The Glory of Christmas

by Max Lucado, Charles R. Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz

Bestselling Christmas classic now a Collector's Edition with updated design and new authors! Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz,and Henry & Richard Blackabyhave combined their own touch of inspiration with the true Spirit of Christmas-the birth of Jesus Christ-and created this classic collection of stories and excerpts to be treasured for years to come.

Genres: Christmas, Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Inspirational, Faith, Religion

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 1996

About the author

With more than 150 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy. His most recent book published in August 2024 and is titled What Happens Next.

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Reviews

[Brian Fagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Published in 2009, The Glory of Christmas is a collection of short inspirational writings by Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz and Henry and Richard Blackaby. This book was just given to me by my visiting brother-in-law. While I believe that the writers may have written new material for the book's compilation, I found that the title is misleading. Of course any writings about Jesus are related to Christmas, but I think it's reasonable for someone looking at the cover to believe that the book is directly tied in to our celebration of Christmas, which it isn't.

Anne Graham Lotz points out that some of humanity's most amazing art, architecture and music (that of the Renaissance and Baroque eras, presumably) was created in honor of Jesus. I wonder if we find it so because of its spiritual significance, or because its creation was inspired by Jesus, which are two related but different things.

I love Max Lucado's meditation on joy:

"I choose joy. ... I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problems as anything less than an opportunity to see God."

That is an outlook to strive for.

Charles Swindoll comments on what it is to be godly:

" ... a person who is godly I is one whose heart is sensitive toward God, one who takes God seriously. This evidences itself in one very obvious mannerism: the godly individual hungers and thirsts after God. In the words of the psalmist, the godly person has a soul that "pants" for the living god (Psalm 42:1-2)."

Which reminds me of one of my favorite verses, Psalm 105:4: "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually."

We've all encountered people who seem to be on this path. I hope to become more like them.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful addition to any Christmas collection. It has nice pictures and looks great on your shelf.

Also, if you need a festive bookmark, some of the pages have bookmark-shaped designs just waiting to be laminated.

That said, I can't really recommend anything else about this book. I'm not sure if this is the authors' fault so much as the editor's, since it looks like the book is comprised of several different excerpts from a few different writers, all lifted out of context. Consequently, each page of the book feels like a dust-jacket summary, and with this level of preachiness, you might just as well pick up a box of Bible tracts and sift through them.

Now about the content . . .

There are a few spiritual questions raised, and there are a few deep points that are probably worth pondering. And then there's the rest of it. I was afraid to put it on my Christian shelf because so much it is, well, unlike any Christian theology I've ever heard. For example, do you know the worst possible sin you can commit? Apparently, it's happiness. That's right, according to this book, the best that any Christian should hope for to reach a kind of peace, but any actual happiness is a sign that he or she has betrayed God and the faith. So if you're happy, you really need to reevaluate your spiritual priorities.

It was about at this point that I reevaluated my interest in this book, and I put it back on the shelf where it's been sitting ever since. Doesn't it look pretty!

Now to be fair, the author might have been trying to articulate a complicated, nuanced philosophical/spiritual/theological concept, but there's very little room for explaining anything (let alone citing sources) in a three-paragraphed Bible-track-sized page. But at least that page had a cute picture.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't the best but it wasn't awful either. It was a collection of concepts and pierces taking out of a lot of different books and put together in this new book. They weren't all really related to Christmas as the title makes you believe they would be. Some of the excerpts were really good and inspiring but others definitely seem to be taken out of context and need to be expanded on more. I liked the ideas that were discussed in the book through the excerpts though and I'm planning on reading the books that the excerpts were from that I haven't already read some point in the future. In my opinion I would say it would definitely be better to get the actual books and to take the time to read them instead of getting this book as this book does not do justice to the books I've already read that has excerpts included in this book.

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this hoping for some inspiration for my Christmas sermon series but instead just found snippets from these authors books pertaining to specific topics not necessarily related to Christmas.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always hate to be hard on a Christmas book - especially one that is explicitly Christian - but this was pretty cringe. I am only two thirds surprised though, given one of the three writers was no other than Charles “Chuck” Swindoll - a particular Evangelical pastor I have already had a less than pleasing time with (see Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication).

Well, never mind …

Merry Christmas anyway!

[DocHolidavid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book cannot be read in 2 hours or even 2 days. I hate to barrow an old phrase, but I will: It’s far too deep. Read one a day for a while.
It is destined for the fame of Orthodoxy, My Utmost for His Highest, or Mere Christianity.
Example:
“Why does God wait until the money is gone? Why does He wait until the sickness has
lingered? Why does He choose to wait until the other side of the grave to answer the prayers
of healing?
I don’t know. I only know his timing is always right.”
****
“You are beyond condemnation (Rom. 8:1).
You are delivered from the law (Rom. 7:6).
You are a member of his Kingdom (Col. 1:13).
You have been adopted (Rom. 8:15).
You will never be abandoned (Heb. 13.5).”

