Reading, Writing & Pondering

  Do you like having a special devotional for Advent? My devotional this year was The Spirit of Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti. Unfortunately, I did not receive this book until a few days after Advent started so I was behind from the beginning. I still enjoyed the book but I struggled to keep up with a busy month. I think I would like to start over and read the book better from start to finish. The Spirit of Christmas includes 25 readings--one for each day of the Advent season. Of course, the book could be read any time of the year but the focus is on the Christmas season and the birth of Christ. As you would expect, every day starts with a Scripture verse. Each day's reading is 3 or 4 pages long, followed by a section called Pondering, which includes questions to think about related to the day's reading. Then the reading concludes with a prayer.  The Spirit of Christmas book is a small size so it is a good size to take along and read on the go. Or it easily fits on your nights...

  Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ by Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is a beautiful devotional book to read throughout Advent that focuses on Mary's thoughts about Jesus birth and life. Mary's Voice is unique because, as the author writes in the introduction, in our Christmas programs, Mary is often seen as a quiet woman with no voice. In the programs, she is usually seen as a passive bystander. However, as the Gospels unfold, Mary was anything but passive. Especially in the Gospel of Luke, Mary is at the heart of the Gospel passage as she is the Mother of Jesus, God's chosen son. She is a woman who pondered much, as the Scriptures said, and watched the life of Jesus unfold.  I think Mary's Voice is a unique book in looking at Advent from her perspective. There are 25 readings. Each begins with Scripture, lasts 3 or 4 pages, and ends with a prayer. This book also has beautiful antique painting/artwork photos throughout the book that are bea...

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Star of Wonder by Angela Hunt hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! About the Book When I saw Star of Wonder was written by Angela Hunt, I knew I wanted to read it. I have enjoyed her books so much in the past. Star of Wonder is an Advent Devotional. It is divided into four parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. There is also an introduction at the beginning. In the introduction, Hunt shares how after writing several novels set in first-century Judea and the Savior's birth, she "discovered a divine majesty surrounding the people, places, promises and purposes of Christmas." Hunt hopes this book will rekindle a sense of wonder in the reader as well. I have to start by saying I love the beautiful cover of Star of Wonder. It is inviting and "speaks" of majesty to me. The book is a great size to put on your bedside table or tuck in a pu...

  Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson is a beautiful devotional book for Advent. I really enjoyed the readings and the cover makes this beautiful book a lovely gift too. Prepare Him Room contains 24 readings centered around the birth of Christ. In the introduction, Larson also shares that she based the fasts at the end of each reading on Dr. Alicia Britt Chole's book, 40 Days of Decrease, in which she invites the reader to a different fast each day. She recommends that book for the Lenton season but she draws on it to help the reader draw closer to God through the Christmas season. I liked that idea. Each day starts with a Scripture reading, then goes into a devotional reading that offers some good substance for those who wish to reflect on the meaning of the season. At the end of each reading, there is a prayer called Prepare Him Room followed by a brief section called Look Up with something to fast each day. I found this book to be helpful in drawing me in to the true meaning of th...

    Are you looking to start a Christmas devotional? Joel Osteen has a new one out called Peace for the Season with 40 Christmas devotionals in it. It is a small size at 6 1/4 inches sqaure--easy to fit into your purse for a quick read or to pack into your book bag with your Bible for devotion time. Peace for the Season is divided into 8 sections following the introduction. In the introduction, Osteen encourages you to make time during the busy season to read and to let Jesus be your peace. Then, he says, you will feel at peace in spite of  being in a time when a lot of things happen that aren't very peaceful around us. Each devotional has a Bible verse, short reading and a prayer.  I really liked these short readings with the prayers and the verses. They were encouraging and they helped me think about how I am living during the season. Peace for the Season would be a nice gift for another Christian friend or family member too. I received a copy of this book from ...