5 Minutes For Books

Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas

by

I’m a little slow on the uptake. I don’t jump into trends quickly, and sometimes it takes me a while to warm up to a theme or idea. I think that holidays even fall into this camp for me. For weeks leading up to Easter or Christmas, I sort of contemplate the work that Christ did, but afterwards — after a beautiful Christmas Eve service, after listening to Christmas music for a few weeks, and staring at my nativity scene decorating my home for a couple of weeks — THEN it finally sinks in.

It’s Christmas. God sent Jesus to the earth as a miraculous baby, to grow up as a human.

But by that time, the Christmas CDs have been put away, the Christmas-themed books seem out of date and silly. But I think that for me, I should take this additional time after the holiday to ponder and continue to apply those truths to my life.

I was sent Maria Rodgers O’Rourke’s Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas a while ago. Before Thanksgiving I think. Plenty of time to look at, review, and pass on to you — and you know, actually prepare my heart for Christmas. But I didn’t.

When I finally picked it up this week, I saw that it is designed as a reflective devotional with room for journaling alongside each day’s devotional reading. It starts at Thanksgiving and goes through December 25, but then there are about 15 more undated “Christmas Season” entries to carry you through the time after the big day.

Yes, the entries are mostly related to the advent of Jesus — mostly but not all. In general, the author appeals to us as women: tired, busy, confused women. She addresses the Santa issue (how to answer the questions, what he adds to the Christmas celebration and more), and of course that long long list of to-dos that seem to plague every woman this time of year.

Each day there is a space to write down something for which you are grateful, your intentions for the day, and your to-do list. What a great time to plan your day — in the midst of your time with God!

If you want a devotional that will prompt you to journal, or if you are looking for a gift for someone who you would like to encourage in this way, I highly recommend Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas. The entries are dated, but I plan on using the book as if it is not once I get beyond the Christmas season.

We even have three copies to give away (U.S. shipping addresses only), so leave a comment if you’re interested. I’ll announce the winners on December 17.

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan is a contributing editor at 5 Minutes for Mom. She blogs at Snapshot about daily life with her tween daughter and preschool son.

Comments

  1. This sounds lovely, and I totally know what you mean about getting caught up in the season. It’s so easy to do despite our best intentions.

  3. Hello,

    This sounds like a great little book – and a good way to take a little time out during the busy holiday to focus on what is truly important.
    Please enter me in this drawing.

    Kristi

  9. I’m having a hard time getting in the spirit this year. Sounds like this book would be a step in that direction. Please count me in.

    Deidre
    deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

  10. I could use this book…and I’m guessing I could use it to prepare my heart for the new year.

  11. A great book for this time of year – and really for any time of year. Thanks for the chance!

  14. i could use this book to help me focus on the true meaning of christmas. this sounds like a great book!

  15. I was just thinking today that I wish I had a book kind of like this. Thanks for the chance!
    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

  16. Please sign me up! My pastors wife just got a blessings journal for her birthday and said it has blessed her to sit down and recall the blessings at the end of the day. Thanks for the chance!

  17. This book would be a great one to read this holiday. It would bring us all back to the true reason for the season. Thanks!

  18. I would love to win a copy of this book. My 27 year old son-in-law passed away in his sleep Monday morning, so this Christmas is going to be a difficult one for our family. This book would be a blessing for my daughter and her 2 little girls.

    hawkes(at)citlink.net

  21. #18 Christy,

    I’m so very, very sorry to hear of your loss. That’s tragic any time of year but it’s especially hard with the holidays. You and your family have my prayers and deepest sympathy.

    Debbie (Wrighty)

  22. I’ve always enjoyed keeping a journal and this sounds so nice. We’ve hard some hardships in the family in the last few years and this is a good reminder of what is important and how to appreciate the holiday season. Thanks for the offer.

  25. This has been a very rough year, this journal/book would sounds like it would help put everything in perspective.

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