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12 Gifts for Christ: Traditions, Activities, and Devotionals for a Christ-Centered Christmas
Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and a time for giving. In the middle of this busy season, it is easy to forget the very reason why we celebrate. The first Christmas began with gifts of light and gold. This Christmas, What gifts can I give to Him? In 12 Gifts for Christ, author Merrilee Boyack suggests ways we can give to the Savior, including having gratitude, sharing through service, and loving others. With examples of these gifts shared through personal stories, scriptures, activities, and family home evening lessons, she suggests presenting those gifts to Christ in letters placed in stockings or brightly wrapped boxes. Following the ideas of this book will truly add joy to the spirit in our hearts and homes during Christmas!
99 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 28, 2022
There are some great tradition ideas in here. I love the focus on Christ, and how we can focus on Him not only during the Christmas season but all year. I’d love to try some of the games and service projects with my own family someday.
December 9, 2013
I love the ideas in this book! I originally thought this would be a great December activity but after reading it, I personally would feel too rushed trying to get everything done in one month. In the Introduction, she mentions that you may choose to have twelve Family Home Evenings where the entire family focuses on one gift a week or month. I like that idea so it will give more time to focus on each gift. She also states that we are certainly not limited to these twelve ideas but hopes that this will simply be a place to start.
Each chapter starts with her thoughts about each gift, then she gives ideas for Personal Scripture Study, Family Devotional, Family Home Evening and Just for Christmas! I think she provides a good variety of activities which can be adapted for all age ranges.
The twelve gifts are:
* The Gift of Personal Knowledge
* The Gift of Gratitude
* The Gift of Remembrance
* The Gift of Repentance
* The Gift of Obedience
* The Gift of Emulation
* The Gift of Charity
* The Gift of Forgiveness
* The Gift of Faithfulness
* The Gift of Love
* The Gift of a Healing Balm
* The Gift of Joy
In the Conclusion, she gives ideas for starting new family traditions and states, "The important part of the process is to focus on Him and to help you remember Him." With that goal in mind, this is a great resource which I plan to use all year!
Mel's Shelves
Each chapter starts with her thoughts about each gift, then she gives ideas for Personal Scripture Study, Family Devotional, Family Home Evening and Just for Christmas! I think she provides a good variety of activities which can be adapted for all age ranges.
The twelve gifts are:
* The Gift of Personal Knowledge
* The Gift of Gratitude
* The Gift of Remembrance
* The Gift of Repentance
* The Gift of Obedience
* The Gift of Emulation
* The Gift of Charity
* The Gift of Forgiveness
* The Gift of Faithfulness
* The Gift of Love
* The Gift of a Healing Balm
* The Gift of Joy
In the Conclusion, she gives ideas for starting new family traditions and states, "The important part of the process is to focus on Him and to help you remember Him." With that goal in mind, this is a great resource which I plan to use all year!
Mel's Shelves
November 19, 2013
I thought this was a fantastic book with some really good ideas on how to bring Christ more into your Christmas traditions. I loved how each chapter had ideas for personal scriptures study, family devotionals, family home evening ideas (including songs, lessons, games and activities), as well as things to do specifically on Christmas. The conclusion shares some great ideas as well.
I have two teenagers and two younger kids. Even though this book seems geared more towards a younger family, I found there are definitely some things in here that can benefit us and help us focus more on Christ this holiday season. I'm not a really creative person, so having someone give me ideas on ways to serve and show love gets me thinking and a lot of these ideas are easily adaptable to your own personal situations.
This is definitely a keeper and I'm glad I read it before the Christmas season officially starts so that I can start plugging some of these things into our own family traditions.
I have two teenagers and two younger kids. Even though this book seems geared more towards a younger family, I found there are definitely some things in here that can benefit us and help us focus more on Christ this holiday season. I'm not a really creative person, so having someone give me ideas on ways to serve and show love gets me thinking and a lot of these ideas are easily adaptable to your own personal situations.
This is definitely a keeper and I'm glad I read it before the Christmas season officially starts so that I can start plugging some of these things into our own family traditions.
December 3, 2013
This book is full of simple and do-able ideas that can help your family build Christmas Traditions focused on the life and teachings of Christ. Each of the twelve chapters focuses on a different devotional with suggestions for teaching it to our families and applying it to our lives. Some of these are the gifts of Gratitude, Obedience, Charity, Faithfulness and Love, among others.
