12 Christmas Gifts of Joy
Christmas is a season to rejoice and bless others. This can be a giving others a smile, parking further away so someone else can park closer, or letting someone go ahead in line. Or gift a child with a book to understand or celebrate the real reason for Christmas. It's also a time to pray for people who have had a hard year and gift them with something to encourage them in the coming year. Hopefully, we will be as eager as the shepherd's when Christ was born to share the joy and amazing news!
Joy is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and like growing fruit, it should be nurtured (Galatians 5:22-23). We are reminded that God can fill us with joy and peace, in Romans 15:13. That verse is connected to hope because looking forward to unexpected blessings from God with the faith that he will do what he promises. James 1:2 reminds us to consider it joy when you struggle with hardships because it will produce endurance and maturity. Living this out can be difficult.
That's why this year I have a Christmas Joy Shop with special book selections from friends as well as my own books to consider as gifts of joy. These books cover various aspects and readers:
Discovering Joy in Philippians from Pam Farrel's co-authored book to gain insights from Paul who knew joy even in prison. This creative study includes coloring pages and uplifting devotions.
Christmas is Coming; Waiting is Hard, Family Activities and Devotions for Advent provides daily short readies with a simple prayer, chat questions, factoid, suggested carol, and try-it hands on activities. Two daily readings share the journey to the manger and the symbols of Christmas.
My Advent Nativity Press and Play Book by Tama Fortner, a pop-out board book of the figures in the nativity set to build a nativity scene. They can listen and wait with Mary and Joseph for the birth of Jesus as they hear about what happened.
Seeking Joy during advent in Luke from Christine Trimpe who found such joy there as she dug in to overcome struggles. In a weary world, we can, like Christine, discover the thrill of hope and joy through the life of Christ and simple applications.
Scripture powers prayers to Brighten your Day from Linda Evan's Shepherd's book Make Time for Joy. Each day's heartfelt prayer letter to God and His responding scriptures full of love and guidance will fill your heart with joy.
Joy in surviving with the messiness of a loved one's struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts with Carole Leathem's book Are You Ready to Find Joy When Life Gets Messy? Beautiful storytelling and sharing real experiences encourages readers to find joy in the midst of mental hardships of people in their life.
The wonder of sharing the story of the birth of Jesus in the picture book 'Twas the Night Before Jesus. It's great to see a child light up with joy as God’s amazing story comes to life through rhyme.
Paper crafts to bring joy to others with The Super-Sized Book of Bible Craft Gifts from Rebecca White and Karen Whiting where easy directions and paper become gifts of joy. Children and even crafty adults will enjoy making items to share with others.
A Bible study, Surender the Joy Stealers, from Doris Swift, a podcast host who has counseled countless women to let go and rediscover joy.
God's Gift, a Sea Kids Adventure picture book by Lee Ann Mancini, to learn the meaning of both Hanukkah and Christmas. The book encourages children to focus on their faith and not gifts, as they celebrate.
Ariels' Choice, a fiction book by F. Tilly Brownne where the main character chooses to sprinkle joy in lives with her positive outlook and faith. You'll laugh and rejoice and perhaps shed a few tears with this story set in the Old West.
Growing a Joyful Heart, a 30-week devotional by Pam Farrel and Karen Whiting to discover how to have more inner joy, relational joy, choose joy in the struggles, and how to sprinkle joy into lives of others. Even before and during writing the book they had their own struggles with Pam in a coma and Karen's recent recovery from pneumonia, as well as many other times they chose joy in spite of circumstances.
These authors also offer a free joy tip and other freebies to increase your joy. Go to the Christmas Joy Shop for more. You can listen to my
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