Christmas Devotionals, an Ermine, and Learning About the Holy Spirit
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Photo by nine koepfer on Unsplash
Happy last day of November!
As you know (unless you're new to my online community—in which case, welcome!), at the close of every month, I share a few of my favorite listens, reads, and resources.
As we move into December, I hope these resources encourage and inspire you as you pursue a life of purpose, joy, and intimacy with God!
In purpose and faith,
Finding Joy in Everyday Life...
Before we get to the resources, here are a few of my favorite things that happened in November!
I got my skis out and have been enjoying the trails! I feel so blessed and thankful to have access to some amazing ski trails, and I always feel so refreshed and in awe of God's beauty after spending time on them.
I am so honored and excited to have one of my devotions included in this devotional compilation published by Devotable! A lot of my writing is published online, which I love because it makes it so much easier to share, but there is something special about seeing your words in print, so it was a fun moment when I opened my mail and got to finally hold my hard copy.
Extinguishing the Spirit of Fear is a book of 30 devotions designed to help you battle fear and anxiety. I know a couple of the other authors included, and I can tell you they have such encouraging stories to share!
If you're interested, you can learn more and get your own copy here.
A loose sketch inspired by a tiny, pure white ermine (also known as a short-tailed weasel, also known as a stoat) I saw a few weeks ago. I’ve only seen ermines a few times that I can recall, and I’ve never seen a winter-white one (their upper body turns brown in the summer).⠀
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It was skittering around my flower bed, and then it zipped into the nearby woods, where it zig-zagged from tree base to tree base, apparently hunting. It was so cute, funny, and absolutely delightful! You can read my Instagram post about it here.
What was your favorite thing about November? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
I've been reading...
The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by John Bevere
I'm about 1/3 of the way through this book and have been enjoying it!
Here's a little snippet from the back cover:
"For three years the disciples had been with Jesus, walking with Him and hearing everything He had to say. Yet Jesus told His closest friends that He needed to leave them so that the Holy Spirit would come—and that they would be better off because of it (John 16:7, 13-14). If this was true of the disciples, who spent every day with Jesus, how much more do we need the Holy Spirit actively involved in our lives today?"
In the book, Bevere explains Who the Holy Spirit is, what His Personality is like, how to be empowered by Him, and how to hear from Him.
You can learn more about this book here!
I've also been reading...
Immanuel: A Daily Guide to Reclaiming Christmas by Ann Spangler
I loved Ann Spangler's book Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, which she co-authored with Lois Tverberg, so I was excited to check out her Christmas devotional.
It's a six-week devotional, designed to be started in November, which I did, so I'm also about 1/3 of the way through this one, and I'm enjoying it as well.
Each week, Ann focuses on a different name of Jesus, and she leads us in understanding the name, praying the name, and reading about promises associated with the name. If you're looking for a unique Christmas devotional, this one is worth checking out!
You can learn more about this book here!
Another Christmas devotional, by yours truly...
Just a reminder that you can still get your copy of Illuminating Jesus: Reflections on Jesus for Each Week of December. I've also created an audio version to accompany the e-book, so if you prefer to listen, this devotional is for you!
Here's a bit more about the devotional and links to where you can find it:
Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year—but it’s also the busiest.
Even though we may desire to focus on the true meaning of the season, if we’re not careful, we can get so caught up in shopping for presents, attending parties, and planning church programs that we miss out on connecting with Jesus and receiving the gifts He came to give.
That's why I created Illuminating Jesus, a devotional designed to help you combat the crush of a full schedule and connect with Jesus in a fresh way in just a few minutes each week.
The devotional contains four devotions, one for each week of December:
⭐ Week one explores Jesus as our Incarnate Creator and the gift of creativity.
⭐ Week two explores Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Promise and the gift of joy.
⭐ Week three explores Jesus as the Light and the gift of peace.
⭐ Week four explores Jesus as Immanuel and the gift of help.
It comes as an e-book for those who love to read, and I also created an audio version for those who prefer to listen.
The e-book comes in the form of a downloadable PDF. Each devotion is 4-5 letter-sized pages in length, and the total length of the e-book is 24 pages.
The audio devotions are each between 7 and 9 minutes long, for a total of approximately 45 minutes of audio content.
The audio devotional comes as an audio/e-book bundle (when you choose the bundle, you essentially get the e-book as a bonus). Or if you prefer, you can purchase just the e-book.
If you
⭐ Are looking for a devotional with a fresh perspective on the birth of Jesus...
⭐ Would like a unique addition to your weekly Advent tradition...
⭐ Want to be encouraged and empowered by the amazing gifts Jesus came to give...
This devotional is for you!
Don’t let Jesus get lost in the hustle this Christmas. Recapture the wonder and experience the abundant life He came to give! 🌟⠀
You can find the e-book devotional here and the audio/e-book bundle here.
I've been listening...
I've been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks already—the three to four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas is just not enough time to enjoy all the wonderful songs!
"O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas song, and this rendition by Lauren Daigle is probably my favorite version of it.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, with no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
