We stand on tiptoe. Waiting. Anticipating. Counting the days of Advent with our calendars and our candles.
The Bible tells us there was no room for Him in the inn, but there’s more than enough room for Him in our hearts and in our homes. This year, let’s clear away the clutter and make His Word the centerpiece of our celebration.
You can do this, beloved.
- Place a Bible, open to Luke 2, on your dining table.
- Surround it with the lovely colors of the season.
- Read a verse from the Christmas story each night.
- Talk about what Mary and Joseph experienced.
- Think about what the truth of His birth means.
- Commit one (or two or four) verses to memory.
- Pray for the chance to share His story with others.
When God laid out the Ten Commandments, this is how He taught people to honor His Word.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:6
We can have God’s Word on our laptops, our smart phones, our tablets—but this method is hands-free. When you write His Word “on your heart and mind” (AMP), it’s truly mobile and lasts forever.
And think about this: If you memorized just one verse a week, that would be 50 verses a year, with a little vacation time thrown in. Good plan for 2017, yes? (You’ll find more ideas in 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart.)
You don’t have to memorize the whole Bible. Pick a verse. Begin.
“Impress them on your children.” Deuteronomy 6:7
When you say your favorite verses aloud and “rehearse them continually” (GNV), they’ll land on the fertile ground of your children’s hearts. You say your kids are grown and gone? Put Christ-centered books in their hands and point them to Scripture when they come to you for advice (and they will, eventually).
If you’ve been blessed with grandchildren, “teach them carefully” (CJB). Moms never stop being moms, right? And no one is ever too old to learn. Even if they roll their eyes, they’re still listening. Even if they shrug their shoulders, their ears are open.
Keep pouring out His truths. They will not return empty (Isaiah 55:10-11).
“Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:7
Gotta love this 24/7 approach to sharing God’s truths. “Talk about them all the time” (CEV), especially “at bedtime and the first thing in the morning” (TLB). More than three thousand years later, that’s still how it works at our house. Maybe yours too.
Driving down the road is a great time to talk to your kids about spiritual things. Since you have a captive audience, captivate them with God’s Word. Your passion will become their passion. Enthusiasm is positively contagious.
“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Deuteronomy 6:8
Walking the streets of Jerusalem I marveled at Orthodox Jews with small boxes, called Tefillin, strapped to their arms and foreheads—a literal response to Deuteronomy 6:8, with verses from the Hebrew Bible tucked inside.
Even if you don’t “write down copies” (CEV) and “fix them as an emblem on your forehead” (NRSV), you might wear jewelry engraved with your favorite verses. When you “bind them around your neck” (Proverbs 3:3), you can be certain your faith will be showing.
“Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:9
The idea is to put His words where our families and friends will see them coming and going—“on the lintels, and on the door-posts” (WYC). Or maybe on framed prints and decorative pillows and serving trays. The idea is to see His truth everywhere we turn. Even a single word can prompt us to think about Him.
Though it may not be on their wish list, this is what people really want for Christmas: To know the One who came with salvation in His hands, offering His gift of love to a world in need. Thank you, Jesus.
This month we celebrated the release of 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart by giving away twelve autographed copies of my latest book and, for one special winner, a beauty of a scarf covered with floral blooms, exclusively from Cath Kidston of London.
Blessings to our winners! Beth, Lisa P., Jane M., Carol, Meadow M., Margaret S., Bev S., Anita W., Susanne P., Laurie F., Nettie H., and Kim W.
Thanks to all those who shared in the comments below some beautifully creative ways to include God’s Word during this holy season.
Until next time, God bless you for giving me the joy of encouraging you (almost) every month!
Your grateful sister, Liz
P.S. For this season, for every season
Coming January 3: The Women of Easter
I love your idea of an open Bible displayed amongst the Christmas decorations. It’s been a few years since I’ve taken the time to send out Christmas cards, but I intend to do that this year. I found some wonderful “Gospel message” cards from Dayspring that share the true reason for the season. The front looks like a birth announcement with a baby’s footprint embossed on it with the words “Unto you is born this day…” The inside shows a nail-pierced, blood-stained hand with the words “a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” What a message to share! Again, thank you for your wonderful thoughts from Deuteronomy and practical ways to share with others the Christmas message.
LIz, it may only be your 6th post but it spoke to my heart. I feel convicted to commit to scripture memorization. Thank-you.
I am inspired to put the Bible open on my kitchen table which is a major gathering spot in my house for young and old. I will be reading it to my 6 year old granddaughter! I can hardly wait till get decorating! (I am currently on the recumbent bike at the Y but I know what I will be doing when I get home! 🙂
Each year, I read a chapter a day of The Power of Christian Prayer by Stormiest Omartian. I love how I feel transported to Christ’s day and am witnessing His arrival! This year, that book is packed away as we prepare to move soon.?
I have a manger that was passed down from my husband’s family to ours. I’ve never included scripture, but now I feel compelled to do so, and to add something scriptural, from my heart as a mother, grandmother, and wife, to each of my family member’s stocking. Thank you for this message. Your emails are truly a blessing!!!
You so spoke to me today. We have had a long year with my husband’s health but God has been with us every step. He has seen us through things that I never thought possible. I am the only church my grandkids see and I want them to know this love that God has for all of us.
From a frustrated gift shopper to one with purpose, I know what to give my family members for Christmas..His Word. Thank you Liz
Thank you for sharing Liz. I have really not done my due diligence this year with my Bible reading or scripture memorization. I have really let life get in the way of my time with Him. I feel shameful and typically causing me to feel overwhelmed and then I just shut down and don’t do anything. Several years ago, I read the Bible in a year and I was so incredibly proud of myself. However, I need to continue to feed and nurture that or I will not grow. I want to focus on scriptures this year that I can memorize and that will help me poor into my children. I often feel less than adequate when it comes to showing my children how to be good disciples. I want to be able to pray verses over them. I want to try to have a verse a week that I put on the fridge and we memorize. I am going to make that a priority. Thank you for inspiring me. God Bless you and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Liz for you words of inspiration and love!
Every year my family gathers round the advent wreath to light candles and think and talk about Jesus’ birth. We read a story, read bible passages and sing songs to celebrate our savior! I lost my 14 year old daughter, Juliana, almost 5 years ago and had put the advent wreath away, just too painful to celebrate without her here. This year the wreath is back out and we are celebrating once again with her spirit here with us! God bless you in 2017 and many years to come!
Thank you Liz for the many years of encouragement and wisdom. I cannot tell you how just seeing your emails instantly uplifts my spirit and immediately draws me to Jesus! You have such a wonderful gift to women that enriches and creates divine thinking. Wishing you and your family a new year filled with adventure, growth and lots of laughter. And…please keep those books coming!
I love your encouragement to share scripture during this time of Advent. I plan on inserting some scripture with all my gifts. it will bless them and it will bless me! Thank you for the suggestion!
Hi sweet Liz!
Hope you are well?!
Thank you for this post!
Itso a precious reminder to put our focus on the reason we celebrate this time of year!
My Bible is heading to the table open to Luke!
Love that idea!
Bless you sister!
Denita
; ) Queen of sheba soon?
Just let me know and im there
Hugs!
So thankful for your reminder of how important God’s word is in our lives. I will do my best to memorize 12 verses.
I don’t get out too much, I am disabled. I share God’s word on my faceboook page. I plan to tell everyone from my page that I am so thankful for his love for us ; that he sent his only son Jesus, being born on Christmas to save all of us from our sins. Such love and such beauty!
I share God’s word everyday on my facebook page. I am disabled and don’t get to get out a lot. I plan this season to share more of Jesus birth and love and the peace we have when we accept him as our savior.
Jesus is THE reason for the season! Thank you for the open Bible idea. I’m adding that to my table this season.
From a frustrated gift shopper to one with purpose, I know what to give my family members for Christmas..His Word. Thank you Liz
Your gracious and truth filled words have given me encouragement to send scripture to my children atleast eeeklynif not daily this adevent season… and to share picture of my Luke 2 dining room table. We are all living in different time zones for first time- separated by difference yet love the same Jesus.
Thank you for your words. God bless you and yours
Many of us experience what you shared in forgetting to keep the Lord centered in our holidays. Thank you for your words. I’ll be placing the Bible on our table, opened to Luke. And as I read, will text the verses daily to our family. Merry Christmas!
I too love the idea of having the bible front and center for Christmas, actually for all year. I bought 2 journaling bibles as gifts this year and asked for one as an idea. I have just made a prayer notebook and trying to memorize verses. I need to get this book to help me. Think I have almost all your biblical study books. My favorite bible studies are by Liz, humor and education all in one grand study. Thank you for inspiring me to learn more.
Love love love this reminder to share His Word everywhere, with everyone.
Thank you, sister Liz, for the reminder to make God’s word the center of Christmas. A custom borrowed many years ago from a Christian publication is one our family uses every year and I’d like to share it here. Sorrrrry this will be a bit long!
Begun when expecting our fourth child and the third was a toddler, it is meaningful and adaptable no matter what the age of those gathered around it. Everyone can participate. The littlest ones can listen or draw on a Bible coloring book page paralleling the story. Older ones can be the reader, candle lighter, blower, etc.
We put a straw wreath in the middle of our table. It’s the first of the decorations, though it isn’t very “Christmasy” by secular standards, no glitter, as it represents the simplicity of the manger. Four candles sit in the holes we cut into it. Each one reminds us of the major characters of the Christmas story. We use gold, white, green, purple or blue and a red for the middle. Starting by lighting one candle, each week one more is lit until by the fourth week all are lighted. The red waits for Christmas Day.
A gold one for the first Sunday of Advent represents the prophets and we read through the week the many OT prophecies that foretold of the coming Messiah. Remember: after the reading someone is chosen to blow out the candle.
Next week we light the white candle for the angels and read the many announcements angels gave. Third is the green candle for the shepherds and the short readings are about shepherds, OT and NT and the passage of their going to the stable. Fourth is the purple candle for kings or wisemen and through the week readings are about being wise, the source of wisdom and some about the King of Kings and the passage of the wisemen’s arrival.
Finally on Christmas Day we light the red candle which is placed in the center of the wreath. The Luke 2 reading of the birth of Christ is enjoyed. During the week, we focus on reading about Christ’s Second Coming.
