Download or read book Christmas Grace and Light written by Barry A. Lehman and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-10 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you have trouble finding hope in the Christmas season? Does the world seem out of sync with God's presence? By Christmas Eve are you worn out, anxious, or just plain done? It easily happens. Yet, if you are willing to pause long enough, you may also discover God in unlikely places, in everyday events, or in regular people.Christmas always begins with a story. There's a man and a woman traveling to a distant city where a baby born in a stable. There are shepherds and angels. Because of this story, Christmas is a season when we are more attuned to the spiritual and its possibilities of breaking into our world.Christmas Grace and Light is a collection of short stories and reflections on the promise of Christmas. While the reflections are based on actual events, the stories imagine a world where Christmas is new every year. Written for Christmas worship, they tell of people caught in the world's worries, running away from hope, perplexed by their own lives, or discovering unexplainable events. Just like you and me. In those events and uncertainties, light breaks into the darkness. We discover the ever-present wonder of God's grace that became human in the very first Christmas. This Christmas let these stories open new pathways to remind you that you are not alone in your journeys. Read these stories and you will be surprised at how God is walking with you at Christmas.The book also contains suggestions for personal and group use.
Download or read book Circle of Grace written by Jan Richardson and published by . This book was released on 2015-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Within the struggle, joy, pain, and delight that attend our life, there is an invisible circle of grace that enfolds and encompasses us in every moment. Blessings help us to perceive this circle of grace, to find our place of belonging within it, and to receive the strength the circle holds for us." -from the Introduction Beginning in Advent and moving through the sacred seasons of the Christian year, Circle of Grace offers Jan's distinctive and poetic blessings that illuminate the treasures each season offers to us.
Download or read book The Light of Christmas Pack Of 25 written by Good News Publishers and published by . This book was released on 1997-10-31 with total page 6 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12 If there is one truth that leaps out at us from the pages of Scripture at Christmas, it is this: Jesus came to be the Light of the world! Light came into this dark world when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Christmas is about light! We love to sing the Christmas carol, "Silent Night." But this great hymn is not about night or darkness. It's about the Light. The third stanza of "Silent Night" says, "Son of God, love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace." We sing another Christmas carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The last stanza invites us to "Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings." We sing at Christmas because we have something to sing about! Light has come into the world, and we don't ever need to walk in darkness again! Are you walking in spiritual darkness today? Recognize that you are a sinner, that you can do nothing to save yourself, and ask Jesus, the Light of the World, to come and be Lord and Savior of your life. The good news is that if you look to Him, He will shine His light into your heart! The Babe of Bethlehem is the Light of the world. He will remove your spiritual darkness with the glory of His wonderful presence if you will only ask Him. Pray something like this: Dear God, I know I am a sinner and desperately in need of Your forgiveness of my sins. I need the light of Your love to shine through my spiritual darkness. I understand that I can only receive this forgiveness through the Babe of Bethlehem, your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and rose from the dead that I might spend all of eternity with You in heaven. Right now I ask Jesus into my life to be my Savior and Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. About the Painting Thomas Kinkade, the "Painter of Light," is a committed Christian and uses his art to point to the Author of Light-Jesus Christ. In his painting Stonehearth Hutch Kinkade uses the familiar symbols of wreath and tree to herald the coming of Christmas Day. He also uses other symbols to express the spirit of the season. The lone, rough-hewn stone cottage represents the rock of faith. Outside there is only the solitude of the woods-with no carriage track or footprint to hint at human comfort. But inside is a golden light, suggesting the hope of Christmas. The odd little path, winding and slippery, leads to the cottage door. Kinkade's prayer is that "Stonehearth Hutch will communicate to many, in a language as universal as Christmas wreaths, yet as deeply as faith." Art: Stonehearth Hutch (c) Thomas Kinkade, Media Arts Group, Inc., San Jose, CA. For more information about the artist call 1-800-366-3733. Text adapted from the book Family Christmas Treasury by Adrian Rogers (c) 1997 by Crossway Books.
Download or read book The Christmas Light written by Claudia Cangilla McAdam and published by Sophia. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cold, cranky, and restless one winter's night, the young daughter of a Bethlehem innkeeper is bothered to wakefulness by the crowded, comfortless condition of her family's sleeping loft. Recalling the young couple staying in the stable out back, she arises to bring them some fire for warmth. There she approaches the newborn Babe asleep in the manger and has an encounter that changes her mood and alters her life forever. Claudia McAdams's marvelous retelling of the Christmas story demonstrates to children how an encounter with Christ can change their lives ... eternally.
