Christmas

Stories for Christmas

December 3, 2015 by Justin

Like most homeschool families, you’re probably taking off a large chunk of time during the month of December. That’s great since it gives everyone time for focusing on family and celebrating Christmas, but even on vacation, you’re looking for places to sneak in a bit of learning without your kids realizing it.

On those cold December nights when everyone’s inside, consider having a family story night. It’s a great way to get everyone together and can also be a huge benefit to a novice reader. The whole family can take turns reading part of the story. Here are some great Christian novel suggestions from our JourneyForth collection. There’s something for all ages.

Mice of the Herring Bone (Ages 6–7)

Two ordinary mice find themselves in an extraordinary adventure, including pirate sea dogs, a ship full of cats, and a sunken treasure. (If you’ve already read this one, check out the other titles in the same series.)

Christmas Crossroads (Ages 7–9)

Just published this fall, Christmas Crossroads is a “choose your own journey” adventure. It puts you in control of the story as three children set out to visit Jesus on the first Christmas. The trip is perilous, and your decisions shape the outcome. Join your favorite Christmas story characters on an adventure to the City of David. When one journey ends, a new one awaits.

Medallion (Ages 9–12)

A willful prince must learn the hard way that being a leader means being first a servant. Prince Trave encounters many dangers—such as an earthquake, monstrous skreels, and treachery from those he thought were his friends—before he faces the biggest challenge of all—proving he is indeed worthy to rule his country. (Medallion has a prequel called Shield.)

Capturing Jasmina (Ages 12+)

Jasmina, a young girl in India, and her brother, Samir are sold by their father to a man promising them an education and good jobs. But, as Jasmina and Samir soon discover, the man is providing an education, not in a school, but as slaves in his sweatshop garment factory. While Samir quickly submits to his new life of misery, Jasmina never stops planning an escape. The story continues in Buying Samir and Seeking Mother.

Grab your hot chocolate and curl up on the sofa for an evening of family fun! From all of us at BJU Press, have a Merry Christmas.

Remember These Dates in December

December 1, 2015 by Meredith

December may be the last month of our calendar year, but it’s definitely not the least important one. Whenever I think of this month, I see visions of steamy hot cocoa (with extra marshmallows), car rides at night to see Christmas lights, and conversations with loved ones around the dining room table.

Growing up, I spent most of my Decembers in California with my immediate family, enjoying palm trees, balmy breezes, and sunshine. Whatever your Christmas and the new year may bring you, I hope this season is one filled with the hope and joy that come through accepting God’s special gift—our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord!

December 3

Gilbert Charles Stuart entered the world on this day in 1755. You might be more familiar with his paintings than with his name. This American-born artist established his legacy by painting portraits of famous and influential leaders, including six United States presidents. Among the many notable people who sat for him were Thomas Jefferson, King Louis XVI, John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martha Washington, John Monroe, George Washington, King George III, John Jay, and Benjamin West. View some portraits by Stuart and have your kids answer these questions.

• What physical features does Stuart emphasize in each painting either by its placement, size, or color?
• Why might the people have particular expressions on their faces?
• How are the paintings similar/different?

Your kids might even want to try sitting for their own portraits, so don’t forget to brush up on your art skills!

December 6

The 13th Amendment was ratified by the necessary number of states in 1865. This addition to the United States Constitution officially ended the slavery of all people throughout our country and any other place under its rule. Its adoption came about two years after Abraham Lincoln presented his Emancipation Proclamation. Take time to share the 13th Amendment and related documents with your kids.

December 7

The infamous attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on this date in 1941, leaving more than three thousand Americans wounded, dead, or missing. As a preteen, I met a Pearl Harbor survivor. I still remember listening to him recount “the day which will live in infamy.” When the attack began he rushed out of the mess hall and witnessed destruction all around. This event and others prompted America’s entry into World War II. It’s important that we remember our past so that we can learn from it and most importantly so that we learn to recognize God’s sovereign hand. Read survivor stories, view pictures, and learn about the impact of this event on our nation at the Visit Pearl Harbor website.

December 16

The Boston Tea Party flavored the waters of that city’s harbor in 1773. The British Parliament had placed a tax on this hot beverage for those living in the American colonies, but the colonists resisted taxation and regulation of trade. Their sentiments about the tea tax were clearly displayed when at midnight a group of men barely disguised as Mohawks boarded the Dartmouth and dumped all the cargo overboard. Their actions were peaceful considering that no one was injured, and no property damage occurred, but were their actions, right? That question might spark a good discussion with your teens about respecting authority and obeying established rules. For a younger group of kids, make this event relatable by brewing some of your favorite hot tea (mine’s Midnight in Paris) and settling down for a read-aloud session of Regina Silsby’s Secret War. Quiet time with tea and a historical adventure to read—that’s a win-win in my book!

December 25

Christmas Day celebrates the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God the Creator took on the flesh of His created beings to save us from our sins (1 John 4). We don’t know the exact day that Jesus was born, but this event is central to the gospel. One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is to read the account of Jesus’s birth from Luke 2. Assign everyone to read a portion of the Scripture passage or have small children create illustrations for the story as they listen. Focusing on the true meaning behind Christmas brings an inner peace and joy during a busy time of year.