Throughout the years as the family grew we adjusted to the busy schedules, aiming that this would be a dinnertime custom. Sometimes we added a Christmas carol. And as the children left home we gave each one an advent set to encourage this custom for his own home. Now what a blessing to hear our grandchildren see the wreath and tell me what each candle represents! Then of course each “character” speaks of a role Christ fulfills: God’s messenger, our shepherd, king. Okay. Thanks for bearing with me. Blessed Christ-filled Christmas to all of your special readers and fans! Hugs, Mary-Ellen
We are currently reading the “Women of Christmas” as our Bible study at church, and we are loving it!! By studying the lives of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, and looking at scripture verse by verse, we are being shown what it means to TRUST God. Elizabeth TRUSTED. Mary TRUSTED…oh, how she trusted!!! Anna TRUSTED. I love The Voice translation of Luke 1:37, “So the impossible is possible with God.” He alone is ABLE.
I loved the ideas on ways to share the beautiful writings of Christ. Look forward to sharing with others.
Shirley
There is an ah-ha moment I have each time I read your blog. Thank you so much!
I have begun reading the Bible cover to cover for the umpteenth time. This time I am reading it to find all the “But, God” verses. I find myself rereading some because I’ve been so captured by His Word, I forgot to look for the words in my search.
I love the Lord!
Liz – I love what you are saying about having the hands-free method of accessing HIS WORK! It is hard to memorize scripture but, as our pastor has said before, everyone knows the words to the Gilligan’s Island theme song…but struggles with memorizing scripture! Every Christmas, I make candy for my work pals and I always pick special scripture to attach to the package as part of the gift…the best part from my perspective. Believer or non-believer…they are exposed to the sweetness of the candy and…the sweetness of HIS WORD!
Thank you for the great ideas for this season. I plan to read and re-read Luke 2 to remind me of the true reason for Christmas! May God bless you !!
Sending out cards (withScripture) to friends and family we don’t personally see is one of our traditions. I am also studying four main manager characters in Wednesday morning Bible study for the four weeks of Advent. Merry Christmas to all!
We are in a new house for Christmas this year, and it’s a good time to start some new ways of celebrating. Reading your post, I realized I have the perfect spot to keep a Bible so that we can read from it each night. Thank you – we will start this tonight!
Glad to see a new post at this blog. I *think* WordPress and Blogspot are playing a little more nicely these days; let’s see…
I’m actually doing two Advent studies–one with my church and another with a close friend. One is a more general week-by-week study and the other is a daily study.
I keep journaling and marveling over specific verses asking God to show me new things in these familiar passages.
I returned to memorizing Scripture. Not just for memorization. I need it to go through my mind to turn down the other noises I hear, to silence lies.
At our house we use ornaments with single words or shortened scriptures throughout our house. Above our manger scene that is under our tree hangs an ornament that says “Christ was born for this.” (With the reference that I always forget…sorry) There is also a nail that hangs from the ornament. We have others that say joy and peace and within the words are the familiar faces of the Christmas story. Since they are scattered throughout the house wherever you turn you see them. They are our constant reminders why we celebrate and just how big a gift we were truly given.
This gave me a “sabbath moment” (as Beth Moore calls it) which I so needed today. And the little voice saying “you don’t have time for this!” and “you have a deadline!” were so clearly not from God that I knew to ignore it. You are a blessing to us, as always. As to the apology for the 5th (not 12th) post, no need. We all had to live through this year too. It does seem to happen. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Thank you Liz!! I so need this this morning!! this is a great idea and I CAN START WITH ONE VERSE AND LET IT SINK INTO MY HEART. If it is in my heart I won’t need anything in my hand! Love you and have a blessed Christmas!!
Several years ago around Thanksgiving I stumbled upon a list of Scriptures to be written each day of November. Then I found one for December. Each list was timely. When January came I couldn’t find anything so I put together my own list. Several friends joined me and now the list is available each month in our church library or on our Womens ministry Facebook page. I am constantly amazed and blessed when a Scripture so fits the day. God just knows what we need and when we’ll need it. Writing the Word is a blessing in itself.
Planning on using changed attitudes in preparation for Christ’s birthday celebrations. Reading the Christmas story as a family in the evenings. Hoping to engage young adult kids into some great conversation and hearts and attitudes triumphant for Jesus. Thanks for your post. Love and hugs,
As soon as I get home I am going to put my Bible in the middle of my table! What a great idea for Christmas–or every day for that matter! My grandson and daughter live with us and I plan to share the story of Jesus with him every day. He gets that at his private school but I want it coming from his home too. Thanks, Liz, for the great idea! Love to you and yours! Merry Christmas.
As a part of a Christmas program at my church, I’ve memorized the Song of Mary or “Mary’s Magnificat” as my Bible labeled it. It’s wonderful to go through and truly think about what she’s saying about the Lord. It’s a prayer of thankfulness and a declaration of his strength and mercy and grace and power. A wonder portion of scripture
Thank you, Liz. I have missed you!
I plan to try (I’ve done this before) to memorize some verses. I seem to be having more success when I use them as computer passwords 🙂
The open Bible is a lovely scene, too.
I wish everyone the most blessed Christmas season ever!
I too like the idea of memorizing one verse a day for 2017; sort of like my mantra for the day. Thank you Liz.
Liz, you are a blessing whether it is one time a year five times a year or 12 of the months of the year. Your encouragement and writing are a blessing to all who read you.
Merry Christmas! Happy Advent.
Thank you so much for this timely message. I still love to send out Christmas cards with the Gospel message. Since so many retail cashiers are not allowed to say “Merry Christmas”, I will make it a response to their “Happy holidays”.
Bless you Liz,
What a wonderful reminder to concentrate on Scripture. Each night we are reading through a book centered around the Jesse Tree, bringing Scripture to life through the stories that precede Christ’s birth. The older I get, the more I realize that Scripture is the heart of God’s heart for us, and the heart of Christmas. Everything else, as my mom once said, is Jingle Bells.
The truth is, I’ve been really bad at this lately with my children. Pray for me. There’s been a lot of anger in our home, and we need to combat it with God’s word. Thank you for reminding me of how important it is. I really like the decoration idea, too. Right on the coffee table. If it’s open, we will read it. Blessings, LIz!
God bless you, sister Liz, and your family! You always touch my heart with your precious messages! I’m encouraged to learn scripture verses and share with others too! My grandbabies love to hear God’s word and this will help them to store up treasures in their little hearts and share the love of Jesus! Merry Christmas! ?
This was very inspirational. I plan on setting up the Bible as suggested and having my husband and I share and read through the verses. It will give us the bonding time with each other and with the Lord that we’ve both been looking for.
I plan to read the Christmas story several times and at least once with my husband. Thank you for the ideas.
I am doing an advent bible study online and reading the accompanying book. There are exercises is the study that help me to focus on Jesus and journal about it. I hope you have a peaceful Christmas!
This is a good reminder to hide God’s word in our heart whether we “feel” like it or not. My children are slowly leaving the nest and will not be “home” for Christmas but we still have one at home so I’m choosing to keep traditions. We’ll celebrate God’s gift of His Word and His plan of grace in our lives through his Son, Jesus. What a precious gift and let us ever be grateful! I love the idea of God’s word on the table, as He’s our living bread. I’ll be adding that for certain. Thank you for the suggestion and thank you for your perseverance through your daily challenges of life reminding us to press on and find joy!
I have star ornaments to my class to remind them that everyone saw the star but only a few followed it to see the baby. We are reading the Christmas story to our children and grands while asking them to see something new this Advent.
Blessings to you.
My bible is open on my kitchen table most of the time. Morning is usually my quiet time with God but I have been letting too many things draw my attention away.
I recently visited a foreign country where our church supports a ministry and was so humbled by the women who I encountered there, the persecution they have suffered. Many don’t even have a bible in their own language but have memorized so much of the bible. This has inspired me to commit to study/read/memorize scripture each morning and “hide the word in my heart” for the hard times that will inevitably come.
As we prepare our hearts for this blessed Christmas Day, placing an open bible by our nativity will add a measure of depth and preciousness!! Thank you for this idea.
The way I choose to add and share Gods Word this season, will be to give my mom your beautiful book “Thirty-one verses to write on your heart”. Since meeting Jesus at age 33, I have prayed for my parents salvation. She has been very sick this past year, and open to the message of hope in Jesus. She and I share a love for roses. She had a stunning rose garden for years when I was growing up. When I see roses, I think of her. When I saw your new book, she immediately came to mind. I ordered us both one, and am hopeful that she will place it by her bed, and allow the rich Truth provided on each page to penetrate her heart.
That’s my story. I’m sticking to it 🙂
XO
Our family has an advent book series we are reading and we are memorizing verses in Roman’s 12. Thank you for your heart and encouragement, Liz!
Loved the idea about the open bible…My book study group is reading Greg Laurie’s Red, the color of Christmas and I just read the chapter about not losing Jesus in the midst of Christmas…getting Liz’s note was a strong affirmation of that message…
Love your suggestions for enhancing our waiting time as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. I’m doing the 25 day devotional Come Lord Jesus. I’ve never done any special reading for Advent before and I think this will really add to the meaning of the season for me. Love your posts!
Oh Liz, what a joy you are! You come to us with your open heart and bless us with your love. Thank you for reminding us to live in God’s Word – what a precious gift that is! Please let us know how we can pray for you. You constantly give to us and we want to lift you up, too. May the Lord wrap His loving arms around you and fill you with His peace. I’m sending you thanks, love and smiles!
I plan to start reading my Bible everyday and what better time than now when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. I love your idea about the open Bible on the table. I also have ordered 35 of your “ta-da” cards and will be sharing them with some wonderful ladies in my life.
I love the honesty and encouragement you share in your writings, dear Liz! The scriptures open in a prominent place, is one I will like to do. God’s Word in my heart (memorized) gives me the chance to have it always with me, at just the moments I need, for myself or another. Thank you for your encouragement!
Reading your book, The Women of Christmas again this month, and am preparing to start on Jan. 1 to read 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart. I love your transparency, it is so encouraging to me as I struggle with the difficulties of life. Keep writing!!!!