The chapters begin with personal observations by Merrilee, and include suggestions for scripture study, family devotional, family home evening and specific Christmas traditions to build family bonds and reinforce the gifts. It is an enjoyable read with easily implementable ideas.
My favorite chapters in 12 Gifts were those of charity and of gratitude. I have been focusing much on building a stronger sense of gratitude this year and so I am thankful for ideas on how to extend it more fully during this Christmas season. And, of course, charity goes right along with that because I have found that the more I exercise gratitude, the more inclined I am toward charity and seeking to express my gratitude through service to others. Since I was a child, we have always given service as a family at the holidays (as well as throughout the year) and not always in the expected ways. I learned, even back then, that charity helps to develop gratitude and gratitude charity. And the same can be said for the other gifts in the book.
Whether you read this at Christmas and use it to help add a more spiritual focus to your Christmas traditions or whether you read it at any other time of the year–because the lessons really are year-round–this is a wonderful family resource for learning and developing Christ-like qualities.
The chapters begin with personal observations by Merrilee, and include suggestions for scripture study, family devotional, family home evening and specific Christmas traditions to build family bonds and reinforce the gifts. It is an enjoyable read with easily implementable ideas.
My favorite chapters in 12 Gifts were those of charity and of gratitude. I have been focusing much on building a stronger sense of gratitude this year and so I am thankful for ideas on how to extend it more fully during this Christmas season. And, of course, charity goes right along with that because I have found that the more I exercise gratitude, the more inclined I am toward charity and seeking to express my gratitude through service to others. Since I was a child, we have always given service as a family at the holidays (as well as throughout the year) and not always in the expected ways. I learned, even back then, that charity helps to develop gratitude and gratitude charity. And the same can be said for the other gifts in the book.
Whether you read this at Christmas and use it to help add a more spiritual focus to your Christmas traditions or whether you read it at any other time of the year–because the lessons really are year-round–this is a wonderful family resource for learning and developing Christ-like qualities.
November 19, 2013
Christmas is one of those times of year when the real reason for the season can get lost. I don't know about you, but our family gets so caught up in Santa Claus, gifts, decorating, and parties that we forget about the Originator of this season--Jesus. Without His birth, we wouldn't be able to even celebrate this year. But what can we give to the Supreme God of the Universe? After all, you can't run down to Walmart and get the latest "boy toy" on sale. It can be a real conundrum.
Thenkfully, Merrilee Boyack has given families some concrete ideas that are easy to implement and will remind us of why we celebrate this festive season. I am full of all sorts of ideas, and I plan to keep this book for a long time to come. This book is written as twelve devotionals that your family can share during the month of December. And these ideas are just the beginning. It is hoped that these will set the creative juices in motion for even more ideas for giving to our Savior at Christmastime and throughout the year.
On a side note--this is an LDS title. However, even though I do not espouse that belief system, I can honestly say that I was inspired, encouraged, and even convicted as I read through this short, pithy book. It is not a preachy book; it is an action book. Faith with action is dead, after all.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Thenkfully, Merrilee Boyack has given families some concrete ideas that are easy to implement and will remind us of why we celebrate this festive season. I am full of all sorts of ideas, and I plan to keep this book for a long time to come. This book is written as twelve devotionals that your family can share during the month of December. And these ideas are just the beginning. It is hoped that these will set the creative juices in motion for even more ideas for giving to our Savior at Christmastime and throughout the year.
On a side note--this is an LDS title. However, even though I do not espouse that belief system, I can honestly say that I was inspired, encouraged, and even convicted as I read through this short, pithy book. It is not a preachy book; it is an action book. Faith with action is dead, after all.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
November 26, 2013
Boyack presents twelve 'gifts' that followers of Christ can give him, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. Each of the twelve gifts that she mentions, she discusses briefly followed by ideas for personal study, a family devotional and family home evening ideas. She starts with the importance of developing personal knowledge of the Savior and how to do it through the scriptures and words of the prophets and those who knew/know him best. She goes on to discuss the importance of gratitude, remembrance, repentance, obedience, emulation, charity, forgiveness, faithfulness, love, healing balm, and joy.
