It is so easy to get distracted during the holidays and lose focus of what counts. How many times have you sat in the aftermath of the holidays and a part of you felt it was shallow or even empty? Holidays can often times be characterized as stress-filled, money-draining and joyless time where we just "want to get through it." That is exactly why I enjoyed this timely book sent to me by Moody Publishers for review--Putting God Back in the Holidays by Bill and Penny Thrasher--Bill Thrasher is professor of Bible and Theology at the Moody Graduate School of Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute and has much to say and help us to getting our focus back on the Lord during this special time.
Just in time for the onslaught of holidays festivities, this book provides an indepth look at how to celebrate the holidays and other special occasions with purposeful meaning. The spirit of the book helps us focus on the Lord and what really matters while the author's having done all the footwork of planning out purposeful activities to make our celebrations more meaningful and special--something I really appreciate since half the work of celebrating is planning--or sometimes agonizing, if you will--on how to make it special!
As a busy mom of eight children, I appreciate that the book is chock full of ideas fun activities providing a way for my family to be able to discuss, pray and actively do things together that will make a difference during these holidays enriching our lives and those around us.
"So much has been written about how to celebrate Christmas that it can be overwhelming! They key in my life has been to play way ahead in gift purchasing and to stay as rested as possible during this busy season. Rest has been key in helping me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in reaching out to thers and encouraging a joyful, peaceful, worshipful atmosphere in our home. Believe me, I've not always been successful; the full calendar can easily become a heavy burden instead of a joyous celebration of Christ's emptying Himself to live a perfect life among us. May this not be true of our homes! May God grant us His wisdom and grace to walk in the preordained good works He has for us."-Penny Thrasher
This book does not just cover Christmas, it also covers other holidays as well such as:
Thanksgiving
Easter and Good Friday
Birthdays
New Year's
Valentine's Day
President's Day
Mothers and Father's Day and much more...
...so it is the perfect book to have year around. Now Moody Publishers has generously given me two extra books to giveaway to two of my special readers---all you have to do is leave a comment with your email to enter!
(U.S. participants only please!)
I also have another post coming up to share with you some things you can do during Christmas to bring more meaning into it AND teach your children servanthood that you will not want to miss later this week...
115 comments:
This book looks wonderful, just what I need for the holidays, I already feel like I'm rushing into it. I need to keep Christ first. athenamarie@gmx.com
This book sounds wonderful! With 4 little ones (2 sets of twins) the true focus of the holidays can get lost in the hustle and bustle! Please enter me! jlb15131@frontiernet.net thankyou!
familykidsemail@yahoo.com
Hoping to keep Christ in EVERYDAY!!!
Mrs. Fuentes,
This is a topic that is very dear to the heart of my husband and I. It is too easy to lose focus with all of the commercialism that seems to come earlier each and every year.
Thank you for bringing resource to my attention,
God Bless,
Mrs. Shepard
sounds refreshing and wonderful!!
Kellie
dkcrueatacegroupdotcc
Good morning! What a timely book to share. My husband and I have decided that we will no longer include Santa Clause as part of our Christmas and will focus solely on the birth of Christ and the gift of Christ. This comes right on the heels of our decision to no longer participate in Halloween. The Lord is leading us in to new territory with our young family and we are so thankful and grateful to the Christian community that is sharing stories and resources will us. Thank you!
I would LOVE to recieve this book! Courtneymartin23@hotmail.com
Thank you!
oooh oooh!! this book looks great. We are always looking for ways to turn the focus of the holidays back to God! My email is laurieannemagee@yahoo.com!
I agree keeping our focus on God and what Christmas is really about is what's important. Christmas can get so wrapped up in gifts and parties that we can miss the birth of our savior. I love the movie 'The Nativity'. I look forward to watching it as it beautifully portrays the reason we celebrate. Thanks June for reminding us to keep our thoughts and actions Christ centered. Robin
Thank you for sharing this. I would be happy to enter the giveaway.
aperitelibrum{at}yahoo{dot}com
Blessings on your week!
This book looks like exactly what I've been searching for! Thank you.
I would love to read this book. I really enjoyed Noel Piper's book along the same lines.
knrenard@hotmail.com
Sounds like a wonderful book, thank you for the offer!
