• Home
  • About
    • Meet Kristin
  • The Book
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Turquoise Table Stories
    • Recipe Collection
    • 5-Day Meet Your Neighbors Challenge
    • Conversations
  • Spiritual Direction
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • About
    • Meet Kristin
    • Meet the Team
  • Start Here
  • Join the Community
  • Register Your Table
  • The Book
  • Podcast
  • Blog
    • Turquoise Table Stories
    • Suppers for Sharing
    • Recipes
    • Conversations
  • Media
  • Speaking
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The Turquoise Table

Kristin Schell

  • Start Here
  • Register Your Table
  • The Community

in Conversations

God With Us – My favorite Advent Book

I love the way our house transitions from ordinary to light filled this time of year. We spent the weekend decking the halls, as they say. Golden pears and pomegranates glow with twinkle lights and garland, rosy red Christmas plates and coffee mugs fill glass kitchen cabinets, and our jewel toned, felt nativity set greets visitors on the entry hall table. All but the tree, we’ll make the trip to the farm next weekend for that, has returned to it’s place for the season.

And the favorite of all? The village. 

The Christmas village replaces books on the shelves of our antique library cabinet illuminating scenes from a by-gone era. The Littles press into the glass, leaving imprints of noses and chins as they peer into the past watching vignettes of skaters, carolers, and chestnut roasters. I wonder what stories they imagine. Our hearts long with nostalgia for a place in time we’ve never been.

As our homes transition from ordinary, so must our hearts. Yesterday was the last Sunday of the church year, Christ the King Sunday. The liturgical clock will reset next Sunday ending the long period of Ordinary Time as we begin the season of Advent.

The church year is divided into threes—Advent, Lent and Ordinary Time. We are entering the most expectant time of the year, which also flows into three parts—Advent, Christmastime and Epiphany. It’s a time of expectant hope as we celebrate Emmanuel, God with Us, and look forward to the day of his return.

We cozy up gazing at lights, but what our hearts really long for can only be filled by the light of the world. In anticipation of Advent next Sunday, I have my favorite book of the season God With Us. This will be my third year to read from the daily devotionals (fourth time through if you count when I read it this July!) of this glorious anthology of art and essays by some of my favorite authors and theologians, including Eugene Peterson and Luci Shaw.

If you are looking for a way to fully engage in the season and rediscover the meaning of Christmas, consider spending time savoring these daily readings. And, if you do let me hear from you. Wouldn’t it be fun to share this time together?

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Conversations Tagged With: Advent, Christmas Books, Eugene Peterson, God With Us, Luci Shaw

« Thanksgiving for Country & Western Songs and Hymns
When Life Resembles a C&W Song More Than A Pinterest Board »

Comments

  1. Kamille says

    at

    Thanks for this Kristin! I remember you talking about it last year. How do you celebrate Advent with your kids?

    • Kristin says

      at

      Kamille – We LOVE Truth in Tinsel by our sweet friend Amanda – http://truthinthetinsel.com We also read Jotham’s Journey during Advent, but my kids are older. xoox, K

  2. Teri Lynne Underwood says

    at

    My copy is sitting out ready to begin on December 1 … what a special gift to know we’ll be reading together! xo

    • Kristin says

      at

      Love you, TL!

  3. Megan says

    at

    I can always count on you for a good book recommendation! Can’t wait to read it!!

Meet Kristin

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

I'm on a mission to love my neighbors. I put an ordinary picnic table in my front yard, painted it turquoise and invited neighbors, friends, and even strangers to hang out and do life together at the Turquoise Table®.

I hope you'll join us!

About Kristin

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

The Book

Buy Now

The Podcast

The Turquoise Table Podcast with Kristin Schell

Listen Now

Join the Movement

  • Start Here
  • Join the Community
  • Register Your Table
  • Your Tables

Subscribe for Updates

Quick Links

  • Media
  • Contact
Hook ‘em Ellie! We’re so proud of you, our lif Hook ‘em Ellie! We’re so proud of you, our lifelong Longhorn! Congrats on graduation —we love you so much and are so very proud of you! 🧡🤘🏽🧡
Final kindergarten chapel to final senior year cha Final kindergarten chapel to final senior year chapel. So grateful for St Matthew’s and Hyde Park for loving and raising up our four. If you need me I’m the mama crying buckets for the entire month of May as we celebrate two milestone graduations.
This lil nugget is 18! Oh Sarah how we love you! H This lil nugget is 18! Oh Sarah how we love you! Happy Birthday baby girl 💕🎂🥳🎁🎉
Happiest of hours. Oyster shooters in stories. 🦪
Happy 25th Will! We love you so much and I’m so Happy 25th Will! We love you so much and I’m so proud of you. Never grow too old for Puff the Magic Dragon, Baby Beluga and I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon. 🎂🥳🥰
Happy Birthday to my favorite Valentine baby! 22 l Happy Birthday to my favorite Valentine baby! 22 looks good on YOU. I love you so @ellieeschell 💘🎂🎉
Follow on Instagram

Copyright ©2005-2023 Kristin Schell · Site by Erin Ulrich Creative