Christmas time is here…
Before I get that Charlie Brown Christmas song stuck in your head forever… This year has been one for the books. While many moments have left us crying out for God in between homeschooling, having to completely change the way we go to the grocery store, and an endless news cycle kindling anxiety from every angle, we need Christmas more than ever.
We need the reminder that the Savior of the World has come and will come again! The reminder that while this home is where the Lord has placed us to live a life that first loves God and then our neighbors, this is not the end.
While the birth of our Savior and the hope in his presence is the chief purpose of Christmas, this season is also filled with joyful moments with friends and family. Your celebrations may be smaller or virtual this year, but you still have the ability to spread cheer while helping your loved ones meet their spiritual needs.
These are our top gift recommendations for those one your list:
For Mamas, Aunts, Grandma, and all the other women in your life:
Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
In Chasing Vines, Beth shows us from Scripture how all of life’s concerns—the delights and the trials—matter to God. He uses all of it to help us flourish and be fruitful. Looking through the lens of Christ’s transforming teaching in John 15, Beth gives us a panoramic view of biblical teachings on the Vine, vineyards, vine-dressing, and fruitfulness. Along the way you’ll discover why fruitfulness is so important to God—and how He can use anything that happens to us for His glory and our flourishing. Nothing is for nothing.
God Does His Best Work with Empty by Nancy Guthrie
- Insatiable craving for things that don’t satisfy
- Relational disappointments and loneliness
- Frustrated search for purpose and meaning
- Relentless desire for comfort and security
- Ongoing struggle to live with loss and unfulfilled dreams
The Inspire PRAYER Bible has wider margins with even more space to Bible journal or create; 400 beautiful full- and partial-page Scripture line-art illustrations to color; 32 colorful and gorgeously designed see-through vellum pages featuring prayers; and 142 Inspired Prayer journaling prompts to inspire personalized prayer. All features in this special edition of Inspire are aimed at helping the reader focus their heart on prayer and enhancing their coloring and creative-journaling journey through the Bible.
For Dads, Uncles, Grandpa, and all the other men in your life:
The Post-Quarantine Church by Thom S. Rainer
From thousands of surveys of church leaders and in-person consultations, Thom Rainer and his Church Answers team have gathered the essential wisdom you will need to face the challenges and opportunities that the quarantine crisis creates for the local church.
This book is valuable for those looking for local church and pastor resources to enhance church leadership, grow your church, and serve digital and online church communities in the post-quarantine world.
The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand.
Uncommon by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker
For Your Sweet Littles:
A Child’s First Bible by Kenneth N. Taylor
Perfect for taking to church or using at home, young children will love this beautifully illustrated first Bible. A Child’s First Bible is a collection of 125 of the most familiar Bible passages, from both the Old and New Testaments.
Beginning with the story of Creation and ending with Revelation, the text is retold in simple words by well-known author and translator Kenneth N. Taylor. With its charming illustrations and clear, inspiring text, A Child’s First Bible is a must for every child’s bookshelf.
A Collection of Bible Promises 3-book set: You Are / Tonight / Chosen by Emily Assell
Each book in the Generation Claimed series contains life-giving promises from Scripture that remind all God’s children, both young and old, of who they are in Him. Page after page shares a promise from God and the corresponding scripture from the Bible. Readers will be transformed from the inside out and rest easier in God’s love for them. This 3-book set of board books includes the following:
- You Are: Scripture promises reminding readers of who God says they are
- Tonight: Scripture promises for a peaceful night’s rest
- Chosen: Scripture promises that reveal God has a plan for each person’s life
Water Doodle Bible / Biblia para pintar con agua (bilingual / bilingüe) by Copenhagen Publishing Company and Tyndale
Water Doodle Bible is a unique activity book with a biblical message. Young children will enjoy painting with water as they reveal colorful art designs and learn fun stories from the Bible in English and Spanish. Children can then search for objects in the pictures as they practice simple words in both languages.
Biblia de pintar con agua es un libro de actividades con un mensaje bíblico. Los niños se divertirán pintando con agua mientras revelan los coloridos diseños de arte y aprenden historias de la Biblia tanto en inglés como en español. Después podrán hacer una actividad de busca y encuentra con las imágenes mientras practican palabras simples en ambos idiomas.
For Your Growing Teens:
The Epic Bible by Kingstone Media Group, Inc.
Get swept away by God’s awesome story in this riveting graphic Bible. The Epic Bible tells the central story of the Bible, with dramatic, full-color art created by some of DC and Marvel’s best comic book artists. Whether you’re reading the Bible for the first time or looking for a fresh perspective, The Epic Bible’s cinematic storytelling will make God’s Word come alive.
All-Caps YOU by Emma Mae Jenkins
Emma Mae knows what it feels like to be judged and bullied, but she chooses to ignore the haters and instead focus on a message of love and acceptance in Jesus Christ. In this powerful devotional, Emma Mae will show young women what it looks like to live a life of rejoicing in God’s love and the incredible excitement they can feel when they “live in ALL CAPS” for Him.
The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos
“With the rich characterization of John Green and the magical escapism of Narnia, this book is a must read for all fantasy fans!” —Lorie Langdon, author of Olivia Twist and the Doon series
A girl with a deadly lung disease . . .
A boy with a tragic past . . .
A land where the sun never sets but darkness still creeps in . . .
Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger named Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.
For stuffing the stockings:
Grace Looks Amazing on You by Amy Seiffert
Women are so often weighed down by comparison, anxiety, and fear that the idea that grace could look amazing on them feels unbelievable. But all around us are flashes of grace, shining examples of God’s love.
Amy Seiffert says it’s the everyday moments that Jesus shines through: making time for a friend even when your to-do list is pages long; apologizing to your neighbor when you don’t want to admit you are wrong; opening the Bible when your soul feels hollow and empty.
The One Year Book of Amazing Stories by Robert Petterson
You wouldn’t believe it, but . . .
- James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, grew up mute.
- Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
- Albert Einstein was bullied mercilessly in school.
- Beethoven’s mom almost aborted him.
Life takes the strangest sharp turns—and sometimes, U-turns. Robert Petterson—popular speaker, storyteller, and author—has been a student for his entire life of what God is teaching us through those real-life U-turns. In this book, he compiles 365 amazing stories that teach lessons you won’t easily forget. Each entry is written in the rest-of-the-story style popularized by Paul Harvey. With The One Year Book of Amazing Stories, you’ll marvel at how God has used the lives of these ordinary people to change the course of human history.
We hope that we can help your gift-giving
this year turn your family and friends’ eyes to the King of Kings and Prince of Peace and that through these gifts they can curl up in the arms of their Wonderful Counselor.
