On Abiding in Christ, Part 1

Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

"Most of us are preoccupied with our performance as Christians, rather than being occupied with the person of Christ. We are more interested in the results we achieve than in simply resting in Him—abiding in Him. We want to appropriate His power, but fail to appreciate His person. Abiding stresses the source of our life and strength, but we frequently ignore the person of Christ to seek the product of our union with Him. We have the cart before the horse.

Abiding is our obligation; fruitfulness is God’s concern. The True Vine is the Author, the Source and the Finisher of our faith. We should be seeking His fellowship, and leaving the fruit to Him."

Quoted italics found here.

John 15:1-11 
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener....Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me....I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples....As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

The vine analogy, and the sheep analogy, both paint portraits of helplessness. The branches are dead without the vine, and the sheep are dead without the shepherd. We cannot live joyful lives in Christ, fully alive and robust, without a fellowship relationship with Him. The close walking together. The close conversations over the Bible and over prayer. We cannot go on day after day, too busy to sit at His feet. This is huge for multitasking women to grasp; we fail often at abiding.

Our fruit won't be of good quality, our comfort won't be complete, our faith will be weak, our love for others will be superficial. Such are the consequences of failing to abide. 

Abiding is our work. It is our only work.

That's a different way to think of the Christian life, isn't it? That abiding is our only work? Everything Christ wants to do through us, will come from our abiding.

So whatever you think you are doing in Christ's name, ask yourself, is it instead of my devotional time? Does it make me too busy for devotional time? Train yourself to abide (believing, depending, persevering), not perform. Practice relationship with God first, whereby you learn to believe, depend, and persevere. And this is ongoing. It is not learned, and then you're done. You continue to fellowship with God, and he continues to fill you with the Spirit, who helps you abide.

In the time leftover, let God orchestrate something for your God-given gifts and talents--for your works that bring Him glory. Works can't be forced; whatever we do in our own strength, won't glorify God. 

I say it again...Abiding is our work. It is our only work. It is also the only thing that truly satisfies our soul.

To the Teen Who Thinks Marijuana is Cool

A mother at my church is burdened for her 13-year-old son who began recently using marijuana, because, in his words, "Life is better with marijuana." My own upbringing didn't make this much of a stretch to write (having had a self-medicating parent). I added details making it relevant for teens. The end product is a generic self-medicating narrative. I pray it helps my friend's teen, or another one, though parents may have to change it to fit for their children.

Dear Teen,

Being you, really you, is hard. Cutting up to fit in with the other boys is socially expected--it seems boys aren't allowed to be serious or shy or studious--but you're not interested in being silly. It just isn't you. You're having trouble finding your slice of the social pie, and yet being left out entirely feels bad. Unnatural.

The fringe people, though? They seem to welcome you. They don't expect anything from you, or at least it seems that way. After a while, they offer you their funny cigarettes, and being an adventurous person, you try them.

Miraculously, your personality seems more dynamic. You start having fun for a change.

Being with these fringe people...well, it seems pretty good. You've found your special slice of the social pie, finally. Life is good. 

Some people, like your parents, don't approve and get angry, but really, you're not hurting anyone and marijuana is not addictive. So you find ways to keep buying it, keep using it, keep meeting with these same friends.

You don't worry about the future, knowing you can stop this when you want to. When it's time to get serious about life, you will, but right now, who cares? Kids your age should be having fun, right? They should have friends, good times, be making memories to write in yearbooks. All that's happening for you now, and you're not going to let anyone mess it up.

The truth you don't see?

You were confused about what matters in this life, and life got so heavy. Fitting in and having a slice of the social pie makes up a minute part of a long life--a life so different from high school. We're teens for a nano second. Once we graduate high school, we're all on a level playing field. The homecoming king has no advantage over the polite boy who never said hello to a single girl in four years of high school classes. They both have to start from scratch making something of their lives. Popularity means nothing. Sincerity becomes important.

Let's get to the root of the problem. When faced with what felt so heavy, what was your answer? Self-medication.

God is our healer. The lover of our soul. The One to whom we belong, always. He gives us our worth. Our talents. Our gifts. He has a plan for our lives, and it is beautiful. Before we were born, he knew us.

When you began self-medicating, my young friend, your problems weren't solved.

The real ones have just begun.

Choosing a drug that changes your personality, or your perception of reality, to make life seem better than it is, is the beginning of a long heartache--yours, and your family's.