I love the idea of leaving a Bible open to Luke 2! I’ve been studying Luke with the Proverbs 31 First 5 app. I’m going to make a point to get back to scripture memory again. I’ve done that in the past, but not lately.
I post postcards with scriptures on the corners of the bathroom mirror ( everyone loves a mirror) my 7 and 8 year old grandchildren will try and read them …
I have love your special messages and seeing you out at different locations.
I love your readings and the idea of the open. Bible..
You are such a blessing to my heart thru your readings and want to wish a very Blessed Christmas to your family
I am doing an online Bible study on “The Women of Christmas” and I always pick an Advent devotional to read. This year it is “Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room” Thanks for your good ideas for reminding us to keep our focus on Jesus this season.
My husband and I gather around the advent wreath each day as we read through a devotional and pray for those placed on our hearts that day. Advent is a sweet time of quiet, reflection and preparation for Christ.
Thank you for helping us prepare for our Saviour.
So good to see your post this this morning! I have thought about you often.
I love the idea of the open Bible on my table. My grandson is coming over daily for advent this month. I am working with him to learn about the real Christmas story before we do a project of some kind. I have him tell me about Jesus first and then we discuss on his terms. He loves to try and know more than Grandma.
Thank you for sharing your love of Jesus. May you be richly blessed this season.
I also love the idea of the open Bible. Maybe I will reread “The Women of Christmas” by Liz Curtis Higgs.☺
Great ideas. I try to meditate on Scripture and read appropriate verses and devotionals during Advent. Your book of verses sounds wonderful.
I have a replica of the Peanuts’ tree and a Bible opened to Luke 2. I’d like to believe I am connecting children’s memories with Truth.
Merry Christmas!
Liz, how blessed I am to read your words this morning! Thank you! I so appreciate your idea of setting a Bible out. I am going to incorporate that into my Christmas decor and possibly carry it on throughout the year, leaving it open to what I am studying or what the Lord places on my heart. I have a set of “His Christmas Names” ornaments and I love to see them hanging on the tree. They are a reminder for us to keep our eyes on Jesus!
So happy to see your new post! We have an advent wreath on the dining room table. Every Sunday we light the new candle and read verses from the Bible anticipating Christ’s birth, and close with a prayer. I find it keeps the family grounded during the whirlwind of activities at this time of year. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family.
Liz, I miss seeing you in choir, but seeing Bill each week is a great reminder for me to pray for you and your family. I know you’ve had a tough year, but you’ve continued to encourage us all through it all. Each year, I try to memorize the words to the songs in our Christmas concerts. This year is no different. By having these amazing devotional words and Scriptures written on my heart, I can recall them at any time to either encourage myself or to share with someone else. Memorizing music is how I am able to share God’s word on a moment’s notice.
My husband I have recently begun working in a inner city/multicultural new church where I am teaching the adult Sunday School class. I am excited to be sharing The Word with them especially now in Advent, but also looking forward to the new year. Seems to me this post might be the basis of a New Year’s lesson!
You really blessed my heart this morning. I am going to do as you said about laying a bible out with Luke 2. One of my grandchildren just had a baby share I filled them up with christian children books to read for their little girl that is coming in Feb. I thought what a good way to start her off about Christ. I think I am going to lay the Bible beside my manager scene that I keep out year round on a table as you come in my front door. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Thank you for your post. I’ve missed you, but truly understand “life happening”. I love the idea of memorizing 50 verses in a year. It has always been hard for me to memorize, but I am going to make this a goal in 2017.
This year during Advent, my girlfriend and I are reading through your book, “Women of Christmas”. We plan to meet for lunch or crafting one day a week through the month and share our thoughts together. Looking forward to learning and growing with my sweet friend.!
I am SO encouraged by you! I’m grateful that you are real and honest and that you love Jesus passionately! 🙂 Thank you for shining His light wherever you go.
I started an Advent book yesterday by John Piper and so far (only one day in) am LOVING it. I love the idea of the Bible on the table too!
Merry CHRISTmas!
Once again I am following a 31-day reading of Advent verses from the Bible. They start with Isaiah’s prophecies and move on past the birth of Christ and looking forward to His second coming. What is eye opening to me is how many prophecies there are in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah. It is a beautiful reminder of What and Who we are celebrating this holy season.
Thank you Liz!! You bring such a real and fresh perspective which gives me tangible ways to stay strong in the Lord. I am so very thankful for you. I was blessed to hear you several years ago at a Conference at my church – West Side Christian, loved your testimony and how you live out your faith.
Keep on sharing, loving, caring and blessing others with the gifts God has given you!!
Liz, thank you for your encouraging words. Every morning sitting with my cup of coffee looking at our beautiful Christmas tree, I am choosing to be still & know that He is my God & embracing this, Jesus is the reason for the season.
God Bless you,
I’m glad your fifth post arrived today. I’ve been realizing I haven’t been walking as closely with God as I should have and have been negligent of Bible reading and praying on a daily basis. Life has gotten busier with problems (my friend calls them opportunities) that have taken over God’s place as first thoughts in my mind. Having the Bible open and within view is a good idea for me to think of God first and read my Bible daily, to make this a habit, not only during the Christmas season but always. (I can change the décor surrounding the Bible according to the season.) You always arrive just when I need some help, Liz. Thank you for writing today.
I will send a special message in my Christmas cards this year. I recently moved back to my home town and will be sending the message far and wide. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas.
I so enjoyed this post with its great ideas. I always open a Bible to the Christmas story and lay it beside my set of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus!
We are in the process of moving this month. So I will be doing the dining room table centerpiece as soon as we get in. But in the meantime, I believe a colorful index card posted to our bathroom mirror will help us focus each morning and evening.
Love all your books. Thanks for all you do to encourage others. Thank you. God bless.
Thank you for writing this. I will leave my Bible open this morning to Luke chapter 2.
Thank you so much Liz for your encouragement. I try and start in mid Nov. to include advent readings every day leading up to Christmas.
I need to remember that Christmas is Christ and to keep that thought foremost every day.
I have definitely come to see the importance this year of writing out scripture. I participated in a few this year and really liked them a lot. I also want to have a new goal of reading through the whole Bible – much to my chagrin, I have never done that before!
Liz, I am with you sister, life has happened!
We have been “disclocated”for Christmas due to mold in a rental that we’ve not been in for 2 months! Decorations? I don’t think so…but LOVE your idea of the Bible open, so, I’ll add a cross and some lovely candles and greens. Have you ever listened to the words from the Carol “The Holly & The Ivy?” Yes, that’s what I’ll “decorate” with wherever we land.
I have had it on my heart for some time to start a “Scripture Memory” group so I am pleased as punch that you’ve written this book! I was feeling a bit overwhelmed in choosing the exact scriptures! Praying it goes well, and our group can add on once we have committed the 31 to heart.
Blessings, and may all have a very Merry Christmas!
Liz, your words are so true if we write the words on our hearts and minds we will remember them forever! In 1969 my 7th grade teacher had our class memorize Luke 2: 1-14 KJV and I still remember it today!
Thanks for your wonderful words. Presently I am searching for my copy of Women of Christmas and will re-read it as soon as I finish my Advent book. A wonderful time of the year!
Merry Christmas!
I have many Christmas pins that have scripture or pictures of Baby Jesus on them. I wear these during the holiday season. When someone comments about the pin this opens the door to share the word of God.
Dear Liz. Your words inspire me to keep on keeping on . I have a little button I wear every year that says Jesus is the reason for the season.
I love the idea of an open bible and candles. That will be my decorationSamsung for this year. Love and blessings to you and your family.
I plan on continuing to encourage friends and family to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Hi Liz:
12-2-16 This year I have been intentional and invited God into my planning for Christmas. I said God usually I am running around putting the Christmas tree up a few days before Christmas and sending cards out about the same time. Not so this year, with God’s help I purchased my live tree a few days ago, sent cards out the day after Thanksgiving. This has freed up time to spend with God by meditating in the morning then following up with Rick Warrens morning devotional and giving time to his invitation to pray 3x a day at a set time. Which I emailed him. I am being intentional that the season is about Jesus. Whew! What a difference the new behavior has made. By the way I also sent out my grandchildren’s gift that arrived in Cali, yesterday and is safely in their mom’s garage. No FedX this year! I now have time to do some reading that warms my heart.
Merry Christmas
How good it was to find your email today, dear Liz!! I’ve missed your encouraging words and uplifting “visits.” Your words always center us on the Glorious Beauty of Scripture, but this post also inspires me to commit more of the Word to my heart and to share it more often with my family. I have been greatly negligent in this area, I am afraid.
However, you asked one way I do use Scripture. One way I do this is to include a Bible verse in the Christmas cards I prepare and give. What better time to share the Good News than the time when “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us?”
I love the idea of putting the Bible on the table and reading out of it every night. That will be my plan! Also, since my children are grown, I read verses with my grandchildren, sings songs, and explain what they mean. My youngest grand daughter asks lots of questions and I love giving her the answers from the Word!
Such a glorious season! Gonna re-read Women of Christmas now. Wouldn’t it be nice to include a bible verse on each gift this year? Thank you for your wonderful words to inspire and encourage us to draw closer to God. Great New Years Resolution to memorize a verse each week, Lord Jesus, help me to do that! You have been missed, so grateful for your current post! And oh, what a wonderful book your husband has written, absolutely loved Eden Hill by Bill Higgs!!!
Thank you, Liz, for your post today. I used to bake a birthday cake Jesus when my sons were small and had them promise to give Jesus something. Clean their room without complaining; helping with chores, etc. We invited family, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. This was done on Christmas Eve and we read the story of Jesus’ birth. I wanted this to be the first part of their Christmas. They are grown now and live away. But this Christmas my sister, niece and two great-nieces, Chloe 7, and Bella 4, will be at our house. I have purchase your books, The Pumpkin Patch Parable and the Pine Tree Parable for them. I wanted something besides toys under the tree and will be reading these books to them one night they are here. Also, all pictures that grace my walls are photos with the Word of God on it. I wanted the Word in every room and so it is. Thank you for sharing the Word with us today. It is life and power (Heb. 4:12) in the one who receives it. Merry Christmas. And may the Spirit of CHRISTmas be in and around you.
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!
