A Bookish Life In AK

Because shipping to Alaska can take some time if local bookstores don’t have what you’re looking for.

I love November and Thanksgiving, so please don’t think I’m skipping a holiday. Sometimes it takes Amazon and other shippers to get things to us here on Kodiak a little longer than down in the Lower 48. So, if you’re here in Alaska, or even possibly Hawaii, this list is to get a bit of a jump start on prepping for the Christmas season. I have 3 Advent devotions for you this week. One I have and read every year, two are new to me and just reviewed on Amazon. There will be affiliate links and links to the actual website as well.

Up first is “Wild Bells: A Literary Advent” by Missy Andrews. Missy is a homeschool mom veteran and teacher now with her family at Center For Lit. I have used many things from Center for Lit throughout my homeschool years. The Andrews crew have a couple podcasts that I still love to listen to as well, I highly recommend “Bibliophiles” for an everyday look at the great books. But, back to the devotion. It is a daily read starting on December 1through December 25. Missy has used various poems and readings from literature to illuminate the Christmas season. Missy refers authors like G.K. Chesterton, Augden, and T.S. Eliot and others. She brings out how Christ is examined through literature and how people through time have celebrated Him. Link to Center for Lit page https://www.centerforlit.com/wild-bells

Next up is Cindy Rollins’ “Hallelujah: CultivatingAdvent Traditions with Handel’s Messiah.” Cindy, like Missy, is a homeschool veteran that I listen to on ‘A Literary Life’ podcast along with teachers, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks. This book goes through Handel’s “Messiah” and the Bible. It is written as a guide where you can just read through the Bible verses, or you can go deeper and read the verses along with the song. To quote Cindy in the beginning, ” You can follow all my suggestions and ideas or you can simply follow th outline of Messiah each day. I highly recommend that you do not complicate it too much” (How to use this guide). I can really get behind something that recommends simple over complicated any day! There is A ‘Remembering the Prophecy,” ‘Advent Hymn,’ ‘Advent Scripture Memory,’ and an ‘Advent Poem.’ There are so many ways to do this on your own or with your children and family. it is available in Kindle, paperback and hardback. This is available on Amazon and Blue Sky Daisies website. Link to Blue Sky Daisies: https://blueskydaisies.net/books/introducing-hallelujah/?fbclid=IwAR2cBH9t8XH465MHUQGw7lFrIPlyz_6PS9PJik-vxuoEGJ8Fc1QBoUxTxUM Link to Amazon:https://amzn.to/45ZsPl6

Now we have a devotion that has just been released in October. “Quieting Your Heart: An Invitation to Dwell in HisPresence this Christmas” by Darlene Schacht. At the moment it is only available in paperback from Amazon. I read through the sample and found it to be a beautiful devotion for a Bible study by yourself or with a group. It goes through the prophecies of Christ’s birth up till His birth. There are places for your own reflections followed by practical actions that one can do. It also has gorgeous illustrations throughout the book. If you are on Facebook, you have probably seen this promoted by ‘Time-Warp Wife.’ Link for Amazon:https://amzn.to/3SsQaJ4

Lastly I do have a devotion that fits perfectly in for November, “The Power of a Thankful Heart: How to Defeat a Complaining Spirit” by Rosalind Jukić. She and her family are missionaries to Croatia. I have been following Rosalind for a few years now. I found her on Pinterest when I was looking up Bible studies and then signed up for her newsletter. She is such an encouragement to me. When she asked for Beta readers for this, I jumped at the chance. This study takes you through how to break down verses to get the most out of them, simply and practically. She leads you through what causes a complaining spirit, ungratefulness and discontentment. In this study she takes ads through: 1) Develop a Thankful Heart by Renewing Your Mind, 2) Praying Scripture Cultivates a Thankful Spirit, 3) The Dangers of a Complaining Spirit, 4) How to Resolve a Complaining Spirit, 5) Choosing Thankfulness Builds a Strong Spirit, 6) Worship Builds a Thankful Spirit, 7) Five Things to Start Thanking god for Today, 8) The Power of Journaling Your Thanksgiving. This study really hit home for me. It was a great way to start November and the Thankful season and prepare our hearts for upcoming Christmas season. This is available only on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3u7Cjxj

I hope these resources help you to have a wonderful holiday season. If you have any other suggestions to add to this, leave a comment.

Prayers and Blessing to you, Becky I have set the LORD always before me:
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:
my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:8-9

Pictures are from Pinterest, Amazon, and Center for Lit websites. You can follow me on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.