The first and most pervasive problem is denial. You will keep convincing yourself that you can stop this at any time, but all the while, you are reinforcing for your brain that the answer to negative feelings is to reach for the medication. It will give you an escape; it will become a knee-jerk reaction that you give little thought to after a while.

While using it, you can deny your pain, and deny your dysfunctional response to pain.

How will it affect your life?

When you become romantically attached to someone, it will be to an unhealthy enabler. She will bring baggage and have her own problems to add to yours. All healthy girls will know better than to date a drug user. As long as you keep your self-medicating ways, you are marked--for unhealthy liaisons.

Have plans for children later on? They will grow up trying to love you, but it will be so hard, what with all the pain you'll cause them. Your kids may grow up just like you. Addicts. Or they're marry addicts and prolong the pain you started. And your grandchildren? Do you think your kids will even want them exposed to you? Your family's love for you will be more like pity. In fact, all the love anyone has for you will be more like pity. Self-medicating people are pitiful, not lovable. They're too selfish to be lovable.

Down the line, all you'll love is your drug. It will be your baby. Your sweetheart. You'll do anything for it. You'll dream of it. Lust after it. Scheme ways to get it; plan ways to hide it.

You'll be disgusting.

Sooner or later you will anger or disappoint just about everybody, and only your most loyal enablers--the ones who are the most sick themselves--will still be with you.

So, what is the alternative for you? Is there an alternative?

Learn the rhythms of life and do not fear them. Life is neither all good nor all bad. Neither all beautiful nor all ugly. You will know joy and sorrow. Happiness and sadness. Pain and pleasure. You will walk through valleys and over peaks, and with you always will be the Lord your God, who is mighty to save. He will never leave you nor forsake you. In your worst hour, in your best hour, he will be there--not to remove your worst hour, or prolong your best, but to offer his Presence.  To share his Joy. To quiet you with his Love. To fill you with his Peace. 

He comforts you here and glorifies you in heaven. You're covered, down here and up there. And you get to work for him here in glorious ways, being part of miracles, if only you'll trust him.

Embrace life, in all its imperfection. Don't run. Don't hide. Don't cower. Trust the Lord your God, Author of the Universe, to give you a soul high. A lasting joy that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray? Dear Lord, forgive me. I love you. I want to embrace this life you've given me. Help me to be strong and courageous. Help me to trust you with my troubles and my pain. Teach me to come to you in my sorrow. Teach me to lay my burdens down before you. Teach me to value each day as a gift. Help me to view these days of social angst in light of all my years. Help me to draw close to my family and love them well. Transform my heart. Make me your servant. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Updated: Marriage, Pink Frosting, and Divorce

*Updated at the end

We all enjoy chocolate in this family, so for birthdays I make the same delicious, moist, homemade chocolate cake every time, with homemade chocolate frosting. A couple of the kids, however, have their minds set on colored frosting. They're enticed by the fancy, store-bought look of it.

I don't have much luck with food coloring myself, so I usually just buy a commercial frosting in these cases, like today, when Beth wanted pink frosting on her birthday cake. I hate feeding my family this unnatural, poor-tasting frosting, but it's a couple times a year at most, so it's not worth arguing over.

But everyone--except the enticed one--will usually say something akin to..."This frosting is awful."

Someone asked me for marriage advice this week and I've prayed about what to advise, if anything. (We'll get back to the frosting shortly.) I have very few details, but I know this particular situation did not involve domestic violence. Please, if you are being abused, get away to a shelter or to a family member or friend capable of protecting you.

If you and your children are really unhappy, and you've tried encouraging everyone involved, to no avail, what is the next step?

Divorce is enticing when everyday life with your spouse is unpleasant and stressful, or when most days feel hateful, or at best, loveless. I've never reached this point and I pray I never will, but I can imagine it feels utterly hopeless, with a long, dreadful road ahead.

But consider this: Divorce is like the pink frosting. Looks mighty enticing at first, but when you take the bait and have a mouthful of it...yuck. Definitely not what you hoped for.

After the divorce, problems crop up faster than July weeds. Personal problems multiply; children's problems multiply; money problems multiply. Your quality of life won't improve; you only trade one set of problems for all new, multifaceted problems that will be with you until death.

I don't know any divorced, content people, other than those who came to Christ after their divorce. Getting remarried isn't promising either; statistics show the majority of second and third marriages also end in divorce. Although, the success rates of second marriages may be higher than average when the divorces proceeding them were for biblically-sound reasons. The statistics we generally have available aren't broken down this way.

