Category: Christmas

Posted on

Best Gifts of Christmas


Two years ago I had just published my first book, The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best.

I just had to share with all of you some of the precious gifts that the Lord lavishes on us each and every day. I couldn’t think of a better time to bring these to your memory than during the holiday season.

I lived so many years of my Christian life not realizing that the Father wanted to overflow my life’s cup with His goodness. It’s so important to remind ourselves of the blessings God freely gives; it increases the depth of our relationship with Him.

My heart’s desire is to provide a brief teaching, each day of December, focusing on one of the Father’s many gifts and then to challenge each of us to apply what we’ve learned.

I had a woman tell me that she had read The Best Gifts of Christmas twice and was going to finish it a third time before the middle of November. She was sharing it with her granddaughter and encouraging her to use the practical application at the end of each day with her friends and classmates. That really touched my heart.

Another woman wrote that she had shared the book with her mother who was diagnosed with dementia. She said her mother could relate to day’s little devotional. It’s God’s word and His love that impact lives of all ages.

Here are some comments from others who participated in the daily reading last year.

“A great way to prepare your heart for the true meaning of the Season. Insightful and meaningful read” Lonny C.

“What I love about this book is the suggestions of Thought and Action. Anyone of any age can participate, bringing the celebration of Christmas to a whole nother level. A great way to touch lives with the Christmas spirit.” Wendy L.

“This book is very nicely done.  I gave several as Christmas presents to my friends and family.” Tom S.

“Our family loves the holiday season and last year I purchased this book to further enhance our holiday spirit. We are a family of six; from toddler to teenager and this book helped to spiritually encourage our entire household. Get those candles out and get ready for a month of tremendous gifts!!” Desiree P.

The Best Gifts of Christmas
The Best Gifts of Christmashttps://www.amazon.com/Best-Gifts-Christmas-Receiving-Giving/dp/1726876578/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Kristi+Wilson&qid=1573235462&sr=8-1


Thank you to all who ordered a copy last year. I know some of you bought several books and gave them to friends and family. I hope this book becomes a part of your Christmas traditions. You get to open a different gift each day, the best gifts of the season, the gifts of the Father’s love!

Books are available through Amazon. Click on the image above, it will take you directly to the order page.

I also have a limited number of copies here at home and if you would like to receive a signed copy you are able to order it on the “Books by Kristi” page on my website.

I want everyone to enjoy “The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best”. He has so many wonderful gifts for all of us!

Posted on

So Much Fun

I don’t know of a better way to usher in the Christmas season than with hearts filled with thanksgiving. It just seems like the logical thing to do – giving thanks prepares our hearts for the best that God had to give.

So, we decorated our trees (I’ll explain more in a minute), started reading our new Christmas story books and talked about Jesus’ birth with Sam and Kristine. One of the things I enjoy doing most at Christmas time is reading beautifully illustrated books that will capture the childrens’ attention and help them understand the real meaning of Christmas.

Dave and I will be spending Christmas at a campground this year. This was not our original plan but it’s not a bad Plan B. Last week I bought a small evergreen tree to take with us and it will sit on the breakfast bar until we leave. Yesterday the kids decorated it with some brightly painted tin ornaments. They both chose five ornaments and could place them whereever they wanted on the tree. Sam had an angel ornament that also had a star attached to it. He wanted that one to be at the top because the star was for Jesus.

Later in the day we headed out to the front courtyard where Dave helped us place big plastic ornaments in the mesquite tree. We laughed and giggled, oohed and ahhed, as he lifted each glittery ball at least fifteen feet in the air.

We were having so much fun!

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 ERV

Joy is the message of Christmas. God, the Father, was so excited about His Son’s birth that He lit up the heavens and had an angels’ chorus announce the good news! After thousands of years, the day was here, that day when God came to earth and became Immanuel, which means God with us!

“So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 ‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.’”Matthew 1:22-23 CEV

Now that’s the reason for the joy and laughter!

May I admonish you to take a strong stand against stress and grumbling this Christmas season. What if we decorated our lives they way we decorate our homes and our trees? Look for and share the lasting joy that has been heaven sent! Look at Christmas through the eyes of the angels – the wonder of heaven coming to earth.

“My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. 10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?” Psalm 35:9-10 NLV

Prepare now to be happy and full of joy!