This post was done in God’s perfect timing! I need it. I will print it out and highlight the things I really need to pay attention to. My kids are grown and gone and not brought up with faith so your suggestions are wonderful. Just what the Lord knew I needed to hear. Thank you, Liz! I don’t even care about winning but needed to tell you of my appreciation.
It was wonderful to see your post again, but as you said, life does
happen! Such a wonderful idea to leave the Bible open to Luke chapter 2 – I will definitely do that! My 4 yr. old grandson is in preschool this year and has become very good at memorizing almost anything. I have some scripture cards from when I was young (from the 60’s) and plan to begin having him memorize short scriptures 4-5 days a week. I will also re-memorize them along with him!! Blessings to you all!
Merry Christmas!
Oh goodness, Liz, this is absolutely beautiful! I love how you encourage us to memorize scripture as our “hands free” Bible! I’m going to implement your idea of keeping the Bible open to Luke 2 and reading it daily with my family. LOVE THIS! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this post. I plan on focusing on scripture memory and using your suggestion of keeping the Bible on a table open to Luke 2. I am going to read a few verses every day with my husband and son.
How do I plan to include God’s Word during this Holy season?
By starting each day with Him to keep my mind where it should be. And asking Him to show me a verse each day to share with my husband and daughters in a way and time He knows is best. Then having my heart and mind open to sharing it with someone else outside my home each day, as well. I’m going to write the verse out each day and keep it in my pocket…and hopefully, then, in my mind. I want to see those compilations of verses HE GIVES change me from the inside out so I can see His power at work in me. There’s so much I cannot control. But this choice is something I can.
Thank you for this beautiful post. I always love hearing from you. And, today, it was especially sweet — as a gift straight from Jesus. I appreciate your words about scripture. I’ve been up praying for so many nights now — for my daughters, my marriage. We are taking a heavy hit on a lot of fronts now. BUT, GOD… right? Your ideas and reminder for scripture were messages to my heart.
Praying for you and your family, as well. I know you’ve been going through a lot. Wishing you peace and joy and rest.
It has been a year. But, what a wonderful year through the good and the bad God has shown His great love and Mercy on us. Oh His Mercy….I could just cry right now!!! How amazing He is. How wonderful He is. How mighty, how awesome!!! Healer, deliverer, Lord of all!!!! Have blessed Christmas. I plan to use a 25 day Christmas prayer and scripture guided reading, but, I plan on putting the Bible open as the center of my dining table for all to read!!! Thank you Liz, for all the encouragement you give to us!!!!
I am accepting the challenge of memorizing a verse a week. I memorized a lot of scripture when I was in Bible Quizzing as a teen and those verses still come back to me 45 years later. Just when I need to listen God brings a verse to my mind. Yes, His Word never leaves you!
Liz- Where would we be without God’s instruction book to us? I
just LOVE my Bible and Christmas is a great time to show others who don’t mention His name to be reminded of Him.
Lizzie, you are so clever. It would never occur to me to view my heart as a mobile device. Brilliant! I recently purchased your 4 story Parables to read to the grandchildren. Many of God’s choicest blessings on you dear sister.
Reading a few advent devotional on my phone and also Reading a couple of Christmas books on my Kindle. Also studying Luke.thank u for giving us this opportunity to win.
We light the candle(s) on the Advent wreath every night after dinner and read a small portion of the Word. Then we pray and sing together Veni Veni Emmanuel. But I LOVE Liz’s idea of leaving the Bible open as a truly living centerpiece.
Luke 2 and other Bible texts will be read and pondered. Also I will celebrate the birth of Jesus by enjoying Christmas church services and wonderful Christmas music.
This time of year we pause wherever we are in our nightly reading of the Children’s Bible with the kids, our daughter is 5 and on her 5th reading of the Word, and switch to Advent readings. We want to impress on her the truth of Christmas and not what the world worships.
We also bought a book with Biblical birth story for my daughter’s book exchange at her school party. Maybe a child or even a family will be introduced to Jesus this Christmas.
Dear Sister in Christ Jesus,
My husband is not walking with the Lord nor our grown children. This saddens my heart more than words can express. Years ago this was not the case, our family worshipped the Lord together. Unfortunately things starting changing when some tragedies came into our lives. I also struggled after the last one, but soon I heard God saying to me, “I am still here with you my daughter.” We do have grandchildren, and I share with them the message of Christ our Saviour and the wonderful truths in scripture. Thankfully with no opposition.
Thank you for this encouraging message. I have one spot in our living room that I have chosen to show that Christ is what this time of year is all about, again with no opposition. I still felt like something was missing, until this morning when reading this. I will be adding the open Bible.
More than anything I just wanted you to know how much this encouraged me. My family may not be walking with our Lord, but that doesn’t mean it will always be this way. They have ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts that at one time loved our King.
Thank you,
Teresa
(May you and yours be blessed.)
The glorious news of Christ’s birth is very central in our home to any Christmas season . This year, my dining table has yet to be “dressed.” But your comment about God’s Word on our table has dispelled my indecisiveness! When our family gathers around the Christmas table, we will be gathered around God’s Word and the wonderful gospel of the birth of our Saviour! Thank you, Liz!
Thank you for this. It’s a beautiful reminder. I am striving to be more intentional sharing prayer and scripture with my children and step children.
You are truly a blessing, I am waiting for the results of a test I had this morning. I’m praying that it will be good news, but if it isn’t I pray I can truly rely on God. I know He’s there but sometimes I’m doubtful and like so many instead of leaving it in God’s hands I take it back. Bless you and Merry Christmas
I love this! I am planning on writing a verse or two on each gift tag this year.
We read the Bible together every evening and I post Bible verses around he house.
We do what we have done each year for our adult children and the grandchildren. I have a grandmothers’ prayer group who meet once a month and we pray for each grandchild by name, thanks or concerns. The grandchildren know we pray for them and esp. at Christmas, I let them know that we do that. I also get to tell them we sing gospel songs during the year and Christmas hymns for Dec. In front of our home we have big red letters that say J O Y and a lit up wire angel with a trumpet. We also have an angel with a candle, whose wings move in our front window. We have 3 manger scenes through the home, one my daughter painted. As they grew up( there are 7 of them, ages 18 – 27), they knew our faith and what Christmas means to us. When they mention about how our front yd. looks nice or about their mom’s ceramic painting of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, we know that our actions are speaking more than our words to them. Christmas is the time we can speak about Jesus and they are listening. Our oldest granddaughter gave us the best compliment – as a single mom, said she wanted us to be around the baby a lot as role models. We say that’s what Jesus has done for us and they now, as young adults understand, as they have grown up with us around them from a young age.
Liz, I was so excited when I saw your email just now. I have missed you so! Love love love your idea of including my Bible opened to Luke in the centerpiece on my table this Christmas season. I am doing it! As I’ve said before, I love the way you write, pulling out the beautiful nuggets that I often overlook. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing and your oh so beautiful heart. God bless you Liz.
Liz, your blog post has challenged me to make memorizing a verse a month in 2017. I also have note cards made up with scripture verses on them that I use to write notes of encouragement on. I will read through Luke 2 several times over the holidays and remember my boys reciting this when they were younger!
Our Ladies’ Bible Study chose to continue using your books as our “favorite” tool with our Bible as our guide. I will be sharing your blog with our group when we meet next week. Here at home, I have a Christmas scripture picture in every room, as well as a nativity. Our family Bible is on the coffee table as well as several children’s Christmas Story book which we are reading with our grandchildren. They also enjoy their own nativities and at 2 and 3 years old can tell us the story of Jesus’s birth. We started the season making an angel using tomato cages and mesh. I am sharing your Luke pictures to our church facebook page each day too. Thank you for your inspiration every day! Praying for you and your ministry.
What a great long-awaited post! This is a much needed reminder, and I plan on meditating and dwelling on the wonder of Christ’s birth as told of the the Scriptures. You have been in my prayers, dear Liz!
Dear Liz –
Oh how I have missed your emails but completely understand that life happens! I pray that you and your family are well.
This Christmas season I am writing out scriptures everyday regarding the birth of Jesus & mediatating on them as I do. It helps me to focus on what the Bible is saying & how I can apply it to my life. I am also reading (again) The Women of Christmas. What a wonderful book it is!
God bless you!
I have signed up for Advent devotions on youversion. This way I know I’ll get notifications if I miss a day. I love the idea of displaying Luke 2. I’ve been trying to memorize it and need to work more diligently on that.
This Christmas I hope to keep my focus of Christ and not so much “Christmasy” things. I plan to have quiet times for reflection, and maybe memorize a verse or two from the Bible!
Christmas blessings to you and yours.
Love, Love the way you say things that I am feeling. Yes, this is the best season of the year, for many reasons, but you help me remember that Jesus is my delight and sharing his love at Christmas and all year round is my role as his servant. I’m making sure I add a bible verse to all my Christmas cards and Christmas newsletter. (Yes, I still send them out..50cents isn’t very much to tell my friends and family Merry Christmas and to remember its the HOLY NIGHT of our savior’s birth).
I am placing a Bible open to Luke 2 surrounded by Christmas décor as soon as I finish typing my comment! Love that idea! We also have the tradition of what we call our “door book”, a beautiful advent book we bought years ago and every night one of our 5 kids opens the “door” for that day and reads the Christmas story. So glad to have you post again!
to think of all the love given to you by your followers and yet it is only a tiny bit compared to the love given to us by our LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS– praying that the troubles you have had this past year will be removed with twice as many blessings
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND DO HOPE YOU HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS SEASON
LOVE TO ALL, MARGARET
Liz you are such an inspiration to me. I have been trying to learn a way to speak God’sWord out loud. I know that His Word has power. And one f the best ways to release His power is to speak it. Your suggestion about memorizing a verse a week has helped me greatly. Thank you so much for all your encouragement. I have finally learned a way to carry God’s Word on my heart and speak it out loud.
Thanks for the challenge, Liz. I will be reading Luke as my devotional this December.
Thanks so much Liz, It’s time to add some new scripture verses to my memory.
I didn’t grow up with the Advent tradition, but I have enjoyed incorporating it into my life as an adult. Lighting the candle each week and meditating on related scripture and songs makes me excited about Jesus’ coming (both of them!)
I plan to give a copy of Jesus Calling (or maybe Liz’s new book) at my White Elephant Gift Swap.
