Holidays Archives - Page 6 of 8

Articles, Blog Series, Christian Living, Holidays

In Everything Give Thanks – Words of Wisdom From Amy Carmichael

In acceptance lieth peace. ~Amy Carmichael

To continue my Thanksgiving series, I am also thankful for the many things God uses daily to uplift my soul, and recently He has used the wisdom of Amy Carmichael to draw me closer to Himself. The quote listed above is one of my favorites from Amy, and one that God has brought to my attention many times as of late.

Accepting circumstances is pivotal to being thankful with any situation. For example, if I continue to live in the lands of “what ifs” or “What I hope will be,” it makes me not appreciate the now. I firmly believe that God can use any circumstance (no matter how dismal it may seem) for His good and glory! Therefore, we need to accept where God has us and embrace his peace to fully live the way He intends.

I will forever be grateful for the life of Amy Carmichael, and so blessed that God has used her story to encourage me during this season of difficulty. Aside from Scripture, the most encouraging and uplifting books to read are biographies from the heroes of the faith.

Amy is definitely one of my heroes. She devoted her life to ministry in India and was no stranger to physical pain. In fact she spent more than twenty years of her life homebound and bedridden due to a fall that later resulted in many other health problems. Despite her limitations, she did not live bound by her circumstances. She exuded the joy of Christ and encouraged many all over the world with her letters and writings. She was completely at peace with her life and situation even though it was not always easy, and this attitude came from accepting where God had her. I do want to clarify that by acceptance I don’t mean give up or quit trying. However, there are times when the best thing we can do for Jesus, ourselves, and the future is accepting the season we are in.

I want to challenge you (as well as myself) to accept where you are today and surrender all to the Lord. Whether you are in a tough season or a joyful one accept God’s peace today and even if it’s hard focus on what is good and allow yourself to live in the freedom that comes along with complete acceptance and surrender. What seems to be the worse of situations could later be one of your biggest blessings and joys. Do not spend the holidays weighed down with worry, doubt, and discontentment. Nothing good comes from doing those things. Trust me, I know. Instead fill your mind with the Word daily, read encouraging books, or turn on some praise music. Love Jesus and accept the life and peace He so desires to give you! There is nothing better than that!

To read other posts from this series visit here.

Articles, Blog Series, Daily Inspirations, Holidays

In Everything Give Thanks!

Starting today and leading up to Thanksgiving day, I will be posting about different things I am thankful for in 2016. To start, I am thankful for the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” You may be thinking to yourself, “what does she mean by that?” This year has been incredibly hard. I did not think any year could be worse than 2015 but 2016 has proven me wrong. My health has taken a turn for the worse over the last year, especially in the last few months. I have felt like all of my hopes and dreams for this season of life have been crushed and in my emptiness, I have become entirely dependent on the Lord. However, even in the hard, I have been reminded that there is always hope, and my hope lately has been from Bible passages that the Lord has revealed to me — one of those being Psalm 27:13. It states, “I remain confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

It is because of this truth and the Lord’s strength that I am able to write these words to you today. Life can be weary but no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, there is always the goodness of the Lord. He has proven himself to me over and over again throughout the years. While this season may not seem “good” in the world’s standards — I can know and believe today that the Lord is still good. He has done good things in the past and will do so in the future. He can bring good out of my present suffering. I may not ever know the good He chooses to bring from it on this earth, but I know He will use it and that keeps me pressing on.

Maybe you can relate as I know everyone has their own set of trials, but when I start focusing on the goodness of the Lord and not may pain – my heart gets lighter and His joy fills my soul. To many that might sound cliche and even impossible, but it is truth. Accept the truth of Jesus today and allow His goodness to change you. Jesus is the best husband, leader, refuge, lover, and peace that you could ever have. He loves you and does not want you to carry your burdens alone. Allow him to be your hiding place. I am so thankful for Him and for the goodness He represents in my life. He will forever be my refuge, and I pray He is yours as well.

Be sure to check back over the next few days as I will be posting more in the series!

Articles, Christian Living, Daily Inspirations, Disability, Family, Friendship, Holidays

Thank You

Hi friends,

It has been a while since I have posted but I wanted to write a quick update regarding my health. The past few weeks have been extremely difficult. I have dealt with another bladder infection which is a very stubborn bacteria. I finished a round of iv antibiotic treatment one week ago, and unfortunately I think the infection is already returning. I will have another test tomorrow to confirm that and will hopefullly start another round of treatments. Please pray that the bacteria will show up clearly, that I will be put on the right antibiotic ASAP, and that we are given wisdom and the right resources moving forward regarding treatment options. The infection is still lingering, and I’m hoping to get started on medication again soon. Also, pray for me over Thanksgiving that I am able to enjoy time with family without being in pain, and that I keep the right attitude in the midst of hard.

