Christmas Gifts To Help Your Family Focus On Christ All Year

Over the past few years as our kids have started to grow up to understand the meaning of the Christmas season a little bit better, we decided as a family to be more purposeful in our gift giving to our children. We didn’t want Christmas morning to become all about getting them everything on their want list, but rather a time where the tradition of gift giving and receiving would be thoughtful, meaningful, and impact our kids all year round.

With the encouragement of a few mentors in our life, we decided to get our kids three gifts for Christmas (not including stocking stuffers) with each gift having a specific purpose. Here’s how it works:

#1 — We get our kid one gift that we know he wants. There is always one gift that your child asks for more than all the others, so we pay attention and do our best to get them this gift. This gift usually isn’t difficult to figure out or get, but we always try to get the best price and best quality for this one so that it lasts.

#2 — We get our kid one gift that we want him to have. This is a gift where we as parents get to be more creative and thoughtful. Sometimes it will coincide well with our kids wishlist, but many times it is a gift where mom and dad can encourage their kid to grow in a specific area of their life. This gift could also be used as a chance to build a better relationship with your kids by getting a gift that would force mom & dad to spend more time with their kids as they learn to use the gift, build something together, develop a hobby, or take a trip together. Get creative, and watch your kids grow!

#3 — We get our kid one gift that we know he needs. This gift usually isn’t very flashy, but if you are creative you can get your child something they will love while scratching a need off of your list. Think of an item that you know your child needs but you have been waiting because of money. Christmas is a good time to meet those needs rather than wasting money on something that won’t last. What does your kid need physically or spiritually that you haven’t really focused on lately? Use Christmas as a way to meet that need.

Once we switched to this, our time around the tree on Christmas morning becomes more focused on Christ and an opportunity to share our heart for our kids for the next year. My hope is that it could do the same thing for you. If you’re thinking about possibly making the switch this year, here are a few of my favorite resources & gift ideas that could help you with #2 & #3. If you would like help to find a gift or resource on a specific topic, simply send me an email here.

SCRIPTURE FOCUSED MUSIC:

1. Scripture Lullabies [All Ages] — This is scripture put beautifully to excellent music. We got this a few years back for our kids when they were under 2 years old. It was excellent for them, but I found myself listening to it myself to meditate on scripture because it is just that good.

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/35mnxBU           
Website: https://scripture-lullabies.com/

2. The Ology by Sovereign Grace [Pre-K-6th Grade] — This is some of the best, most inventive kids worship music that I’ve found recently. Our family loves this album and have it all just about memorized. If you want to challenge your kids to think about theology in a fun way, this is a great start! 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36DJmNz

3. Solid, Christian Worship Music ($5+) [All Ages] — There is so much good music out there today that your kids can listen to that they shouldn’t need to spend time listening to the junk on secular radio. Email me for a list of favorite artists or artists that would be good for your teens to purchase or download. You could even get a small iPod and load it with a ton of good downloads. You could even get tickets to a concert for a solid Christian band and take your kids! 

DAILY DEVOTIONALS:

1.  The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung [Elementary] -- If you're looking for a solid family devotional that will help your family understand the most important parts of the story of the Bible, this is the best resource. We've been taking our family through this, and my kids are loving it!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GCChC5 

2. Exploring the Bible by David Murray [Older Elementary - Middle School] — Awesome devotional to help teach your kids how to read God’s word and study it on their own. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RP6OTO

3. OnTrack Devotions by Dwight Peterson [Middle School & High School] — Best devotional I’ve found for students to develop their daily devotional and Bible reading habit. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PjvEJW            
Website: https://ontrackdevotions.com/

4. He or She Reads Truth [MS, HS, & Adults] — Excellent way to actually read God’s word each and every day. 

Website: https://www.shopshereadstruth.com/ or https://www.shopshereadstruth.com/

  5. Indescribable by Louie Giglio [Pre-K - Elementary] — Great devotional with science, nature & creation illustrations to help kids be amazed and blown away by God. This is devotional that could be read by mom & dad each night before bed.                  

