HEARTHOME
FOR CHRISTMAS
FOR CHRISTMAS
Celebrating Joy in Your Living Space
Victoria Duerstock
HEART
HEART & HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATING JOY IN YOUR LIVING SPACE
Copyright © 2019 by Victoria Duerstock
All rights reserved.
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Designed by Joy O’Meara
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
ISBN 978-1-5018-8543-3
Scripture quotations noted CEB are taken from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com.
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19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
MANUFACTURED IN THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
INTRODUCTION
The Christmas season comes roaring in faster and faster each year. It seems we barely survive the dog days of summer with its final last hurrah of Labor Day weekend, only to zip through the next few months like grabbing a tornado by the tail. Before we know it, we are starting a new year and counting down until summer again!
My heart’s desire is for each of us to be able to grab just a few moments in these crazy days to ponder the depth of the meaning of Christmas to us personally. To view with awe the wonder of the miracle of Christ’s birth, his life, and his death & resurrection and to celebrate the joy that truth brings to each of us.
I pray you will have a very Merry Christmas as you enjoy this season.
SEASONAL DÉCOR TIP
The use of an Advent
calendar helps us
count down with
our children the
days until Christmas
morning. Whether
you choose a method
with a treat inside
or a more simple
version of counting
down, building
the excitement of
Christmas morn is a
lovely way to extend
Christmas fun this
season.
COUNTDOWN IS ON
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
i thess. 4:16 (kjv)
Sometimes I wonder if Joseph ever asked Mary—is it time yet? Or maybe I should wonder how many times he asked in true first-time father fashion. What a countdown that must have been—not knowing what day or time—just simply being ready to answer the call to parent Jesus, the Savior of the World.
We count down many things in our lives too. Even now, we count down to Christmas to build the anticipation for our children with Advent calendars or activities to do each day leading up to the 25th.
It causes me to think of the countdown that we are still on today. As Christians, we look forward to having Christ return for His bride. We don’t know the day or the hour, but we wait, and we watch for His return because He has proven himself faithful in the past to fulfill His promises. He will indeed come again and take us home to heaven. Knowing that this life is not the end brings me joy as I look expectantly for His return.
Faithful Father, I look forward with great anticipation to
my home in heaven one day. Help me live my life in light of this great truth!
SEASONAL DÉCOR TIP Nativity scenes come in a variety of styles—wood, bone china,
papiermâché—even ones specifically made for children’s curious fingers! Using a Nativity scene in your Christmas décor is a great way to bring the proper focus to our celebrations. Let the simplicity of the manger remind all who see it of the Good News.