Thank you all so much for the continued prayers and sweet notes you send my way. Even though I am not always able to respond I do read them all, and I am greatly encouraged by them. I am so thankful for each one of you and thank God for you daily!

Be sure to check the blog again tomorrow as I will start a series called “In Everything Give Thanks.” I look forward to sharing more with you. 🙂

Articles, Books, Holidays, Reading

Finding Father Christmas/Engaging Father Christmas Book Review

About the Books:

By beloved author Robin Jones Gunn, two timeless, heartwarming Christmas novellas bound together for the first time in an omnibus edition.

In FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson’s search for her father leads her unexpectedly to London with only a few feeble clues as to who he might be. Immediately welcomed into a family that doesn’t recognize her, and whom she’s quickly coming to love, she faces a terrible decision. Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both herself and the family she can’t bear to leave. In ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS Miranda Carson can’t wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she’s sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda’s high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian’s father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda’s mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet . . . maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

Purchase a copy here.

My Thoughts:

Robin Jones Gunn is one of my favorite authors. I read her books as a young teenager, college student, and now as an adult. God has used her writing to encourage me in some very difficult seasons of life. Recently, two of her novellas were updated and released again to celebrate the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie based on the books.

These novellas are two of my favorites, and reading them is a delight to my soul. Robin’s writing is very compelling, and makes the reader feel part of the story. Set at Christmas time in England, the books take you on the personal journey of a young woman looking for her father, but what she finds is more than she ever imagined. Filled with a heartwarming story of family and the right amount of romance, these books are a must read. Plan to read these when you have no other plans because you will not want to stop. I cannot wait to read her latest installment called “Kissing Father Christmas,” which I know will not disappoint. Be sure to stay tuned for my review of that one soon. Grab your favorite cup of tea, and your favorite cozy chair, and begin. Happy reading!

I was given these books by Netgalley in exchange for my review.

About the Author:

ROBIN JONES GUNN is the much loved author of 90 books with over 5million copies sold worldwide. Her popular Christy Miller series continues inthe new Christy&Todd: The Married Years series. The award winningSisterchicks® novels are book club favorites along with her non-fictiontitles, Victim of Grace and Praying For Your Future Husband. Robin is a frequent speaker at local and international events. She and her husband have two grown children and live in Hawaii.

Be among the first to hear about upcoming books and movies based on Robin’s books when you sign up for the Robin’s Nest Newsletter at robingunn.com.When you sign up you’ll receive 10% off your next purchase at Bookshop.robingunn.com

Books, Holidays, Reading

God Bless Us Every One Book Review

About the book:

Charlene Dixon—called Charlie by family and friends—is devastated at the recent loss of her job.

For the last five years, the twenty-seven-year-old has blossomed as the activities director of an exclusive all-girls school. But when a misunderstanding with the headmistress leads to a pink slip right before the holidays, Charlie packs up her dreams and returns to her grandmother, Sis, who raised Charlie as her own in the mountains of North Carolina.

When Charlie arrives—broken and confused—Sis immediately puts her granddaughter to work behind the scenes of the local school’s Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. Charlie prickles at working with Dustin Kennedy, the drama teacher and her old crush from schooldays, but is even more put out at that the choice of the Dickens’ classic for the holiday performance. When she discovers her estranged father’s involvement her world turns on its head once more. But when Sis and Dustin encourage her to take a deeper look at the story behind A Christmas Carol, Charlie learns about trust, faith, and forgiveness and the needs of people in their own community.

Purchase a copy: https://bit.ly/2bUfaqD

My Thoughts:

Eva Marie’s latest novella is a pure delight. Her story is filled with the comfort and joy that is desired during the holiday season. This book is well-written and focuses on the themes of forgiveness, faith, family, and trust. Charlie, who is the main character, revisits her hometown over the holidays and helps with the school play of “A Christmas Carol. ” However, as her time there progresses Charlie is confronted with some personal issues she needs to resolve and is challenged to take a deeper look behind the meaning of the play and apply it to her life. Also, Charlie reconnects with an old crush from school, and the reader gets to experience a bit of romance at Christmas time. This book is a heartwarming story, but has an incredible depth that other novellas similar to this often lack. Everson definitely gives her audience a well-rounded story that leaves the reader wanting more.

Every year around October I get so excited because I know that is when new Christmas books start releasing. This is my first Christmas book of the season, and it does not disappoint. This needs to be at the top of your holiday reading list. Once you dive into the story and meet the characters, you will not want to stop reading. This was the first book I have read by Everson, but it won’t be the last.

This book was given to me by Litfuse in exchange for my review.

