The Greatest Gift with The Jesus Storybook Bible

“I can’t stop loving you. You are my heart’s treasure.

But I lost you. Now I am coming back for you.

I am like the sun that gently shines on you,

chasing away darkness and fear and death.

You’ll be so happy – you’ll be like little calves running free in an open field.

I am going to send my Messenger – The Promised One.

The One you have been waiting for.

The Rescuer.

He is coming! So get ready!”

from the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

When I found out that my favorite author, Ann Voskamp, had written a Christmas book to be used for Advent readings, I knew what our advent plans would entail this year. This latest book from Ann is just amazing: The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas.

At the same time, one of my favorite ways to celebrate Jesus through December is to read from The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. There is no other children’s Bible that points to Jesus like this book does. Adding this to our daily advent readings is a great way to include the younger kiddos, since The Greatest Gift is probably better suited for older kids and adults.

So, I decided to see if we could COMBINE the two books. Not everyday has a corresponding story to go with it, but I couldn’t choose between these 2 books. So we are using both!

Jesse Tree Ornaments

When you purchase the Greatest Gift, you receive a code for a free download so you can print these lovely ornaments. I gave my girls metallic Sharpie markers and told them to decorate the ornaments because I knew they would want to take part in making our Jesse Tree ornaments. They decorated with metallic sharpies, we glued them to card stock and I believe I will laminate them so they will last longer. We tied coordinating ribbon through and will hang on our tree.

“I don’t want a Christmas you can buy, I don’t want a Christmas you can make. What I want is a Christmas you can hold. A Christmas that holds me, remakes me, revives me. I want a Christmas that whispers, JESUS.”

from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp 

So, here are our daily Advent/Jesse Tree readings for the month of December!

December Daily Advent Readings

In {brackets} I have put the theme for the day’s readings. Following the theme in brackets is the daily title from The Greatest Gift and then the title from the Storybook Bible story that goes along with it. 

December 1 ~ {Introduction} It is Advent: Come & The Story and the Song

December 2 ~ {Creation} Life Begins as a Love Story & The Beginning: A Perfect Home

December 3 ~ {The First Sin} Where Are You? & The Terrible Lie

December 4 ~ {Noah’s Ark} Rise & A New Beginning

December 5 ~ {Abrahm} Living by Faith

December 6 ~ {Isaac} Laugh & Son of Laughter

December 7 ~ {The Altar of Sacrifice} God Provides & The Present

December 8 ~ {Jacob’s Ladder} The Stairway of God

December 9 ~ {Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors} Never Undone & The Forgiving Prince

December 10 ~ {10 Commandments} Covenant of Love & Ten Ways to Be Perfect

December 11 ~ {Joshua, Rahab} A Scarlet Lifeline of Hope & The Warrior Leader

December 12 ~ {Ruth} Every Little Thing Is Going To Be Okay

December 13 ~ {David} Looking on Hearts & The Teeny, Weenie True King

December 14 ~ {Isaiah Prophesies a Savior} Light to Warm Us & Operation “No More Tears”

December 15 ~ {Elijah} Adore Him

December 16 ~ {Jonah} The Gift of the Storm & God’s Messenger

December 17 ~ {Micah’s Prophesy about Bethlehem} Lifting Up the Little and Small

December 18 ~ {Esther} Come to the King

December 19 ~ {Watchtower} Watching for Him Who is Enough

December 20 ~ {Zechariah & Elizabeth} When All the Miracles Begin & Get Ready!

December 21 ~ {John the Baptist} The Preparations Are Already Done & Heaven Breaks Through

December 22 ~ {Gabriel Comes to Mary} Be a Dwelling Space for God & He’s Here!

December 23 ~ {Jesus Birth} God With Us & The Light of the World

December 24 ~ {Jesus Birth} God in the Manger

December 25 ~ {Jesus is the Gift} Today  & The King of All Kings

More Jesse Tree Ornament Ideas

• The Greatest Gift ornaments decorated by my friend Debbie
• Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments (circular)
• Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments for kids to color
• Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments with daily Scriptures to read
• MORE free printable Jesse Tree ornaments from Confessions of a Homeschooler

More Advent Links & Reading

• Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent – we LOVE these stories to read through December!
• Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent
• Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent
• Great FREE gift idea for kids
• 4 simple Christmas crafts for kids