PUTTING GOD BACK IN THE HOLIDAYS

This is a book that will definitely NOT leave my personal library; it is a keeper for study and reference! I have read a lot of books on putting God into the holidays we celebrate and was always disappointed. They were shallow and weak without much information about how to really include Him. Usually they only mentioned the main celebrations, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day. This book covers those plus 11 more I have never seen a book deal with!

This book is amazing! It truly shows you how to not only make sure God is the center of your celebrations but also gives you heart searching activities and Bible studies to really dig deep and observe the holiday from a biblical perspective. They don't just make puny "to do" lists or add more secular doings; they really give you tools and guides to accomplish this.

Each holiday has an in depth Bible study about focusing on God. I like the fact there were lots of scripture references.

One of my favorite chapters was the one on New Year's and setting goals. I can't wait to apply it! I have a totally different view of going into the New Year with purpose and hope!

Both authors share their insights and experiences for the holidays. When you read this book you will never look at another holiday in the same way again!

Although my family will not be able to use every suggestion, there are many we can, and things I can apply individually. I was inspired and uplifted by this book.

It help me see that by keeping my focus on God I won't get side-tracked by Satan's worldly devices that wear me down and steal the joy I can experience with each celebration.

In exchange for my honest review, I received a copy of the book from Moody Publishers.

Do you want to celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthdays and other special occasions with purpose but don't know how to do it? Have you often wondered if celebrations could be even more meaningful if you put some thought into it?

Bill and Penny Thrasher have found ways to honor God and provide their insights in "Putting God Back in the Holidays." Beginning with New Years Day, the Thrashers use scripture and practical helps that can be adapted for all families and all ages. In addition to Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, you can also find ways to celebrate birthdays, Martin Luther King Day, Mother's and Father's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July, and others.

With the practical helps in the Thrashers' book, each holiday can honor God in unique and meaningful ways and each year can be different. New traditions can begin and old traditions can be revitalized.

Bill is a graduate of Auburn University and a graduate professor of Bible and theology at Moody Bible Institute. He and Penny live in the Chicago area and have three sons. For more information, visit www.VictoriousPraying.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Moody Publishers, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I received a free copy of this book from Moody publishers, and dove right into the Christmas chapters. I really enjoyed the comparison the authors made paralleling our holiday celebrations to the Mary and Martha story in Luke. I also liked how they walked how to apply Psalm 23 to our Christmas celebrations. The rest of the book was also very good. I was skeptical when I saw they had a chapter on Halloween, but they approached it in a very Biblical way and I was not disappointed!

Putting God Back in the Holidays by Bill & Penny Thrasher is another great resource for individuals and families alike! Five major holidays (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, New Year's) and many "minor" holidays (MLK Day, Valentine's, Presidents' Day, St. Patrick's Day, Arbor Day, Halloween, Mother's / Father's Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, Labor Day) are featured in the book. Each section includes an explanation of how the holiday got started, ways we can make sure God is included in the holiday, and practical suggestions for keeping God as the focus with family, friends, kids, neighbors, etc.

I got this book before Thanksgiving, and I was excited to read this book in preparation of the holidays coming up! I didn't read in order, rather I started with the special days that were coming up. I was encouraged that this wasn't simply a bashing of secular holidays (or the secularization of Christian holidays). Instead, it was a sincere look at each day and wonderful suggestions of how we can keep all of our days Christ-centered. Some of the ideas would be very simple to implement. Others will take a little more time and planning. As we build new traditions in our home and as our family grows, this will be a wonderful resource for us!

I received a free copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I love the idea of this book. I have been looking for creative ways to build spiritual and meaningful activities into our families holiday plans. This book covers a wide variety of holidays; including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays and other traditionally patriotic holidays.

The book is written by Bill and Penny Thrasher as a team, with Bill typically beginning a chapter or section and Penny adding thoughts. From a literary standpoint, I thought the transitions were rough, and some sections left me feeling as if they were written in a rush or pieces were left out. Some of the teachings are a bit more 'heady' than I could follow. That being said, the book has some great ideas, including some meaningful celebrations that one may not have thought of previously.

I think this book is a great resource for anyone looking to add more depth to many of their family holidays.

I received this book for free from Moody Publishers for this review.