The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 3

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth, your relative, has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:34-38 BSB)


In part 1 of our series of the Women of Christmas, we looked at the lineage of Jesus, how that was connected to Mary, and his right to be King. In part 2, we explored the grace of God that was coming and how that contrasted with the Jewish law the people had been living according to. In part 3 we are going to talk about the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a person. He is the third person of The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We first learn about Him in the book of Genesis.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”(Genesis 1:2 BSB)

This sounds so familiar doesn’t it? It sounds like what the Holy Spirit would do when Jesus was conceived.

The word “hovering” in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word “rachaph.” According to Strong’s Lexicon, it means “To hover, to brood, to flutter.”

Under the word “rachaph” on Biblehub.com, there is an entry that says,

“While there is no direct Greek equivalent in the Septuagint for "rachaph," the concept of divine hovering or overshadowing can be seen in the New Testament with the Greek word "ἐπισκιάζω" (episkiazō), Strong's Greek 1982, used in Luke 1:35 to describe the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary.”

The activity of the Holy Spirit was very reminiscent of the story of creation in Genesis. It’s like there was a Re-Genesis. Isn’t that amazing? I am always amazed by the Old Testament and the New Testament connections!

The Holy Spirit overshadowing or hovering over Mary would bring about the birth of the Son of God. In his message, “Christmas: the Wisdom of God,” Dr. Charles Stanley said about this event,

“The Spirit of God planted within that woman, the very life, the very person of the Son of God.”

What would be next?

The Holy Spirit would also be coming into the earth in a greater way than He had before. We talked earlier in the series about how under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit would seem to come and go. Men and women were anointed by God into the offices of prophet, priest, and king. The Holy Spirit would “come upon” them, and then would receive spiritual gifting to carry out the plans and purposes of God. But, He didn't live in them.

There was a very significant change coming. And it was for us.

In John chapter 1, speaking about Jesus, John says,

“And John bore witness saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon Him.” (John 1:32 BLB)

The Holy Spirit came and remained on Jesus.

That word “remain" is the same word that Jesus used to teach the disciples about the Holy Spirit in John 14:17.

“...the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.” (BSB)

Abide here means to remain. He will remain. He will abide in you, never to leave.

Ephesians 1:13 says about our relationship to the Holy Spirit,

“And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.” (BSB)


Many blessings to you as you rest and remain in the Lord this season! Thank you for reading this short series on Mary, part of The Women of Christmas.


Merry Christmas!

Beth


P.S.I am sorry I didn't get to Elizabeth and Anna. Christmas caught up with me, and the parts about Mary became longer than I had originally anticipated.


I wrote a series about the Holy Spirit starting with the baptism of Jesus. You can read about that here. The links to the rest of the series are at the bottom of the post.


If you missed the first two posts about Mary, you can go here to The Women of Christmas at Bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com.

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 2

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”(Luke 1:26-30 BSB).

In today’s devotional about Mary, we are going to focus on the grace of God. We see the grace of God in Mary's conversation with the angel. The grace of God would bring about a huge change for the Jewish people and ultimately the Gentile world as well. There was a transition taking place from the Old to the New.

Under the Old Covenant, the Jews lived under a system of rules known as the Law. It was given to them by God through Moses and they had lived under this system since shortly after their Exodus from Egypt. But, why did they live under the law?

Romans 5:20 tells us,

“The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” (BSB)

And Galatians 3:19 reads,

“Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.”(BSB)

In John 1:17, it says,

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (BSB)

What was coming under the New Covenant through Jesus was new to them. They were looking for a military leader in the Messiah. They weren’t expecting this.

In the lives of the women of Christmas, we begin to see this transition that was taking place. Grace was coming. In fact, it was already here.

In verse 28 of chapter 1, the angel says to Mary,

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (BSB).

That phrase “you who are highly favored” is actually the verb form of the word "charis" (grace) in the Greek. It is the Greek word

“charitoó” and is found only in one other place in the Bible, and it is a verse about Believers in Jesus.

“to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One”(Ephesians 1:6).

Later on in the passage in Luke 1:30, the angel tells Mary,

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (BSB)

That word favor in that passage is a noun and is the Greek word "charis." According to Biblehub, there are 157 occurrences of the word “charis” in the New Testament. It means “grace, favor, kindness, and blessing.” Grace was coming through Jesus. There would be a transition from law to grace.


They would no longer live under the law, because Jesus would fulfill it. A new way of life was coming. What was happening to and through Mary, was also coming to and for us. Tomorrow we will discuss that new way of grace, one that would involve the Holy Spirit.


Blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of Him!

Beth



To learn more about the word "charis," please check out my post here on Grace in the Greek.


If you missed yesterday's post on Mary, Part 1, you can also find it at my blog, The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 1.

The Women of Christmas

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I have had it in my heart for a while to write about the "Women of Christmas." I have written about them a little bit in my series on Women in the Life of Jesus, but there is so much more to explore.

Something that the Lord has been emphasizing during this season, I believe, is the presence of the Holy Spirit. We have heard that under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit would only come on 3 offices, the prophet, priest, and king. I think we can add the judge to that as well because we see Him in the life of Deborah and Sampson for example.

But He would come and leave. It doesn't seem like they have the Holy Spirit permanently residing in them. I think that's why David prayed this in Psalm 51:11,

"Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me."

Do you remember?

But something happens when we get to the New Testament. We start having a transition. Grace is coming.

How does this involve the Women of Christmas? Which women are they? To me the Women of Christmas are Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.

In Luke's Gospel, chapter 1 and 2, we see the story of Christmas. Luke and Matthew are the only two Gospel writers that mention the birth of Jesus, but Luke is the only one that mentions Elizabeth and Anna.

We also see mention of the Holy Spirit. Just like there was more angelic activity surrounding the birth of Jesus, it also seems as though there was more activity with the Holy Spirit.

Why? I think there is a reason. Everything is significant. It all means something.

Over the next few days, I would like to share a (short) series about the Women of Christmas with you.

Merry Christmas,
Beth

If you would like to read the series Women in the Life of Jesus, click on the highlighted link.

To read the Women of Christmas series, use the following links:

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 1

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 2

The Women of Christmas: Mary, Part 3 

The Women of Christmas: Elizabeth, Part 1

The Weary World Rejoices by Naomi Craig

“Are you ready to emerge from the darkness in which you sit?” This was one of my favorite quotes from The Weary World Rejoices. This book is a great way to start off the Christmas season. Naomi Craig was very creative in her retelling of the Scripture found in Matthew 2:3-4,

“When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born."(BSB)

The Weary World Rejoices is the story of Amal, Herod the Great’s chief scribe. He has been tasked with discovering where the baby called “the King of the Jews” was to be born. Little did he know how much this assignment would change his life and trajectory forever.

Along the way, we get to experience several beloved Biblical figures through the eyes of Amal, including those named and unnamed. I don’t want to spoil it for the readers, so I won’t mention them all by name. (We get to see Zechariah! -YAY!) Just know if you are fan of this genre, you will enjoy reading this story!

I loved Amal’s story. His journey was not only a physical one, but a spiritual one as well. It made me think about other people’s journey learning about Jesus.

This is not the kind of story you can just zip through. It is full of detail about geography and culture, and the reader will want to savor each moment of being in the land of Israel with Amal, and those he encounters along the way.

Many blessings to you as you journey to know the Lord Jesus,

Beth

Five Minute Friday-Laugh

Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "laugh." 

Begin.

Laugh. There is so much to laugh about and so much to be thankful for. So much joy. I can look around me and here in this moment I can smile. I have family and a warm place to live. 

My drink is hot and tasty this morning-turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and oat milk. It has become my new morning drink, and is especially nice since it turned cold.

I can see my fabrics I have bought and cut already to make Christmas pillowcases. I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy, nostalgia mostly.

 I need that warmth right now because this is my Christmas without my mother. She died this year. I know where she is, that she is with Jesus. She is getting to spend her first Christmas with the King of Kings and is the reason we even celebrate Christmas.

I know she is laughing in Heaven. I know she is smiling and full of joy. I can see her in my mind and I imagine she is very young and beautiful, and is rejoicing with her King. 

Five Minute Friday: With

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is With.

Begin 5 minutes.

