Happy mid-week, my friends. Don’t you just love having this “extra week” between Thanksgiving and Christmas? I sure have! Though holiday get-to-gathers are already happening, I’m still resting and recuperating at home. But I am extremely thankful to feel better each day. We’ve had such kindness shown to us in meals, contacts, and physical help ~ we feel very cared for by both the Lord and our family of friends. Thank you so much for your prayers and love! I must collect some recipes of the deliciousness shared with us and share them!
Since I’ve been “resting” – I’ve been reading (don’t hate me!), and have taken great delight in finding some amazing books for free on the free Kindle websites. So of course I wanted to share those bargains with my friends. I also wanted to pass along some wonderful Advent resources I’ve used or hope to use in the future. Some are books, and some are website links. My hope is that in all of this jumble, you’ll find something to make your Christmas merrier and draw your heart closer to Jesus. 🙂
PS: If you don’t have a Kindle, you can get the app free for your mobile devices or for your computer. Just click here.
First: the Free
This is a wonderful e-Bible. The English Standard Version of Scripture is kind of a blend between the NIV and the Message. It’s a great resource to have on your computer and hand held device.
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I must admit that I’ve not yet read this book, but the title intrigues me and I’m sure it holds some wisdom and answers to this question that most everyone asks at some point in life.
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Good to know. 🙂
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Also good to know.
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This quick read is a super reminder of the importance of pressing on in marriage. It was a truly enjoyable book. 🙂
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I’m reading this one now. Lighthearted Christmas romance.
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Advent Resources (Many of these will begin on December 1st)
Billy Graham Association Advent Devotional – It’s free. All you need to do is to sign up here.
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Bible Gateway Advent Devotionals delivered straight to your in-box each morning.
These are free. I’ve used this resource for several years and the devotions are truly wonderful. You can choose one or all:
Advent Devotions: Our popular Advent devotional returns, with daily Christmas readings from a variety of inspirational sources.
Christmas Joy: Find the true meaning of Christmas with this weekly message of encouragement and inspiration from pastor and author Mel Lawrenz, author of the Everything New devotional.
Classic Christmas Hymns: The Christmas season features some of the most beautiful music ever written—discover the stories behind your favorite Christmas songs and hymns.
The Christmas Story: Do you know the Biblical story of Christmas? Whether you’ve read it a hundred times or have never experienced it, this devotional will introduce you to the miraculous story of the Savior’s birth.
Just click here to sign up.
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Not free resources:
Now the below Advent resource, and the ones following aren’t free. This one was free yesterday, but no longer today. It’s now $2.99 ;( “This bold retelling of Luke 1–2, based on Eugene Peterson’s Message translation, reads like a novel and invites readers to experience the Nativity with fresh wonder.”
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This Advent Devotional is one I used several years ago. It was a true eye-opener to some deeper truths about Christmas.
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I discovered Nancy Guthrie’s Advent devotional through her contributions to the Advent e-mails from Bible Gateway.
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Another devotional I’ve enjoyed is this book. We actually read some of the devotions with the children when they were younger. It’s devotions use the background story on some of the most loved Christmas carols. It was both inspirational and informational.
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This devotional book is a compilation of writings by many wonderful authors. I haven’t used it yet, but would love to.
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I’ve not read this one either, but I have read other things I liked by the author.
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For the young family from Dr. James Dobson
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This next book is one I really want to read and absorb. From the Amazon site: “These forty stirring devotions will guide and inspire readers as they move thematically through the weeks of Advent and Christmas, from waiting and mystery to redemption, incarnation, and joy. Supplemented by an informative introduction, short excerpts from Bonhoeffer’s letters, and passages from Bonhoeffer’s Christmas sermons, these daily reflections are timeless and moving reminders of the true meaning of Christmas. Now repackaged in a beautiful hardback edition, it makes the perfect holiday gift.”
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And for a few Jesse Tree Devotionals:
This one has little Jesse Tree ornaments that the children can color and cut out. A very kid/family friendly devotional. I read this with my little ones when they were in elementary school. It was my first experience with the Jesse Tree, and I fell in love.
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And this is one I hope to add to my library by next Christmas:
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Ann Voskamp has a Jesse Tree devotional that we used last year. It is free. All you need to do is to sign up for her blog posts to be emailed to you, and the link for the book is at the bottom of each e-mail. Click here. 🙂 This is a picture of our little Jesse Tree from last year using Ann’s ornaments:
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And of course, I couldn’t talk about Christmas books without shamelessly promoting my own. 😉 Seriously… I actually went back and re-read this book. Even though I do the things written in it, I need a yearly reminder to re-set my “auto focus” onto Jesus and off of the quickly spinning Christmas machine. I thank Jesus that He continues to teach and transform me through the words He gave me to put into print last year.
😉
I hope you’ve found some little treasure among these offerings. In full disclosure, I am an Amazon affiliate, and I will receive a small percentage of the books ordered through this site that cost something. However, I hope that by now you know that I don’t share them to make money – but to pass on to you something I’ve found to be valuable. 😉 Many blessings of the Lord to each of you~
E-book Keeping Christ AS Christmas: Preparing hearts, households, and homes for PEACE this Christmas season. Click here for more details, and “like”the Keeping Christ AS Christmas facebook page to share YOUR ideas on keeping Jesus as the Center of the Christmas season.
