Preparing for Jesus »

Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Starting with the renowned Book of the Dun Cow, Wangerin's writing career has encompassed most every genre: fiction, essay, short story, children's story, meditation, and biblical exposition. His writing voice is immediately recognizable, and his fans number in the millions. The author of over forty books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and several Gold Medallions, including best-fiction awards for both The Book of God and Paul: A Novel. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University. Walter Wangerin Jr. es reconocido como uno del mejor escritor sobre las aplicaciones la fe y la espiritualidad. Su libros incluyen The Book of God [El libro de Dios], Reliving the Pasion [Recuerdo de la Pasion], Peter's First Easter [El Primer Domigo de Resureccionde Pedro], Mourning into Dancing [Como Cambiar el Lamento en Baile], The Manger is Empty [El Pesebre Vacio] y Little Lamb, Who Made Thee? [ Quien te hizo, Corderito?]. Wangerin vive en Valparaiso, Indiana, ocupa la catedra Jochum en la Universidad de Valparaiso, donde es escritor residente.

In this Advent and Christmas devotional, best-selling author Walter Wangerin Jr. takes the reader day-by-day through the major events and characters leading up to the birth of Jesus. (36 meditations.)

Contents Preface Part One:
Prepare December One -- A Teaching: Four Questions for the Final Advent Part Two:
Zechariah December Two -- A Consolation: You Are Not Little in the Universe December Three -- O Zechariah: How Did It Feel Meeting Glory Face to Face?
December Four -- A Teaching: How God Enlarges Little Prayers December Five -- An Exhortation: Trust God, and His Signs Will Delight You December Six -- Ah, Zechariah, You Who Doubted: What a Model of Obedience You've Become Part Three:
Mary December Seven -- An Exhortation: Daily to Join the Sisterhood of Mary December Eight -- A Call: To Self-Examination, and to Fear!
December Nine -- A Teaching: What Sort of King Will the Son of David Be?
December Ten -- A Teaching: What Sort of Child Is Born of Holiness and Humanity?
December Eleven -- O Mary: How Blessed Is Your 'Yes!'
Part Four:
Elizabeth December Twelve -- The Story: Two Mothers Meet December Thirteen -- Elizabeth's Blessing: Makes Mary a Model for the Faithful December Fourteen -- An Effusion: What Singing at the Advent of Our King!
December Fifteen -- Mary's Song: Echoing the Songs of Prophets and Angels December Sixteen -- A Teaching: How Mercy Comes, What Mercy Is Part Five:
John December Seventeen -- A Teaching: What John Becomes for Every Advent December Eighteen -- An Exhortation: Serve as Zechariah Defines Service Part Six:
Joseph December Nineteen -- Learn of Joseph: The Character of Righteousness December Twenty -- Learn of God: Four Gifts of Christmas December Twenty-One -- An Exaltation: The Fourth Gift, Goodness!
Part Seven:
Jesus December Twenty-Two -- The Story: Going Up to Bethlehem December Twenty-Three -- O Mary, Virgin Mother: May I Walk with You a While?
Christmas Eve -- The Story: The Holy, Human Birth Christmas Day -- Christmas Day: Our Door to the Nativity The First Day of Christmas -- An Exaltation: Jesus, Here We Come!
The Second Day of Christmas -- Learn of the Shepherds: Five Stages of Faith The Third Day of Christmas -- O My Lord, I Love the Names by Which We Know You Part Eight:
Simeon and Anna The Fourth Day of Christmas -- The Story: Ascending to the Temple The Fifth Day of Christmas -- The Story: The Prophets Prove Him the Messiah The Sixth Day of Christmas -- Lord, I Am at Peace: This Christmas Too, Mine Eyes Have Seen You The Seventh Day of Christmas -- The Story: The Sorrow of Mary, His Mother Part Nine:
The Two Kings The Eighth Day of Christmas ---
The First of the Calendar Year -- The Story: Herod the Great and Greatness The Ninth Day of Christmas -- An Exhortation to Christians: Do Not Blame the World
(The Magi), But Follow!
The Tenth Day of Christmas -- O Little King: Receive the Best I Have to Offer You The Eleventh Day of Christmas -- A Teaching: As We Return to a Warring World The Twelfth Day of Christmas --- The Epiphany A Benediction: Christ Is in Us Now