One of my favorite Christmas songs this year is the song "Glorious" by For King and Country. I love the chorus. It goes:

He is the chorus to every song that we were born to sing

He is the rhythm of your heart so let the beat begin

It's so glorious

He is glorious

Yeah 

Glory this is God with us

That was the purpose of his coming, to become God with us.

The Bible says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. When a Believer is born again, they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is ever present, always with us.

I have seen people confuse the Old Testament with the New, talking about how our hearts are deceitful and not a safe guide.

But when Jesus took up residence, when He came to be with us, that's how we live, that's how we are directed, by what is on the inside. Because He is with us.

There is a scripture in Galatians 2:20 that I heard a new version of recently and it was amazing.

I was familiar with the one that said, "Nevertheless it's not I that lives, but Christ that lives in me."

God with us.

Here's the new one I just heard.

I consider myself as having died and now I am enjoying a second existence which is simply Jesus using my body -Apostle Paul: The Distilled Translation.

God with us.

With.

End 5 minutes.

Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

"Come in! Come in, and know me better."

-Spirit of Christmas Present

from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

"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."

-Book description courtesy of Faith Words.

It is always enjoyable to read a novel set during Christmas, at Christmastime.  I have wanted to read these two novellas for a while, so I am glad I finally got a chance.

There were many things I liked about these two books in one.  First, I liked the setting.  It was set in England, although in a fictional town.  The description of the place at Christmas was very warming and comforting. I have always wanted to visit England, and hopefully, one day I will have the chance.

Another part of the setting was the theatre and the Christmas play, a Christmas Carol.  I taught this play when I taught 7th Grade Language Arts.  It is a great story, a story of redemption, one I love to hear again and again. The author, Robin Gunn, found a way within the novellas to tweak the way the story was presented in the theatre and it made it most endearing.  It is also a central part of Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas.

Finally, I love the protagonist's journey, because at one point in life, it was my own journey too. In book one, while Miranda is searching for her real father, someone she only knows by an old photograph of him dressed in a Santa suit, she is also on a journey, to know the real Father Christmas and the Son, who is THE central figure in the stage of life.  In book two, Engaging Father Christmas, Miranda's story continues, as her hopes and dreams are revealed and God demonstrates He has good plans for her life.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes to read good stories at Christmas.  If you are a fan of Robin Jones Gunn, you will like this story too.

Many blessings this Christmas!

In Him,

Beth

***Just for fun, and since it is Christmas, I thought I would do a quick book giveaway!  If you would like to win a copy of this book, simply comment below with a favorite story, scripture, or memory you have of Christmas.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, December 19th.

Congratulations to Jen! You are the winner of the copy of Finding Father Christmas/Engaging Father Christmas omnibus edition!! If you could please email me your address to bethlisteningtohim@gmail.com, I will get your book in the mail!! Merry Christmas!

To read an excerpt from the book, you can go here to Amazon.

To learn more about the author, visit her webpage at

robinjonesgunn.com.

P.S.  Finding Father Christmas was made into a movie this year by the Hallmark Channel!   There is another showing on December 20th, so check it out!

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher, Faith Words, in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

If He Had Not Come by Nan F. Weeks/ Reintroduced by David Nicholson

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin."-John 15:22

Five words are the premise for the children's storybook set at Christmastime, "If I had not come."

In the story, a young boy named Bobby experiences what life would be like if Jesus had never come.  He wakes up one Christmas morning, only to find it is not Christmas.  Nobody is celebrating.  Nobody knows what Christmas is.  There are no Christmas decorations or celebrations.  But it goes beyond that.

As the story progress, we find out what life would have been like for all mankind had Jesus never come.  There would have been no churches, children's homes, hospitals, or homeless shelters.  

Eventually Bobby wakes up and realizes it was a dream, but the impact is real.

At first glance, I thought this book would just be about what Christmastime would be like with no Jesus.  But as I read on, I realized that the implications of no Jesus on this earth, would have far reaching repercussions.  I had never thought about it that way before.  

Jesus is the source of compassion and goodness in the hearts of the men and women who love Him.  The Bible says God is love and when He resides in a person's heart, the ability to love like He does resides there also.

This is a sweet children's book.  I received it in e-book format, but would like a hard copy to share with my family.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to share the message of the Gospel with their family. It would be a good addition to a library of books to read with your children each Christmas. There are discussion questions and activities in the back of the book to enable you and your family to dig deeper into the message of the story.