Anyhow, before we discuss what to do for unpleasant marriages, what about the worst kind of marriages? Does the Bible protect us?

Scriptural reasons for divorce: 

~ Unrepentant adultery (Matthew 19: 6, 9)

~ Abandonment by a non-believing spouse (1 Cor. 7:15). If you are a Christian, having become one either before or after you married, and your spouse is a non-Christian, you should stay in the unequally yoked marriage unless your unbelieving spouse chooses to divorce you. If the spouse divorces or leaves you, then you are not bound to the marriage covenant any longer. You are free to get remarried.

Valid reasons for separation, and subsequent counseling/law enforcement/court involvement:

~ Physical or sexual abuse of adults or children
~ Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
~ Stealing or other unlawful activity
~ No attempt from husband to support family as expected, outside of mental or physical injury or disorder

The Bible doesn't ask you to stay in an unlawful situation (violence against another that is not self-defense, is illegal). We are to submit to the governing authorities over us, including the laws of the land.

If the above don't apply to the marriage, what then?

I'm assuming you have already tried:

1.  Praying regularly for your marriage.

2.  Being consistent with your personal devotional time.

Any positive change starts with these two things. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. We need to seek his wisdom in all things, through Bible reading and prayer.

Sometimes a change of heart is needed, such as more gratitude, more humility, more meekness, more faithfulness, or just more faith, period.

Other times it's more complicated, such as when one or both spouses have a chronic disorder such as autism spectrum disorder, bipolar, ADHD, depression, PTSD, chronic fatigue, etc. In these instances we may need a counselor or a professional book to address the ways these disorders affect the marriage. Just being an adult child of an alcoholic can affect a marriage.

When you're in the middle of the turmoil, it's hard to think or see clearly; the downward spiral is exhausting.

A Problem Solving Conference

Choosing the calmest time for both of you, put all the possible issues on the table that may be affecting your interaction with one another. Think of this not as a time to blame, but as an investigative conference over coffee (my husband and I hate coffee, so that's laughable). Look back even to memories of your parents' marriages and how their patterns may have negatively impacted yours.

When talking about the issues, restrict your statements to "I feel" statements, rather than "You keep doing such and such". If someone gets defensive and angry, you're going no where with this. Have a signal agreed upon beforehand, like the rattle of the car keys, to indicate that someone feels blamed, so you can both regroup and start again, begging each other's pardon.

Once you have a laundry list of possible issues affecting your marriage, classify them based upon what's needed to solve them. For example, if there is depression or anxiety, a counselor or doctor might be needed, so keep a column for "professional help".

If one of you is an adult child of an alcoholic, you could probably get by with reading Adult Children of Alcoholics, rather than seeing a counselor (or both), so make a column for "self-help or spiritual books".

If one of you has ADHD, there are blogs you can read related to having an ADHD-impacted marriage, and books as well. These particular ADHD picks are not Christian, but you could glean something helpful and add it to your spiritual knowledge base.

If you're a mouse and you married a roaring lion, or vice versa, there is often a reason for that, and you need not be miserable forever in the marriage. Dysfunctional upbringings bring about some pretty interesting combinations, but God can redeem the unhealthy patterns. He can use counselors and pastors and books to help us unlock the mysteries in our marriages. Just be prepared to have someone point out your sins (through your prayer time, while you're in the Bible, or in counseling with your pastor). Because any marriage problem will deal with sin of one kind or another, even if lack of grace is the only one.

There are systematic approaches to solving problems, and when we say we've tried everything, I wonder how much of that is emotional, and how much reality? Where are the notes or the data proving we've tried everything?  Did the counselor or pastor give up too? Did he or she say it was hopeless? Pretend you are a counselor who has to keep good notes to prove to a supervisor that you tried everything to save a marriage. Yours.

Three Final Points

~ Remember, God is mighty to save. It is with his power that we succeed at all. Trying to do any of this in your power won't work. Wake up every morning, asking, What can I do for my marriage today, God? Let it be Him doing the work, through you. Look ahead to what God will do in your marriage, and don't get stuck in today.

~ There are so many unknowns in life, our marriages included. My husband could die in a car accident tomorrow. He could fall off a ladder and suffer a brain injury next week. Our issues could improve with time and less stress, or they could get worse with age and health issues. We just don't know. My six-year-old Beth has an aggressive auto-immune arthritis and she may or may not ever grow out of it. She may not be up to having many children, depending on what her joints are like in her twenties. I have no idea how it all will affect her life, her movement, her outlook.

Some things in life just stink and we have to accept them, looking forward to heaven and perfection. Some marriage situations just stink and they are a cross to bear for some, such as with brain injury tragedies. (Happened to a vice principal at my old high school--fell off a ladder while putting up Christmas lights and never worked again). They have to be accepted, for want of a better solution. That stinks, but God is not absent from that, anymore than he is from my daughter's chronic disease. He is still there, comforting, providing daily grace. You are never alone.

~ Gratitude is a solution to almost any woe. You can be personally grateful for things in your life, outside of your husband and your marriage, and this attitude of heart will radiate outward, and I bet it influences your husband for good. Your inner beauty, gathered from Bible readings, quiet time with the Father in prayer, glad times writing in your gratitude journal...these will all add to the beauty and joy in your life, regardless of your husband and marriage. You are more than your marriage...more than a wife.

You are a daughter of the King first.

* Updated - While in the shower this morning the Lord gave me a word to add to this.

We are in the season of Advent, which is a time of anticipation and waiting. Indeed, before the coming of the Christ child, the world was without a word from the Lord for 400 years. Those long years represent the time between the last prophet and the coming of the Messiah. Silence.

Children have a hard time in this season, anticipating the opening of any packages, and even as adults sometimes, we haven't come very far in our ability to delay gratification. We want every desire fulfilled yesterday, not tomorrow or five years from now.

What is missing, most often, is our ability or desire to rest and abide in Christ. Most things, except our hunger and shelter and clothing, can wait, if only we learn to abide in Christ. I give you a link, rather than try to explain abiding, because it's a topic requiring a post of its own, which I will get to.

Remember that the Lord is mostly about the business of two things--magnifying His glory and securing souls. A divorce glorifies Satan, while a previously messy, disastrous marriage, restored and glorified, magnifies Christ and his power. God wants to remake your marriage. He loves to do it, but it can't be done overnight.  Maybe not even in a year, or two years. You may be ready, but your spouse? Not so much? Don't despair about that, because God is all about miracles. Didn't he get you ready?

We simply must learn to abide in Him while he works. Consider that our whole lives, more curves will come. Abiding is the answer, no matter the problem. Problems will come and go, but abiding is like a foundation that never falters.

image

The Day I Had to Explain Human Trafficking

One day I paced the house, patting my colicky baby son's back, and the next day, he's twelve years old.

December 2nd he's studying which Lego City fire item he wants for Christmas, and December 3rd he's pouring over the World Vision Gift Catalog, wondering how many chickens we can buy for third-world children, and Mommy, how could I have been looking at Legos? I'd rather buy farm animals and medicines and mosquito nets from this magazine.

2 chickens for $25
fast growing seeds for 1 family $17
$280 worth of medicines for $35

Peter reads the whole magazine cover to cover, wearing a serious demeanor.

"Does God want me to serve in Uganda?"

Uganda is appealing, I believe, because he'll probably get by with just English. We have a Compassion child there who writes us in English in her own hand, without a translator.

"Will I be a farmer there? How will I get land? Can I let these people live on my land so they'll be able to farm their own food? They can keep farm animals too."

Peter is interrupted briefly, and I see the page on child trafficking and tear it out.

The next day the Compassion Gift Catalog comes.

He peruses it first. It's not as detailed, he remarks. I'm folding towels, not thinking ahead about child trafficking. He sees a page. "What's child s*x trafficking?"

Silence.

I don't say anything because I'm too horrified. I just make the quiet sign. I wait for his 11-year-old brother to leave the room. "It's slavery. The worst kind of slavery."

More silence.

Tears, both of us.

He's angry. Upset at me, upset at the magazine people for not putting a warning about the content. I'm sorry, I say. I didn't catch it in this one.

I'm at a loss for words. My almost 13-year-old son doesn't even know what a gay person is, and here I have to explain human trafficking already?

I open my mouth, not knowing if anything will help. "Human trafficking is the worst evil in the world. The very worst Satan has to offer. It's in this magazine because these girls can be ministered to and God can redeem their situation. They're lied to, their parents are lied to, and sometimes they're simply kidnapped. They're beaten and drugged if they don't comply, and sometimes they're beaten even when they do comply. They can end up addicted to drugs because it's too painful to live without the drugs, in that kind of lifestyle.

