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Our Long-Expected Gift is a Christmas devotional inspired by the Jesse Tree tradition. Each of the 25 days in December unfolds a beloved story from the Old Testament, retold in lyrical poem form. Every story gently points forward to the birth of Jesus, reminding us that His arrival was not an afterthought, but part of God’s perfect plan from the very beginning.

Many people wonder, "Is Jesus Christ even real?" For 38 years, I wondered too! I called myself a Christian because I wore a cross, prayed to God and attended church regularly. Yet, I lied, gossiped, and judged others without mercy. I misrepresented my God with my behavior, attitude, and words. Such was my life. In my prayers, I asked God to use my life to glorify Him but was ill-prepared for the response. I was arrested and charged with a felony! In deep and dark despair, I turned to Jesus Christ for help.

In this book, we're going on a journey to unwrap the Santa myth, piece by glorious piece. We'll dig up the forgotten folklore behind the gift giving, the winter greenery, and even those flying reindeer. Get ready to see the festive traditions you’ve always known in a completely new and sometimes surprising light.

The festive Christmas wreath we hang on our doors today has a rich and complex history stretching back to ancient pagan traditions, long before it was adapted for Christian holidays. For early Europeans, the harsh winter season, marked by the winter solstice, was a time of fear and uncertainty. The sight of evergreens such as holly, ivy, and pine, remaining green amidst the bleak landscape was a powerful symbol of hope, life, and renewal.

The cheerful, diminutive creatures of Santa's North Pole workshop stand in stark contrast to their folkloric ancestors. In ancient pagan traditions, particularly those of Norse and Germanic cultures, elves were not the jolly, toy making sprites we know today, but rather powerful and often mischievous supernatural beings.

Of all the traditions that define the holiday season, none is more iconic than the Christmas tree. From a simple pine decorated with care to a towering spruce aglow with a thousand lights, it is a centerpiece of our holiday celebrations, a familiar and unchanging symbol that welcomes us home each winter. For many, the sight of a decorated evergreen instantly evokes childhood memories of glittering ornaments and family gatherings, making its annual return feel both timeless and profoundly personal.

It's easy to think of Santa Claus as just a jolly, plump man in a red suit, a cozy figure who perfectly sums up the magic of Christmas. But what if I told you that the story is a lot weirder and a lot older than you’ve been led to believe? Forget the North Pole for a minute, and picture something a bit more primal: a flying shaman on a mushroom fueled trip, a wild god leading a ghostly hunt through the winter sky, and ancient tree spirits honored long before Christianity came around.

The wise men didn't arrive on a single starry night, in a stable bustling with shepherds. Their journey was a grueling, months-long quest across treacherous deserts and forbidding mountains, not a peaceful stroll to a manger. These were not gentle kings, but powerful, influential astrologers, so potent that their mere arrival in Jerusalem could send a paranoid king into a panic. They were men of power, science, and wealth, driven by an unshakeable conviction that a new king had been born, and they would stop at nothing to find him. Forget the gentle fable you know.

Nigel Wyndham, the 19th Earl of Birkenmor, is captivated by the elegant woman he meets in a small-town bookstore in Huckleberry Falls, Wyoming. Trish is charming, quick-witted, and a devoted fan of the Misty Vale novels—a series he grew to love after the death of his first wife. But just whenever they begin to grow close, she pulls away, leaving him more intrigued than ever.

Bloomsbury presents Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards, read by John Telfer, Candida Gubbins and Martin Edwards. 'A true master of British crime writing.' RICHARD OSMAN 'All the entertainment you'll need this Christmas. Wonderful stuff.' IAN MOORE Can you find the clues...

Anticipate, celebrate, and marvel at Jesus' birth with Three Wise Women, a richly researched and faith-building new devotional by Dandi Daley Mackall. We don't hear many details directly from these three women at the heart of the first Christmas, but Scripture, studies in biblical culture, and an open heart that asks “what if” allows readers to experience new revelations for the holy season that will encourage and strengthen you in becoming a wise woman of God.

What Really Happened During Jesus' Last Hours Before the Cross? Many have heard the story before — that Christ died, was buried, and rose again — but what about the days and hours leading up to His crucifixion? What happened in those critical moments, and why did it happen? Presenting Scripture as well as the writings of Early Church fathers, Rick documents the journey of Christ from the Garden to the Cross and beyond, revealing: Why hundreds of soldiers — not just a few — met Jesus to arrest Him. The details of "the Judas kiss" and Judas’ fatal flaw from the beginning.

Surely, Christmas in the distant past must have been different from the one we know today. But how different? You’re about to find out. The Christmases of long, long ago were a merry mess of odd superstitions, dangerous games, and overindulgences that lasted from Christmas Day until Epiphany twelve days later. The “Christmas season” of earlier times was not the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day that Americans experience today, but rather a no-holds-barred bacchanalia following the austerity period of Advent.

Tangible acts of feasting and celebrating have suffused Lanier Ivester's home all her life. But alongside her love of festivity, she's wrestled with profound losses that have reshaped the landscape—both around her and within her. These coexisting forces of great grief and great joy come together in a place called the Ruff House, where Ivester's story not only reminds us of the inescapable presence of sorrow, but shows us how to celebrate and anticipate the return of glad and golden hours in the midst of it.

Read by the author. Who was in the manger that first Christmas morning? And how can we know for sure? In this completely revised and updated edition of The Case for Christmas--reflecting the latest scholarship and research--award-winning legal journalist Lee Strobel weighs the evidence to...

Do you need light for your path and hope for the dark times? No matter what you face today, it's possible to encounter the power of God's light even in dark and difficult seasons. From the Proverbs 31 Ministry team, including Joel Mudamalle, Alicia Britt Chole, and Asheritah Ciuciu (and many...

Enhance your Easter celebration with From Jericho to Jerusalem, an immersive guide designed to lend scriptural and historical insights to your personal reflections on the final week of the Savior’s life. This day-by-day account of Holy Week highlights the culminating experiences of Christ’s mortal ministry, from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His remarkable victory over death. Featuring key scriptures, perceptive connections, and questions to ponder, this inspiring study guide will help you come to know Him better as you meditate on that sacred Easter week.

From His agony in Gethsemane to His death on the cross, the Savior’s selfless acts in His final days in mortal life afford us an unparalleled gift: the opportunity for an eternity spent with those we love, most especially our Heavenly Parents. In this moving exploration of the biblical account of Holy Week, Dr. Kerry Muhlestein illuminates the powerful theme of eternal unification achievable only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This Easter, find the hope, healing, and wholeness made available through the incomparable sacrifice and Resurrection of the Savior of the world.

There's a multitude of Lenten meditation books but only one that's packed with the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas. Journey through Lent with the Church's greatest philosopher-theologian. This unrivaled spiritual master will guide you in encountering Our Lord and experiencing the type of fruitful Lent that he often experienced. You will relish this magnificent treasury of sixty-three of Aquinas's Scripture-based sermons specially selected for the holy season.

Can an Angel's Touch Melt the Ice Around Her Heart This Christmas? Bailey Thompson, a talented designer, has lost her faith in mankind and the joy of Christmas. When her long-time rival—and secret crush—Logan Brown, arrives to compete in the annual Christmas decorating contest, old tensions and hidden feelings resurface. Meanwhile, Gladys, a guardian angel in training, must guide Bailey towards opening her heart and rediscovering the true spirit of Christmas.