Think About Christmas: 31 Reflections on the Events Surrounding the Birth of Jesus


Book Description

This is NOT your typical devotional book! This book will point your mind in new directions. You will see familiar Bible passages in entirely new ways. You might have heard the Christmas story dozens of times but I promise you that you have not thought about these things. This book will not make you feel better about yourself (or worse!). But it will get you to think more about the Lord. If the world seems to have lost its mind, what better way to reclaim your Christmas than to get your thoughts aligned. Like Moses when he paused to look at the burning bush, what would you see if you took the time to rediscover your destiny? Christmas can be a hectic time with lots of distractions. So why not carve a few minutes out of your day to focus your thoughts on the manger? Did Mary and Joseph really stay in an inn? What exactly did the magi see in the sky that prompted them to make a five-hundred-mile journey across the desert? What are the backstories for the characters we often place in our nativity displays? In this book, we will take a journey together to Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem, pausing just long enough to recognize ourselves along the way. Instead of peace on earth, we’ll see a picture of family drama, chaos, and jealousy. The birth was messy. The child was in danger. Doubt and fear stalked the hearts and minds of those who dared to believe the Messiah had come. Two thousand years have passed, but the world is still demanding an answer to a question: Is the manger a myth or a miracle? Take a month to strip away the commercialism and distractions to build your faith as you think about the real meaning of Christmas.




Unwrapping the Names of Jesus


Book Description

How to focus on Christ during Advent Most Christians agree that Christmas is all about Jesus, yet most of us spend little time preparing our hearts to celebrate Him. Why is this? Partly because we don’t know how. In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah Ciuciu leads readers through the four weeks of Advent (Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love). Each week: Begins with an interactive family devotional that equips readers to celebrate Advent together Offers five daily reflections that focus on that week's name of Jesus Includes suggestions for fun-filled family activities or service projects This devotional can be used by readers in their own personal worship times or as a tool to engage in family worship during the busy holiday season. Either way, participants will gain a greater sense of awe and wonder at who Jesus is. By focusing on the person and character of Jesus throughout the Advent season, readers will prepare their hearts so that when they admire the live nativity, sit in the candlelight service, or wake up on Christian morning, they can join the faithful who sing from the bottom of their hearts, "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"




Martin Luther's Christmas Book


Book Description

Martin Luther's conception of the Nativity found expression in sermon, song, and art. This beautiful gift edition of a classic collection combines all three.




In His Steps


Book Description

This classic presents people seeking to change their community by pledging themselves to experiment for a whole year with the question, 'What would Jesus do?'




Hidden Christmas


Book Description

From pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller comes the perfect gift for the Christmas holiday—a profoundly moving and intellectually provocative examination of the nativity story Even people who are not practicing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the nativity. Every Christmas displays of Baby Jesus resting in a manger decorate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story? In his new book Timothy Keller takes readers on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the nativity. By understanding the message of hope and salvation within the Bible’s account of Jesus’ birth, readers will experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a deeper and more meaningful way.




Think About Your Response: 31 reflections for clarity in the midst of social disruption


Book Description

Everyone seems to be anxious or upset. People are arguing. Family gatherings are tense. Information and opinions are bombarding us from all sides. Fear and anxiety are preventing many people from getting enough sleep. A world that has never been lonelier and more broken is crying out for some guidance that can help them navigate this gauntlet of social implosion. To be silent is to be seen as complicit, but to be vocal is to add to the noise. So then, what is the answer, and how should a Christian respond? The THINK ABOUT series is a set of standalone Christian devotionals that can be read in any order. Each book contains thirty-one biblical reflections that use poignant stories and metaphors that will change the trajectory of your day. In this book, we look to the scripture to provide the mirror by which we consider our words, actions and behavior in a politically charged environment. Should we hate those who hate? Does the end justify the means? Should we be careful with our choice of words or confrontational in our declaration of truth? Take a month to pause and hear from heaven before stepping up to the microphone. Heaven and earth are listening. What will you say? What will you think about? What will be your legacy?




Revelation


Book Description

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.




Uninvited


Book Description

Do you ever feel left out, lonely, or less than? Today, learn the secret of belonging which will help you keep rejections in perspective and be better equipped to foster healthy connections in your relationships. In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences of rejection from the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over to the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father. She leans in to honestly examine the roots of rejection, as well as rejection's ability to poison relationships from the inside out, including our relationship with God. With biblical depth, gut honest vulnerability, and refreshing wit, Lysa will help you: Stop feeling left out by believing that even when you are overlooked by others you are handpicked by God. Change your tendency to either fall apart or control the actions of others by embracing God-honoring ways to process your hurt. Know exactly what to pray for the next ten days to steady your soul and restore your confidence in the midst of rejection. Overcome the two core fears that feed your insecurities by understanding the secret of belonging. Uninvited reminds us we are destined for a love that can never be diminished, tarnished, shaken, or taken—a love that does not reject or uninvite.




Christmas Is Not Your Birthday


Book Description

Every year, we say we’re going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season—Jesus. But every year, advertisements beckon, the children plead, and it seems easier just to indulge our wants and whims. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration. This Christmas, cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year. Instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us. In five short, engaging chapters, Pastor Mike Slaughter inspires readers to approach Christmas differently, and be transformed in the process.




Reflect & Restore


Book Description