Advent is a time historically set aside each year by the Church to celebrate the years of waiting experienced by God’s people before the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, on earth. It is a time of waiting, longing, and anticipation. After a year such as this, we can all benefit from some of this focused hope! Today we continue our DWITW Advent Resource round-up tradition as we share some new finds with you for 2020. You can also check out our lists from previous years for even more ideas!

As we’ve said each year, not everyone celebrates Advent. There is quite a range of Christmas traditions amongst Christians around the world. Remember, celebrating Advent is a “get-to,” not a “have-to.” Furthermore, you do not have to spend money to celebrate advent well! This is not an Advent “To-Do List.” It would be nearly impossible to use and enjoy all of the resources listed below in a single Advent season. Our goal is simply to connect you with trusted resources, available in one spot for easy reference!

Note: All of the resources we shared last year and in years prior are excellent, and many are still available, so go check those out too! This post will focus on what's new (or new-to-us) for 2020.

Devotional Plans & Studies

• Jesus Christ Is Born: Advent 2020 Study Book by She Reads Truth (He Reads Truth study available for men as well)

• Grafted In by Amy Gannet

• The Radiant Dawn by Tom Parsons

• Hymns for Advent Study (studies offered for both men and women) by The Daily Grace Co.

• Savor the Savior Advent Study by Well Watered Women

• Fixated by Tim Chester

• Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season by David Leeman and Barbara Leeman

• Prepare Him Room Devotional Cards by Gracelaced

Books

• Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus edited by Nancy Guthrie

Family Resources and Activities

• The Jesus Storybook Bible, A Christmas Collection: Stories, Songs, and Reflections for the Advent Season by Sally Lloyd-Jones— use along with the FREE Advent Toolkit by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago, including printable ornaments, coloring pages, and memory cards!

• Hope, Joy, Peace, Love: Family Advent Study by The Daily Grace Co.

• Advent Conversation Cards by Kids Read Truth

• This Is The Christmas Story: A Kids Read Truth Story & Scripture Book

• The Promise of Christmas by The Daily Grace Co.

• Jesus Came for Me: The True Story of Christmas by Jared Kennedy

• A Better Than Anything Christmas: Explore How Jesus Makes Christmas Better by Barbara Reoach

• Advent Blocks

Advent Calendars

• 2020 Family Advent Ornaments by The Daily Grace Co.

• Advent Scripture Calendar by Kids Read Truth

Music

• Rend Collective: A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2)

• For King & Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas

• Sovereign Grace Music: Heaven Has Come

What are some of you and your family’s favorite ways to enjoy and savor this season? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments below!

The holidays are drawing ever closer, and we are so excited to make much of Jesus with you during this special time, friends! To continue our DWITW Advent Resource round-up tradition, today we’re sharing some new finds with you for 2019. You can also check out lists from previous years for even more ideas.

As we’ve said before, we know not everyone celebrates Advent and there is quite a range of Christmas traditions among Christians, so please keep in mind: this post is not meant to be an "Advent To Do" list. It is nearly impossible to use and enjoy all of these resources in a single Advent season. Our goal is to connect you with the resources  already out there and put them all in one place for easy access.

Note: All of the resources we shared last year and in years prior (2017 & 2016) are excellent and many are still available, so go check those out too! This post will focus on what's new (or new-to-us) for 2019.

Devotional Plans

• She Reads Truth 2019 Advent Collection (includes devotionals for women, men and kids' activities)

• Advent 2019 studies from Sacred Holidays

• Advent 2019 Guided Scripture Journal by All Good Things Co.

• The Daily Grace Co. 2019 Advent Collection

• Behold the Lamb by Well Watered Women

• Hope is Alive by IF:Gathering

Books

• Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent by Enuma Okoro

Family Resources and Activities

• Christ at the Center Cards by Tiny Theologians

• Seeds of Christmas pack from Seeds Family Worship

• Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski

• The Christmas Promise by Alison Mitchell & Catalina Echeverri (and coordinating Advent Calendar.)

• The Littlest Watchman by Scott James & Geraldine Rodríguez (has a partnering Advent Calendar, too!)

• “A Very Noisy Christmas” by Tim Thornborough & Jennifer Davison

• “A Jesus Christmas” by Barbara Reaoch

Advent Calendars

• Calendar Cards by All Good Things Co.

• Candle Cards from Daily Grace Co.

Music

• ”Christmas” by Phil Wickham

• ”Christmas” by Sandra McCracken

• “Light Has Come” by Future of Forestry

Videos

• The Origins of Christmas | Why Do We Call It Christmas? By Phil Vischer

What are some of you and your family’s favorite ways to enjoy and savor this season? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments below!

Hey, friends! This year Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season, falls on March 6th, 2019. We know not everyone observes this season, but some do, and we wanted to provide some resources for those of you that do. As mentioned on the Advent resources posts, this is not intended as a to-do list, but is a list of all sorts of suggestions that you can easily access! Perhaps, you can find a resource or two you would like to use while you celebrate this season in a way that rings true to your heart. 

Also, one thing we wanted to mention before you look through the list below is that some of the resources (especially the family ones) are not 40 days long or they are for use closer to Holy Week/Easter time. We know this isn’t an exhaustive list, so we would love for you to comment and share the resources you like to use or what you enjoy doing during the Lent/Easter season!

Devotional Plans

• She Reads Truth 2019 Easter Collection & She Reads Truth 2018 Lent Collection (includes devotionals for women and men, as well as story-cards for kids)

• Holey Wholly Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement by Kris Camealy

• A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions for Lent by Walter Brueggemann

• Ascending Calvary Devotional & Breathe Study by Well-Watered Women

• He Is Alive & The Final Days Lent Studies from Sacred Holidays (join a lent study group and access study walkthrough videos via their Lent page)

• From the Grave: A 40-Day Lent Devotional by A. W. Tozer

• Trinity Grace Church Lent Devotional (2017) (free)

• “Lenten Lights” article by DesiringGod

• Lent Devotional Guide by The Village Church (free)

• The Glory of the Cross by Tim Chester

• Lent to Repent by Ann Voskamp (with devotional ornaments)

Books

• Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul David Tripp

• Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter by various authors

• Journey to the Cross by Will Walker and Kendal Haug

• Lent and Easter Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

• Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis

• 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast by Alicia Britt Chole

• Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent by Richard Rohr O.F.M.

• Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter from the Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle

Family Resources and Activities

• Rich + Rooted Passover by Jennifer Naraki

• An Illustrated Lent for Families (2017) by Illustrated Children’s Ministry

• Jesus Storybook Bible Reading Plan (2017) by Sally Lloyd Jones

• Mission Accomplished by Scott James (14 day devotional starting at Palm Sunday)

• Jesus Tree from The Art of Being Mama (free)

• Cradle to Cross Wreath

• Lenten Calendar Templates (2017) from Sybil Macbeth

• Ash Wednesday Bonfire at Home from buildfaith.org

• Family Lent series from Jerusalem Greer

• Making Pretzels from buildfaith.org

• Crossing Kids: Lent Devotional

• Making Easter Personal for Preschoolers by God Centered Mom

• The Joy Journey by Happy Home Fairy

• A Sense of the Resurrection by Oh Amanda

• Resurrection Eggs

• Empty Tomb Garden

Children’s Books and Music

• The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton

• The Light of the World: The Life of Jesus for Children by Katherine Paterson

• The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul

• The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung and The Biggest Story ABC for little ones

• Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix

• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones

• I AM:40 Reasons to Trust God by Diane Stortz

• Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson

• Seeds of Easter by Seeds Family Worship

Music

• The Blood + the Breath: Songs That Tell the Story of Redemption by Caroline Cobb

• Lent to Maundy Thursday by Page CXVI

• Good Friday to Easter by Page CXVI

• Jesus Paid It All by Kristian Stanfill

• How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

• O Love That Will Not Let Me Go by Indelible Grace Music

• Hosanna by Hillsong

• Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong

• Let Your Blood Plead For Me by Sojourn

• Mercy Tree by Anthony Evans

Videos

• “What is Lent?” by Redeemed Online

• “What is Lent?” by Concordia Publishing House

• “LENT: A season of renewal” by Hyper Pixel Media

• “What is the meaning of Lent?” by Got Questions Ministries

• What is Easter? By Phil Vischer (kids)