• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Get to know me
    • Progress Pictures
    • Race Recaps
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Growing in Grace New Year Planner
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Mended By Mercy

Embracing Imperfection. Growing in Faith

December 6, 2013

Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style Week 1 Recap {2013}

All I have to say is….HOLY COW. I cannot believe that Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style has gone viral!!! It has been shared over 60,000 times on facebook and nearly 7,000 on pinterest.   I had absolutely no idea this idea would take off like this!  What a blessing it has been to help families bring Jesus into a part of their family Christmas traditions! I love seeing how people are adapting this concept to their children. I have seen parents with older children leaving scripture clues as to where the Elf is hiding.  I’ve seen the elf leaving letters each day about a different biblical concept with an activity to reinforce it.  I love it because parents of older children can adapt it to be a little more challenging and thought provoking, and for toddlers, it can be kept simple but teach some very important biblical concepts.

Everyone is adapting it to their particular child(ren) and it’s just so great to see parents being so intentional about teaching their children about the true story of Christmas.  It brings me such joy to see how this is blessing others!

We have been having so much fun with our elf.  E eagerly looks for our elf, Five, every morning, and it is such delight to see his eyes light up when he finds him.  I am so thankful that God gave us the gift of imagination!

Here’s what our elf has been up to this week !

elf light of the world

Our elf arrived on December 1st right before bedtime.  My husband sat the box outside the door, rang the doorbell and ran inside!  E ran to the door and was so excited to see a box with his name on it and was in awe of the elf inside.  The next morning, our little man decided to name our elf Five.  On Day 2, Five taught us about how Jesus is the light of the world.  I explained to him that a long time ago, people had darkness in thier hearts.  They disobeyed God and didn’t love him any more.  People today still have darkness in their hearts.   God sent Jesus to die on a cross to get rid of the darkness in our hearts and replace it with Jesus’ light.  Jesus came to forgive us of that darkness.  He is the light of the world!

elf bible

On Day 3, we found Five reading the bible to his friends.  We talked about how it is important to share the gospel with our friends.  God has given us a job to share the story of Jesus with others.

elf fellowship

We had a sleepover with one of E’s little buddies so on day 4, Five was waiting for them with hot chocolate and pancakes. We learned all about fellowship and how it is important to spend time with others who have Jesus in their heart.

elf book

 On day 5, Santa sent a book back with Five.  E is a little bookworm and was so super excited!  We have read this book many times since it arrived.  And it is such a precious, sweet book about God’s love!

elf joy snowmen

Today, day 6, we found Five hanging out with the JOY snowmen.  E was particularly impressed that Five was sitting on the snowman’s head.  Today, we are talking about what joy means.   In toddler-ese (yes, that is an official language), I explained to E that joy means very, very happy.  God brings us joy, and it makes Him very happy to see us happy!  When we follow Jesus, God gives us joy!

Remember to follow #elfontheshelfjesusstyle on pinterest, facebook and twitter to see daily pictures of our elf’s activities and share yours as well!!!

Looking for some more holiday tradition inspiration!  Check out my friends from Inspired Bloggers Network on our Inspired Holiday Hop!!

Check out these awesome participating blogs and link up

  • Paradise Praises – Christmas Eve Gifts
  • Campfires and Cleats – Jesse Tree Traditions and Resources to Start your Own
  • Afterschool for Smarty Pants – Christmas traditions for secular families
  • Wendy Woerner – How to Make the Holidays Special When You Live Far Away from Family
  • He Married Me For My Cooking – Cinnamon Rolls and Christmas Morning Breakfast
  • Raising Soldiers 4 Christ – Christmas Round Up
  • Apron Strings & other things – Family Traditions
  • Abundant Life – Traditions for Focusing on the True Meaning of Christmas
  • Grace-Filled-Moments – Christmas Traditions
  • Raising the Barrs – A Christmas Book a Day
  • Psychowith6 – Are You Celebrating Christmas the Right Way?
  • GeorgeTown, MN – Baking Jesus a Birthday Cake
  • Education Possible – Holidays Around the World: Italy
  • Meet Penny – Santa Math and Literacy Activity Pack
  • This Sweet Life – 12 Days of Holiday Baking

Filed Under: Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style Tagged With: advent, christian parenting, elf on the shelf jesus style

Reader Interactions

Guilt Free Quiet Times Q&A and Giveaway!
Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style Week 2 Recap {2013}

Comments

  1. Allison mascurine says

    November 12, 2014 at 12:04 am

    I love this idea and was trying to work on something similar for this year. Really looking forward to bringing thus into my family. Now I’m just hoping to find an Angel that’s as flexible as Elf on the Shelf as a replacement.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      November 13, 2014 at 3:36 pm

      Excited for you to join us in this fun adventure!

      Reply
  2. https://vimeo.com/79553122 says

    December 17, 2013 at 6:48 am

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts about advent. Regards
    https://vimeo.com/79553122 recently posted…https://vimeo.com/79553122My Profile

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    December 11, 2013 at 10:42 am

    My kids were older by the time this trend caught on, now I’m glad we don’t participate since it seems to become one more thing to stress moms out. I definitely like the idea of putting the focus back on the meaning of the holiday like you’re doing!
    Angela recently posted…Delicious! Eggnog Cake Cookie RecipeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      December 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      I definitely couldn’t handle the “mischievous” elf because what mom needs one more mess to clean up!?!? This has been a really fun way to teach about Christ in a very simple, toddler like way and we are loving it!

      Reply
  4. Ginny Marie says

    December 7, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Such great ideas for your little elf! I love the first picture with the candle in front of Five. I’m looking forward to seeing what your elf is up to next week!
    Ginny Marie recently posted…California DreamMy Profile

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      December 8, 2013 at 11:29 pm

      Thank you!! We are having so much fun with it!!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Elf on the Shelf: A CHRISTmas Tradition | Jessica McLain says:
    June 16, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    […] ——————————————————————————-Elf on the Shelf: Jesus StyleThis has been one of the most popular ideas I’ve come across.  It is by Stephanie from Crayon Marks & Tiger Stripes! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Recent Posts

  • How to Open Your Soul to God
  • Trusting in God’s Plan for your Life
  • Break Free from Anxiety
  • How to Find Peace in the Perfect Storm
  • Take Action Against Anxiety

Looking for something?

© 2015 Pretty Happy WordPress Theme · By: Pretty Darn Cute Design

Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style Biblical Virtues FREE EBOOK!
Subscribe to Mended By Mercy's newsletter for spiritual encouragement in your inbox and get your own copy of Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style Biblical Virtues for FREE!