzn.to/2pa5Fu7 – Book

The post Ways to Celebrate Advent with your Young Children appeared first on Rachel Granstra - The American Farm Wife.

Now, I’m gonna say this right now, because I know what most people will say about this- Women with careers are not bad women. Women with goals (other than in their home) are not bad women. (hello, I’m a mother running a business here!)

BUT, the lie that their careers and goals are “for their children” are simply that– lies. 

Because I guarantee there is not one child out there that will feel more loved, more secure, or more comforted by their mother’s new promotion, or accolade. 

AND, I guarantee there is not one child out there that will feel more loved, more secure, or more comforted by their mother’s larger income.

By telling ourselves that these things in our lives are for our children, that the extra hours we put into our careers are us ‘sacrificing FOR our children’…..we are doing them a huge disservice. We aren’t sacrificing FOR our children, we are sacrificing OUR CHILDREN-for our goals. 

I do believe that God created women to be in the home- no, not to simply cook and clean– but to raise and shape generations to love and serve the Lord. That to me is empowering.

I’m aware that the opinion here isn’t popular. But, If I wanted popularity I’d jump on the popular train of ‘You do what you want for yourself and don’t listen to anybody’s opinion of you….’ But quite frankly, there are some opinions that matter A LOT……Your spouse’s. Your children’s. And that of God the Father. 

That being said, if the opinions of the above don’t align with your career goals — maybe you should take a listen. 

Your children need you, they need you for their entire lives. But most of all, they need you when they are little. In the seasons of sleepless nights, temper tantrums, and hard days at school. They. Need. YOU.

Does that mean sacrificing yourself? HECK YES!!!!

Sacrifice is not a bad thing, it is a noble thing. It is one of the most humbling, exhausting, and honorable things you can do with your life…

I believe with all of my heart that there needs to be revival — A revival of women and mothers that are willing and HONORED to serve the Lord by sacrificing for their families.

Always with love,

Rachel

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Your truth.

Have you heard that saying before?

it’s plastered all over social media…. you hear it constantly on the news.

‘I’m just speaking MY truth.’

You can have feelings and emotions that feel true to you….they feel real. Your feelings matter and you should be open about that, but I think we use ‘truth’ when we we should be using the word ’emotions.’

Truth is not something that can be different to different people. Truth is truth. It is concrete. It is not up for discussion, it isnt different to you and to me.

Jesus is the truth. God’s word is the truth. If ‘your truth’ does not line up with the Word of God, then I’ll be blunt with you, it is simply not the truth.

‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6 ( Jesus speaking)

I encourage you to be careful when you are using the word ‘truth.’ You have ability to turn people from the path and deceive them by speaking lies in the name of Jesus. Let your words align with the Word of God, and encourage others to stay the course.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,

who substitute darkness for light

and light for darkness,

who substitute bitter for sweet

and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who consider themselves wise

and judge themselves clever.

Isaiah 5:20-23

Always with love,

Rachel

The post On My Heart: Speaking THE TRUTH appeared first on Rachel Granstra - The American Farm Wife.

Have you ever noticed that God’s instruction for our lives often goes completely against our human understanding?

In our human minds, first comes comfort in finances, then comes the willingness to give.

God is calling for us, “Don’t seek comfort in finances, seek comfort in the Lord.” Give freely when you have little and God will bless your willingness to give and your trust in Him.

But isn’t that exactly what it’s supposed to be like? We are called to stand out differently from the majority.

Because when you have little, there’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that your love and your heart and your desire are not for possession.

Let us seek first the kingdom of God and pray that His will be done whether that means abundant blessing in possessions or not.

The abundance of wisdom and understanding are truly the only blessings our hearts should desire when we give freely the first produce of our harvest.

The post On My Heart: Giving Freely appeared first on Rachel Granstra - The American Farm Wife.

The most rewarding kind of growth, one that lasts far longer than a lifetime, is spiritual growth.

You can invest your time and energy in getting to know creation (yourself) better, or you could put that effort into getting to know the Creator. When you focus on God and how He can develop you, you will grow in ways far beyond your own abilities.

When you start thinking about your energy, your goals and your family with eternity in mind, you will stop seeking the fleeting happiness that lies in personal ambition, and you will find everlasting joy and hope in Christ.

The post On My Heart: Growing in God, not Self appeared first on Rachel Granstra - The American Farm Wife.