Many blessings to you as come to know in greater measure Jesus, who did come, and now resides in the hearts and lives of those who will receive him!

Beth




Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions her are entirely my own.

The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

"And the candle disappoints people?" 
 "How can it not?  One candle.  A village of needs.  God would not single out one person and ignore others. It's not fair." 
 Emily replied with measured words.  "Perhaps he singles out one person to show the others what he can do."

Ahhh....what a lovely book.  I started reading Christmas literature very early this year.  My first encounter with this novella was an audio book from the library.  When I started listening to the audio, it made me want to read the book.  Providentially, it was one of my choices at Booksneeze.

Set in the late 1800's in a fictional town in England, the novella The Christmas Candle takes us back to childhood.  At least, that is what it did for me anyway.  Every year at Christmas, people are seeking, "The Christmas Spirit."  In reading this book, then seeing the movie, and pondering on both for a while, I have come to believe in the heart of every person is the desire to remember the presence of God in the birth of Christ that we experienced as children.  That is why we continue to seek after the Christmas Spirit even into adulthood.  This book did this for me.  It took me back to simplicity and miracles and faith and hope.

The Christmas Candle is the story of a town and its people who are in need of some faith, hope, and miracles.  Beginning in 1664, and starting with the candle maker and his family, God begins to minister that hope to all.  During the time of Advent, leading up to Christ's birth, an angel visits the candle maker and touches one of the candles he has made.  While at a church service, the candle maker and his wife encounter a woman in need.  The candle maker's wife gives the candle to the woman and tells her to "light it and pray."  She does and at the Christmas Eve service announces the amazing blessing she received.  Thus begins a cycle of the angel returning every 25 years and the candle maker and his family passing along the candle each year at Advent.

The story picks up in 1864 with the arrival of David Richmond, a young minister who is in need of some faith, hope, and miracles for himself.  Through a series of events, God teaches David and the town about His presence and prayer, and that He is still ever ready and available to meet our needs.

I almost didn't read this book because it seemed odd to me and not very scriptural that an angel would touch a candle and miracles would take place.  Thankfully, I was reminded of this scripture:

For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool, and trouble the water:  whosoever then first after the troubling of the stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.  

Now, that is not normally the way God heals people, and I believe it was contrasted against the ministry of Jesus in the Bible for a reason.  Nevertheless, God is still in the business of healing people and answering prayer, as the reader will find out in the story.

I truly enjoyed this book, so much so that I couldn't wait to see the movie; so much so that I don't want to forget it.  It serves as a reminder that He hears and answers when we pray.

I recommend this book to everyone.  It will serve as a reminder of what your soul longs and aches for at Christmas.

Much love and blessings.  Merry Christmas!

Beth

Disclosure Statement:  I received this e-book free from Booksneeze as part of their  free books for bloggers program.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs

"As David once wrote, 'The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.' Amen to that!  Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna are among that mighty throng who've heard God's truth and gladly given him the glory."

-excerpt, Chapter 8, Women of Christmas

I love Christmas.  Each year it seems like I want to start celebrating earlier and earlier.  Reading Christmas literature is something I like to do to deepen the meaning of the season for me.  This year I started with The Women of Christmas by author Liz Curtis Higgs.

The Women of Christmas is a a detailed commentary of the story of Christmas as pertaining to three women, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Anna, the prophetess who worshiped God day and night in the temple.  The book contains 8 chapters with a devotional/study guide at the back of the book for each chapter.

One of the first things I noticed about this book was the incredible amount of research the author has done.  It was amazing!  There are a lot of footnotes in this book, which I like.  I like to read a book and take away information about the Bible that I didn't know before.  In The Women of Christmas, Liz discusses things like the age of Elizabeth when she became pregnant with John the Baptist, the theory behind the possibility that Zechariah was also deaf along with being mute, and the very important encounter of Mary with the angel Gabriel. 

I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the research that was put into this.  That was the biggest thing for me.  I like it when an author does their homework.  I was a little disappointed with the book cover.  The dust jacket which serves as the cover is beautiful, but the book itself is plain and did not include the beauty you see on the dust jacket.  Also, I was a little confused about why the author chose to include information about Simeon in the book, other than to segue into her information about Anna. 

I recommend this book to anyone who would like to delve deeper into the Christmas story.  This book is a great one for study.  It would also be a great book for a Women's Bible study around Christmastime.

Many blessings to you as we make our way toward the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.,

Beth

Disclosure:  I received this book free as part of a free books for bloggers program at Waterbrook Multnomah.  I was not required to give a positive review.  The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own. 





Writing with Your Children at Christmas

I don't know about everybody else, but I am tired.  I imagine a lot of homeschoolers are tired at this time of the year and ready for a little break.  Christmas is a wonderful time to slow down and try to make things more fun at home (if we are not already!) 

Writing with your children can be extra fun at this time of the year.  It doesn't have to be structured, or even graded...you just need a little writing prompt to start.  It is a good time to practice.

As I was preparing for writing this post, I did a little brainstorming of my own.  One thing that came to mind was that movie, A Christmas Story. In the movie, Ralphie is asked to write a "theme" about what he wants for Christmas.  This could be a starting point for your little ones too.

To practice writing this month, you and your children could brainstorm a list of ideas or "writing prompts" and write about a new one everyday.  When they are finished, put all the writing together and make a little book.  At the end of the year, you will have a writing sample, something to demonstrate progress from year to year, and maybe a little keepsake.

Ideas for writing prompts:

What I Want For Christmas

Why Christmas is Special to Me

My Favorite Christmas Movie

My Favorite Bible Verse at Christmas

What I Want to Bake with My Mom at Christmas


Before you even get started, you might create a book, so that each day's writing can just be recorded in the book.  One fun idea that comes to mind is to cut out a construction paper Christmas tree.  Cut the front and back of the book out of green construction paper and fill the pages in between with regular writing paper shaped like trees.  It is your child's project.  Let them make it their own.

If you need help with writing prompts, just google "Christmas writing prompts."  Another option for writing ideas is to read Christmas stories and have your child write a response to their favorites.  There are so many things you can do with writing at Christmas.


Many blessings to you and Merry Christmas!

~Beth

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”-Luke 1:31-33

52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Life by Bob Welch

 

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

-Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life"

 

As I began writing my review, I kept finding myself reviewing the movie.  That is kind of what 52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Life does.  It takes the richest parts of the movie and expounds on them.  Author Bob Welch has taken 52 messages that can be found in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life," and written a book that reads kind of like a devotional.

Each chapter of the book begins with the "lesson" the author is going to discuss, followed by a quote from the movie.  Each lesson is something that can be learned by watching the movie.  Examples of chapter titles are, "God Honors Our 'Childlike Faith',"  "You Matter to the World, "  "All That Glitters Is Not Gold," and "It Takes Time for Some Flowers to Bloom."  The author expounds on each of the messages interjecting more information from the movie, occasionally adding scripture to demonstrate the importance and applicability of the message he is trying to convey.

I really liked the book.  It is an easy read.  It will make more sense and mean more to someone who has already seen the movie, and is a fan.  There are many lessons that would be especially impactful to people who are Believers in Jesus.  The movie itself is about the impact that one life has on so many, a sentiment thoroughly personified in the Bible. 

The author has also included a lot of trivia about the movie.  I learned many things I didn't know before about "It's a Wonderful Life."  I am a huge fan of the movie.  I have a tradition of watching it on Thanksgiving every year as part of the holiday celebration and to transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  One thing in the book I think could be revised was that the author was under the impression that Zuzu's petals were from a paper flower.  I am still researching this but from the way it looks in the movie, and the fact the flower was put in water, I believe it was real.  That is a part I would recommend for edit. 

If you are a fan of this movie, you will enjoy this book.  I would recommend the book to anybody who likes the movie and would like to learn more about it or delve further into the richness of the story.  It would also make a nice Christmas gift. 

My prayer for you today is that you realize the importance of your life and that God has many good plans for you.  God Bless you as we move into this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus!  Merry Christmas!!

 

 

 

 

*Disclosure statement:  I received this book from Booksneeze as part of a free books for bloggers program.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions found here are entirely my own.