Posted on

The Gift of Love

At last night’s Christmas Eve service we were encouraged to let the love of Jesus flow through us in a special way today. We were reminded that more than likely we will be sitting around the table with someone who is annoying. There’s one in every family, right?

The truth of the matter is this – I could be the annoying one, so could you!

We rarely see our own faults; it’s always someone else who has the problem. But the way God saw it, we all had a problem and were in need of a Savior. Christ didn’t come for some; no, He came to bring new life and love to us all.

A world changing event transpired over 2000 years ago when the sky was filled with an angelic chorus. A baby was born and He affected the whole human race by introducing unconditional love in human flesh. He came to reconcile us to the perfect and merciful Father God.

We all have a few rough edges and annoying habits, but praise God, He looked past those things and brought us unconditional love which will change our hearts if we let Him.

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:34-35 ERV

My prayer for you and your families this morning is that you know Him personally and that you have allowed Him to change your life. His love is transforming; we can’t be in relationship with the Lord and not be changed.

I was challenged last night. I don’t want to be the one who is annoying. I want to be the one who loves, unconditionally, the annoying people of my world because God chose to love me in spite of my faults.

I’m taking a little extra time in prayer this morning. “Lord, let me be the best me, the me you created me to be. Let me reach the world with Your love.” There’s no better gift we can give to others than the gift of unconditional love that God gave to us.

Merry Christmas from the Wilson’s casa to yours!

“This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded. 24 All who obey God’s commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us.” I John 3:23-24 ERV

Posted on

Do You Believe?

What do you believe? Is your belief based on self-exploration, science, hearsay, and/or personal experience? Or is your belief based on faith?

Long before Edison and Franklin, electricity existed. Before Marconi, radio ways filled the air. Before Newton, there was gravity. There was something that each of these men saw which caused them to dream, to explore and to invent.

The same holds true in our relationship with God.

Religion tells us that we must work to earn God’s favor or his kindness and love but God’s word tells us something different. The Apostle Paul tells us that it’s the goodness of God that draws us to Him. We can see in ourselves and those around us that there is failure, selfishness, greed, misguided ambition, deceit – sin and that we fall short on our own. Through the pages of God’s word we see many examples of God’s unconditional love and our search leads us to Him.

“Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!” 30 Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life.” John 20:29-31 ERV

The signs, the miracles, the daily works of Jesus are so extensive that they couldn’t all be written down. The purpose of His works were to bring us to a place where we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and that we can have life through Him.

It’s not like believing in Santa or the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny. Our belief in a personal Savior is life changing; it is empowering; it is transforming!

“Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84:11-12 CEV

It’s ok to question – God’s big enough to handle it. If we’re honest enough to ask, He’s honest enough to answer. God is patiently waiting to show us His character; He won’t force us to believe in His love and goodness or even that He exists.

Just like those inventors who searched for the answers about electricity and radio waves we will find Him when we search for Him.

“Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you. 8 Everyone who asks receives what he asks for. Everyone who looks finds what he is looking for. Everyone who knocks has the door opened to him. 9 What man among you would give his son a stone if he should ask for bread?…How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Matthew 7:7-11 NLV

It’s not a matter of whether or not God can handle our questions, it’s can we deal honestly with His answers.

I ask again, what do you believe? Believe in God’s goodness; it will transform your life!

Posted on

A Personal Letter

This last weekend I spent quite a bit of time writing my annual Christmas letter and addressing Christmas cards. They’ll all go out in the mail this week – old fashioned you say – a waste of time. Never!

With our world of instant communication I find it very refreshing to receive something personal, addressed to me and not the whole of the internet universe. When I was a kid I went to church summer camp. One of the most memorable events of the day was mail call. A letter from home. Then I went off to college and each day after lunch I would head to the student union building and hope to find something in my mailbox.

The most precious letters I ever received were when Dave and I were dating. He lived in southern California and I lived in central Arizona. I have saved all of those letters and every once in a while I read a couple and they take me back to when our love was new. So sweet and precious.

To know the value of a personal letter talk to a soldier who is deployed and thousands of miles from home or a senior citizen who no longer has the ability to drive themselves to meet with friends. The personal message conveyed in a letter is priceless.