So much for those who say, “You might lose your salvation if you … .”

I highly recommend this book - not only for its literary content but its beautiful presentation. A couple who are my close friends gave it to me at Christmas. It difficult to deliver a more memorable gift. Thank you Rod and Paula.

DocHolidavid

[Randy Elster · Rating 3 out of 5]

The surprise of this devotional coffee-table book is that it is not primarily about Christmas but has devotional thoughts about the Christian life in general. Very light reading as it just pulls a few paragraphs at a time from the authors' works. Charles Swindoll, Max Lucado, and Charles Colson are the three authors this book pulls from, and at times it just seems like a commercial and a ploy to get you to read their other books. But the thoughts are good, if brief. Not something I would use as a devotional resource, or read straight through, but it's good for something to pick up and read in spare moments during the week.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to have this book with selections from Chuck Swindoll, Chuck Colson, and Max Lucado, to soak in just one page a day throughout the Christmas season (or any season). It is filled with encouragement, hope, worship. Max Lucado: "Admission of failure is not usually admission into joy. Complete confession is not commonly followed by total pardon. But then again, God has never been governed by what is common." Chuck Swindoll: "The hurried, the greedy, the impatient cannot enter into such mysteries. God grants such understanding only to those who wait in silence...who respect 'the depths of God.' It takes time. it calls for solitude."

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely photos and good thoughts from all the authors in this collection. However, it is difficult to process one profound quote after another. One page a day might work, but not if you are reading a library copy as I was doing. I agree with another reader that reading the actual books would be best. Still, it gives you a taste of their thinking on a wide range of topics.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice way to lead into Christmas. There are five sections and I read one each day as a five-day devotional. Some of the chapters within the sections were amazing and really shed light on the true meaning of the season.

[Edb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with many thought-provoking views of what makes Christmas so special.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is a great book. I love my Lord and reading this book made me love my Lord more. My Jesus is...Everything. Amen

[Gato Negro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, but not singularly about Christmas as you might believe based on its title. I found it inspiring and soul soothing but it could truly be read any time of year.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A source of food for thought but not the "Christmas spirit" I expected. A good read for inspirational messages.

[Marguerite Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this book!

[Jaime Jean meneses · Rating 2 out of 5]

An assortment of loosely connected thoughts - not even directly related to Xmas as it claims, except for the photographs in the Kindle edition.

[Della Tingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is a very quick read. It is a compilation from the writings of Charles Swindoll, Max Lucado, and Charles Colson.

“The kingdom of God embraces every aspect of life: ethical, spiritual, and temporal” (40).

“My body responds and reacts to the input from my mind. If I feed my mind upon doubt, disbelief, and discouragement, that is precisely the kind of day my body will experience. If I adjust…to thoughts filled with vision, vitality, and victory, I can count on that kind of day. Thus, you and I become what we think about” (50).

“The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives, carrying on the work of Jesus” (51).

“If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it” (55).

“I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it” (87).

“With each new dawn, life delivers a package to your front door, rings your doorbell, and runs” (Charles Swindoll, 100).

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful and reminds me of a devotional without days. There are excerpts from 4 authors (5 if Henry and Richard Blackaby are not counted as one for book purposes). Topics are grouped, and warm, sweet small pictures depicting symbols of the season are placed by the topical titles. The excerpts are encouraging, speak to that moment, and filled with wisdom. This book is appropriate for times other than Christmas, as much if the writing dies not speak to that, necessarily, except to reiterate hope in Christ.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this daily with my advent readings and I have really enjoyed it. It isn’t meant to be read all at once but in small snippets so you can digest the truths. My favorite is “to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees”.
The pictures are lovely and the cover makes it nice to set on a table for the holidays. I would recommend it as a great addition to your Christmas library.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short collection of scripture and vignettes are comforting and inspirational. Christmas is the center of these stories, but they go beyond the Christmas story itself. Taken from a variety of writings by Max Lucado and Charles Swindoll, these short offerings will enlighten your life and encourage your heart. Recommended to everyone, at any time of the year.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains writings from three authors grouped together in categories. I enjoy it as part of my Christmas reading.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift in 2009 following my husband’s sudden death. It is a treasured Christmas season collection of wisdom, insight and hope.

[Summer Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book, a collection of short writings by Christian authors about the meaning and wonder of the season.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[Sheila Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect book for December and the true meaning of Christmas

[Tracy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing should read at least yearly