December 27

Mathematician Johannes Kepler was born on this day in 1571. He formulated the three laws of planetary motion to explain the movements of the planets in our solar system. Kepler used detailed data to define the true shape (an ellipse and not a circle), size, and speed of planetary orbits. Have a Spirograph^® session and make different geometric shapes to celebrate today. I think the images you come up with could make awesome Christmas thank-you cards!

Wishing you all the best for a joyful Christmas and a peaceful new year!

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My Gifts

December 11, 2014 by Eileen

When we consider the greatness of the gifts God has given us in Christ, any offering we could make in return seems rather paltry. But in looking at the men and women of the Christmas story, we find models of gift-giving that any believer can imitate. Though simple, their gifts were given out of hearts of love, gratitude, and joy.

Celebrating Christmas!

December 8, 2014 by BJU Press Writer

We asked different employees to choose a book that has special meaning to them. In the list below you will find several of their stories.

Escape to Liechtenstein

“When I was in elementary school, I was captivated by the story of these children in World War II. Their bravery in fighting against the enemy and the exciting adventures they experienced were so exciting that I felt like I was in the story with them. I struggled to put the book down, and read through all three in the series one right after the other.” —Andrew

Based on historical events, the Young Refugees Series by Ed Dunlop takes young readers to a time when fighting for your life was an everyday reality. Hans and his younger sister Gretchen risk their own safety to protect others in Nazi-occupied Europe. (ages 9–12)

Jenny Wren

“I read a lot—books of all shapes and sizes—but one of the books that I remember enjoying as a child was Jenny Wren. Looking back, I was probably intrigued by the story since Jenny’s life as an orphan was so different from my life. Hers was filled with instability and left her wary of trusting anyone, even the sweet couple that tried to offer her a safe, loving home. Now that I’m older I think about this story and see a beautiful analogy of God’s love for us woven throughout. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.” —Carolynn

Grace, love, and forgiveness permeate this youth novel by Dawn L. Watkins. Jenny Wren, a foster child, has just moved to live with the Logans, but she does not expect to stay long. (ages 9–12)

Mumsi Meets a Lion

“I picked Mumsi Meets a Lion because it reminds me of when I was a kid imagining what it would be like if I met a lion. Would I be able to stand still? Would I run away as fast as possible or would I try to fight the lion off? I don’t know, but it sure was fun thinking about it.” —David

And that is exactly what young readers will encounter when they read Kim Stegall’s picture book—an account of a boy named Mumsi and what he does when a lion comes across his path. (picture book)

The Railway Children

“I never read The Railway Children until I was an adult. A friend recommended it to me around the time my second child was born, and I fell in love with the book immediately. Be sure to read the book aloud so that you can fully appreciate the beauty of the author’s language choices and storytelling ability. The story itself celebrates the carefree innocence of childhood and will delight your young child again and again.” —Megan

You’ll find themes of adventure, family values, and trust throughout this wonderful youth novel by Edith Nesbit. (ages 9–12)

What Do I Know About My God?

“I chose What Do I Know About My God? because it’s a book that I return to over and over again when I need to be reminded of what Scripture says about who God is and what He does. As a teenager, I first remember seeing this book at my aunt’s house and wondering if it could teach me more than I already knew about my Lord. Now having finished the book and taking up the challenge to begin my own journal, I can say that God has used this book as a tool in my life to help me grow in my relationship with Him and in my gratefulness for His words. It has also been a source of encouragement as I share the Bible truths with other women God brings into my life.“ —Meredith

This book by Mardi Collier is great for personal growth or group study. Although written for women, it presents truths about God that are valuable for all believers.

What’s Stopping You?

“What’s Stopping You? sounds like something that I could have used when I was a teenager and didn’t really understand God’s Word. It seemed that very few people had the knowledge, the patience, or the time to teach me. I believe that if I had better understood what I needed to do to become more like Christ, some of the wrong choices I made wouldn’t have affected me so much.” —Byron

Written by Nathan Thomas, this book challenges teens to pursue God with all their being.

Have you read any of these books? Share your story with us below.

Add a Homemade Touch This Christmas

December 5, 2014 by David

I love decorating for Christmas! Recently (thanks to Pinterest) I’ve become more of a “do it myself” kind of guy and have enjoyed creating my own Christmas decorations.

If you’re looking for something that you and the kids can do to add a homemade touch to your Christmas décor this year, look no further. I’ve created some ornament patterns that you can download and print out for your kids to create one-of-a-kind ornaments.

Materials

A printout of the ornaments pdf (If you want, you can print it out on thicker paper to make them sturdier.)
Scissors
Hole punch
Craft supplies to decorate the ornaments (I used glitter pens and colored markers for mine.)
Ribbon
X-acto^® knife (optional)

Directions

Print out the ornaments and cut around each ornament on the dashed line.
If you would like to, you can use the X-acto^® knife to cut out the patterns within the ornaments.
Once all the ornaments have been cut out, use the hole punch to make a hole at the top of each ornament.
Use your craft supplies to decorate the ornaments however you like.
Once all the ornaments are decorated and dry, cut some pieces of ribbon and string one through the hole at the top of each ornament. You can staple or tape the ends of the ribbon to make a loop.
Now display your homemade ornaments around the house. You can hang them on the tree or even hang them from the top of a door. Get creative and have fun!

We’d love to see your ornaments! Share a picture of your ornament creations with us on our Facebook page.