by admin | Dec 1, 2010 | Advent, Christmas
The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
Isaiah 9:2-4
by admin | Nov 30, 2010 | Advent, Christmas
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
~Isaiah 11:1-5
by admin | Nov 29, 2010 | Advent, Christmas
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,
one whose origins are from the distant past.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
And he will be the source of peace.
~Malachi 5:1-5
by admin | Nov 29, 2010 | Advent, Christmas
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
~ Malachi 3:1 ~
by admin | Nov 16, 2010 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
Another of Melody Carlson’s annual Christmas novellas, Christmas at Harrington’s tells the story of Lena Markham as she attempts to start over in a new town. Although Lena has very little other than the clothes on her back, a few dollars, and the promise of a job, her hope of success is virtually nonexistent. An encounter on the bus with a generous older woman is the beginning of new friendships and encouragement. Lena’s own generosity despite her circumstances endears her to others which in turn raises her spirits. However (and isn’t it just always the case), her satisfying new job comes to a screeching halt when secrets of her past are revealed.
I loved this book! Carlson has a way of getting into her characters’ hearts and revealing both the good and bad inside them. I liked how many people Lena touched along the way with her sweet spirit when she had every right to be bitter about how she had been betrayed. It is such a wonderful story that reveals the true meaning of Christmas. I suspect that there will also be much demand for Carlson’s children’s book ‘Twas The Night: The Nativity Story that was quoted in Christmas at Harrington’s. Too bad it seems to be out of print.
I recommend Christmas at Harrington’s and plan to leave it on my coffee table for the season. I may just read it again.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Get In the Holiday Spirit with this Inspiring Christmas Story ABOUT New Beginnings
Just in time for the holidays, comes Christmas at Harrington’s, a tender story about fresh starts from Melody Carlson, the bestselling author of The Christmas Bus.
In Carlson’s latest tale that will charm readers, Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent.
When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret?
Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington’s will be readers’ newest Christmas tradition.
Christmas at Harrington’s
by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1925-8
Available Oct. 2010; $15.99
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody’s website at www.melodycarlson.com.
by admin | Nov 6, 2010 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Romance
This week,
the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Grace
Avon Inspire; Original edition (October 26, 2010)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It’s Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holiday.
Anna and Henry will be celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, and for Katie and Jonathan Lundy, it’s their first Christmas with baby Stefan. Winnie and Samuel Miller plan to stop by as well for a wonderful two weeks of family and rest.
But when two unexpected visitors show up, hoping to stay for Christmas, the family must test their commitment to hospitality. Levi is a widower who lost his wife four years ago and can’t bear the thought of another Christmas alone. And Melody is a young pregnant woman who won’t open up about how she ended up on her own at Christmas at almost nine months pregnant.
Anna, who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets, doesn’t trust her, and strives to find out the truth about these two strangers who have disrupted their holiday. But as the Christmas spirit descends on them all, as well as snow that traps them in the inn, a healing and hopefulness takes over, allowing new relationships to be built, and the boundaries of family to be extended.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Grace, go HERE.
