It's a Wonderful LIfe Advent Devotional

By Anne Morse

If you had a chance to see what the world would be like had you never been born, would you conclude you had lived a wonderful life?
This advent devotional, based on the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, will help you discern the answer. Day by day, readers will discover, not only what a well-lived life looks like, but also how they can help their own communities become less like Pottersville and more like Bedford Falls.
For instance, are we willing to put our neighbors' welfare ahead of piling up a fortune? Are we prepared to look after family members who cause difficulties, as Uncle Billy does? How do we respond when envy creeps into our hearts? And who do we turn to when seemingly unsurmountable problems threaten to overwhelm us?
It's a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional explores the biblical teachings director Frank Capra smuggled into this, his greatest film, and challenges us to cultivate the virtues of courage, forgiveness, gratitude, and self-sacrifice. Above all, if we hope to create our own wonderful lives, we must learn how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CrossLink Publishing
• Release date: Oct 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201112981

Anne Morse

Anne Morse, a freelance writer, spent 18 years collaborating with Chuck Colson on BreakPoint Radio commentaries, Christianity Today columns, and four books. She is also the co-author of Prisoner of Conscience with former Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia, and of a novel, Bedford Falls. She lives in Maryland with her husband.

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Praise for It’s a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional

This advent guide is a true gift. Anne has captured the true meaning of Christmas through the film It's a Wonderful Life. She shows us how we can apply these messages to our own lives. A must addition to your celebration of the holidays!

—Karolyn Zuzu Grimes

A fun, refreshing, biblically-informed exploration of one of our most-loved cinematic Christmas traditions.

—Ellen Vaughn, New York Times bestselling author

Is Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life a religious movie? The answer is, It can be. While there are Christian themes—Christmas, angels, prayers—running through the story, the real Christian content, about a life well-lived, has to be teased out.

This kind of teasing out requires a guide who loves the story and knows what to look for and, thankfully, that’s what Anne Morse has provided us within her Advent devotional. Give her four weeks and you will never see Capra’s classic the same way again.

—Roberto Rivera, Senior Fellow (retired), Colson Center for Christian Worldview

If you are looking for a fresh and encouraging way to incorporate a holiday tradition with the Christmas story, It’s a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional does that beautifully! George Bailey’s selfless acts, the impact he has on those he loves, and the danger of losing sight of what matters in life, serve as poignant reminders during our hectic holiday season. Anne pulls these lessons out like glittering gifts ready to give joy to the reader.

­—Sharon Kaselonis, author, Jesus, Day by Day

It’s a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional

How to Find Your Own Wonderful Life with Help from George Bailey, the Angel Clarence, Uncle Billy, and Old Man Potter

Anne Morse

CrossLink Publishing

Rapid City, SD

Copyright © 2021 by Anne Morse.

All rights reserved. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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www.CrossLinkPublishing.com

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the Special Sales Department at the address above.

It’s a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional/Anne Morse. —1st ed.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021942510

Quotations and materials from the following books were used with permission from their authors:

Frank Capra, The Name above the Title: An Autobiography (Da Capo Press edition, 1990) first edition, page 375.

Paul Vitz, Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism (Ignatius Press, 2013) first edition.

Scripture quotations marked BSB are taken from The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible, Copyright ©2016, 2020 by Bible Hub. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from New Life Version (NLV), © 1969 by Christian Literature International.

For Benjamin and Oliver, who play huge roles in making my own life wonderful.

Contents

Praise for It’s a Wonderful Life Advent Devotional

Foreword

Introduction

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Christmas Eve

About the Author

Foreword

Did anyone ever love America better than Frank Capra did? And did anyone’s art better celebrate this country and its values that made her the greatest symbol of freedom in world history? 

In his autobiography and in interviews, Capra tells the story of how, in 1903, he and his family sailed to America in the squalid steerage hold of the Germania. As they steamed into New York harbor, six-year-old Frank spotted the Statue of Liberty holding out her torch. His father exclaimed: "Ciccio, look! Look at that! That’s the greatest light since the star of Bethlehem! That’s the light of freedom! Remember that!"

Capra never lost the childlike delight of that moment, and he never ceased to marvel at what this country represents, especially for those not born here. 

I have many times told people to watch his spectacular film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, just to understand what our democracy is all about. His equally wonderful film, You