Getting ready ...

 ... to swing open the door to the Christmas kitchen for your daily visits this month.  You wouldn't believe the cobwebs!  And yes, that is snow you see on the doorstep.  We had an early snowstorm all day on Thanksgiving, and it left the trees looking pretty much like what you see on this vintage Christmas card.  Cold weather for the next couple weeks may mean the snow is here to stay.

Again this year, I am making every effort to get into the Christmas kitchen every day.  We will kick things off tomorrow with a Sunday Scripture post from an Advent study I did some years ago.  Then there will be recipes, vintage goodies, Christmas book reviews, probably some simple craft and ornament ideas, not to mention daily happenings in the real-life Christmas kitchen.  

Yesterday, in fact, Mr. T baked large batches of Secret Spice Cookies and Whipped Shortbread, and earlier in the week a double batch of his Chocolate Mint Crisps.  It is already smelling like Christmas in our actual kitchen!

Planning ahead for an Advent or Christmas study

 

Just wanted to encourage you all to consider doing a Christmas or Advent Bible study.  In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download, and I wanted to let you know that if you're interested you can head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

I plan to use some of the passages from this study for my Sunday Scripture posts  on both blogs throughout December.  I hope you will follow along and enjoy!