Download or read book Christmas Grace 31 Meditations and Declarations on the Greatest Gift Ever Given written by David A. Holland and published by Breakfast For Seven. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 75 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We’re all intimately acquainted with the details of the Christmas narrative, right? Who doesn’t know of the startling announcement to young Mary, the Magi, the Bethlehem stable, and the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night? Yet, as David A. Holland reveals in this eye-opening new devotional, there is meaning, inspiration, life-transforming hope in these events that most believers have never seen. Like its predecessor devotional, Praying Grace: 55 Meditations and Declarations on the Finished Work of Christ, each day of this devotional illuminates a scripture or passage in a fresh and memorable way, leading readers to a deeper, fuller appreciation of all Christ accomplished for them, and of who they are in Him. Each day’s entry closes with a declarative prayer that trains believers in a profoundly powerful yet underappreciated form of praying—prayer by Word-based proclamation. Readers will discover: Why the familiar titles Wonderful, Counselor, and Prince of Peace don’t mean what we’ve assumed. What sign in the heavens the Wise Men may have seen, and how it may reveal the date of Jesus’ birth. What the miracle pregnancy of Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, reveals about “slaying the giants” in your life. Key overlooked insights from the Christmas narrative that help you: rest in God’s faithfulness; overcome adversity; embrace and experience God’s good promises; and fall deeper in love with Jesus.
Download or read book The Light of Christmas written by Dandi Daley Mackall and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the beginning of the world, God has brought light to darkness. And Jesus' birth was no different. Into a world dark with sin came the Light from heaven, Jesus Christ. The Light of Christmas shows children the many ways God has brought light to them. This picture book tells the story through delightful poem and charming artwork. Children learn how God's light impacted creation, the sin of man, and the preparation of Jesus, His birht, teaching, death, and resurrection.
Download or read book Where the Light Fell written by Philip Yancey and published by Convergent Books. This book was released on 2023-03-14 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this searing meditation on the bonds of family and the allure of extremist faith, one of today’s most celebrated Christian writers recounts his unexpected journey from a strict fundamentalist upbringing to a life of compassion and grace—a revelatory memoir that “invites comparison to Hillbilly Elegy” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). “Searing, heartrending . . . This stunning tale reminds us that the only way to keep living is to ask God for the impossible: love, forgiveness, and hope.”—Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason Raised by an impoverished widow who earned room and board as a Bible teacher in 1950s Atlanta, Philip Yancey and his brother, Marshall, found ways to venture out beyond the confines of their eight-foot-wide trailer. But when Yancey was in college, he uncovered a shocking secret about his father’s death—a secret that began to illuminate the motivations that drove his mother to extreme, often hostile religious convictions and a belief that her sons had been ordained for a divine cause. Searching for answers, Yancey dives into his family origins, taking us on an evocative journey from the backwoods of the Bible Belt to the bustling streets of Philadelphia; from trailer parks to church sanctuaries; from family oddballs to fire-and-brimstone preachers and childhood awakenings through nature, music, and literature. In time, the weight of religious and family pressure sent both sons on opposite paths—one toward healing from the impact of what he calls a “toxic faith,” the other into a self-destructive spiral. Where the Light Fell is a gripping family narrative set against a turbulent time in post–World War II America, shaped by the collision of Southern fundamentalism with the mounting pressures of the civil rights movement and Sixties-era forces of social change. In piecing together his fragmented personal history and his search for redemption, Yancey gives testament to the enduring power of our hunger for truth and the possibility of faith rooted in grace instead of fear. “I truly believe this is the one book I was put on earth to write,” says Yancey. “So many of the strands from my childhood—racial hostility, political division, culture wars—have resurfaced in modern form. Looking back points me forward.”
Download or read book In the Sanctuary of Women written by Jan L. Richardson and published by Upper Room Books. This book was released on 2010-10-01 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Come spend some time in the sanctuary of women, an often-ignored space in Jewish and Christian history. This devotional book for women highlights six women from around the world and across the centuries, inviting us to discover what their lives tell us about God. Jan Richardson, a gifted poet, artist, and author, believes it is essential for women to listen to one another's wisdom and bring the fullness of their lives, with all the wonders and messiness, into their prayer life. In the Sanctuary of Women gathers together these women from scripture and history: Eve Brigid of Kildare The desert mothers Hildegard of Bingen Harriet Powers The Woman of the Song of Songs Each chapter becomes its own sanctuary, with one of the women serving as a companion as you contemplate the theme that her life offers. Throughout the readings Richardson weaves her own stories, poetry, prayers, and blessings. Midway through each chapter, a section called "The Secret Room" gives you a chance to pause and reflect on unexpected insights. Reading the book daily will carry you through six months, or you can dip into the readings as you wish. An invitation into reflection and prayer alone or in the company of others, In the Sanctuary of Women is a book to treasure and to share with the women and the men in your life.
Download or read book The Christmas Light written by Donna VanLiere and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2014-10-14 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the small town of Grandon, five very different people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Jennifer and Ryan are both single parents, struggling with their own losses and heartache as they attempt to move forward in the present while still holding onto the memories, joy, and heartache of the past. Sixteen-year-old Kaylee is faced with a life-changing situation that has affected her whole family. Stephen and Lily are happily married and ready to start a family. All of them are facing their own struggles, and all are finding their way through the dark. When they are brought together for a rather unconventional church Nativity, they will learn that with strength, courage, and love, there is always hope. The New York Times bestselling author of the beloved The Christmas Hope series returns with this new heartwarming, inspirational story about the power of love and faith to reveal the possibilities that lay right in front of you.
Download or read book Jesus the Light of the World written by Max Lucado and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2009-10-12 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This devotional is the perfect way to focus on the Reason for the season. On each day leading up to and through Christmas, best-selling authors Max Lucado, Billy Graham, and Anne Graham Lotz come together to help believers focus on Jesus and His gift of life as well as lead non-believers to the Savior who came. This trim size is perfect as a gift for church members, families, or individuals who want to experience a deeper meaning as they celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. Note: Must be ordered in multiples of 50. Self-shipping box can be used as counter display (4" x 6" x 5").
Download or read book The Christmas Light written by Donna VanLiere and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2014-10-14 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In the small town of Grandon, five very different people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Jennifer and Ryan are both single parents, struggling with their own losses and heartache. Sixteen-year-old Kaylee is faced with a life-changing situation that has affected her whole family. Stephen and Lily are happily married and ready to start a family. All of them are facing their own struggles, and all are finding their way through the dark. When they are brought together for a rather unconventional church Nativity, they will learn that with strength, courage, and love, there is always hope. "--
Download or read book Star Filled Grace written by Rachel Mann and published by Wild Goose Publications. This book was released on 2015-11-06 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Star-Filled Grace offers resources on beloved Advent and Christmas themes for churches, ministers, study groups and individuals at a time when there is a genuine interest in fresh ways of telling the Christmas stories. In poetry, liturgy and narrative, Rachel Mann questions the cosy and sentimental view of the festive season and takes seriously the idea that God in Christ is born as a vulnerable outsider who transforms the world in radical ways. Intended to be usable in a wide range of liturgical and study contexts, this book revisits biblical voices, characters and stories with a sophistication and simplicity that speaks to readers from a diversity of theological and spiritual perspectives. Rachel Mann is an Anglican parish priest, broadcaster and writer. She is resident poet and minor canon at Manchester Cathedral. Her work is widely published, including two previous books, The Risen Dust and Dazzling Darkness.
Download or read book Light of Christmas Gift Book written by Outreach, Incorporated and published by Outreach, Incorporated. This book was released on 2015-11-04 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Christmas season offers a unique opportunity to experience Gods love and grace in the midst of the busyness and challenges of real life. The Light of Christmas is a great way for your customers to bring depth, Truth, and a wonderful experience to their churches this Christmas. This kit contains everything your customers need to help their congregations and communities celebrate the true gifts of Christmas: the ultimate light of His peace, joy, and all-consuming love.
Download or read book Jesus Loves Me written by John S. Dickerson and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2021-02-02 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you asked a millennial or younger person in your church, "What do I need to believe to be a Christian?" what would they say? At a time when "truth" is up for grabs, a journalist-turned-pastor wants to help believers understand what they believe. How? By using the simple lyrics "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." In this winsome book, bestselling author John S. Dickerson clearly and faithfully explains essential Christian beliefs, using simple stories that have resonated with his congregation of thousands. He guides readers into these basic beliefs, and most importantly, he illustrates why these beliefs matter. The result is an easy-to-read primer, designed for a time when Christianity is questioned and challenged. It is a great study for young adults, new believers, and long-time believers who want to reclaim the essentials. For anyone who wants their small group, church, or loved ones to embrace the authority of Scripture and the nonnegotiable doctrines of Christianity. "What does it mean to be a genuine Jesus follower in an age when most people, including many self-described Christians, believe that God is well-pleased with a life lived in alignment with a 'designer faith' of their own making? In Jesus Loves Me, John Dickerson answers that question with a deep dive into the simple but profound gospel that Jesus taught as the only kind of faith the Heavenly Father would be well-pleased with. As Dickerson points out, we can't be true Jesus followers if we don't know who He is or what He said and never bother to actually live like He told us to live. Whether you are a brand-new Jesus follower or a longtime veteran, this book will help you nail down the basics of what it means to genuinely know and follow Jesus."--Larry Osborne, author and pastor, North Coast Church "Most Christians would tell you they believe the Bible to be God's Word. And yet many of those same Christians could not even articulate what the core beliefs are to the Christian faith. In Jesus Loves Me, John Dickerson does a great job of helping believers understand the basic teachings of Scripture. This is a great resource for any Christian who needs to build a stronger foundation to their faith."--Steve Poe, lead pastor of Northview Church, Carmel, Indiana
Download or read book Ornaments of Christmas Joy written by Mary Grace Birkhead and published by Thomas Nelson Inc. This book was released on 2006-10-24 with total page 65 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ornaments of Christmas Joy combines exquisite photography of classic and contemporary Christmas ornaments with beautiful scriptural reminders of the joy that can only be discovered through the miracle in the manger. Readers will experience comfort and peace during the all too often hectic Christmas season. The HEIRLOOM PROMISESTM series is a collection of beautifully-crafted encouragement books. The designs are a unique mix of contemporary and vintage; eclectic and colorful. Each one includes simple, yet profound reflections on Scripture that convey to women how much God loves them and how precious and unique they are in His eyes.
Download or read book Blue Christmas written by Todd Outcalt and published by Upper Room Books. This book was released on 2018-09-01 with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Advent and Christmas season is often associated with joy, love, generosity, and unity. But for many people, this time of year magnifies loneliness, anxiety, grief, and despair. While others are enjoying celebrations with their friends and families, those who are hurting often feel even more lost, abandoned, and alone than ever. "Not all Christmases are white; some are blue," Todd Outcalt writes. Blue Christmas is a devotional book for the 28 days of Advent and Christmas Day. Each devotion includes a scripture selection, meditation, prayer, and suggested Advent action. The book also features additional prayers, a "Blue Christmas" worship service, and reflection questions. In these honest devotions, readers will find their fears and realities named and brought into the light of God's love. They will be led to sit with their experiences, acknowledge their losses, and remember Jesus' promise "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Blue Christmas reminds us that all of our Christmases, even the darkest ones, can be filled with honesty and hope if we are first willing to sit in silence and bring our deepest fears to God.
Download or read book A Christmas Grace written by Anne Perry and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2008-10-28 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the season brings a chill, nothing warms the heart or elevates the spirits like a new novel by Anne Perry, whom the Chicago Sun-Times calls “the most adroit sleight-of-hand practitioner since Agatha Christe.” Perry’s gifts are on full display in A Christmas Grace–a hope-filled tale of forgiveness that is rich with mystery and intrigue. With Christmas just around the corner, Thomas Pitt’s sister-in-law, Emily Radley, is suddenly called from London to be with her dying aunt. Leaving her husband and two children behind, Emily makes the long journey to an all-but-forgotten town in the county of Connemara, on the western coast of Ireland. She soon discovers that a tragic legacy haunts the once closeknit community. Violent storms ravage the coast and keep alive painful memories of an unsolved murder and unsettling fears that a killer may still live among the residents of the lonely Irish town. Determined to lighten her aunt’s heart and help the troubled community, Emily sets out to unmask the culprit. When a lone shipwreck survivor washes up onshore, he brings with him not only the key to solving the terrible crime but the opportunity for the townspeople to make peace with the past–and with one another.