Every time I pick up my Bible and read, I realize it is a personal letter written just to me. If I had been the only one on earth God still would have conveyed His message of love and good will to me. I do not take for granted the words on the page or the way the message has been protected through the years. The love that was expressed through the writers thousands of years ago has not changed.

And then I think of the heavenly Christmas card that was given on the night of Jesus birth.

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:9-11 NLT

The first Christmas card was written in the heavens. It was sent special delivery and was given to the most common of people, the shepherds. It was a personal message spoken to a few but given to all.

Make your outreach this Christmas personal. Convey the message of your heart to those around you. It may be just the thing they need to to brighten their day.

Posted on

Christmas Tradition

When I worked outside the home, I always started my Christmas decorating the day after Thanksgiving. I had the day off, guests were gone and I’ve never been one to shop on Black Friday.

This last week while cleaning, I was also preparing the house for today. Moving small pieces of furniture to make a place for the tree and the different nativities I put out.

It’s Tradition! Another word for tradition is purpose.

My first memories of Christmas are of my daddy, with his big Bible, reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning. After he finished reading, he led our family in prayer. This was the focal point of our day. After Dave and I were married, he read the same account from Luke 2 and then one of us would lead our family in prayer.

There were Christmases when the gifts were few but it didn’t spoil the day. Christmas was never been about us and what we got. The focus had always been on Christ and what He gave. His birth was and is our reason for celebration.

There are many things we do during the Christmas season, they each have a purpose. The nativity is the center piece of our Christmas decorations; the special carols, the Christmas stockings that Mom and now, I, have made for our family, the books on the coffee table, kringla (a Norwegian cookie) and the peanut butter balls are all reminders of love of family and love for the Lord.. If we forget the reason for the season, it’s just another commercial holiday that leaves us feeling empty and disappointed with “that’s all I got”.

As parents and grandparents it’s our responsibility to see that the traditions we establish point upward to Jesus and not inward to self.

“I taught you the laws and rules that the Lord my God commanded me. I did this so you could obey them in the land you are ready to enter and take for your own. 6 Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.’

7 “The Lord our God is near when we ask him to help us. No other nation has a god like that! 8 And no other nation is great enough to have laws and rules as good as the teachings I give you today. 9 But you must be careful! Be sure that as long as you live you never forget what you have seen. You must teach these things to your children and grandchildren. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Horeb. The Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people together to listen to what I have to say. Then they will learn to respect me as long as they live on earth. And they will teach these things to their children.’ ” Deuteronomy 4:5-10 ERV

It’s never too early or too late to start a tradition! Fill your Christmas season with purpose!

Posted on

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Last year about this time I was putting the finishing edits on my book, The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best.

I just had to share with all of you some of the precious gifts that the Lord lavishes on us each and every day. I couldn’t think of a better time to bring these to your memory than during the holiday season.

I lived so many years of my Christian life not realizing that the Father wanted to overflow my life’s cup with His goodness. It’s so important to remind ourselves of the blessings God freely gives; it increases the depth of our relationship with Him.

My heart’s desire is to provide a brief teaching, each day of December, focusing on one of the Father’s many gifts and then to challenge each of us to apply what we’ve learned.

Recently I had a woman tell me that she had read The Best Gifts of Christmas twice and was going to finish it a third time before the middle of November. She was sharing it with her granddaughter and encouraging her to use the practical application at the end of each day with her friends and classmates. That really touched my heart.

Here are some comments from others who participated in the daily reading last year.

“A great way to prepare your heart for the true meaning of the Season. Insightful and meaningful read” Lonny C.

“What I love about this book is the suggestions of Thought and Action. Anyone of any age can participate, bringing the celebration of Christmas to a whole nother level. A great way to touch lives with the Christmas spirit.” Wendy L.

“This book is very nicely done.  I gave several as Christmas presents to my friends and family.” Tom S.

“Our family loves the holiday season and last year I purchased this book to further enhance our holiday spirit. We are a family of six; from toddler to teenager and this book helped to spiritually encourage our entire household. Get those candles out and get ready for a month of tremendous gifts!!” Desiree P.

The Best Gifts of Christmas
The Best Gifts of Christmashttps://www.amazon.com/Best-Gifts-Christmas-Receiving-Giving/dp/1726876578/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Kristi+Wilson&qid=1573235462&sr=8-1

Thank you to all who ordered a copy last year. I know some of you bought several books and gave them to friends and family. I hope this book becomes a part of your Christmas traditions. You get to open a different gift each day, the best gifts of the season, the gifts of the Father’s love!