Rescuing them and helping them heal spiritually, schooling them and teaching vocational skills takes money, and that's what the magazine is asking for. Child sponsorship prevents children from being trafficked, because neither they nor their parents are so desperate anymore. Their needs are taken care of, and Compassion looks out for these kids--how they get home, how they travel to school, knowing what dangers are lurking and when. Compassion makes it their business to prevent trafficking of Compassion-assisted areas."

He doesn't agree with me that God can redeem this. 

"No, they can't be helped after that", he said. "It's too late." (Partly, this is OCD moral scrupulosity talking, not my son. We've found another psychologist, thank goodness).

"Peter, God can take any situation, no matter how ugly, and redeem it for his glory. You've got to remember how mighty God is! How much he loves us! He can take any broken person and stamp her beautiful and righteous. I'm not saying she won't still feel some pain, but the Lord will never leave her alone in her pain. He will never forsake her. His blood has made her whole and perfect, destined for full healing in heaven. Remember that God is all about two main things--bringing Glory to himself, and saving souls. God is not blind to these children's plight, and he is working through faithful people like you, Peter, who feel a righteous horror on behalf of these children and their families. Don't ever let the horror dull within you. Save every penny you can. Offer every prayer you can. Ask where God wants to send you, and for what work."

I hate the world we live in, but I love the Lord my God, who is mighty to save. And I'm proud of my son, who didn't want to grow up today, but had to. He's not my colicky baby anymore, but a man-boy after the Lord's own heart. There's no mistaking the fire in his soul. I have to let him go soon...put him in the Lord's hands, just as Katie Davis's parents had to do when she was 19. When the Lord lights a fire, the parents rejoice, but there's a bit of mourning too.

Christmas Picture Books, Part 1

My favorite thing about Christmas besides the miracle of Jesus--the miracle of hearing from heaven following 400 years of silence--is the Christmas books. Yes, cuddling with my family for Christmas books is goodness and grace and joy all wrapped up in a cozy package. There are tears, giggles, hugs, deep sighs, deep gratitude. We make memories as stories fill our hearts and minds, bring us close together, and knit us strong into a united cloth that is family. Storytime always does this for us, but in December, it's extra special.

Here are six books--just the first installment. I pray you can find them at your library. Enjoy!

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski 

Synopsis by Booklist: "Christmas is pish-posh," grumbles Jonathan Toomey, the best wood carver in the valley. He's a Scroogelike recluse; but he's a gentle grouch, it turns out, and he hides a sad secret. He's transformed, not by Dickensian ghosts, but by an eager seven-year-old boy and his widowed mother who ask him to make them a Christmas creche. The story verges on the sentimental, but it's told with feeling and lyricism (he "traveled till his tears stopped" ). Lynch's sweeping illustrations, in shades of wood grain, are both realistic and gloriously romantic, focusing on faces and hands at work before the fire and in the lamplight. In a beautiful, elemental scene, the angry wood carver stands on the threshold of his home, disturbed by the gentle widow and her son who want his help and will transform his life. (text copyright 1995)

My Notes: Yes, I shared this book last year, too. I do not write either book or product reviews because it would take time I don't have to develop skill at writing them, but hear me when I tell you, you must have this book on your shelf every Christmas, okay? It has heart, humor, love, gentleness, bitterness, patience, self-control, sorrow, grief, healing, transformation, and joy, all wrapped up in a delicate, beautifully woven tale that will keep you coming back for more, Christmas after Christmas, and then some. Don't leave December without it!

Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco 

Synopsis from Publishers Weekly: Polacco's (The Keeping Quilt) knack for spinning seemingly disparate characters and plot elements into personal yarns works to great effect in this holiday picture book, based on a "true story" told as a church homily. Jonathan resents his Baptist preacher father's reassignment from Memphis to a dilapidated church in Detroit, and he's dismayed when damage from a blizzard ruins months of planning to restore the building in time for Christmas Eve services. But the elegant-looking, bargain-priced tapestry he and his dad purchase to cover the damage miraculously brings about the reunion of an elderly Jewish couple separated decades earlier during the Holocaust. Though the tale slows in spots, Polacco's signature illustrations of swirling snow, the fine tapestry and numerous love-filled faces invite readers to linger. All ages. (Copyright 2002)

My notes: I love most of Patricia Polacco's work, and this didn't disappoint; it was a pleasure to read to my family. The children loved it! The coincidental events of the tale are a bit hard to believe, but an author's note indicates Patricia heard the story in two different religious settings, and adapted it to fit young readers, changing the setting to her home state of Michigan. 