My fiancé and I are getting married the Wednesday before Christmas and are using the event as a chance to show a lot of our family and friends how a Godly marriage is done. There will be scripture everywhere are God is present in our vows as well. Best of all, my Father in heaven has stepped up and taken on the traditional role of paying for my wedding since my earthly father is broken. Best Christmas gift I have ever gotten will be the time I plan to spend communing with Him before I marry the man he chose for me.
i loved the idea of an open Bible to Luke . Then you will not forget to read a few verses. Gread idea I will start it today. Love your stories, I have quite a few of them, as well as given as gifts. God bless you and your family.
Love the idea of keeping a Bible open to Luke chapter 2 and memorizing a scripture once a week. Thank you Liz for sharing your heart with us. I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
I’ve missed you. I’m glad you are back and have overcome and have been overjoyed. That’s been my year too. I have grandchildre and I talk to them in the car a lot and I also try to talk to them in every day conversations. I plan to continue to do that forever. Thank you for your insight and for your wisdom.
God bless and Merry Christmas, Carolyn
My annual Christmas poem to family and friends always puts special emphasis on the real reason for Christmas along with the items about my family. It’s become a tradition that everyone looks forward to each year. Luke 2 is always read before our celebration and we light candles for our family members gone to live in His presence including my son who passed almost 5 years ago. It is a very moving experience.
Thank you so much for this encouraging word! I love the idea of putting the open Bible on the kitchen table, surrounded by the colors of Christmas. I will be doing that, along with attempting (again) to memorize scripture verses. It seems I start well, but then get distracted and don’t memorize the verses like I want to. Thank you again for this wonderful encouragement!
This Christmas I plan to a Christmas devotion with my husband during the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas. I am excited to be doing this together and to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas this year!
I read a devotional, my Bible and a couple of other faith based books each day. During this advent season I will be working to bring myself closer to Jesus and reading His word more.
Hi Liz, I have been leading our Lifegroup through The Women of Christmas the last few weeks. God has again thrown open the absolute wonder of giving His Son to me and for me in breath-taking way this year.
I try every morning to repeat our church’s verse of the month, but I think I will take your advice and begin anew with the verses I love and need the most.
Looking so forward to The Women of Easter!
Love you lots!
Hope you are overwhelmed with blessings this season!
As I get older, I so b appreciate focusing on the ” bigger picture” of the holiday season. Thank you for your encouragement.
Thanks for your great ideas about sharing the word and writing them on the doorposts! I love God’s word and have trouble speaking it to people, but when they come into my home I want them to know God dwells there. I am going to do as you suggested; putting a Bible on the table as you enter with it open to the passage in Luke. I think I am also going to make some gifts with scriptures on them. Love your ideas. Thanks for keeping God’s light shine in your life and sharing it with others.
Liz, I love your suggestion of displaying the open Bible, reading a verse each day – thinking about and memorizing it – I will display it next to my large nativity set. I always love displaying this set – looking at it and contemplating what Christ did for me. There is a light in the manger my father made, some of the handmade porcelain figures are 9-12″ tall – so pretty.
I/my family use the scriptures of Christ’s birth in numerous ways during the Christmas season – one of those is to read them just before praying and having our Christmas meal each year, with everyone gathered at the table.
Praying added blessings for you and your family this Christmas season, dear Liz!! Thanks for letting Him use you to continually bless your “sisters” in so many ways!! Prayers for healing, peace, joy, and good health in the coming year. Hugs!!
My children lost their grandfather in June of this year, he was an integral part of our Christmas day morning. This Christmas we intend to share our favourite memories and verses and play an episode of the English TV program ‘Praise Be’ which was one of his favourite programs
Hi Liz!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE setting out the Bible for reading each day.
In addition I am reading your ~ The Women of Christmas for a 2nd year as well as Ann Voskamp’s ~ The Greatest Gift.
As a single Grandma I have lots of time to read and write so I’ll be writing a scripture per day for 31 days pertaining to Christmas. My hope is that they will begin to imprint on my memory chip!
Thank you for the opportunity to win your latest book! May your Christmas and New Year be full of all God’s blessings.
Ooh! I would love this new book. Pick me!
This year I will try to memorize at least the journey and birth part of Luke 2 with my husband in our morning devotion time. Thank you for the suggestion.
So good to see a post from you today, Liz!
In our home, we count down to the Root of Jesse, using Old Testament scriptures. We have a banner with a symbol for each day and a reading from God’s Word, with the prophecy foretold of Jesus. It shows the Scarlet Thread of God’s Plan…
I also focus on words in Christmas songs, and their Scripture references. Thank you for sharing from your heart. Merry CHRISTmas to your family!
I’ve been memorizing scriptures with my grandkids, many of the same ones I memorized with my kids. I usually write some scriptures in my Christmas letter. I always look forward to Christmas and the unique opportunities it gives me to talk about my Lord freely.
I love the Christmas story and will always hear in my mind and heart my Daddy reading it to us on Christmas Eve from KJV of Luke. What an awesome God who loves us that much!!!
Thank you Liz for your sharing of the good and the bad of your life!! Praying God’s blessings on you and your family.
tc
I will borrow your idea of the open Bible centerpiece. It’s the perfect way to encourage my family to pause and read and remember why we celebrate! Merry Christmas, Liz!
I have been doing machine embroidery Tea Towels with scripture verses as gifts for friends and family. A good way to get the message out for a lot of people to see. Planting the seed.
I used old Scrabble letters to make the words,”love peace and joy” and placed them in a shallow cut glass dish on an end table. Also put “Lord bless all who enter” in the shadow box on my coffee table.
I have a lovely gold cross in a frame with Proverbs 3:5 written around it,”trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
Have very Blessed Christmas, Liz, surrounded by family and friends.
I have a magnet on my car that says,”Keep Christ in Christmas”. I also have several manger sets in my home.
I will continue to daily read my Chronological Bible Through in a Year and am right on schedule to finish by the end of the year. Looking forward to 2017 and what God’s Word has in store for me then, too.
I have a table in our entryway and every holiday, I try to decorate it for the specific holiday. For Christmas, I use my ‘Names of Jesus’ table runner and then add lights and a small manger scene, and finally some scented candles. This year I think I will actually use the Bible as you suggested, and place it opened to the book of Luke on the table runner with my family photos around it. I believe the Word opened on the table will be a wonderful opportunity to share with others. Thank you for the suggestion. Merry Christmas!
Our church has given out pins the last couple of years that say,
“It is ok to say Merry Christmas to me”. I plan to wear one of those pins every time I’m out in public places and say Merry Christmas, Be Blessed instead of Happy Holidays to all I meet.
It was so good to see your post in my inbox today. What a blessing you are. Thank you for such inspiring words! I love the open Bible idea. I plan to put up some scripture verses on chalkboards where everyone can see. In fact the other day my son on his way out saw my empty chalkboard and said, “OH know no Bible verse on your chalkboard” I didn’t even know he noticed. His comment reminded me I have left it blank for awhile. I guess I better get busy and what better time than this time of year.
I love the idea of displaying the Bible as part of the seasons decorations. I am trying to not let busyness overtake me this season but instead relish in our lord. I plan to display my open bible with my nativity seen.
Great, practical ideas for reflection & passing on our faith. Thank you!
Thanks for your post and reminder to keep God’s Word in our hearts. My husband and I just started a 4 week online Bible study “Because of Bethlehem” to help us keep a focus on the reason for the season.
I like to read the Christmas story again each year. this year I am also going back to Zechariah–love this book!
It’s so good to hear from you, Liz. I encourage you to shout out to us when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, as opposed to thinking you’ve got to get to us once a month. I appreciate you writing when you know it’s God’s timing. Have the merriest Christmas! and a super day with Jesus today!! In His love and laughter, and mine, too!
I’ve been sharing the posts with Facebook friends and plan to continue. I want to give the books to several friends so they can join me in a daily message from God’s word. Several of the verses have been favorites and others have spoken to me at just the right time. I hope they will be as meaningful to friends who receive the books.
Thank you for this post. It reminded me to find ways to repeat Scripture everyday. It helps the spirit and helps Bible verses to set in the mind. It seems to stop the “ugly stuff” from going round & round in the mind.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your wonderful family. By the way your husband’s book was a pleasure to read and an inspiration too.
I am reading a daily Advent plan on my YouVersion plan on my phone. I also have many scripture verse items displayed among my Christmas decorations as well as the scripture pictures, etc. that are displayed on my walls all year.
I always love your posts, Liz!
Besides the Christmas cards I send with Scripture in them, my 9 grandchildren are always a captive audience for Grandma to tell the Christmas story.
I have been working at some Scripture memorization this year, a not-so-easy task for this 55 year old brain. 🙂 I know it is a worthwhile endeavor and seek God to help me with this. Have a blessed Christmas season!
You have a gift, Liz! I love your heart and your words! I plan on using your book to encourage my adult daughter to memorize scripture with me in the new year! I use post-it notes in my car and on my computer to display verses! Looking forward to 2017 and your new book!
I love these verses and the point of them. I try to put these to practice so it was a great reminder! Thank you for the thought provoking ideas. For me, the Advent season can become a time of too much busyness so slowing down, taking time to focus on what and who is the reason for this season is what I plan on doing. Less time on the busyness and more time on the quiet reflection and focus on Christ is much more rewarding. Thank you! God bless you and yours!
Hi Liz, I love all your ideas not only for the Bible open on the table during this beautiful season but also how to hide the Word of God in our hearts and share them with others. What I have done for many years, by the Lord’s direction, is make scripture cards on business card stock using a beautiful scenery picture and putting the scripture on the picture. I have over 365 different pictures and scriptures. I share these in motels and restaurants. I share them in greeting cards and special messages sent to friends through the mail. It is a joy to share the Word of God any way that I can and study and learn the scriptures to minister to others encouragement and truth. Thank you for all your encouragement. Love you and Merry Christmas!
I love the idea you gave, His Word amidst the candles and greenery…a beautiful focal point for the loveliest time of the year.
I just received your book in my last book order! If I am chosen to receive your book I will gift it to my daughter who recently moved to a nearby state. I love all your books!
I’ve missed your posts! This wonderful post has some of my favorite verses, especially Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
Bless you and yours this wonderful Christmas season!