Books are available through Amazon. Click on the image above, it will take you directly to the order page.

Have a wonderful November. Fill each day with gratitude. God bless you all!

Posted on

Thinking of Christmas

The Best Gifts of Christmas

Thank you to those of you who ordered my book, The Best Gifts of Christmas, last year. I hope you enjoyed opening one of God’s precious gifts each day during December.

Maybe you have family or friends that you would like to give a copy too. I have placed a discounted price on the Amazon sight for your benefit.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Gifts-Christmas-Receiving-Giving/dp/1726876578/ref=pd_rhf_eetyp_p_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ECA36VDT0DT9DDQHEBN2

I was so blessed to read the reviews that readers have shared. If you would like to let others know your thoughts about the book I welcome you to do so. Reviews can be left by going to the bottom of the book page and adding your comment.

I pray that you all are enjoying the cooler weather of fall and experiencing the wonderful gifts of God’s love and goodness each and every day of the year.

It’s my desire that you experience God’s good and perfect gifts all throughout the year.

Posted on

Thinking About Christmas

If you are like me you are beginning to think about Christmas; decorating, baking, family visits and the gifts.

Last year quite a number of you purchased the book I wrote, The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best. It was released in November and you joined me during December reading each day and then giving into the lives of your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

This year I have a special request.

If any of you are members of churches with bookstores, belong to Bible Study groups, Sunday School classes or have other associations that would be encouraged from the daily “gifts” that we open, you may order the books at a group rate discount of 25% through the website page, Books by Kristi.

If books are ordered by October 20th I can have them mailed to you in time for them to be distributed by the first of December and we can open the first gift together.

Thank you for sharing this gift of God’s blessings with your church, your family and friends.

I also ask for your prayers as I continue to work on the next book. Hopefully it will be in print before year end.

Posted on

From the Father’s Heart

Merry Christmas to all of you! I pray your day is filled with peace, joy and love.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus, I hope you experience the same anticipation, excitement and wonder that the shepherds did over 2000 years ago. May you find joy as you celebrate with family and friends but take time for solitude and let the Lord speak directly to your heart.

I have no carol to share this morning. Instead I’m sharing with you a poem that I wrote over 30 years ago.

A Christmas Gift by Kristi Wilson

Christmas has a glory no other day can claim
For it was on that special day, the blessed Savior came.
The promise of His coming had been known for many years
And now that day was really here, the answer to men’s prayers.

Now it seems so long ago, that angels spoke to men
Proclaiming the good news of His birth to free them from their sins.
Some have forgotten the very meaning of His humble birth
And what those words really meant, “Peace to men on earth.”

It’s not the Santa in the store or snow upon the ground
It’s not in pretty presents or carols sung world ’round.
The true meaning that’s in Christmas is simple and unchanged;
It’s the answer found in Jesus and the power of His name.

All the brightly wrapped presents, the world’s problem cannot hide
The only thing that can heal man’s hurts is Jesus Christ inside.
If He’d only come again, I’ve heard the people say
That would solve the problems that we face each day.

But you see He’s never left, not since the day He came
For He lives within my heart and for you He’ll do the same.
God gave us such a special gift on Christmas long ago,
He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to let the whole world know

His great love so rich and free was brought to earth that day
To save mankind from their sins and to answer when they pray.
This gift was given to all the world, no one was left out
To receive it, just believe it and do not ever doubt.

The Son of God died for your sins to bring you life brand new
The greatest gift of all times has been given unto you.
There’s no tree or tinsel or the chime of silver bells
That can put the heart of man at peace or save his soul from hell.

Only Jesus Chist can answer the longing of each heart
And give to man eternal life and a brand new start.
There’s nothing wrong with Christmas, its tinsel, toys and trees;
The carols have new meaning when from sin you have been freed.

I share with you a cherished gift of my Father’s love
Jesus Christ, our Savior, sent from heaven above.
Merry Christmas one and all, you’re loved that is true
Rejoice, rejoice, it’s Christmas time and I offer this prayer for you.

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 CEV

Merry Christmas! May God’s gift fill your hearts all year through.

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress