Seasons of Opportunities

The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house . . .  Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . .  When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind

Guide kids and their families into the heart of Christmas with this gospel-focused, four-week Advent curriculum.  Prepare Him Room   by children’s best-selling author Marty Machowski takes a biblical, theological approach to the Old Testament promises and New Testament fulfillment in Christ in a way kids can understand. With age-appropriate instruction and activities for three different learning levels—preschool, lower elementary, and upper elementary— Prepare Him Room  builds gospel hope and enduring theological depth into each child’s celebration of Christmas.

If your family loves the Elf on the Shelf and you want to keep the fun going, check out  Angel on Assignment . It's a children's activity book that offers a Christian alternative to the elf, teaching children about the angels who watch over them, not just at Christmas but all year long. With beautiful illustrations and rhyming verse,  Angel on Assignment  takes readers through the angels' roles in the Christmas story and presents the ways guardian angels look out for boys and girls today--and how children can act as angels in disguise for friends who need help. See how many angels your child can find--some are hiding! At the end of the book, you'll find detailed instructions for making your own angel. When you're finished, you can introduce your angel to your elf and let them keep an eye on things.

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator. “I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.” Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

This Christmas, there's plenty of room at the inn. Nestled in the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, the Grey Sage Inn looks like the perfect place for weary travelers to escape the craziness of the Christmas season. There's plenty to see in historic Santa Fe during the day, and the inn's owners, Maude and Silas Thornhill, are happy to spend their evenings hosting this year's guests from across the country. But an un usual snowstorm throws a wrench in the festive mood. The sprawling inn becomes close quarters as stranded guests discover this Christmas won't be the relaxed vacation they expected. Tension and fear mount as the storm worsens,

Arson wasn't the only fire that ignited between them. Promises shattered. Lies spoken. She was arrested. He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents. Almost  ten years later , Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.  Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family. Can the love of Christmas past drift into  the present, bringing healing and hope for all?

Rediscover the heart of the Advent season As the year comes to a close and the stress and busyness of the consumer Christmas holiday grows, it can be easy to lose sight of what the season really calls us to: worship. In today’s world, is it even possible to slow down, to ponder, to wonder in the coming birth of Christ? This Advent, recapture the mystery and beauty of the season with  The Wonder of Advent Devotional . In this insightful and thought-provoking book, beloved devotional author Chris Tiegreen brings you into a deeper experience of this integral time in the church calendar. After completing a week of short readings to prepare your heart for the Advent season, you’ll journey through December with daily Scripture readings, prompts for reflection, and guided

Just in time for the holiday season Lee Ann Mancini has released a new book in the Adventures of the Sea Kids Series . This book focuses on the  celebrations of both Christmas and Hanukkah, as two young sea creatures learn the value of both days. Christian, the sea turtle, and his family celebrate Christmas. They decorate with lights, a Christmas tree, and baby Jesus in a manger. His friend Jacob, the star fish, helps his family decorate for Hanukkah by putting up lights and the menorah. After an argument at the playground one day, about which holiday was the most important and which provided the most gifts, their parents decided to get together to show them what each holiday represented and the importance of celebrating it. In the end they both recognize that the holidays are about God and His gifts to us, and that is why we give gifts to each other.

All of the angels in Heaven are preparing for a big event, and Crystal, a little angel, wants to be a part of it. But the more she tries, the more the angels tell her that she is just too little. That is, until God himself gives her the biggest, most important task of all ... going with the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, and bringing God’s greatest gift to the world. But can Crystal do what God asks? Journey with Crystal as she discovers that God sometimes chooses the most unlikely for the greatest tasks. Crystal also discovers that you are never too little to do great things. You just need to believe and never give up. Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble   or    Amazon .

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Isaiah 26:3 As the wife of a naval aviator in sunny Pensacola, Florida, Liv Tulley eagerly anticipates the first Christmas in several years with her husband, daughter, and extended family. Then her husband is unexpectedly deployed for an undetermined amount of time, smashing her white Christmas dreams. Can she find God's peace in the midst of life's pieces? For Purchase:    Print   Kindle

Miriam was glad to be warm and cozy. There were so many people in the town but it was nice and peaceful inside her cowshed. Little did she know that she would soon be joined by Midnight Visitors . . . and not just any old visitors! Snuggle up and enjoy the warm, soft feel the art and narrative bring to this delightful Christmas picture book with a difference. A read-to-me tale for Christmas.

