Shannon S. McKee

musings and moments

Advent Ideas for 2022

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If you can get past the din of the arguments on social media about when it’s OK to start decorating for the Christmas season, maybe you’ll be able to make space to remember that this season is about so much more than carols, Hobby Lobby sales, watching Elf, blow-up yard figures, and decorations. And though it is a busy time with lots of traditions and trappings (some of them more beautiful and meaningful than others), it is best used as a sacred time in the life of our yearly calendar. For hundreds and hundreds of years, Christians have been using this little window of time as a space for intentional pause and reflection.

As I look ahead into the Advent season, my hope is to use it as a time to train my heart into a posture of restful anticipation. The Advent season is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ first coming – His birth that we celebrate at Christmas. The word Advent is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”. Some churches who keep to a more liturgical calendar will celebrate with formal traditions.

At Redemption Chapel, we are more casual with only a few church-wide observances.

But, that doesn’t mean we’re not all preparing our hearts for worshipping Christ! The headlong rush of the tasks and extras that seem to come with this time of the year can make it difficult to pause. But, it’s so important. To that end, I wanted to offer up some resources as I do most years. Each day during December, I like to light a candle, put on worshipful Christmas music, boil up a pot of tea, and cozy up under my Christmas quilt as I read one of these – ideally in the morning before things get busy. (Ideally.)

Here is my (not-so-exhaustive) list of some recommended resources. I’ve included the Amazon links when you click on the title. But if you can buy them through a local bookstore, even better. Many of those brick and mortar shops will match the Amazon prices or offer some sort of discount, if you ask. Logos Bookstore in Kent is a great resource if you’re local to me here in Northeast Ohio. Wherever you go, make sure you order soon so that you have what you want when Thanksgiving is over and you start to turn your attention to preparing your heart for celebrating Christmas. The last thing you need is to be scrambling at the last minute to decide what you’re going to do. That’s not the vibe we’re going for here {wink}.

If you’ve been reading my Advent post over the years, some of these will be familiar.

Old Favorites

Watch for the Light

This is an old favorite for me – it’s not a Bible study where you’ll get in the Word a ton but a book with great reflections from great theological writers. Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with essays and poems from people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Madeleine L’Engle, Martin Luther, and  Henri Nouwen. There are 40 days worth of deep, sometimes jarring reflections.

The Greatest Gift

This one will get you in the Word a bit more and is traces the beautiful love story of Jesus’ coming. Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day’s reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ. It’s well-done and worshipful. BONUS if you have a young family, she’s done a companion book for doing it with your children.

Come Let Us Adore Him

Paul David Tripp is a fantastic, soulful author. His is a book of daily readings for each day of the month of December. Each day includes a reflection about the incarnation of Jesus, a scripture for pondering, and an optional activity to do with our families.

Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent

This is the one I added to my own practice in 2020. It is really wonderful for several reasons but one thing I really appreciated was the explanation of the Advent season and its role in the liturgical church calendar. Since my church tradition is not liturgical, I enjoyed reading the basics of advent to set the tone for my practices of waiting during December. Each week has a reading from the church calendar. Then each day has a reading, a Psalm to pray, a question to ask, a poem or song to listen to, and a art piece to look upon and spur reflection. Author Tsh Oxenrider created a website to go along with the book so that readers can easily find the songs and the artwork.

Always a Solid Study

She Reads Truth Advent 2022

She Reads Truth is a favorite of mine when I’m not in a Bible study with women from church. Honestly, it’s a little bit pricier than I prefer but it really is beautiful and so well thought-thru. This book intentionally includes the Joy of Every Longing Heart: Advent 2022 reading plan only, with a written introduction and many other helpful elements throughout. Because God’s Word is living and active, the focus of these books is the scripture – not a reflection by a human author. However, written responses to each day’s reading can be found on SheReadsTruth.com and the She Reads Truth app. You can join the community of other women who are online – for further commentary and conversation via the website. As a bonus, they have other helpful tools and kid-friendly options on their site. (Note: This is the only one you have to buy directly from She Reads Truth. There is no way to get it in a bookstore.) 

What I’m Doing This Year

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

I bought this one two years ago but never used it. I’ve heard great things about it. Plus, the author is from Northeast Ohio and went to Cedarville where my daughter attends so that’s a fun bonus. From looking through it, I like it because it seems simple but dripping with meaning. Each day provides a name of Jesus and a corresponding scripture, a short reflection, a challenge, a prayer, and options for further study. It also includes some weekly activities you could do with your family.

Some New Ones I’m Intrigued By

It’s always a bit of a risk when I recommend something I haven’t read yet myself. But, these titles either come from authors I really respect or come to me via recommendations from other godly women I trust.