Blessings,
KellyinPA
Kjlb37@comcast.net
Hi! My email is russellfamily612@ymail.com, and I would love to win that book!
I would love to have this book. Sounds like it would be a great read, with some helpful info. Thanks
God bless
My husband and I have been searching and talking about ideas for having Christ as the center of our celebrations. We would love to read this book!
Thank you for your blog. I have enjoyed reading it and gleaning wisdom from you. As a new mommy you have given me much. Thank you!
alinae78@gmail.com
I would love to win this book!
kateahyde (at) hotmail (dot) com
I could so use this book...it is so hard to get pulled in the wrong direction. Ideas would be wonderful!!!
Shawn
onejohn31@yahoo.com
What a blessings! Thanks for the opportunity to win. jstrawnwhite@hotmail.com
Sounds like a great book! I have often felt like we should be doing more to focus on God during all of these holidays but clueless on how. Look forward to seeing it.
Sounds like a wonderful book! Thanks for sharing your review and a chance to win it.
OOh!!! I would love to win this book!! If I don't, I may have to add it to my Christmas list :) Thanks for sharing...
joellen.armstrong@gmail.com
This looks like a wonderful addition to my library - thank you for your inspirational posts! As a homeschooling SAHM of four beautiful children it is so great to find other women in this same "season".
jenlamb2001@msn.com
We've been working on this for the last few years. I'd love to read this book to help us along!
I'm actually planning to do a series of posts on my blog about how we are simplifying our holidays so that we can better focus on HIM! I'll do the first one on Friday.
I would love to win! The book sounds so helpful for celebrating the holidays with my two little boys!
I would love a chance to read this. Thank you.
Thank you for offering a few of these books! If I don't win, I'll probably purchase one. I often draw a blank (or get overwhelmed with ideas online) when it comes to making the holidays have a Christ-centered focus.
Thank you for your blog also. May it be used by God to touch many, many more women.
Tanya
mt2reed@yahoo.com
That looks like a great book and I would love to give it to my new daughter-in-law (after I read it of course!) My email is:
proverbs14-@cox.net
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win a copy of this book. The message is so true and I would love some practical tips.
Thank you for sharing this! Sounds like a great book for my family to enjoy. My husband and I were just talking about this last week. :)
What a wonderful book! I was just talking to my Dearest yesterday about the same topic. Thank you so much. Katiejl620@hotmail.com
I would love to win this! How cool!
gretchenschmidt1@gmail.com
I'd love to have that book! As a new mom, I desire to start our Christmas celebrations and traditions with our daughter in the right direction of honoring and celebrating His birth!
I'd love to win a copy!
Oh, my! I saw this book on another post and have been wanting to get it for a while now. We have two little girls whom we are raising to be daughters of God, a far cry from how I was raised, and are always on the lookout for knowlegable resources to help us on this path of paretnhood. Would love, love, love to win this one!
This sounds like a wonderful book for me to use in our home! rosajosa@hotmail.com
Oh, I really hope I win! I love traditions & holidays and would really enjoy finding more ways/new ways to incorporate Christ into them!
happy2b_wifen_mommy@yahoo(dot)com
I hope I win it :D
Elsie Gibbs
I am so glad you told us about this book! Ever since you posted about those banners with the names of God on them, I have been thinking about how to make Christmas more about the Lord and less about all the other!
Surely would love to win one since it's not in the budget this month! :)
O my goody goody book swap! I logged back on to get the book info to check the bookstore. AACKK!!! Then I read about the giveaway!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEE!! Sooooo excited! I've also heard of ANn Hibbard's book, I believe it's called Celebrating Traditions: Meeting Christ in your Celebrations. YAYYYYY!!! Thanks!!
What a wonderful idea for a book and would like to have one right now as I am, as you said, agonizing over the Thanksgiving meal that is just three days away.... got the food covered but now how about table decor? games? favors? appetizers?? too much focus on the event and what I need is to focus on HIM... and, as a previous post you had encouraged me to "ask my husband" that's great guidance for me... still would like to have the book!! Hope I win...
Suzanne Pace
pacefamily@triad.rr.com
Oh, this is right where God has my heart right now! Sounds like a wonderful resource!
KAlexaLott@gmail.com
Sounds nice! mamayearwood@aol.com
I am always looking for ways to turn the focus of the holidays back to Christ. This book sounds great! I am especially interested in the other holidays. Someone said a Chirtmas tree was not biblical. What came to mind was neither is a birthday cake but you have one. It is part of the celebration!
marussell@neo.rr.com
Sounds like a neat book..looking forward to you sharing more.
This book sounds wonderful! I'm a new mama looking to slow down but start some meaningful God centered traditions with my family.
sjheit_2@hotmail.com
What a fabulous sounding book! Please enter us! mshills@myway.com
Sounds like a wonderful book. I'm always looking for ways to bring God back into our holidays and it not be all about gifts.
brookiejunk@yahoo.com
I have been hearing a lot of wonderful things on this book.
gotjoy3@yahoo.com
My email is alicia.hall54@yahoo.com and I would love to have this book. My children are young and I love to start Godly traditions with them early in hopes they will carry them on.
This book sounds like it has a lot of wonderful content! I would love to enter. My email address is:
wheretheheartremains@gmail.com
Love In Christ,
Jenna
Thanks this book sounds like a book I would love to read! cottagemom1968@yahoo.com
I love ideas about how to keep Christ in Christmas. Would love to win this!
What a wonderful book! Thank you for the opportunity.
teamlaws@tds.net
This book sounds like just what I need. two boys still at home and two granddaughters to care for, this book sounds like it would take the homework out of doing it myself.
dawnbeard@fuse.net
This looks like a wonderful book! rtblbunch@yahoo.com
I would love to win this book! Thanks for offering!
Hi,
The book sounds great. Thank you for the chance to enter the giveaway.
Debbie
debbier@steeringwheel.org
I would love to win this! With four little children we are constantly looking for ways to focus on the Lord through the holidays, and not what we want. Please enter me!
Im4Christ2@msn.com
What a wonderful sounding book! I love your blog!
-Hannah
Thank you for sharing this book with us. Please include me in the give-away. for this book would be an added blessing to our ministry.
ephesians516@aol.com
This book sounds wonderful! I would love to create some memories with my little one
I'd love to have that book!
Tracey at www.LifeIsDifferentHere.blogspot.com
Sounds like a great book. It sounds like it is a very needed book for all we go through as wives, mothers etc... tring to keep God in all that we do.
heart.of.ruth@gmail.com
I would love this book. I live in Canada, but if I was a winner I would just have you mail it to my sister in the states.
My husband and I were discussing tonight what traditions we wanted to begin with our little one (9 months) and we both desperately want him to know the real meaning of Christmas, as well as each holiday we celebrate. elizabethpmahan (at) gmail (dot) com
(remove spaces).
Would love to win this! Always looking for new ideas to praise God in everything we do, especially the holidays!
laurnie0012@hotmail.com
looks great!
I'd love to win this book!
What a wonderful idea! I've been trying to work into the night every night to cook and clean ahead. In the morning, I end up not being as attentive to the kids as I should be. This was such a timely and convicting topic. Thank you! Please enter me.
ergsmith (at) hotmailcom
I am always looking for ways to put Christ back in the holidays for my family. I love books and would love to have a copy of this one! God Bless~Christy S.
I am always looking for ways to put Christ back in the holidays for my family. I love books and would love to have a copy of this one! God Bless~Christy S.
christyrstanton@hotmail.com
Looks like a great book! Would love to read it. Thanks for all of your great give-a-ways!
Blessings, Karen
Sounds like very helpful book! I'd love to be entered.
Mrs. H
fourkids@columbus.rr.com
Looks like a great book. I know I am not in US, but my parents-in-law are and I can use their address :D Looking forward to new ideas!
Looks like a wonderful book!
partyof7 @ gmail.com
I think this may be the best give-away yet! What a perfect addition to any household! To always keep our eyes and hearts set upon the Lord in all ways at all times!
Thank you!
This looks super! I have 3 children, and we all need to keep our focus right.
Sounds like a great book to put to use. Thank you.