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a vivid and colorful picture book to be enjoyed by children of all ages. Set in the Arctic Tundra, God Gave Us Christmas is a story of a young polar bear cub and her mother. The story begins when the Little Cub asks her mama, “Who vented Christmas?” Together they go on an adventure as the mama bear shows her daughter how God Gave Us Christmas.

There are so many aspects of the story that are relevant to the mother-child relationship. One aspect has to do with the parent as a teacher. Every young child at some point has asked one or both of their parents a question of some importance. This book demonstrates a parent as teacher when the Mama Bear takes Little Cub on an adventure to answer her question.

Another relevant aspect of the mother-child relationship addressed in the book is very subtle, and that is the desire in every child’s heart to be special. At the beginning of the story before the adventure begins, Little Cub asks her mama, “Can we leave them at home?” in reference to her siblings. Every child wants that special one on one time to spend with either mommy or daddy and that is something children and parents can connect to in the story.

I liked this story for so many reasons. One reason is that it is a book that should be read while cuddling your child /children close. God Gave Us Christmas has a warm and cozy feel, which makes for a wonderful time of snuggling up and creating memories as you read. Another reason I like the book is because of the element of science in the book. The book is set in the Artic Tundra and the author uses the wonder of the Northern Lights for Mama bear to teach Little Cub at one point during the story. But my favorite part about the book is how it is a tool to teach your children about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. The author weaves this into her story so beautifully and while the Mama Bear is teaching her cub, she is teaching you and your child as well.

God Gave Us Christmas is a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations to make the story come alive. Each page contains just the right amount of words to keep the reader engaged as well as beautiful illustrations that perfectly match the text. I highly recommend this book to any parent with small children, no matter how young. Read it to your infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary aged children. God Gave Us Christmas is a fantastic story that can be read at Christmas, put away, and brought out at Christmastime every year.



You can purchase this book at barnesandnoble.com, lifewaychristianstores.com, and christianbook.com.

Other children's titles by Lisa Tawn Bergren include God Gave Us You and God Gave Us Two. For more information on the author, go to http://lisatawnbergren.com/.

Unexpected Kindness

Photo courtesy of Tom Keenan at Lightstock.

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. 

-Hosea 11:4 

Unexpected kindness is something I have not witnessed in the recent months, until yesterday. I was in the grocery store trying to find some ice cream with which to mix my son's antibiotic and my arms were already full. I didn't get a basket when I entered the store because I didn't think I would be purchasing that much.

Well, you know how that goes. After you walk through so many aisles you see more things you need or probably more accurately, just want. One of the most tempting treats in the grocery store was the 1/2 price Christmas candy. I just couldn't walk past those Hershey's Kisses and M&M's that were on sale without grabbing a bag, especially since I am pregnant; that makes it doubly tempting!

Anyhoo, I am in the ice cream aisle trying to decide what is the best kind of ice cream to purchase for my son. Should I buy something new or stick with something I know works? I notice a teenager and her mom out of the corner of my eye and I hear her say something like, "I want to help her." I didn't think at the moment she was referring to me. I was just trying to balance the fun food I had accumulated in my trek from one side of the store to the other.

After ten minutes of taking ice cream in and out of the freezer, I am still looking. At one point, I dropped the Breyer's Cookies and Cream that I had picked up. I put it back. Do you ever do anything like that? I always struggle with, "Should I purchase it because I dropped it or should I just put it back because it is not something I really want?"

So, I am standing there deciding and this girl, probably about thirteen comes up to me and asks me if I want her cart. I was like, "Sure! Thank you!" I was so shocked that somebody would help me, much less a teenager. I was very grateful because I was carrying so much but also because I had witnessed a child who had some manners and a heart. She saw someone in need and just did a very simple thing by giving me her cart. She and her mom would have had to empty it first and then she would have to bring it back to me. Wow! Kindness...in the grocery store....to somebody you don't know.

Thank you Lord for that demonstration. Thank you Lord for what you are going to do in the girl's life. My prayer for her is that you will bless her and her family and help them to continue on the path of kindness and love. As I got in the car, I told my husband what happened and how I hoped so much that our children would be like that. My hope and desire as a mom is for my children to step outside themselves, recognize a need in others, and be Jesus whenever he leads.