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God’s Virtue

December 12, 2013

“Mary was full of God’s grace simply because God chose to bless her. We have no description of her being holy or pious or deserving. She was a virgin, yes, but not perfect, not without sin. For Jesus to be fully the Son of Man, his mother had to be fully human.

What made Mary worthy of her calling was not her virtue; it was God’s virtue. That’s why her story gives every woman a generous measure of hope. God takes us as we are and uses us as he will, for our good and for his glory. Talk about being ‘endued with grace!’”

Excerpted from The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs

Watch Liz’s Christmas video special with Ann Voskamp here.

Daily Reflection: How is God using you, just as you are, for His glory [ … ]

A Perfect Christmas Gift

December 11, 2013

Tis the season to ponder your budget in time and money for a blowout, sensational, colossal, I-appreciate-you-more-than-you-can-fathom gift exchange. . . . Or not.

I love shopping for the perfect gift for someone I love. And I have a few tips for getting it right.

My son is a self-proclaimed, academic elitist. And at the other end of the spectrum, a role-playing gamer with a collection of fantasy and science fiction that should be bequeathed to a library in his will. My son-in-law has several hidden talents, and I always look for something to nurture those abilities that lurk under the surface. My daughter wears funky clothes. No problem there. My daughter-in-law likes quirky jewelry.

My advice: Identify the inner interests and cater to those. Or, identify an obvious, surface trait and cater to that.

But there is [ … ]

Kisses, Not Hisses

December 10, 2013

As I finish this chapter, I am reminded of a Special Olympics event held in Seattle, Washington, a few years back. I especially remember the 100-yard dash, where nine mentally and physically challenged children competed against each other.

With great anticipation the runners lined up and waited for the gun. They were smiling and full of energy, hoping to win but thrilled just to compete.

The starting gun fired and all nine kids ran down the track as fast as they could. Suddenly one of the boys stumbled and rolled over. A gasp spread through the stands. Then, with no prompting, a little girl with Down’s syndrome stopped, turned around, and went to the fallen boy. She knelt beside him and said, “Here, this will make it feel all better.” Then she kissed him on the cheek.

One by one, [ … ]

SNEAK PEEK: Miss Brenda and the Loveladies by Brenda Spahn

December 9, 2013

One woman’s fight to provide hope for the hopeless…
Seven ex-cons who changed her heart forever…

Click here to download chapter one of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies.

For Brenda Spahn, entrepreneur and businesswoman, wealth was a lifestyle—until a brush with the law threatened to send her to prison. In those dark moments, Brenda made a promise to God.  Spared incarceration, a renewed Brenda glimpsed into the lives of women serving time in one of the worst places in America—the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama.

What she saw prompted a God-inspired vision.

Click here to download chapter one of Miss Brenda and the Loveladies.

 

Faith

December 9, 2013

On the heels of trauma or during times of difficult transition, anxiety is often exaggerated. Our psychological defenses are weakened by severe or chronic stress, making it more difficult to ward off worries. The unpredictable nature of life seems magnified and keeps us from enjoying the positive aspects of our journey. When we are pooped out, fear screams, “Yesterday was bad, today is horrible, and tomorrow will be even worse.” It can be difficult to believe the best. Ah, but these are also the times when our faith can take quantum leaps forward.

Many of the dilemmas life brings us don’t have easy, tidy answers. But God will have personal answers for us if we risk asking tough questions and then take time to listen. Why not quiet your heart, open the Scriptures, and listen to what the Holy Spirit [ … ]

NEWS: Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Entire List!

December 6, 2013

Books make a perfect Christmas gift. Right?

We have compiled ideas for even the most challenging person on your list this year… from the adventure seekers to theology buffs, from “non-readers” to fiction addicts. And ALL the books listed are also available in e-book format! Click here for the list!

If still stumped about what to buy those special people…email us at info@WaterBrookMultnomah.com letting us know who you’re shopping for, along with their unique reading interests and we’ll do our best to guide you to that ideal choice. Or visit our Facebook page to see what recommendations we’ve posted for others.

 

NEWS: Liz Curtis Higgs Featured on iBelieve.com

December 6, 2013

iBelieve.com has featured an article entitled “The Good Shepherd” by Liz Curtis Higgs, author of The Women of Christmas.

Writes Higgs, “Shepherds were despised. They couldn’t keep the ceremonial laws while traveling about the hills, they were often regarded as thieves, and because they were considered unreliable, they were not permitted to give evidence in court. Yet this was whom God chose for his witnesses and entrusted with his good news. Men of humble means, they too were homeless, living outside ‘under the open sky’ (amp) near Bethlehem.”

To read the whole article, visit iBelieve.com. 

Impossibilites and Miracles

December 6, 2013

“…and they were both very old.” Luke 1:7

We don’t know their ages, whether forty or sixty or eighty. We know only that Elizabeth and Zechariah were “well stricken in years” (asv). More to the point, they were “too old to have children” (God’s Word), just like the patriarch Abraham, and his wife, Sarah. We know how that story ended: with a baby in ninety-year-old Sarah’s arms!

The stage was set for God to intervene and make the impossible possible.
Christmas is all about miracles. The first one is ready to unfold.

***

Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27. What “impossibility” are you facing in your life? Are you ready to put it entirely in God’s hands?

Excerpted from The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs

On the 4th Day of Christmas…Finding the Real Meaning in Christmas

December 5, 2013

What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer follows the lives of individuals and a community effected by a devastating fire. It’s a story that deals with loss, grief, and recovery, and are real-life issues that my family and I have experienced.

While living in Florida, our family of six was hit by the “No Name Storm of the Century.” Hitting our home at high tide, the 14-16 feet waves ripped off the hurricane shutters and broke out windows, as the water rushed through our house, sweeping furniture, household items, toys, and personal items out into the Gulf of Mexico.

During the storm, none of our possessions seem to matter anymore, only the safety of each other and our four daughters.

Surviving through the storm surge, we were evacuated the next day, and spent the next [ … ]