About the book
"Are you tired of just letting Christmas happen at your home-and praying merely to survive? No more! Now you and I can be absolutely intentional about embracing
all the fun, faith, family, and friendships of this amazing holy season. Melissa Spoelstra's Total Christmas Makeover gently guides us through everything seasonal around
music, food, scripture reading, extended family gatherings, serving, and especially how to rest in the midst of it all."
---Lucinda Secrest McDowell, author of Ordinary Graces andDwelling Places
"Jesus picked a busy time of year to have a birthday! Although I am saying this in
jest, there is nothing funny about how the frantic nature of this season can rob one
of joy that Christmas represents. In her latest project, Melissa Spoelstra gives candid
and practical tools to help the overcommitted and overwhelmed put the merry back
into 'Merry Christmas.' "
---Amberly Neese, speaker, author, humorist
Do you find that you too have been caught up in the Chistmas have to's instead of the God-centered love to's? Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.
In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides ways for you and your family to turn your attention toward God's grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering the meaning behind traditions we often lose sight of in the chaos. Melissa divides the book into 3 sections, focusing on the following three common elements of biblical celebrations:
- Ritual: Special activities out of the ordinary routine were planned to help remember what God has done.
- Relationships: People spent time together preparing special foods, eating, gathering in holy assembly, and explaining their traditions to children.
- Rest: Regular work was to be set aside for planned times of celebration and rest from activity in order to reflect on God.
Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.
And I thought
Just in time for the holidays. A great devotional for the busy mom who wants to have a more meaning Christmas for her family.
Melissa Spoelstra begins the book sharing her families Christmas experiences. From her own experiences as a child and her husbands. They took their own experiences and tried to blend a
special time for their children.
With frank honesty Melissa shares how the early Christmas' were a bit of a failure with a 6 year old, 1 year old twins and a 3 month old.
As the attempted to bring meaning into the holiday season they read Bible stories and tried to make the season center around Christ.
I loved the frankness as she shared how her 6 year old was
thoroughly enchanted with the event. While the 3 month old fell asleep. And then there were the 2 year old twins happily exclaimed when asked "Who created the world." One twins response was "I did!"
Many of us have been there. Trying to bring significance to the holidays and remind and remember the reason for the season.
With this small devotional a mere 203 pages Melissa shares thoughts ideas and suggestions to make this season one that is special and centered around Christ.
The book is a fast and easy read. With some humor to make the reading light and enjoyable.
The book is made up of 3 separate sections:
Ritual with 10 days of devotionals
Relationships with 10 days of devotionals
Rest with 11 days of devotional
Each short devotional begins with a scripture and ends with a prayer, followed by questions for reflection and a practical approach filled with suggestions and ideas.
I would suggest this great book to everyone.
This would be a great gift to give to an adult child at Thanksgiving.
I think it would be a great book to read with a group of friends as a Bible study for the holidays.
Whether the application group study or individual study you'll
come away feeling a little more relaxed and ready for the wonderful season of Christmas!
I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse.
This review will appear on retail sites where the book is available.
This review will appear on Good Reads and on the Litfuse tour page.
Available
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Read more reviews at the Litfuse tour. Click here.
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Click here to visit Melissa website