A Christmas story from the bestselling Berenstain Bears Living Lights series. The bestselling Berenstain Bears brand and Living Lights series continue their proven tradition of teaching children valuable lessons in a fun and creative way. In the affordable 8x8 softcover format, The Berenstain Bears and the Night Jesus was Born gives fans of the Berenstain Bears the story of Jesus’ coming … from the angel’s announcement of a new baby to the visit of the three wise men This newest title in the Berenstain series is perfect for gift-giving or as an easy addition to any holiday library.

A new Advent family devotional from the author of Jotham's Journey ! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar's Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there's much to see, do, and learn in this world that can't be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king. Arnold Ytreeide's family advent devotionals have become a much-loved Christmas tradition, enjoyed by multiple generations. With over 100,000 in print they include Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels .

The Legend of the Christmas Cookie  tells the story of a young boy named Jack who learns from his generous mother the story behind the Christmas cookie. The family who began the tradition of baking the special cookies gave them to the needy and shared the story of the very first Christmas. This sweet holiday book offers inspiration for readers to become cheerful givers themselves and encourages them to share the true tale of Jesus' birth. A delicious recipe is included on the jacket flap so readers can make their own Christmas sugar cookies.

In  The Legend of St. Nicholas , the new artwork, created by  Marley and Me  illustrator, Richard Cowdrey, captivates audiences and tells the story of a young man named Nicholas, who was moved by the plight of the poor and needy. Nicholas spent his life secretly helping the poor all over the world, giving gifts on Christmas Eve to remind people of the greatest Gift of all, Jesus Christ. This gentle Christmas book introduces the original St. Nicholas and offers inspiration for readers to become cheerful givers themselves. The final pages in the book include fun Father Christmas traditions in other lands.

The following post contains some advertisement. One girl in need of a home. One woman in search of a home for her heart. One Christmas where it all seems possible. It felt strange to be out here in the middle of the night, still wearing the Amish dress--a dress that had belonged to Miri. Rachel's footsteps crunched in the snow, and halfway between the barn and the house, she paused to look up at the night sky, wondering if more snow was in store, but all she saw was velvety black and stars. Millions of twinkling stars. She had never seen stars like that before, so bright and so close, almost as if she could touch them with her hand. Rachel Milligan never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend the week before Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio. But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised. With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously makes her way from Chicago to Ohio's Amish country. As ...

I have to say I do not honestly remember much of what I got for Christmas as child. Off the top of my head, the two Christmases I remember, were one, when all of us siblings received bicycles (mine was orange) and two, when we got a train set. It was so exciting to set it up all over the living room with my dad. But my favorite Christmas memory is not the gifts we received but the legacy my parents gave us. Every Christmas morning we would hop out of bed, eat a Christmas breakfast one or both of my parents fixed, then we would gather round the tree as a family. My dad would get out his Bible and read the Christmas story of Jesus being born in a stable, and the shepherd hearing the good news from the angels and coming to visit him. We would thank God for his gift to us of salvation through His Son Jesus. Then we would open gifts. This will always be my favorite Christmas memory. I am so thankful for parents who gave us so much...

Recently, I participated in a ladies Christmas Tea, at a friends house. It is becoming a yearly tradition for our home school group. We get together, without the children if possible, and just enjoy an English tea, with plenty of delicious delicacies, but best of all is the fellowship.  After tea, us ladies gather 'round the Christmas tree for a time of sharing. Each one shares something, a recipe, a memory, a tradition, a story... Then we have a gift exchange and always plenty of laughter. It is something precious to look forward to each year at Christmas. I for one, have not been too great at making Christmas traditions. Our family has a few, if you can call them that even. My oldest daughter and I usually watch Christmas movies, one we make a point to watch every year is The Christmas Card .  We often bake cookies and deliver them to some of the elderly in our neighborhood. In an attempt to keep our hearts focused on Jesus...