Amazon: https://amzn.to/36v9OZu           


A NEW STUDY BIBLE:

1. Big Picture Story Bible by Gospel Project [Pre-K-Elementary] — If your kids are attending Gospel Project with you, this would be a great addition to help them connect the teaching with God’s Word with accompanying pictures & commentary. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PiKTT5           
Website: http://lfwy.co/38BjR0S

2. ESV Student Study Bible [MS, HS, & Adult] — It has a good blend of devotional thoughts alongside clear doctrinal teaching and commentary. You can find these at LifeWay or https://www.christianbook.com

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UQiKTe           

3. He or She Reads Truth [MS, HS, & Adult] — Great devotional bible to help you dive into God’s word. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Phjb9m or https://amzn.to/2LRmPVq           
Website: https://hereadstruth.com/ or https://shereadstruth.com/



GOOD BOOKS FOR READING:

1. The WingFeather Saga by Andrew Peterson [Elementary-High School]  — Great writing. Great storytelling. Check it out for yourself below. I look forward to reading these to my kids. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/35lAifJ           
Website: http://wingfeathersaga.com/a-note-to-parents/

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis [Elementary-High School] — This is a classic. I plan to read through these with my kids and you should too! 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36xei1F           
Website: https://www.narnia.com/us/

3. This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years by Jaquelle Crowe [All MS & HS Students] — This could be a great read for you and your teen together. I believe these are essential truths that our students all need to grasp before they leave the house! 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YJQYv2           
Website: https://www.jaquellecrowe.com/my-book/

4. The Guy's Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket by Jonathan McKee. [MS & HS Guys] — This is one where Father & Son can go chapter by chapter together and discuss topics from hygiene to pornography in a not-so-awkward way. This is one of the best authors today on youth & student ministry. 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2qOgRgG           
Website: https://jonathanmckeewrites.com/ 

5. True Beauty by Caroline Mahaney [MS & HS Girls] —  This book will help your daughter see herself through the eyes of God and the gospel! Mom, take your daughter chapter by chapter through this book for a couple of months and watch as you both grow together! 

           
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EbTvVt

SPIRITUAL INVESTMENT:

1. Winter Retreat at Lake Ann [6th-12th Grade]  — Why not give your kid the gift of winter fun, a weekend away, and time spent being challenged by great preaching? I think Winter Retreat with us at ESM would be a great gift that would invest in their spiritual health. Many kids get into a routine of neglecting God, and winter retreat would break up that routine. Not to mention that we tend to forget about it around Christmas, and then we don’t have enough money to pay for them to go on the trip. You can register here: https://subsplash.com/emmanuelbaptisttoledo/lb/ev/+4dmjnsq

2. Summer Camp at Lake Ann [Going Into 4th-12th Grade]  — Summer Camp can be a life-changing event, so why not gift it this year for Christmas? What would be a present better than a week away from home with friends doing adventurous things together? I can’t think of anything! I know this is an investment, but many students walk away closer to God then when they left. This year we’re taking 4th grade and on up! Spots are filling up fast for WEEK 5! SIGN UP ASAP! Register before 12/31/21 and you’ll save $20! We also offer 50% off scholarships for families that need them too! See below. You can register here: https://lakeanncamp.com/summer-camp/dates-prices/

3. Camp Scholarships — If you would like to send your student to camp, but the price is scaring you away; we have scholarships just for this type of situation. We want every student to attend our camps, and we don’t want money to be an obstacle. The people of Emmanuel have generously donated to allow your student to attend in this type of situation. Normally, our scholarship covers up to 50% of the cost of camp, but if more is needed you simply have to ask. You can find our scholarship form here. Simply download, print, and turn in before you register: https://bit.ly/34lej7k 

BONUS: Looking for something to do with your family to focus on Christ before Christmas? Check out these ADVENT Resources.

1. The Light Before Christmas - This four-week Advent family devotional by best-selling author Marty Machowski combines devotions on the theme of light and darkness with the story of eleven-year-old Mia and her grandmother as they prepare for Christmas. Grandma loves to share her faith, especially at Christmas time, and although she is blind, she can see the light of Jesus shining bright and helps Mia--and children of all ages--to do the same.  

Westminster Bookstore: https://www.westminsterkids.com/products/7401339257032

2. Kids Read Truth Advent Conversation Cards - Count down to Christmas with these 25 colorful Advent cards! Keep them on the kitchen table or string them up on the wall and learn prophecies and promises about the birth of Jesus one day at a time. Each hand-illustrated card includes a short Scripture passage, discussion questions, and an Advent activity.

Kids Read Truth: https://www.shopshereadstruth.com/products/advent-conversation-cards-kids-read-truth-pre-order