I hope that helps give you a few ideas for your devotional life as you prepare your heart and mind for worshiping our beautiful Savior… He truly is our awe-inspiring, worship-worthy Messiah King. Blessings on you as you head into this season.

The Smell of Forgiveness

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I see you there, Peter. Mulling over the last few weeks. Looking at each memory like small stones in your hand. Turning them over and trying to make sense of them. Nothing was quite like you expected, was it? He didn’t kick Rome out and take His rightful place as ruler. Instead, He turned all the religious systems on their head. He reinterpreted the most sacred of your celebrations. He talked about laying down His life. The Rabbi washed YOUR feet. He went willingly when they came for Him in the darkness. He wouldn’t even let you fight for Him. How do you make sense of all these moments? I see you trying to recall everything and put the pieces together into some sort of mosaic for your memories.

But, that’s not all is it? There’s also the shame you’re feeling. You’re beating yourself up, aren’t you? You’re wishing you would have stayed awake in the garden when He asked you to keep watch. Maybe you would have seen Judas coming. And then there’s the charcoal fire… every time you get a whiff of it, it reminds you of that moment when you insisted you didn’t know Him… for the third time that night. And He locked eyes with you as the rooster crowed. Oh the bitter weeping that followed that fateful moment. The regret and the sorrow. The hiding. You feel foolish now – all your promises of sticking by Him no matter what seem rather childish.

To make matters even more confusing, He’s not in the grave anymore. He’s risen! What to make of that? You’ve seen Him briefly a time or two. But, it’s not the same as before. It’s not even the same as when He raised Lazarus. His body is different now. And He’s not living among you, walking the dusty streets and talking to the people.

The truth is, you’re just not sure what to do. If He did walk the streets, would He even still want you? How could He? You said you didn’t even know Him. And ran away. You had to hear about His final moments from the women. They stayed until the bitter end and helped prepare His body for the borrowed tomb. They were faithful… now you’re asking yourself why you weren’t there with them? So much regret.

What to do with all these memories? All these questions? All these emotions and the “coulda, woulda, shouldas” that are plaguing your heart? It’s too much. So you’re doing the thing you know best… back on the water for some fishing. I see you there in the boat, trying to occupy your mind with something else. Trying to busy your hands so don’t have to deal with the shame and confusion. I see you, because I’ve done it myself. A thousand times. Cleaning the house with extra vigor so I don’t have to deal with my sin and the ensuing shame. Turning to something you can DO because if feels like you have no control at all over the gaping hole in your soul.

What you don’t know, Peter, is that He’s about to reinterpret that charcoal fire and associate it with a new memory. He’s on the shore waiting for you. He’s going to fill your nets to overflowing just like the good old days. And, He’s going to invite you… “Come have breakfast.” And packed behind that simple phrase is the balm that will heal your soul. He still wants you, Peter. He didn’t make a mistake when He renamed you. And He really is going to build His church on your testimony. But, for now, He just wants to sit with you and have breakfast. To reassure you that your story isn’t finished yet. To ask you three times around the charcoal fire – “Peter, do you love me? Of course you know I do, Lord”. This specific exchange three times around a charcoal fire is no accident. ‘Tis mercy all. And as you bask in His agape love and forgiveness, you’ll be reminded that you really do love Him. That it wasn’t all some big mistake. You’ll be known there around that charcoal fire and you’ll let Him take all that shame and regret. And you’ll never be the same after that.

In fact, one day you’ll pen these words for those of us who will come behind you:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

And we’ll take great comfort from them – in part because we know you know all about His great mercy and being called into a living hope.

I see you there, Peter. And I’m so glad God saw fit to tell us your story because our own stories need it. We need your story to inform our own shame and regret. To show us what forgiveness and transformation can look like.

Look up, Peter. He’s there waiting to have breakfast with you. Oh, and you, too, Shan.

Some Suggested Resources for Advent

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It’s hard to believe that we’re nearing the Advent season! I’m not sure we can fully calculate the weight and low-grade trauma that these last two years have brought us collectively. I fear the impact will come in waves as we deal with the results of living in isolation and constant fear. But, as we press on and head into this holiday season, I’m looking forward to being intentional about the Advent season and trying to coax my heart into a posture of restful anticipation. On the church calendar, the Advent season is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ first coming – His birth that we celebrate at Christmas. The word Advent is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”. Some churches who keep to a more liturgical calendar will celebrate with formal traditions.

At Redemption Chapel, we are more casual with only a few church-wide observances.

