Week 1 devotionals were written by Marcie Haas.

Dec 1
Sunday - Christ is our Hope
*If you are participating in making a wreath & or making the candles for this season of advent this is the evening to follow the instructions for rolling the candles and decorating your wreath! Feel free to put your family's unique spin on what the wreath looks like. See additional handout for ideas or simply google homemade advent wreaths for a variety of ideas. Have fun with it!
Advent is a time of anticipation, a time of waiting for the birth of Christ and the HOPE he brought and continues to bring to us everyday. God is here!
Bible Verse: But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me. Micah 7:7
Prayer: On the first Christmas, you gave us the gift of Hope wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Thank you God, for this gift of HOPE. Amen
If you have small children, provide materials for them to draw a picture of Christmas. Show Hope tomorrow by complimenting a friend.
- Marcie Haas

Dec 2
Monday - What are you hoping for right now?
Maybe you are hoping and waiting for a special day. Are you waiting and hoping for something special like a new toy? Or maybe you are waiting and hoping to go to a friend’s house? As we wait and hope for Christmas during Advent this year we can share the love God has given us with those we meet as we all wait in hope.
Bible Verse: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who He has given us.” Romans 5:5

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us the gift of love in Jesus. Thank you for loving us. Help us to love others as You have loved us. We wait and hope with love. Amen
Small activity-of-the-day - Small children can share what love looks like: through a story, a drawing, or another crafty creation (playdough, misc. Art supplies.)
Show Hope tomorrow by holding the door for someone and showing them love by giving them a big smile.
- Marcie Haas

Dec 3
Tuesday - What emotions do you feel as you wait?
It is hard to wait! Patience is not easy as we wait for something or someone to come. Sometimes we feel angry or treated unfairly if we have to wait. But, knowing that something exciting and good is coming can bring us joy!
Bible Verse: I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow though the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Prayer: Father, we want to wait with joy in the anticipation of what You bring to our lives each day. Thank you for loving us and always being with us. Amen
Small activity-of-the-day: Engage children by talking about (or acting out) how they feel when they have to wait for something or what it feels like to wait for Christmas. You could also create something to help us wait: a chain with 23 links - take one off each day, a chart with 23 spots to put stickers on each day until Christmas or cross off each day.
Show Hope tomorrow by waiting for something with a smile on your face!
- Marcie Haas

Dec 4
Wednesday - Who was waiting for Jesus?
The Israelites were waiting for something a long time ago. Their country had been conquered over and over. Foreign enemies ruled over them and they wanted to be free. Where did their hope come from - they believed that the Messiah would come and save them. God sent Jesus on that Christmas morning - He gave them hope, just like He gives us hope!
Bible Verse: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Prayer: You are a God of hope. Thank you that long ago you told the people you would send a Messiah and you did! Help us hope as we wait and prepare for Christmas. Amen
Small activity-of-the-day - Have each member of your family make a list of people they would like to pray for - someone who might need hope right now. Younger children could draw a picture of the people they want to pray for this week.
Show Hope tomorrow by writing a note or making a drawing to cheer up someone.
- Marcie Haas

Dec 5
Thursday - Where can we find HOPE?
Have you ever broken a promise? Has someone broken a promise to you? How did you feel?
When God sent Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem He kept His promise to us . We can continue to hope and trust that he will fulfill his promises to each of us. We find HOPE in Jesus!
Bible Verse: “Yes, my soul , find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

Prayer: Thank you God for the promise you kept to us when Jesus was born. Help us remember that You are with us everyday and we can have hope through our relationship with you. Amen
Show Hope tomorrow by keeping a promise you made to someone.

Dec 6
Friday - A poem for today:
There is a story you are telling, Lord,
About the way that time itself bends toward you. How a being born shone a light
that set wise men on their course and kings wringing their hands and calling for blood.
You are changing the world.
But first we must understand that
our hope is a force
set in motion at the dawn of time itself. It was you who began that long descent from the heights of heaven
As creator, as love, as a promise
Come down to us at Christmas.
(taken from: Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! By Kate Bowler p.185
Bible Verse: “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
Prayer: Father, help us find hope today. Let it shine like a bright light so we too can hope! Amen
- Marcie Haas

Small activity-of-the-day - Hope is one of the most powerful words we have. How can you define hope? Is it faith, trust, belief? Where do you find hope? Where do you see it?
For younger children: Write Jesus on a piece of paper (or draw a picture of Him), Put the picture in a small box and wrap the box together. Place the “wrapped gift” under your tree to open on Christmas morning -a reminder that Jesus was our gift of HOPE. Show Hope tomorrow by being a good friend to your family members
- Marcie Haas

Dec 7
Saturday - How can we share HOPE with others?
The world was changed when Jesus came and He is still changing it - through us! We change the world everytime we share the HOPE Jesus gives us with others. We can share hope through showing love to others. God will give us what we need to share His love. Let the light of HOPE shine!
Bible Verse: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for the Hope you give to us each day. You show us hope through your love and your presence in our lives. Let the Hope you give shine like a light in us so others may see it. Amen
Small activity-of-the-day - Engage younger children by having them write (or draw for very young) a prayer together. As a family, light one candle and turn off the lights so only the candle light is shining. Think about how that light fills the room - our light (hope) can fill a room too! We show hope when we share God’s love! You might want to sing “This Little Light of Mine” to end your time together.
Show Hope tomorrow by praying for someone you know that is sad or hurt or sick.
- Marcie Haas

We pray these devotionals will help you, as the song says,  "prepare Him room". Merry Christmas Prodigal Church.