I NEED this book this is are goal every year but I can still lose sight when things get busy.
tonyt@wabash.net
We have always taught our daughters that Christmas is Jesus birthday and has nothing to do with Santa. When they were in public school the teachers would get mad at them for telling the other kids there wasn't a santa it was all about Jesus. Now we homeschool and don't have the outside influence we did. Looks like a very good book.
Have a blessed day,
Becky
beckyhoney@centurytel.net
Since all holiday planning falls to the woman of the house, I'll take all the help I can get! Hope I win!
d831961@mchsi.com
this sounds like a wonderful book and will be a blessing to anyone who receives it. Please enter my name in the drawing.
donnamj1@bellsouth.net
I would love to win this! I will probably go out and purchase it otherwise. My husband is a pastor, so we end up with a lot on our plate throughout Christmas... and with two little ones, it can get downright stressful!
I have been searching for just this type of book!
whittney_hoyler@yahoo.com
What a wonderful idea...putting our holidays, all of them, back into perspective: God's perspective. Thank you for this post.
What a great resource! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
harmonhomeschooling@yahoo.com
This sounds like a great book for my sister in law. She works full time and is constantly on the go. She's not a practicing Christian and her house is often in chaos and worse during the holidays.
It would be great to win a copy for her to benefit from!
ncamali98@gmail.com
This looks like a fantastic book! I would love to be lucky enough to win one, but if I don't, I will definitely be ordering one.
Amy
www.crazyforthecountry.com
crazyforthecountry@gmail.com
This looks wonderful!! Please enter me:
cooperkelly4@yahoodotcom
forgot to post my email.
hollycoty@yahoo.com
What a wonderful book! I would love to read this. Thank you for entering me in your give-away.
God bless you - Julie
Sounds like a wonderful book! Love your blog. Thanks for all the Godly advise!
Sounds like a great book! I love your blog! Thanks for all the Godly advise!
Tammy
This would be a wonderful addition to my hoomeschool library. Thank you for your wonderful posts!
ooh please enter me!! and Happy Thanksgiving! sarina at scualum dot com
I would love to have a book like this. Boy, would it be helpful to any of us! Smiles, Cassidy
AThankfulMommy@aol.com
Ooooh, that book looks wonderful! I would love to add that one to our library.
pehorner@carolina.rr.com
Oh i need this book! with being unemployed this year, many kids and company coming i need the reminder of what the holidays are truly about!
My family and I spend all of our holidays with relatives who say they are "worldly Christians". This book sounds like it would be perfect for us and our ministry.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Kathleencap@gmail.com
Sounds like an awesome book! Please enter me in the contest to win a copy of "Putting God Back in the Holidays." Loved your post about asking your husband...why is it we always ask them last??? Mine always has such fantastic ideas! Thanks :o)
paltz4@gpcom.net
Oh I could really use this book. My girlfriends and I have just been discussing this very topic! The book would be a very welcome instrument to help us all!
This book sounds like it's just what we need. Please enter me in your giveaway.
Kathleencap@gmail.com
I would love to read this book. Thanks for all the encouraging posts! Blessings, Karla.
karlajuarez@sbcglobal.net
I would LOVE to have this book!
My Email is Mommadorse@gmail.com!
I would LOVE to have this!
pamperedtots@mac.com
The book sounds wonderful. Just what I have been looking for. Our families are so precious to us. This is my second Christmas without my dear sweet Mother. How I do miss her. I need to focus on the meaning of Christmas and on Christ.
Thank You . I would like to enter for the book please. Fayelar@aol.com
Sounds like an interesting read and we can all use help to keep Christ in Christmas ;)
zion2223@msn.com
Thanks for the review on this book and for the giveaway!
momof6arrows@sbcglobal.net
thanks
Lori
Sounds like a wonderful book to inspire and challenge me in the coming year. Love that it includes all the holidays. acmfamily@aol.com
I would love this book!
crystal_824@yahoo.com
THis sounds wonderful.
This looks like a wonderful resource for keeping the Christ in Christmas!
I'd love a chance to win!
---Gina
ImagesbyGina@aol.com
My oldest is almost 2 and more able to understand the holidays, so I have been looking for ways to keep the focus on God. This book sounds like a great way to start!
huz513 at husebova dot com
Hi! I would really lixe to receive this book, can you send me? williankw@uol.com.br
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