But, that doesn’t mean we’re not all preparing our hearts for worshipping Christ! The headlong rush of the tasks and extras that seem to come with this time of the year can make it difficult to pause. But, it’s so important. To that end, I wanted to offer up some resources. Each day during December, I like to light a candle, put on worshipful Christmas music, boil up a pot of tea, and cozy up under my Christmas quilt as I read one of these – ideally in the morning before things get busy. (Ideally.)

Here is my (not-so-exhaustive) list of some recommended resources. I’ve included the Amazon links when you click on the title. But if you can buy them through a local bookstore, even better. Many of those brick and mortar shops will match the Amazon prices or offer some sort of discount, if you ask. Logos Bookstore in Kent is a great resource if you’re local to me here in Northeast Ohio. Wherever you go, make sure you order soon so that you have what you want when Thanksgiving is over and you start to turn your attention to preparing your heart for celebrating Christmas. The last thing you need is to be scrambling at the last minute to decide what you’re going to do. That’s not the vibe we’re going for here {wink}.

Watch for the Light

This is an old favorite for me – it’s not a Bible study where you’ll get in the Word a ton but a book with great reflections from great theological writers. Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with essays and poems from people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Madeleine L’Engle, Martin Luther, and  Henri Nouwen. There are 40 days worth of deep, sometimes jarring reflections.

The Greatest Gift

This one will get you in the Word a bit more and is traces the beautiful love story of Jesus’ coming. Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day’s reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ. It’s well-done and worshipful. BONUS if you have a young family, she’s done a companion book for doing it with your children.

She Reads Truth Advent 2021

She Reads Truth is a favorite of mine when I’m not in a Bible study with women from church. Honestly, it’s a little bit pricier than I prefer but it really is beautiful and so well thought-thru. This book intentionally includes the Everlasting Light: Advent 2021 reading plan only, with a written introduction and many other helpful elements throughout. Because God’s Word is living and active, the focus of these books is the scripture – not a reflection by a human author. However, written responses to each day’s reading can be found on SheReadsTruth.com and the She Reads Truth app. You can join the community of other women who are online – for further commentary and conversation via the website. As a bonus, they have other helpful tools and kid-friendly options on their site. (Note: This is the only one you have to buy directly from She Reads Truth. There is no way to get it in a bookstore.) 

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

I bought this one last year but didn’t get to use it. I’ve heard great things about it. Plus, the author is from Northeast Ohio and went to Cedarville where my daughter attends so that’s a fun bonus. From looking through it, I like it because it seems simple but dripping with meaning. Each day provides a name of Jesus and a corresponding scripture, a short reflection, a challenge, a prayer, and options for further study. It also includes some weekly activities you could do with your family.

Come Let Us Adore Him

This one comes highly recommended by a few godly women whom I trust. Paul David Tripp is a fantastic, soulful author. His is a book of daily readings for each day of the month of December. Each day includes a reflection about the incarnation of Jesus, a scripture for pondering, and an optional activity to do with our families.

Shadow & Light: A Journey Into Advent

This is the one I added to my own practice in 2020. It is really wonderful for several reasons but one thing I really appreciated was the explanation of the Advent season and its role in the liturgical church calendar. Since my church tradition is not liturgical, I enjoyed reading the basics of advent to set the tone for my practices of waiting during December. Each week has a reading from the church calendar. Then each day has a reading, a Psalm to pray, a question to ask, a poem or song to listen to, and a art piece to look upon and spur reflection. Author Tsh Oxenrider created a website to go along with the book so that readers can easily find the songs and the artwork.

I hope that helps give you a few ideas for your devotional life as you prepare your heart and mind for worshiping our beautiful Savior… He truly is our awe-inspiring, worship-worthy Messiah King. After studying Him in Matthew this Fall, my eyes will view the Christmas season with an added sense of wonder at this God Man who walked among us.

Getting Practical: 2 Tips For a Better Quiet Time

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As I come out of the last 15 months of pandemic living, I’m doing a lot of reflecting and reevaluating. You’d think that with all the extra time we had (because so many things were cancelled), that our inner lives would be stellar now. But, I’m not so sure they really area. Therapists tell us that people simply are not OK. This pandemic has been hard on us. And like any traumatic experience, it’s going to take some intentional thought and reflection to get back to healthy rhythms.

One of those important rhythms is spending regular time meditating on God’s words to us in the Bible and then talking to Him about those words through journaling or praying. At some point in history, people started calling that time a “quiet time” or a QT. I suppose that is as good a name as any. But it’s also OK if your quiet time is actually loud. The point is not so much what you call it but that you are building this important rhythm into your life. As with any relationship it’s important to spend time with God – listening to Him through His Word and sharing your own heart with Him through prayer and/or journaling.

Since our women just started a new Bible study for the summer at my church, I thought I’d take a couple of posts to talk about quiet times and how to make them happen.

For today, I’ve got two very practical, logistical suggestions.

