The Christmas message is timeless. Beyond all the seasonal trappings, the Gift of God's Son rises above it all. This year to honor Jesus' birth, LHM's Advent devotions in English and Spanish pay homage to the King of kings. In Come, Let Us Adore Him, Dr. Kari Vo takes us through the Christmas narrative, shedding light on God's hand at work in our salvation. In El nombre de Jesús ("The Name of Jesus"), multiple authors speak to the One who holds the Name above all names.
Enjoying LHM's seasonal and Daily Devotions is easy. "What my family does is set aside a certain time each day to pray and read. It doesn't have to be super-long. Some people, like me, do better with a time later in the day, when they're awake and alert. I have a certain chair where there's a bit of quiet and privacy, and I do our devotional reading and praying there. The rest of my family chooses different places where they feel comfortable (but won't fall asleep or get distracted)," Vo said.
Advent devotions make wonderful passalongs to those in need of some good news in 2024. You can email a message to a friend, print out a few to pass around at your church or Bible study, or even enclose a favorite in a Christmas card. Perhaps the words of Vo's "He Came" will be what a loved one needs to hear:
"I love how John begins his Gospel-first the great cosmic sweep of "in the beginning," with the One God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who has always been and always will be. This is the God who made heaven and earth, and all things in them, including us. ... Who could ever dream of a God who would give His own life for the people He made, to redeem them from evil? But Jesus did. And then He rose from the dead, never to die again-and He shares that everlasting life with everyone who trusts in Him." Now that is some good news indeed!
The authors for El nombre de Jesús are Dr. Héctor Hoppe, Mrs. Abigail Ramirez, Deaconess Erica Dona Jofre, Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez, and Deaconess Perla Rodriguez. Both versions will run from Sunday, December 1, 2024, through Epiphany on Monday, January 6, 2025. You can find them online at lhm.org/advent and paraelcamino.com/adviento.