What a beautiful book about how we as believers can give back to the One who gives so much to us. I hope to implement some of these ideas in my life during the Christmas season and throughout the year. I appreciated her ideas for sharing these ideas with a family. Highly recommended for those who want to make Christ more of a part of their celebrations during the Christmas season and throughout the year. Some of the ideas relate specifically to Christmas, some are more general, all are worth considering.
What a beautiful book about how we as believers can give back to the One who gives so much to us. I hope to implement some of these ideas in my life during the Christmas season and throughout the year. I appreciated her ideas for sharing these ideas with a family. Highly recommended for those who want to make Christ more of a part of their celebrations during the Christmas season and throughout the year. Some of the ideas relate specifically to Christmas, some are more general, all are worth considering.
November 2, 2013
Every year at Christmastime with think about getting gifts for family and friends...but have we ever thought about what gifts we can give to Christ?
This book shares 12 gift ideas we can give to Christ.
Each chapter is a different gift and comes with a brief introduction to that gift...
AND THEN you have been given, as a gift from the author, ideas for Personal Scripture Study, ideas for Family Devotionals, ideas for Family Home Evenings (includes songs, stories, games, and activities), and ideas for Just For Christmastime to help you implement that gift!
An AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL book!
So go ahead...choose a gift to give to Christ this year:
*The Gift of Personal Knowledge
*The Gift of Gratitude
*The Gift of Remembrance
*The Gift of Repentance
*The Gift of Obedience
*The Gift of Emulation
*The Gift of Charity
*The Gift of Forgiveness
*The Gift of Faithfulness
*The Gift of Love
*The Gift of a Healing Balm
*The Gift of Joy
This book shares 12 gift ideas we can give to Christ.
Each chapter is a different gift and comes with a brief introduction to that gift...
AND THEN you have been given, as a gift from the author, ideas for Personal Scripture Study, ideas for Family Devotionals, ideas for Family Home Evenings (includes songs, stories, games, and activities), and ideas for Just For Christmastime to help you implement that gift!
An AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL book!
So go ahead...choose a gift to give to Christ this year:
*The Gift of Personal Knowledge
*The Gift of Gratitude
*The Gift of Remembrance
*The Gift of Repentance
*The Gift of Obedience
*The Gift of Emulation
*The Gift of Charity
*The Gift of Forgiveness
*The Gift of Faithfulness
*The Gift of Love
*The Gift of a Healing Balm
*The Gift of Joy
December 4, 2013
I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I have a soft spot for James Christensen's artwork--lovely! I also have a soft spot for Merrilee Boyack's wonderfully inspiring writing style. This book is another winner with its simple format that teaches and ignites a desire to bring the meaning of Christmas closer with the ability to celebrate year-round the true meaning of the season: Jesus Christ. If you're looking for the perfect family gift this year, pick this book up. Merrilee has included personal stories as well as creative lessons and ideas to utilize each of 12 different gifts we can give to Christ.
November 18, 2013
Nice idea, liked reading it, but the actual ideas are pretty much for little kids. Not that I mind little kids. I just wish people that put together ideas/FHE's, etc. would include activities for older kids, too, and more things than just silly games and Primary songs. I'm down to just teens, and always looking for ways to make our Christmas more Christ-centered, but couldn't glean a lot here. Still, it's always nice reading about Christmas and traditions.
November 22, 2013
What a wonderful way to keep Christ in Christmas and in our hearts all year long! This book gave me lots to think about and will be a great springboard for future study/learning, teaching, and traditions. I would definitely suggest pairing this book with "A Christ-Centered Christmas" by Emily Freeman.
November 15, 2016
Quick read. The author focuses on 12 different "gifts" we, individually and as families, can give the Savior at Christmas time, or anytime really. I think these would be another help in keeping Christ as a focus during the holidays.
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December 27, 2014Definitely a book to use as a guide throughout the year and not necessarily just in the month of December.
December 28, 2019
I can honestly that I haven't spent nearly enough time considering what gifts I can give to Christ. The concept alone was very good for my soul. This book is clearly lined out with 12 gifts that you can offer Christ with practical ways to implement each gift. This model would work well as a single "goal" or gift for the year, focusing on one a month or using each as a family home evening topic. The author gives a lot of ideas and lesson helps for each gift. I enjoyed pondering on each gift as I read and finding areas that I can focus on to give back to my Savior and serve those around me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews