I’m thrilled to be able to share a special treat with you this Thanksgiving week. A fellow Flourish Writer and friend has just released a beautiful devotional book in time for the Advent season, Counting Up to Christmas: Twenty-four Gifts from the Gospel of Luke. I’ve invited Jennifer Elwood to guest post this week and share information about her project. I hope you’ll purchase her new devotional and place it on your gift-giving list as well. There’s still plenty of time to order it and join us on the journey beginning December 1st.
In the meantime, enjoy this post as a sample of Jennifer’s devotion to the Lord and encouragement to you for the holiday season.
Counting Up To Christmas: The Gift of Preparation
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ’There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’” Luke 17:20-21, ESV
How has your Thanksgiving been so far this year?
Friends, it feels like we are missing out. I’m mourning the cancellation of large gatherings. Many of my favorite holiday traditions like the paper-bag, lit Luminaria at my local Arboretum, Santa trains that make my girls squeal in delight, and Turkey trots—which I need because I’m ready to say goodbye to the Covid-19… pounds that is—will not happen this year.
I need help to steer my feelings in the right direction. So, feel free to hop on a journey through Scripture with me because we need to prepare our hearts well for the next holiday around the bend—Christmas. The celebration of the birth of our Savior is coming, and we have a choice to persist in a state of anxiety or to pursue peace. I want peace this year! Can I get an AMEN?!
I wrote a book to help with the search for this elusive peace, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Counting Up To Christmas: 24 Gifts from the Gospel of Luke is a devotional that helps you walk with Jesus through the book of Luke and open gifts of Scripture from December 1st – 24th.
Each day’s devotion offers a full-page color image, many from my personal collection from a trip to Israel. This follows with teaching, prayer, a prompt for “Christmas Quietude” and space for journaling, and ends with a recommendation for Christmas worship. If you take advantage of the Counting Up To Christmas Recipe Book (free on my website), you will engage all 5 senses as you encounter Jesus.
The gift that keeps on giving…
This will be my 11th year of reading Luke in December, and the sharing of this practice has truly changed my life. Knowing how individuals change by preparing their hearts for Christmas opened by the gift of the Gospel makes all this worth it.
So, let’s take a look at a few Bible verses that can help you open this gift of preparation, too.
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” Psalm 23:5, NLT
The original Hebrew for “prepare” is tarokh. (The end sounds like you’re clearing your throat.) It means to arrange or set in order. He will arrange a feast that blesses us beyond any expectation we may have. I’m comforted by the gift of this truth, particularly as I contemplate that my feasts in the next month will not go as usually planned. Reliance on the Lord’s plans to set in order what He wills is necessary to experience a cup that overflows, no matter our circumstances.
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ’There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’” Luke 17:20-21, ESV
In our focus verse, the original audience of these words of Jesus were meant to comprehend that “the kingdom of God,” Jesus Himself, was right there among them. We experience this today—the wisdom and guidance we need— through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! We have everything we need to open and experience the powerful gifts of Scripture we can open together in the coming month.
God poured so many gifts out through His Word—and there are many more to open! I hope you will join me in December on the quest to find these gifts and to search for true peace, the ultimate gift that can help us have hope during such an uncertain year.
Jennifer Elwood, Peacock Sojourning
Mores resources and gifts from Jenni:
Here are the places you can find the book and online communities that will provide accountability for daily reading.
Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.
Find freebies for the book, including the complete Counting Up To Christmas Recipe Book subscriber benefit, on my website: www.jenniferelwood.com
Join my “Counting Up To Christmas” Facebook group.
Follow “Counting Up To Christmas” on Instagram.
Shop for “True Peace” gift items online.
The Spotify Playlist “Counting Up To Christmas in the Gospel of Luke”
Thank you again Jenni for this great message!