Praying for you!
I am committed to reading the Gospel accounts of Christ’s birth. I am reading through Ann Voscamp’s The Greatest Gift and your book The Women of Christmas. I love having a Bible open on my counter.
I received Women of Christmas as a recent gift and have just cracked it open. This advent the kids and I are reading Jotham’s Journey and our family is reading a chapter in Luke every night. For Christmas I’m making each of the kids a decorative picture frame with their favorite verse to hang in their rooms. Shhh, don’t tell, it’s a surprise!
Thanks for your great ideas and for being an encourager. I’m enjoying getting to know you through your books, blog and podcasts.
I can say I’ve truly missed you. 5 out of 12 months, wow, you must’ve had some challenging times. Glad to have you back. I’d love to incorporate this into our Christmas festivities this season. What a great way to keep the true reason for the season alive. I’d definitely love and autographed book of yours and the scarf would be a sweet blessing, as well.
Be blessed.
You listed such wonderful ideas. My husband always reads the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas eve. I read and write scripture daily. The scripture plan I write out starts with the prophecies of Isaiah. I love writing out scripture in my journal. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Liz, I love the idea of having my Bible opened on my kitchen table. My kitchen table has always been the center of my home…a place to hang out over coffee, warm chatter and of course, meals. What an excellent place for my Bible to read and discuss the Christmas story and then after open for discussion/reflection of other parts of the Bible. Thank you!
Love the idea of the Bible open to Luke 2. I think I will also place a children’s Bible next to it for my grandchildren to read along with Grammy.
This Christmas season I will read the Christmas story as told in Matthew and Luke.I think I will also read your book The Women of Christmas .I moved a bunch of my books around so I need to look for it!
I love your idea of having an open Bible on the table . I haven’t memorized a scripture in years, maybe it’s time to do that again. Thank you for the prod. It was also thought-provoking to equate words of encouragement on pillows and such with “writing it on your door posts “.
I love, love, love the idea of an open Bible! Mine will be placed on a buffet at the bottom of our staircase; somewhere we pass by many times each day.
Thank you so much for this suggestion! Decking the halls this weekend.
Oh, Liz, I love reading your anointed words, no matter which numbered post it is!
I’m being intentional this Advent season to slow down and be quieter, if not externally, then in my heart and mind. Listening to Scripture on Bible Gateway; being in the Word every morning; studying the specific verses around this treasured season; and spending more time reading devotionals and other Christian books are some of the ways I’m focusing on our Lord and Savior. What a blessing!
Thank you for your encouragement to keep Christ right where He belongs, front and center in our hearts and on our minds! God bless you; may you have an Advent season filled with Jesus.
Liz, I love all of your ideas. We talk about the Christmas story throughout the month of December. We sing a lot of Christmas songs that have a Christian emphasis and the kids have a small manger scene that they decorate/play with. Each Christmas Eve I let them tell the Christmas story from memory (with a little help) and each Christmas we read the Christmas story.
We have a candle that we light every evening. December 1st we burned the candle down to the ‘1’ – and you light it every night through the 25th. Each night it gives us time to share thoughts and memories and remember the reason we celebrate Christ’s birth.
Thanks for the great ideas! I have been gathering great Biblically-based children’s books to read with my two sweet little grandchildren. Reading the Bible stories and the wonderful Christmas story to my grandchildren is such a privilege.
Hi Liz,
This was a great wAy to suggest how to have your own advent style. I have a daily advent devotional to do with my husband before I go to work. I like the idea of setting your Bible aside and reading from Luke 1 every day. When we’re done reading we then have prayer time to pray for our adult children, grandchildren and whatever God lays on our heart for the day.
Thank you for sharing! I love the idea about the open BIble. I have memorized a good bit of scripture in the past, but have been lax this last year. You convicted me to get back to it , setting a new goal for the new year. I am doing a wonderful Advent study which offers a scripture for each day of this month to meditate on. Many blessings to you this holy season.
Enjoyed reading through the devotion. I am reading a little Advent devotional book entitled “Preparing for Jesus” by Walter Wangerin Jr. , which takes you through Advent all the way to Epiphany. I have read it in the past and enjoy it every time I read it.
Thank you for the lovely post. They might have been few but powerful. We girls have to stick together when it gets rough out there. I’m a hairdresser and I give favors at Christmas time to show my appreciation to my clients. This year I put them in a box with the scripture from Mark 14:6. Jesus said, “she has done a beautiful thing”. Hoping it will stir up a question or two.
May God bless you with a healthy and fun filled holiday this year.
Thank you ever so much for posting….
On this chilly New England morning, it was just what I needed to read as I transition through one of those ‘life happens’ events. Scrolling through some of the comments, I can see that your post spoke to many of are hearts.
My Bible is open as is my heart to Jesus.
Thank you for your encouragement and inspiration. You are a blessing to many, Liz.
To read the Christmas story of Jesus in each of the 4 gospels. To enjoy my nativity scenes. To enjoy sending out Christmas cards with scriptures and encouraging words. Enjoy the Christmas season.
Thank you Liz for your words! They spoke directly to my heart this morning. I love all the ideas of how to incorporate God’s Word into our lives. A blessed Advent to you!
Liz,
thank you for the reminder to keep on memorizing scripture—
one never knows when our Bibles might be taken away if ISIS
gets what they want in their plan to change the world.
I am a grandmother and I do share scripture with our 3 grandsons
and 2 granddaughters—and I also mentor a new believer on a
weekly basis in Bible study and memorization of special verses.
This year my goal is to included verses with each family and friend gift
I give .
So glad to have you back with your wonderful reminders of how we
are to live our Christian lives.
Blessings to you and Merry Christmas,
Janice in SC
Dear Liz, all my grands will be here this Christmas. I’m so blessed! I’ll give each a turn to read the story of Christ’s birth aloud. I can’t imagine anything more precious. Thanks for your gift of words. Be blessed~ Lesa
Merry Christmas, I just finished reading the Woman of Christmas what a wonderful way to start the season and think about those special ladies ! Thank you for writing this book ,I plan to start each Christmas season from now on by re-reading it.
Each day of Advent, we are studying one of the names of Jesus.
Love your ideas Liz. I have a special place I display my nativity scene and now I will have my bible open to Luke 2 beside it. As my grandchildren gather to look at the baby Jesus I can read the story. Thanks so much.
We are organizing a class Christmas party. Instead of swapping gifts, the students are to bring canned food for the local food pantry. We have done this for over 10 years.
As so many have already stated, your words are so inspiring and used of God.
Thank you for the reminder to store up verses to memory so I can counteract the fiery darts of the enemy, and as
I may be the only bible many of my family and friends read, I am reminded to be His ambassador and be filled with the Spirit that may spill out and over those I meet and spend time with this season :))
My girls and I are currently Bible journaling through advent. Beginning in the old Testament and studying the prophesies that point to Jesus’ birth and then to His birth. It has been a great eye opener and reminder how God had/has everything in line just so perfectly. Scripture memorization is amazing and only as difficult as one allows it to be. Thank you for your few but meaningful posts. May the Lord continue to pour His love over you
This year has been quite the journey. The loss of a job, the most unexpected death of my dear mom, the loss of relationships…As Christmas approaches I’m finding myself really working at finding those glory moments in my day-to-day as I work through what I need to do to move forward. Thank you for your blog, Liz. I’ve been checking your site off and on for quite awhile and this morning, there you were. I’m so with you in the “life happens” of it all. My favorite piece of jewelry is a small starfish pendant that I wear on almost a daily basis. When someone comments on it, I share the reason I wear it-a song on a CD gifted to me by my oldest son a few years back reminding me of my boys and what a precious gift they are to me. By God’s grace they are alive and well, on their own journey of faith. Christmas will be different this year, yes, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be special. To God be the glory.
Make His Word the centerpiece!
Hoping to see a few coffee spots and orange marmalade on the pages of Luke 2!
I love reading Luke during this Christmas season. Such a wonderful time for fellowship with our lord. Especially love our Candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!
I teach preschool in a Christian setting. I emphasize on a daily basis that Jesus is the reason for the season. We have manger scenes to play with, puzzles about the manger, puppets. Everyday we read a book that has the Christmas story or meaning. Yesterday we read the Pine Tree Parable. After almost 20 years of reading it I still tear up every time. Thank you thank you for the beautiful Christian children books. God bless you ~ Merry Christmas!
Thank you Liz for your Christmas post. Our bible study group at Hope Lutheran in Hudson Fl. Is called the BAD GIRLS ,guess were we got that from. We are now studying THE WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS. Peace and love to your family. Digna.
Liz, I appreciate the thought you put into this post. These are great examples of Roman’s 12:1-2, transforming your mind. I like using Christmas cards with scripture in them.
I feel like someone just gave me the Key to the City! I love God’s Word and I love sharing it, wearing it, displaying it, sending it, posting it, etc! I love words period–reading them and writing them. But nothing satisfies like God’s Word.
Still, in the back of my mind I’ve wondered if I overdo in this area. No more wondering thanks to your message! As God leads and provides opportunity I’m just going to keep spreading the love! I especially like the open Bible to Luke 2 idea! I’m going to get right on that today! Merry Christmas and God’s best blessings to you!
As we gather around the Christmas tree, my three granddaughters and I read a pop-up book with the text and pictures about the nativity. This book is now 36 years old and opens out to form a star that can be displayed. It was given to me as a gift when my daughter was born. We try to visit a live nativity – this year we learned about the legend of the cross as it relates to the donkey carrying Mary and Jesus to Bethlehem and again on Palm Sunday. Did you know that two lines form a cross on the back of donkeys? When baking Christmas cookies, we will share more about Jesus and giving as we prepare some plates to share with others. “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift!”
I do the Jesse Tree with my family every year .
We try to focus in the real reason for the season.
We try and make it about giving and giving back.
Liz, I share Bible verses that I receive daily on my phone. I also share pages out of my daily devotional. His word is so inspiring and gives me hope in these troubled times.
Merry Christmas, Lizzy?
Thank you Liz, for this study. Thank you for the reminder of sharing with our children and grandchildren. They are never to young or to old to hear about God’s unending love for them and that it should start with me. Thank you Liz for being one of God’s willing servants and sharing His love.
Thank you Liz for the reminder that the greatest gift is the time we share with our loved ones in His word. I have set the Bible on my dining table and will begin reading tonight. Blessings.
Liz,
Thank you for reminding us of God’s word and how to keep it in our focus daily. I am going to set up my table centerpiece today. That’s such a meaningful idea. You’ve inspired me to start posting scripture around the house. Thank you!
Liz every since I seen you speak at a Women of Faith Conference I have loved your heart. Your message their was on self esteem and self acceptance and the most precious words of Uffda. You will never know how many times I wake up in the morning and start my day out with Uffda! While here again you are speaking my heart! I have come to know this most precious Heavenly Father as my Very Best Friend by doing just as you have explained and so beautifully outlined above. My hearts desire is that the nations know and understand our Heavenly Father as their own Very Best Friend. Thank you for being a faithful servant and giving us wisdom, courage, and understanding on how to make this Most Awesome God our very own Best Friend. I find myself in the midst of a very difficult marriage, in 2005 my sister handed my two devotional books and the Bible and said I would find the answers in here. I thought she was crazy because I had just had a family intervention done on me. I was removed from my house with police escort, hauled 120 miles away from my home and she thought I needed to read these books! I thought something a little more drastic was needed at this point and I didn’t have time to figure out what was in these books; I need help now! All of that is true and I did need other help and I got it but I always remembered my sisters words and from that day on I read a chapter in the Bible and both devotionals faithfully. I have been doing that faithfully now for 11 years. I started writing journal entries two years ago because my margins were all full and I challenge myself daily to pick one thing to apply to my life from my reading. Through this practice I have truly found my VERY BEST FRIEND and I so desire for others to be able to find this Friend also. I have recently begun sharing these journal entries with my adult children. I am trusting God will work through the entries to help them come to know Christ in a more meaningful way.
Liz, last year I wrote out a verse to give to each of my older grandkids. I plan to do the same this year. I’m hoping (praying) these verses will be special to each one. On a personal note, I am again reading through your book “The Women of Christmas”. Love it!! And I’ve missed your posts. Peggy
Thank you, Liz, for the encouragement to CONTINUE sharing with our adult children about Jesus. Their ears are open and I’ll continue to share the amazing love of God. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family 🙂 Sue
Amen, Sue! I needed that reminder, also, about keep sharing with our adult children! 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Miriam
I’m hoping to add more scripture to my home. Then my children can begin to put the word of God in their hearts.
Thank you so much, Liz, for this email that helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas. It was so good to read your thoughts again! I made your post my “devotions” for yesterday. My day was super busy, and I was super tired — so it was perfect for me. God knew just what I would need as He always does. For this advent season, I am reading Warren Wiersbe’s book “C is for Christmas”. Always enjoy what he shares with his readers, but this is especially poignant this year for me. Seems we forget the scope of the Christmas story, and the “little things” get lost in the bigger story. WW has a way of bringing every detail into focus. Please keep writing and encouraging us. Praying for you!
Just the encouragement I needed!! Especially the Scripture that says His Word will not return void!! My adult children are saved, but are not walking with the Lord and don’t want to hear God mentioned to them (I know, it’s the “Early 20’s Rejection Mode”). However, I still pray for my children and at times speak His Word to them — I can’t help it because it’s in my heart and just flows out! Yet, I SO much want to learn more of His Word and memorize it. Thank you for this book, Liz– it inspires me to dig into Scripture and hide it in my heart even more!!
Thanks, Liz! You have gotten me thinking! I got a copy of your friend Ann Voskamp’s book The Greatest Gift and plan to do a Jesse Tree with the ornaments and I think I will add a verse from each reading on the ornaments, on the back. I have scriptures posted around the house but I think I can add more here and there. Just want you to know also, I have been praying for you and your family as you have been through this challenging year. I usually have a verse for the year but I will try the one a week.
Reading devotions weekly with my daughter is the highlight of my week. I hope to add more scriptures throughout our home so my family and I can remind ourselves who’s really “in charge”.
I will keep God’s word in the forfront this Cchristmas season by posting “Christmas” scripture to Facebook regularly.
I am trying to keep Christ in Christmas by reading Luke and other scriptures to remember why we even have the holidays. I really like your post today. Thanks.
We are excited to have an advent wreath at our home for the first time ever!
Great idea about the Bible on the table! Will be putting mine on the coffee table in the Living room as that is a center gathering place any time at our house.
Will be sharing with my youth Sunday School class about the importance of memorizing God’s Word.
Love the idea of the open Bible in a place where everyone sees it. Opens the conversation for the season. Also, I love to put verses around the house that help us remember to trust Him and that He loves us all the time. Thank you.
My heart is sorrowful at the realization that the Holy Word has not been a part of some of our Christmases past. That’s what it’s about! How could we have bypassed the most important part?! I definitely will put an open bible on my Christmas decorated. Also my children have an advent book based on the birth of Jesus that we’re using. My hope is to incoporate scripture more into our daily lives as well as the Christmas season.
*christmas decorated table
Thank you for the challenge . I had been thinking about trying to memorize more scripture next year, and this was my confirmation
I put scripture on an index card and post them around my home but that does not work after awhile as it becomes like back ground things in my home. Lord I want 2017 to be a new year of seeking, receiving, and dropping Your Word from my head to my heart.
We saved all of our Christmas Cards from last year. Every night in December, we pray for the sender of 1-2 cards.
I am reading scriptures focused on the Names of God every day during Advent.
I am doing several Advent daily Scripture plans. They all bless me so. Merry Christmas, Liz.
I plan to send little cards with a favorite bible verse in Christmas cards to lift up spirits and help the recipient keep the verse handy throughout the year.
I plan to send little notes with a favorite bible verse in Christmas cards to lift up spirits and help the recipient keep the verse handy throughout the year.
I use scripture that is written on wood blocks or canvas art to put up around my home to encourage others when they visit. My tree also is always filled with symbols of Christ which allows for conversations on “where did you get this ornament, etc.” I also like to buy Christmas cards from Joni Erickson Tada, to send out, as her cards always relay such an encouraging message and are all designed by her.
I listen exclusively to Christen radio. When I hear a new song, I listen to the key phrase and then look up the Bible verse it uses. Then when I hear the song, the Bible verse pops up in my memory.
Merry Christmas, Liz and all!
I love the idea of leaving a book open to Luke 2!
I’ve been writing scripture down and lately reading Psalms each day. Also, for Advent I’m reading Women of Christmas again! 🙂 Memorizing God’s grace of the best Gift given in a manger!
*Remembering, not memorizing 🙂
Liz, thanks again for the reminder of the power of Scripture. I will put my Bible on our table and use it daily with my almost-grown sons. We all need a refresher on its power. I also plan to send them Scripture texts daily during this season to remind and encourage them of God’s faithfulness, which climaxes during the Christmas season. Blessings to you, friend!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season. I was blessed by a special friend with a set of nativity figures, and each beautiful piece is engraved with a vs. of scripture on it. We are enjoying them very much.
God bless you and your family Mrs. Liz Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas. You don’t need to apologize for only 5 posts this year! We are blessed that you could find that much time! Thank you! This advent season I found a daily scripture writing plan I am following. Everyday I write out specified verses from the Bible. I’m really enjoying this endeavor.
I will be sharing some of my favorite verses with 3 of my favorite short people. I will be asking them to find a verse that is special to them. They love my stories and many of them are about when their dad was little. I want to incorporate more stories that will stay with them forever.
I’m inspired! Can’t wait to put the Bible on our dining room table as our centerpiece-that’s as it should be! Great post, Liz!!
Oh Liz, how truly blessed I felt seeing a new post from you. Your words are always uplifting and now a new book to look forward to.
I am in a difficult season in my marriage, but where does my help come from? Yes, I am in an especially prayerful time, 40 days of trying to take on Jesus’ yoke- to rest and learn from him.
I’m very much in the word, but Advent gives me another chance to share the word of God. I have a tiny tree set up, and just like Ann Voskamp wrote so many years ago, I read scriptures she posted and hang a small Biblical ornament on the tree each day.
It is my prayer that through my very being I will share the light of Jesus and bring glory to God.
Merry Christmas!
Hi Liz,
Our family gathers each evening around our advent wreath to open God’s word and read it together. It’s my favorite Christmas tradition that we do. I also do a Jesse Tree devotional with my youngest children every morning. As a family, we plan to give some books and gifts with scriptures on them as gifts to loved ones this year. We are also giving Bibles to our neighbors children who do not have Bibles and have asked for them. Thank you for your devotions and books and Merry Christmas!
I will be doing your idea of a verse a day from Luke 2 along with my annual re-read of The Women of Christmas. Which I always space it out to end the book on Christmas Eve.
I love this time of year. I wanted to share an amazing thing that happened to me this week, I work in a very unChristian neighborhood at a local market. A man whom works in the kitchens that I’ve only spoken to a few times saw me in the back room and said “you’re a church girl huh?” I asked “you mean a Christian? Yes, I am. How did you know?” He responded “the way you carry yourself.” I thanked him and said I took that as the highest compliment.
It was the best part of my year!
Christmas is my favorite time of year! As you suggested, I will read a verse from Luke and think on the experiences they had and the meaning and impact of Christ’s birth on the world.
Thank you for your insightful messages…God bless you.
liz, I just wanted to share how important memorizing scripture should be to everyone. My mother passed away several years ago from Alzheimers. She had memorized many versed during her lifetime and when she couldn’t even remember who we, her children were or where she was or even on some days who she was …but… almost to the end of her life she could remember bits of scripture and every day for years she sang ‘Jesus Loves Me’ softly to herself and I’m so thankful that God gave her that ability. It was such a blessing to us and I know it was a blessing to her also…She was in a frightening position but I truly believe Gods Word comforted her when no one else could help… Our God is an awesome God!!!
I strongly encourage everyone to memorize scripture not only to share but for our own close relation ship with our
Heavenly Father…..Thank you Liz for your many words of encouragement this year and God shower you and your family with His Blessings….In Christ, Leatha Zarbo
Thank you, Liz. I plan to read through parts of the Christmas story each day before Christmas.
Thank you for this beautiful post. I am doing an Advent study for the very first time this year. I am going to open my Bible to Luke and start reading. And leaving it on my table open to Luke. I love the thought of remembering 50 verses a year. May you have a blessed Christmas.
This holy season, my husband and I will do Advent and our Pastor is encouraging us to memorize Ps. 34. Also I love Mary’s , and Simeon’s song and will be reading and meditating on those as well. I love this season and my prayer is to share God’s story during this time with those who are lost and do not know of our Savior’s great love and salvation.
Oh Liz, thank you for this! I totally get it when you say “Life happened.” I love sharing your Facebook posts and I always tell them that you (Liz) get it. I love the idea of the open Bible on the table. I always include a verse in our Christmas cards every year and we use an Advent calendar for the kids. Even though they’re teenagers, it’s something they look forward to every year. One of my favorite necklaces my husband gave me has Proverbs 31:25 “She laughs” written on it. He gave it to me at a time in my life when “life happened” a lot that year. Thank you for being you. You are such a blessing to me. xoxoxo
At our Christmas party I had my church ladies each talk about the 2 names of Jesus they received on pieces of paper…such as Door, Shepherd, Friend, Saviour, etc. Such a blessing!
Thank you for your enlightened message. Studying God’s word this year has been so important to be intimate and dependant on God. I am trusting Him to restore my relationship with my daughter who has been estranged from us for over a year because her husband has decided my husband and I are living in sin because I was divorced before we were married. I was married to an unfaithful man 7 years he left me and my son’s with no contact for 14 years…it is so hard because we had relationship with them when they first married but now nothing. She has 2 children I have no relationship with so very painful. I am able to go on because I have the word in me to continue on. PS 73:23 I do hold your right hand…Phil 4:8 think about thinks that are pure and lovely…will commit to memorize more this year.
We have nativities everywhere in our home at Christmas…I have a candle centerpiece one that is on our Dining table, a small one near our TV…cannot look at the television without seeing the Christ child…one under our tree, He is the greatest gift after all and multiples on the tree itself. I love the reminders that He is the reason for the season!
I have been writing scripture every day in a journal. It has been a huge blessing to me!
Thank you for this beautiful post. I love the idea of the open Bible!
I have an advent calendar “set” with the candles that we light and read the verses on set days.
I bought a children’s book of prayers, which includes Scripture, for our two grandchildren. It is part of their Christmas presents.
I share Scripture on facebook.
I share Scripture with my nursing students, family, friends and co-workers.
Our Christmas cards have Scripture.
I like to put a verse on an index card and place it where my whole family can see it and be reminded of it.
God’s Word has become very important to me over the last year. I have memorized some verses, but want to memorize more. This Christmas season, I want to print a verse on a paper ornament and hang it on the Christmas tree after I have memorized it.
I have to laugh, because you too have kitties whom you love. Ours get on the dining table, which I keep covered with heavy, clear plastic over my beautiful Christmas tablecloth. Martha Stewart would faint. Good thing she doesn’t live here! Centered on the table is a wooden stable that my Dad made for me more than 50 years ago. The nativity figures are that old, too, as they were assembled by Mother and Dad. Among the livestock is a longhorn steer that came from my sister’s ranch set when she was a very little girl. Last year my husband added two more sheep that look cartoonish. Yes, it’s eclectic, but precious.
The cats have learned to leave the figures alone, including the sheep, which the cats as silly kittens would bat around and onto the floor. I don’t dare put my Bible on the table, because they would lie on it. Probably good for my cats (blessings by osmosis — ha) but not for my Bible. I’ll be finding a safe place (maybe in the china cabinet?) for the Bible opened to Luke 2.
God bless you, Liz. You have shared over time that this has been a hard year for you and the family. I know that God will comfort you all and heal your wounded spirits. May Bethlehem’s miracle once again stoke that sacred fire in your heart.
Every year we read from God’s word Luke’s account of the life of Jesus.
we read Luke’s account of the life of Jesus each year.
I have an Advent Prayer Calendar from the prayer ministry at our church.
I pray to share Him & His word with those I encounter in my daily errands.
Thank you for the encouragement in my faith walk.
I love the idea with the open Bible and I was thinking of the manger scene around it. Also memorizing scripture, I haven’t been very good at it, but I feel using smaller verses will greatly help, I have always been Blessed by you, thank you Liz and have a Blessed Christmas and Blessed New Year
Dear Liz, You are such an encourager. I have memorized Scripture from time to time, but I know I need to make this a daily habit to review and learn more! Your new book sounds wonderful! Please add me to the drawing.
We have several Nativity scenes around the house and ornaments on the tree to remind us of the true reason for the season of Christmas. I love the Jesse Tree plan of daily Scriptures and a planned time to come together and remember the entire story from cover to cover in the Bible! You and Ann have gotten me interested in that! (maybe next year! I can’t get it going early enough!) Have the merriest of Christmas’. Blessings to you and Bill!
Those verses from Deuteronomy are some of my very favorite. I can beat myself up all day that I could have done better with my own kids…though, really, I did as well as I could. Now I am babysitting my grandson nearly every day while his mother (my middle daughter) teaches school. He is just one year old, but I sing him Bible songs, recite stories to him, and will teach him verses that will stay written on his heart all his life. Thank you for helping us accomplish this. <3
Whew computer problems just got the right link to get comment in for the drawing .
I know drawing is Tommorow
I’m loving the devotion. Advent I’m writing out key verse , a hymn, a scripture , a saying. From each day like at beginning of the chapter in reds, greens in calligraphy in. A special book then hoping to then hang them along my mantle , and back of my door this little apt will be plastered with them all, I may draw flowers on them , and whilst I see them every day especially the Scripture ones I’ll be memorizing them.
I’m picking a hymn to sing from another book I have to go with each day before I start I do in the evening ..
I just started on advent Dec 1st..
a bit behind but I keep my special calligraphy book and Liz book
and pens on. A display on top of a electric fireplace heater with a nativity box, we just moved and can’t find the nativity, space is small , but the fireplace, back of doors wall is cement not much hung thee but painters tape will work. Or I may take string and clip them to the string many of them and tape or push pin the ends of the string for the cards .. A pretty display for our Saviors Birth .
Can’t wait to start hanging . I’ve started in the calligraphy book ..
The book had the hymn come all you faithful , so I wrote out part of that , and key words sing choirs of angels, yeah Lord we greet thee glory to God in the highest ..
Another calligraphy in my book is. Beginning of the chapter let every heart prepare him room .
So that will be a card I’ll copy on pretty scrapbook
paper or just rewrite onto a card to hang if I can get a going ..
I have a lot to read.. Doing as a study and making notes my hope was to do 2 chapters a week it’s taking a bit , but so deep and sweet .
Hope I win
I know it’s random but God knows who needs it, so praying for who they are.
, dealing with a lot in my life and this book and study keeps my mind and heart greatly encouraged
For Christ and Christmas .
Not on the problems . Dealing with so much overwhelming ..but He is Christmas, even when I’m a widow, health issues, money troubles , apt I just moved to moldy and making me more sick ,too hard for me not for God .
Probably have to move yet again.
How?
Yesterday was fear not, calm down . I’m just on day 4.. In chapter 1
That is definitely going on a card and the scripture .i may have to double up but I am enjoying and more at peace ..time with a living Savior ..word of the father now in flesh appearing !
Praise be to God mighty counselor prince of peace ..he was that to me today .
Deborah Anne daughter of the King !
I know for me this Christmas I wrote a blog for my churches web site talking about the real birth of Jesus not the Hollywood one and a follow-up blog about finding the real Christmas. It was about hoing back to the simpler time when we celebrated Christmas for Jesus’ birthday and family.
Liz what a wonderful idea to have our Bible’s displayed among the Christmas decorations! In this often busy time, surely it will help to stop reflect on the true reason of the season. Merry Christmas
Love the idea of a Bible centerpiece. When my kids were little, I used to always bring out the manger scene first, before the tree. We talked about each piece, and then I let them set it up just the way they wanted. My three babies are all grown now, but they still love the old manger scene, and even though they have their own homes now, they lovingly set out the manger scene for me every Christmas.
I too love the idea of opening my Bible to Luke and leaving it on my table to read each day. Empty nesters but we do love to see/read God’s Word and pour over it. Also to start memorizing again. Good to incorporate with my Bible study each week. Thank you for your encouraging words. Have missed your posts but understand. Have a beautiful celebration of Christ’s birth. =) kay
When our kids were young we had a low bookcase where we set out the manger scene so they could move the figures around and act out the story. Fast forward to today 40 plus years later, and the manger is on the piano. I have begun to make sure I have Christian CD’s in the car to listen to good Christmas music even for short jaunts. The secular radio stations have such a narrow menu of replays that don’t include very many carols and the selection is just bad. SO, I enjoy my own song fest and praise the Lord that way.
We always read the Christmas story from the book of Luke on Christmas morning. Since our grandchildren are older we let them read it now. I love the idea of the open Bible and I’m so doing that!
Thank you! I love all the ideas that you have given for learning and memorizing the Word ❤️ And the reminder that I need to do it more often!!
Liz, your posts and your books are such an inspiration! I lead a women’s group, Not Quite 31 Women, at our church and I plan to use some of your posts and ideas to help bring them the message of Christmas, the baby in the manger, the man on the cross, Love came down! Thank you for all you do!
Every year, the children’s Bible we had when I was a child is opened to the Christmas story and placed in front of our Nativity in the living room. The story is read a little at a time until Christmas Day. Also, the first present under our tree each year is another Nativity, to remind us of the true gift we were given at that first Christmas.
I have been listening to the Bible on my tablet with an app that reads it to me. One zinger after another hits me right in the heart! For me, there is something powerful about hearing the Word out loud.My preferred version is Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Bless you!
As we light our advent wreath on our dinner table every night (and my still Catholic husband tries to sing “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel”), we talk about all of the different names for Jesus. My grandchildren love hearing about Teacher, Counselor, Prince of Peace, the Everlasting God.
This year I chose to use The Women of Christmas as my advent devotions. It was so inspiring and uplifting. I have encouraged others to do the same and hope to use it for an Advent Bible Study next year.
So excited! Just ordered your new book, 31 Verses from Blogging for Books. It is always an honor to review your books.
May God bring you peace, hope and prosperity in the new year.
Blessings,
Laura