December Book Recommendations

It’s the last month of 2024. This year has flown by! I hope you’ve enjoyed these monthly posts with book recommendations. Here are the last three to close this year. I hope they’ll be a blessing to you! 

 

Fiction –

Partners by Grace Livingston Hill

I love almost all of the books by this author! This one is a fun, slightly shorter read, and it’s set at Christmas. Two lonely people in a boardinghouse find an abandoned baby and become “partners” in trying to save his life. In the process, they find God’s love and a new family. It’s a sweet, entertaining story as only Grace Livingston Hill could write them. If you enjoy classic, heartwarming stories, you’ll like this one. 

 

Non-Fiction –

The Way of the Warrior by Erwin McManus 

As we reflect on Christmas and look toward a new year, it seems that peace is something we all need. It’s easy to get focused on the struggles we face, but Jesus offers us the gift of peace inside—regardless of what’s going on around us. Jesus has already won the victory, and the way of the warrior is to stand in that place of internal peace He gives. While we know this is true, it’s often hard to live it out practically in the midst of our trials. This book helped me to think differently and to discover ways to experience more of God’s peace in my life. I hope you’ll be blessed by it too!

 

Devotional –

Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

This year-long devotional is one I’ve read over and over again. It’s full of comforting, encouraging, and strengthening truths. Even though it was written almost one hundred years ago, this book continues to comfort readers today, because the author wrote out of her own sufferings as she found comfort in God and His Word. As we begin a new year, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by trials, I hope you’ll find understanding and encouragement in this devotional.

Have a blessed new year! 

The Everlasting Light

 “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” –Isaiah 60:19-20

 As I read this passage in Isaiah 60 recently, I thought of other verses that also refer to light . . .

 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” –Isaiah 9:2

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” –John 1:1, 4-5

 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12

 

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to gives us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” –2 Corinthians 4:6

 

At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus came to be our Savior. And how glad I am that He did! But this year, I realized that He isn’t only the light of the world who came . . . He is our daily light . . . and He is our everlasting light! 

 

Whatever we go through today, Jesus is shining His light in our lives—and the darkness cannot overcome that. 

When hope is hard to hold on to, Jesus is our everlasting light—reminding us that one day we will be with Him in His glory. 

And miraculously, no matter what we go through, Jesus can shine His light through us—so that others can see Him in us.

 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” –2 Corinthians 4:7

 

I know what’s it’s like to feel like a weak, cracked, chipped, weary, clay pot. I’m sure you have too. Even then—the light of the world, the everlasting light—Jesus is still shining on us and through us. 

 

I hope you’ll take a moment to think about that today . . . 

 

I pray Jesus’ presence and peace will comfort and encourage you today. And may these truths fill your heart with hope as you begin a new year.

 

The light of the world has come. He is with us. He is our everlasting light.