About the author:

Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning speaker and author of The Road to Testament, Things Left Unspoken, This Fine Life, Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise, Slow Moon Rising, and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd). She is the president of Word Weavers International, Inc., a member of AWSA, ACFW, RWA, the director of Florida Christian Writer’s Conference, and the contest director for Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. She and her husband make their home in Casselberry, Florida.

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Articles, Christian Living, Devotionals, Holidays

Happy New Year – Hello 2016!

I am currently sitting here with Fox News Channel playing in the background waiting to ring in the new year, and pondering all that has happened in 2015.

2015 was by far the hardest year of my life. If you have followed my journey over the past year, you know that I have had some major health problems. A little less than one year ago I had my colon removed, and following surgery I had some major complications that I am still recovering from to this day. I have never been more thankful to be alive at the coming of a new year than at this one. Even though this year has been an enormous struggle for both me and my family, I can honestly say I am more at peace now that I have ever been, and that is truly a miracle from the Lord.

I have quit striving and living in the “I wants,” and the “what ifs,” and instead am finding my rest in the Lord.

No matter how much I dwell on what I wish was happening or what I want my life to be — my life is what it is, and the Lord calls me to be thankful for that. The life I wish could be, or all the “I wants” that I can imagine are not God’s purposes for me right now. Even though my present circumstances are not what I would have initially picked for myself, this is what God desires to be and therefore my life is good.

No dream or purpose for your life will ever be greater than God’s plan and His way is always the best way.

Earlier this year I let everything go and received God’s peace and acceptance regarding the present, and I am truly experiencing the peace from God that passes all understanding. Because of that there is no place I would rather be. Life is still hard and I do not know what is ahead but I can live at rest because God is leading me, and He will never let me down.

As I have thought and prayed over the coming year the Lord has continued to bring to mind a certain word, and that is restore. He has also continually brought me to the following verses, and my theme verses for the year are found in both Luke and 1 Peter. They are:

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” ~1 Peter 5:10

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
~Luke 1:45

I pray that 2016 is a year of restoration and hope in my life and relationship with the Lord, and look forward to all that He will teach me and the promises He will fulfill. As 2016 begins, I have a strong desire to read through the Bible in a year. I have not done this in a long time, and I feel like God is leading me to do so this year. As children of God we are called to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things, and the main way we can do that is by digging in the Word.

My mom and I are doing this together, and I know that this will bring truth and encouragement to our souls. I am amazed that no matter how many times I pick up the Bible, there is always something new to be learned. If you are looking for something specific to do during your quiet times, or have a deeper desire to get in the word — I would urge you to join me in this challenge and read through the Bible. Throughout the year, I will be writing about what God is teaching me and I would love for you to join in on the journey. I will be using The Message Remix – A Daily Reading Bible. The Message is a paraphrase of the Bible and while I do not recommend using it for intense Bible and word studies it is helpful in daily and personal reading. You can find it here. You can also find other reading plans from YouVersion. No matter what you do — always make spending time in the Word your most important priority in the day because that is how you will find ultimate fulfillment and contentment in life.

Happy New Year to you and yours, and I pray that God fills you with His love and joy all throughout the year. Seek His face always. Happy 2016!

Articles, Daily Inspirations, Holidays

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas to you and yours! I am so thankful for the birth of Jesus and the wonderful joy He brings to me each and every day. Dwell on His greatness and love today.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” ~Luke 1:11

Articles, Family, Holidays

Let it Be Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve! It is one days before Christmas and many are traveling to visit family, while others are at home cooking, wrapping presents, and getting ready for family to come visit.

As for me, I have not been feeling well so I am spending the majority of the holiday at home. However, most of my family will come here on Christmas Day so I am looking forward to spending time with them. It is also nice to spend extra time with my parents, and I am enjoying the visits with friends who stop by. Even though I am not able to get out among the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I am very thankful for family — especially my mom, who tries to make things extra special here at home.

This past year has been a tough one, but the Lord has been faithful through it all. I am incredibly thankful this year for the gift of life, and not just my life, but most importantly for Jesus — and the meaning of His birth. I have never wanted a year to be over more than this one, but over the past couple months the Lord has done some great things in my heart and soul. Prior to and after my surgery last January, I lived with worry about the future, and in a state of disappointment that my life up to this point had not turned out the way that I had imagined that it would. However, the greatest gift God has given me this year is His peace. Over the past few months He has filled my heart with an acceptance of this season and given my mind an ease that could only come from Him. For that, I am very thankful.

Whatever this week looks like for you be present wherever you are.There are many times I am in a room with company and we are all on our phones texting, capturing moments, and posting them on Instagram. I know that I am personally guilty of this, and am trying to improve the habit. While there is nothing wrong with any of these things, we can spend too much of our quality time with others on our devices sharing with the world what we are doing. I am reminded more than ever on this holiday to treasure each moment and to live fully right where I am because none of us can know what the future may hold.

My challenge to you over Christmas and New Years is to put down your phones and Ipads and spend time with your family and friends without constantly looking down at your device every few minutes. I am not suggesting that you not take any photos through the holidays, or never be on your phones. Although, do not allow your time on social media platforms lessen the quality of your conversations, or distract from sweet family time that you will never get back. I pray that each of you will have a wonderful holiday with family and friends, but most importantly that you spend time with Jesus and celebrate who He is and what He has done.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! I will see you in 2016!

Advent, Articles, Holidays

Anticipating Christ: Love

^“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16

Love. Love represents everything God is and 1 John reminds us of that for it says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God loved us so much that He sacrificed his one and only son Jesus Christ on the cross to pay for our sins. It all started with a loving God, an obedient teenage girl named Mary, and a baby born in a manger. This is a gift that we could never repay. However, in return God wants our heart. Our whole heart. He wants us to die to self, live for Him, and according to His Word. Luke 1o:27 commands us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

As theologian Jeremy Taylor states, “Love is the greatest thing God can give us, for himself is love, and love is the greatest thing we can give to God, for it will also give ourselves. . . . The apostle calls love the bond of perfection. It is the old, and it is the new, and it is the great commandment, and it is all the commandments, for it is the fulfilling of the law.”

No matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done — God is always ready for you to come to Him and receive His love and forgiveness. He is always there ready for us to come to Him. Only His perfect love will give the ultimate fulfillment we long for on this earth. Spouses, family, and friends may love us greatly, but Jesus’ love is the only love that will never fail in this life. As we fully accept the love of Christ, we are able to love others as the Bible commands and be the people God desires us to be.

As Christmas approaches the central focus should be on the birth of Christ and the love that He represents. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and lose sight of what the season is all about.

Christmas is not about me. Christmas is not about you. Christmas is not about presents or food. Christmas is about the Eternal love that was born in a manger to bring hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, joy to the grieving, and love to the lost and hurting. It is a time to truly celebrate this baby who became our Savior, and praise Him for all He has done and will continue to do.

If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed this week, or if the holidays are a sad and lonely time for you please take a moment to remember that you are not alone. God’s love for you surpasses anything that you could ever imagine and the love of Christ is the greatest gift He has ever given so accept that love and a peace and joy that is unexplainable will fill your soul. Also, spend some time today doing something nice for someone else, and spend time encouraging them with the love of God because you never know how your act of kindness will impact their Christmas.

Erin will be posting her blog soon and you won’t want to miss it. I will put the link here once it is posted.

To view all posts in this series visit here.

Advent, Holidays

Anticipating Christ: Joy

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2:10-11

Joy. The Bible calls us to have joy every single day. Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice always. Even when we do not feel like it we are supposed to rejoice. That sounds good until you are going through a really hard season and then it just plain rough.

I have found myself during many sleepless nights saying “But God my health is terrible can’t you have a little sympathy? I don’t feel like rejoicing right now. What is joyful in this?” Some others may be saying, “but God my job is so hard and this is not at all where I thought I would be right now in my life. I am miserable and don’t know what my purpose is. When will one of my dreams finally come true?” Or “but God married life is not what I thought it would be. What happened to living happily ever after? I just don’t love him anymore or feel loved. And lastly, “but God I am in my 30s and STILL single. I have dreamed of being married for years and being a helpmate to someone. When will it be my turn already? ”

All of these scenarios many have experienced, and none of these make it easy to have joy, and are even worse during the holidays. How can we rejoice at Christmas when life is in shambles? This past week I was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth virus, a bladder infection, and a bacterial infection. This is not at all how I wanted to spend my days leading up to Christmas. After the year I have had I wanted a bit of a break.

However, that is when God so gently reminded me yet again that —

Joy is not defined by the circumstances of life. Joy is simply Jesus. Joy is found in the tiny baby who was born in a manger. Joy is found in the one who lowered himself to be a servant and washed the disciples feet. Joy is found in Him who performed many miracles. Joy is found in the man who died on the cross and in the Savior who rose again. Joy is found in Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

When I take the focus off myself and put it on the Lord my circumstances suddenly feel lighter. As we focus on the greatness of Jesus and what He has done for us — our circumstances will not always change, but our perspective towards them will. Then, a great joy that we didn’t think was possible will fill our hearts and minds. Also, along with that joy the Lord will give His strength to help us walk the hard roads in a way that is honoring to Him.

As Christmas week is approaching take time to dwell on the only one who can make your joy complete.

Erin also recently wrote an amazing post on joy over on her blog. Read it here and be encouraged!

To read all posts in this series visit here.