Countdown...

Advent is much more than a season to count down the days until Christmas Day. It is a season to reflect... to prepare our hearts for the coming of the King. While tradition gives us many wonderful ways to count the days from the beginning of December until December 25th, with a number of them involving chocolate, there is never a more appropriate way to prepare our hearts for Jesus that by reading God's Word. Not that chocolate is bad, mind you. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:17).

The drawer calendar above is perfect for placing a rolled up Scripture inside for each day of Advent. You can also include a small toy or... hummm... CHOCOLATE! But the most important thing is the Scripture because the written Word prepares our hearts for the Living Word.

First, write or type a verse or short passage on a piece of paper. At the end of this post, there are two sets of verses you can use, if you want a unifying theme for your Advent verses. Once you've written or typed the verses, cut the paper into strips. Roll the strips tightly to form a little scroll. Place a ribbon around the scroll to hold it together until the time comes to read it.

Place the rolled up Scripture passage in the drawer with whatever else would appeal to the people who open the drawers -- toys, peppermints, CHOCOLATE. Scripture scrolls also work well for Advent calendars with pockets for the goodies instead of drawers.

Below are two lists of readings for the season of Advent, just to get you started. Choose one or the other... or make your own. Short Scripture passages work for Advent calendars, Advent journals, and drawer calendars. The main idea is to get into God's Word everyday throughout the entire holy-day season.

The Birth of Jesus Advent Verses

December 1 - Luke 1:30-33
December 2 - Luke 1:41-42
December 3 - Matthew 1:20-23
December 4 - Luke 2:1,3
December 5 - Luke 2:4-5
December 6 - Luke 2:6-7
December 7 - John 1:14
December 8 - Luke 2:8-9
December 9 - Luke 2:10-12
December 10 - Luke 2:13-14
December 11 - Luke 2:15-16
December 12 - Luke 2:17-19
December 13 - Luke 2:20
December 14 - Luke 2:21
December 15 - Matthew 2:1-2
December 16 - Matthew 2:3-4
December 17 - Matthew 2:5-6
December 18 - Matthew 2:7-8
December 19 - Matthew 2:9
December 20 - Matthew 2:10-11
December 21 - Luke 2:28-32
December 22 - Luke 2:38
December 23 - Luke 2:40
December 24 - Mark 1:9-11


The Coming King Advent Verses

December 1 - Genesis 3:14-15
December 2 - Genesis 22:18
December 3 - 2 Samuel 7:13
December 4 - Isaiah 7:14
December 5 - Isaiah 9:6
December 6 - Isaiah 9:7
December 7 - Isaiah 35:3-4
December 8 - Isaiah 40:3-5
December 9 - Isaiah 40:10-11
December 10 - Isaiah 42:1-3
December 11 - Isaiah 52:13-15
December 12 - Isaiah 53:1-2
December 13 - Isaiah 53:3-4
December 14 - Isaiah 53:5
December 15 - Isaiah 53:6
December 16 - Isaiah 53:7-8
December 17 - Isaiah 53:9
December 18 - Isaiah 53:10
December 19 - Isaiah 53:11
December 20 - Isaiah 53:12
December 21 - Jeremiah 23:5-6
December 22 - Micah 5:2
December 23 - Zechariah 9:9
December 24 - Luke 1:31-33

Some of the most adorable Advent calendars this year are available for purchase in Target stores and online.