  1. Pick a time that works for your schedule.

An important step in making quiet time a daily habit is that you pick a time that works with your schedule. That might be at 6:30 am, before the kids wake up, or it might be at mid-day over lunch, or it might be before bed. Too often, we try to imitate what works for someone else and then we end up discouraged because we don’t stick with it. Don’t pick 5:30 a.m. because your friend picked 5:30 a.m. Pick a time that works with your season of life and your preferences. Are you a morning person or do you come alive at night? Are you an extrovert who is going to struggle to have quiet time if others are around to talk to? Do you have young kids who nap? Do you have a roommate you have to schedule around?

If you are not sure where daily regular time could fit into your schedule, here are some ideas that you might like to try out:

  • in the morning before the kids wake up
  • before going to bed at night
  • over breakfast (if you’re with tiny humans, give them something to work on)
  • for half-an-hour after supper
  • during lunch, or for 15 minutes after lunch
  • while your little people are napping/playing games/doing homework/watching TV/having quiet time
  • at the park
  • while the kids are playing in the backyard
  • on a break at work
  • in the car while waiting in a carpool line
  • on the sidelines while a kiddo is at practice

There are so many little chunks of time that you can reclaim and use to get intentional time with God! I have found that some of these chunks of time get stolen by scrolling on my phone UNLESS I am intentional to do otherwise.

  1. Have a plan.

But how do you make the most of that time in a structured, easy-to-follow, and sustainable way? Right now, the women at our church are studying the book of Jude for the summer so I’ll write as if I’m giving advice to one of them. Translate it into your own world.

Here is a super simple way to structure your time with God:

  1. Have all your stuff in one place: your Jude workbook, your Bible or Bible app, your dictionary, a journal (if you use one), and a favorite pen or pencil. Collect all of it and keep it all together in one place – maybe even put it in a basket or tote bag – so that it’s easy to grab. Never let yourself grab THAT pen or let one of the other people in your home borrow from that basket. If you set aside 15 minutes to meet with God, you don’t want to spend 5 of those minutes hunting down your stuff. One other random thing that I would include in this basket is a notepad for jotting down all the random things that come to your mind that would distract you from staying engaged. Just jot things there and move right back to reading your Bible or journaling.
  2. If it’s helpful for you, find a cozy spot. I’m all about the cozy so I like to have my tea, light a candle, and settle into a good chair. That might not matter as much to you. Or, you might be squeezing your quiet time in while tiny humans run around you or while you’re on your lunch break at work. So, take it with a grain of salt and work it in if you want. We’re all different and that’s OK too! You don’t HAVE to do what I do. But, if it helps you to engage, by all means, make your space cozy!
  3. Take a few moments at the beginning to quiet your mind. Put down your phone. Turn off any distractions. Take 3 deep breaths.
  4. Pray. It’s always good to start here and acknowledge your dependence on Him. Remember WHO you’re reading about and talking to. Thank Him for being a God who speaks and for inviting us into relationship with Him. Ask Him for insight. Ask Him to help you connect with Him and not just go through the motions.
  5. Try reading the scripture for the day out loud. It’s a super helpful practice. And, in this particular study of Jude, it’s usually only a verse or two.
  6. Follow the directions and trust the workbook’s author to lead you through a format for the day. Even if her question seems silly or obvious (or a waste of time) to you, give it a shot. You might learn a new skill or be surprised what you see by just doing it.
  7. Pray and/or journal. Reflect back on what you learned. Talk to God about it again. Doing both would be great if you have the time!
  8. If you’re a verbal processor, follow-up by talking about it with your spouse or a friend. This doesn’t have to be a long convo. Maybe just a few moments of sharing. It doesn’t even have to be profound or new. Maybe it’s just reaffirming something you already knew about God. The point is that you get your thoughts and reflections about God out of your brain and into your world.

In the coming days, I’d like to share some of my favorite tools and approaches for Bible study, journaling, and praying. Hopefully it will help you to establish (or REestablish) this important rhythm in your own life. Meeting with God is so foundational as it affects all the other things we do and how we think. But it also, often, is an area of shame and defeat for Christians. I’d love to be a voice that still calls you to invest in this most-important relationship without attaching shame and failure to the struggle that is sometimes there. Being with your God is good for you: body, mind, heart, and soul. He created you as an integrated whole such that your times with Him will impact each of those areas of life. Sometimes, the thing holding you back is bigger than a few practical tips. But, let’s try to tackle the easy stuff first and see if regrouping or trying a new approach doesn’t help you move into this important rhythm.

In addition to some of my tips here, there is a really great resource that our pastors put together on our church web site  The link for that is here: https://redemptionchapel.com/meet/.