An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco

Synopsis: The Stowell family is abuzz with holiday excitement, and Frankie, the youngest boy, is the most excited of all. But there's a cloud over the joyous season: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Pa hasn't returned yet from his trip to Lansing. He promised to bring back the oranges for the mantelpiece. Every year there are nine of them nestled among the evergreens, one for each of the children. But this year, heavy snows might mean no oranges . . . and, worse, no Pa!
This is a holiday story close to Patricia Polacco's heart. Frankie was her grandmother's youngest brother, and every year she and her family remember this tale of a little boy who learned--and taught--an important lesson about giving, one Christmas long ago. (copyright 2004)

My Notes: This quickly became a classic in our house last year, and will reappear every Christmas. Just a beautiful story of giving and love and family cohesiveness. Don't leave December without it. A keeper and a sure favorite!

Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black and Rosalind Beardshaw

Synopsis from Booklist: One Christmas Eve, a king purchases a bolt of cloth from an outdoor market: “That cloth is so red and soft and Christmassy!” Perfect, in fact, to make a cloak for the princess. What the king does not expect, though, is that the leftover scraps from the cloth, set outside the back door, hold an equal appeal for others. Before night falls, the castle’s kitchen maid finds the scraps and sews a jacket for her ma; a badger makes a hat for his pa; a squirrel sews gloves for his wife; and a mouse creates a scarf for her son. With its catchy repetitive phrases, this book is perfect for the preschool child or emergent reader, who can anticipate what will come next. The endearing mixed-media illustrations, often arranged on the page within a simple sewing pattern, effectively capture the joy of the season. The warm message of the closeness of family pervades both text and pictures, and the final two-page spread brings all the inhabitants together, ice-skating in their brand-new finery—a lovely communal touch. Preschool-Grade 1. (Copyright 2012)

My Notes: This story tickled me so! My girls too--so much so we had to close the book and start all over right away, it was so delicious! Loved the small repetitive part that my girls could join in on. Fun from start to finish, and I think the grade level could go beyond grade 1 easily. Even a fourth grader would smile at this. 

The Legend of the Christmas Stocking: The Inspirational Story of a Wish Come True by Rick Osborne

Synopsis: This wonderful Christmas tale, set in the late 1800s, shares the touching story of a young boy named Peter. He sells newspapers to help his family while his father is away at sea, and he’s been saving a bit of his earnings to buy a model schooner in the woodworker’s shop. But after Uncle Jim, the woodworker, tells him the story of St. Nicholas, Peter discovers the meaning behind the hanging and filling of Christmas stockings and learns a heartfelt lesson in kindness and generosity. Filled with the rich, realistic illustrations of Jim Griffin, children ages 4 to 8 will discover the depth of God's love shown through others as they learn the Christian meaning revealed in The Legend of the Christmas Stocking. Through imaginative and innovative products, Zonderkidz is feeding young souls. (copyright 2004)

My Notes: When I looked at the author's name, and saw the ZonderKids label, I thought...is that the Rick Osborne--author of a million and one Christian discipleship books for children? Yes, it is. This is a wonderful book too. My children were mesmerized by the legend of the Christmas stocking, and Peter's story is very touching and teaches self-sacrifice, hard work, and family responsibility. 

A Little Women Christmas by Heather Vogel Frederick (New in 2014)

Synopsis: A cherished holiday scene from a beloved classic comes to life in this festive, cozy picture book homage to Little Women.

It’s almost Christmas, and Jo March is determined that this year, unlike the last, there will be presents. It is in this spirit that she and her dear friend Laurie build a snow maiden for poor, sick Beth. The next day, Beth is thrilled with her present, and each of the girls, in turn, receives a little something from the others. But the best gift of all arrives when Papa, who has been away at war and ill, makes a surprise return home for Christmas dinner.

With a timeless message of goodwill and giving and stunning painted artwork, A Little Women Christmas makes a perfect gift for fans of Louisa May Alcott’s literary treasure as well as for anyone who appreciates the true meaning of Christmas. (copyright 2014)

My Notes: I was so excited to see this in the new book section! The paintings are beautiful and it really feels like a holiday chapter out of Little Women (with simpler prose). It's a short read so your little ones won't be antsy, but for Little Women fans it will feel too short.