Audra Jennings

Part 2 of an interview with Melissa Spoelstra, Author of Total Christmas Makeover Read part 1 of Melissa's interview here. In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do: decorating, cooking, socializing, and shopping. However, it is important to pause and remember the priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forgetting to invite Jesus to His own party. In Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose (Abingdon Press), Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach to helping families learn what it means to truly celebrate the Savior. Q: What is a total Christmas makeover? A total Christmas makeover doesn’t mean scrapping all your holiday traditions or adding ten more to your list. Instead, it is a personal time of reflection to evaluate how your Christmas practices align with some biblical concepts of celebration. The Old Testament is filled with instructions ...

Part 1 of an interview with Melissa Spoelstra, Author of Total Christmas Makeover     As Melissa Spoelstra studied the Book of Numbers while writing her Bible study on the topic, she noticed three elements included in the festivities and began thinking about how she could apply them to her personal Christmas celebrations. She shares those revelations with readers in her latest book, Total Christmas Makeover (Abingdon Press). In fact, Spoelstra devotes a section of the book to each of the elements: • Ritual: Special activities out of the ordinary routine were planned to help remember what God has done. • Relationships: Time spent together preparing special foods, eating, gathering in holy assembly, and explaining traditions to children. • Rest: Regular work set aside for planned times of celebration and rest from activity to allow for reflection on God. “A total Christmas makeover doesn’t mean scrapping all your holiday traditions or adding ten more t...

Yes, it is a little early to start this book now, but pick it up so you are ready for December! In the midst of the holiday busyness, have you lost what it means to truly celebrate your Savior? Revamp your family’s celebrations with Melissa Spoelstra’s new book,  Total Christmas Makeover .  Melissa provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God’s grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season. {MORE ABOUT  TOTAL CHRISTMAS MAKEOVER } Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose   (Abingdon Press, October 2017) Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior. In the bu...

Yes, it is time to start thinking about Christmas books. Take a look at this one and consider it as a way to refocus and de-stress through the month of December. Have you invited Jesus to His party? Melissa Spoelstra helps readers make over the Christmas season and celebrate with purpose In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do: decorating, cooking, socializing, and shopping. However, it is important to pause and remember the priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forgetting to invite Jesus to His own party. In Total Christmas Makeover: 31 Devotions to Celebrate with Purpose (Abingdon Press/October 3, 2017/ ISBN 9781501848704/$16.99), Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for helping families learn what it means to truly celebrate the Savior. “A total Christmas makeover doesn’t mean scrapping all your holiday traditions or adding ten more to your list. Instead, it is a per...