When I was writing the Countdown to Christmas book, one central point kept hitting me hard: so many people missed the birth of Christ. Here was THE most stunning, world-transforming event of all time and the world simply went about its normal routine.
I imagine the newborn King of the universe in the stable, quietly tended by Mary and Joseph, while the Bethlehem housewives ran their errands and the merchant men set up shop for another day in the bustling town. While the Word made flesh filled a crude manger, Levitical priests served in the temple long absent of God.
So anticipated; so overlooked.
That’s why I love Christmas. For an entire month, we set aside the routines of life and focus on Jesus. The carols, the lights, the celebration all point to THE most stunning, world-transforming event of all time. God would dwell among us and do what we are helpless to do — save us from our sin.
I don’t want to miss that. I don’t want to anticipate Christmas all year and then overlook my Savior. That’s why I love to use manger scenes and decorations that keep me focused on Christ. I have to be very purposeful or I can easily let the errands and shopping and baking of the season completely eclipse Jesus.
Today, I’m super excited to share some gorgeous decorations that help families focus on Christ. The Adornaments are a beautiful way to point to Jesus at Christmas. These ornament sets were created by Barbara Rainey (of Family Life Today ministry) and her team at Ever Thine Home.
They are beautiful and sturdy, designed to last for years and be handled by little hands. These would make a great gift! I actually think they would be lovely worked into a wreath or table setting as well.
There are 3 sets in the Adornaments collection: His Savior names, His royal names and His Christmas names. Each set has seven ornaments that come in a keepsake box along with a devotional that gives the scripture and a short reading about each name of Jesus. What a great way not just to adorn our house with the names of Jesus but to also teach our kids their meaning.
And I’m delighted to be able to give away a set of Adornaments, His Christmas names, to one of you! I want to make this a fun entry, so leave a comment with one of your favorite Christmas carols. You can enter through Friday at midnight and then I’ll send these right out to the winner.
You can see the entire Adornaments collection here and order from either Ever Thine Home or from Amazon. Thank you to Ever Thine Home for a set of these ornaments to review and another set to give away!
*This post contains affiliate links. UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Julie F.!
My favorite Christmas carol is The First Noel. Our daughter Noelle who celebrated her 12th birthday yesterday grew up thinking it was HER song.
Born is the King of Israel! Praise Him!
My favorite Christmas carol is Silent Night. It was Christmas 1952. I was 2 yrs old and sang this beloved carol on the stage in front of the manager. It was my first solo. I remember there were other kids at the manger dress in robes and towel on their heads. I even remember I was wearing a red velvet dress. Every time we sing this wonderful carol at Christmas I can close my eyes and see the manger, the other “big” kids dressed in robes and towels on their heads, and remember that “Christ, the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born”.
My favorite carol is ‘We Three Kings’. I don’t really have a special reason for it; just love the way it sounds.
In grammar school, our class wrote then performed a Christmas play wherein “Lady Elaine” was reading a letter from her beloved outlining a miracle he had observed while off at war. She sang the following song as a solo introduction to the play.
Willie, bring your little drum;
Robin, bring your fife and come;
And be merry while you play,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pan-a-pan,
Come be merry while you play,
Let us make our Christmas gay!
When the men of olden days
To the King of Kings gave praise,
On the fife and drum did play,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pan-a-pan,
On the fife and drum did play,
So their hearts were glad and gay!
God and man today become
More in tune than fife and drum,
So be merry while you play,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pan-a-pan,
So be merry while you play,
Sing and dance this Christmas day!
Yes, I played the part of Lady Elaine and that Christmas carol – while not well known – will always have a special place in my heart.
“What child is this who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping…
This! This! Is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing…”
~Jennifer Waddle
My favorite carol is Silent Night
My favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night. I really like it focuses on the reason why Jesus came for us to fall on our knees.
I love The Carol of the Bells!
I absolutely LOVE all Christmas music.
Silver Bells sang it in a Jr. High choir program for Christmas!
Not sure if this would be considered a Christmas Carol but I love the song “Mary, Did You Know?” I love the words and the melody.
My favorite Christmas song is We Three Kings, closely followed by Mary Did You Know.
My favorite song is “Oh Holy Night” because whenever I hear it or sing it, everything else just fades away and I get to go back to that night when Christ was born and awesome and peaceful it must have been. I get chills just thinking about it.
Oh holy night! Beautiful words & melody!
No Christmas song stirs my emotions more than “Rose of Bethlehem”…oh Rose of Bethlehem…born to wear the thorns for me.
I love you, Jesus.
Selah’s rendition is beautiful
https://youtu.be/SqfXy-qgxRY
There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night
There’s a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger’s crib
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me
There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy’s blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God’s love
Though it’s bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
For a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me
There’s a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent holy night
Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure, and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me
Lisa, your ministy is amazing and reaching so many. I had lunch with a girl yesterday and we were talking about spiritual things, and she mentioned “this lady names Lisa Appelo, has this blog, that is so encouraging to me and has challenged me on some things”…. I was like, I know her! lol! I tell you all this to encourage you b/c you are pointing so many to Christ through your blog! So cool to see God use you! I pray for you all the time! ♥ PS ~ my favorite song that gives me chills every time is ” Mary did you know” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE and “Lamb of God” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7FgIFOV5n0
Tami, that is so sweet to hear. Thank you friend for your prayers and this little story!
I love them all but my favorite is Solent Night Holy Night. It is so moving to sing that at the end of our Chfistmas Eve service at midnight. I feel His presence as I welcome Christmas Day.
Silent Night, Holy Night…makes me tear up:).
“Still, Still, Still”-always brings the quietness and rest we need, and “In a Cave”- helps reflect on the night of Christ’s birth.
O Holy Night is my favorite. But I love so many others….. Merry Christmas, Lisa!
Away in a Manger is my favorite. It reminds me of the lowly birth of our great King!
I adore Christmas music! There’s over 400 songs in my Christmas playlist, in many different genres. It’s hard to narrow it down to one favorite song, but if I have to I’d say “O, Holy Night”. Thank you for your ministry, Lisa – your words have been an encouragement during a dark time. Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas Carol is “Mary Did You Know “. Thank you for this blog Lisa-it has been a real encouragement to me after the loss of my son!
I use these adornaments to decorate our tree and they are so beautiful. They really do help you remember the focus of Christmas and they are also conversation pieces for those visiting who may not know the names of Jesus and what they mean. I love that they support such a great ministry like Famlly Life who helps so many families.
Love you Lisa!
Kim
Congratulations, Julie F!
I know the giveaway is over, and congrats to the winner. My favorite Christmas carol will always be Little Drummer Boy. Great memories from my childhood connected with that one!