Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Courtney Joseph)
Winners announced here! Congratulations!
*Give Away has Ended*
It’s Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
If you’re just joining in, be sure to catch up by starting at Day One here.
My guest today is my dear friend, blogger, author, and creator of Good Morning Girls, Courtney Joseph. I am so thrilled she chose to share her clever idea with all of you. Ever since she told me about it a few years back, it has been one of my favorite Christmastime ideas ever! Here’s Courtney…
*********************
As a child I loved driving around and looking at Christmas lights with my family. So when my children were born, we continued this tradition only we added a fun spiritual twist to it. Every Christmas Eve, I prepare the kids for our drive by having them color about 10 coloring pages of the nativity.
After they finish coloring their pictures, I write on their pictures these words:
“Jesus is the reason for the season!
Thank you for displaying your nativity!”
Then we put on our Christmas pajamas, crank up Christmas music, and begin driving around in search of baby Jesus! I wish I could explain how exciting the anticipation is in the car. As each beautiful house passes by, we examine it hard in search of an angel, a star, or any sign of a nativity.
Then it happens! A house with a nativity is spotted and the celebration erupts in the car as we clap and cheer at the sight of our Savior Jesus!
Then we pull over and one of the kids (cautiously and safely) hops out of the car and slips a thank you note into their mail box. Then we continue on in our journey in search of more nativities, until all of our pictures are handed out.
We began this tradition back when my kids were preschoolers and they still love to do this even now as teenagers! The only change we have made is that they no longer are interested in coloring pictures, so now I buy Christmas cards with a picture of the nativity on it and I have them write out the thank you note inside.
If you are looking for a new and meaningful tradition to try out this year, I can’t recommend this highly enough. There are so many spiritual analogies you can talk about while you drive in the car – such as how God wants us to seek him and that when we seek him, we will find him, when we seek him with all of our heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) Or how the Wise Men must have felt when they followed the star that led them to baby Jesus. Or how nothing is as beautiful as the sight of our Savior Jesus and how God delights in the praises of His people.
What is an idea you have done, or have heard about and would like to try, that focuses on the real reason for the season? Let’s celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Keep walking with the King,
Courtney
Day 3 Giveaway
Courtney is giving away a copy of her Be Still 3-month Habit Tracker, along her Bible studies on the books of Ecclesiastes and Ruth.
*********************
Courtney Joseph is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Evangelism and Discipleship. She loves God’s Word and is passionate about helping women to get into it daily. She is blogging through the Bible, one chapter a day, at WomenLivingWell.org , the Home of Good Morning Girls. Courtney has published over 18 Bible Studies, her most recent ones ranking number 1 for Christian Devotionals on Amazon. You can find all of her Bible studies, along with links to her free resources and videos on her blog and you can follow Courtney’s ministry on Facebook, Pinterest, Youtub
- U.S. Addresses only please.
- You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 16. Start with Day One here.
- Share the giveaway with your friends and followers. You can use the share buttons below or repost and share on Instagram (my fave) and tag me @karenehman.
- One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
- To enter to win the Grand Prize (below), comment on all 12 posts and share on social media.
- All winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced here on the blog on Tuesday, December 18, and contacted via email. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your prizes.
- If you’re not already subscribed, click HERE and you’ll receive an email notification each day of our series.
What a wonderful idea! We go look for lights but not with that awesome end in mind, maybe we’ll have to add it. Merry Christmas one and all and good luck on your journey seeking Him!!
I’d love to do something that would allow me to share Jesus with my neighbors! A Holiday block party!
I am trying to read a chapter of Luke each day this month till Christmas since Luke has 24 chapters. It was Franklin Grahan’s suggestion. I like the idea
We don’t have specific traditions besides ensuring we go to a service. This one is great to add!
I would love to add your Nativity suggestion to my Christmas Eve tradition of Christmas light looking. Thank you for sharing
Love the nativity suggestion!
I would like to make a treat plate for my neighbors and attach a copy of the Christmas story.
As we enter into Advent, your tradition is a gentle but firm reminder to keep us grounded in the reason for the season! Thank you for sharing your family’s holiday tradition. The year after 9/11, I created a poem to remind people of how much we have to be thankful for that Christmas and put it in over a hundred mailboxes. I never heard from anyone as it was completely anonymous, but I hope that it was a light for some during that difficult time. Your post helped me to remember that Christmas and what we are truly thankful for. Happy Birthday, Jesus <3
My kids were just introduced to the Candy Maker Story. They will never look at Candy Canes the same.
This is the first time of hearing of this author and seeing her products. They sound great and if I don’t win I’ll diffently buy!
What a wonderful idea!! We LOVE going to look at lights each year! And thanking those who don’t forget the true reason is wonderful! Christmas morning we read Luke 2 before any gift giving.
What a great idea!! I use to love driving around looking at Christmas lights. Not sure why we stopped.
Courtney, that is such a cool tradition! Growing up Dad always got out the Bible, turned to Luke and made us kids take turns reading the nativity story before we were allowed to open any gifts.
I have a nativity that my parents gave me when I got married. I put it up every year under our tree and we had a nativity for outside but we had to give it away because we moved and couldn’t put it in our yard.
I love this idea! My husband and oldest don’t like looking at the lights, though. I try to see them with my youngest when we can.
We love driving around to look at Christmas lights, so we will have to add this beautiful touch to its
I love to drive around and look at the Christmas lights with my husband and our three children. We are also reading Luke to the kids each night we go through one chapter ?
We like to look at Christmas lights too. We also like to attend Christmas music programs to get in the spirit
What a creative way to get the entire family in on gratitude and thanks.
Day. 3. Courtney love coloring the Natavity pages and then letting the children use them to thank and encourage others
What a cool Idea! Merry Christmas! :D
Christmas lights will always be a favorite! We have lights around the outside of the house, around the doors inside the house and on the tree! HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
Thats a cool idea! I have noticed myself looking for the nativity as I drive around lately. It’s super fun to spot one especially if I know who lives there!
Love the idea of looking for baby Jesus and the nativity and leaving a thank you card in the mailbox. Such an awesome tradition. I have memories as a child riding with my parents looking at Christmas lights and even walking house to house singing Christmas carols as a child and an Adult with the church choir. Then when I had children and grandchildren we carried on the Holiday tradition. Such a joyous time of year to make family traditions. Would Love to do these Bible Studies since I have not done them.
I love this idea!