Winter Is Coming Giveaway Event Blog Hop

Posted on by Staci Mauney

And the winner is…

Jeanette Jackson

from Saint John, NB, Canada

In the United States, Christmas is our favorite holiday by far. Who doesn’t have a great memory of a cherished time with family during this season? While some memories are sweet, others are funny or even sad. I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood. But Christmas joy isn’t limited to children. As adults, we can experience the joy of the season as well. We can feel overwhelmed and stressed by the season for many reasons: financial difficulties, too many activities, family members who don’t get along…the list goes on and on. Joy seems elusive and we forget the reason we celebrate this season: Jesus.

This Christmas season, I’m joining The Kids Did It blog and The Mommy Island blog to participate in the Winter Is Coming Giveaway Event, which runs from December 6, 2017, to December 21, 2017. The winner of my first giveaway this Christmas season will receive a $15 Amazon gift card.

Enter through the Gleam form below for your chance to win!

One entrant will be selected to win a $15 Amazon gift card. Open for entry in the Continental US/Canada Only, 18 years and older from 12/06/17 thru 12/21/2017 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to notification email to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. See Gleam form for official rules. Event hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for fulfilling prize obligations from sponsors or self-sponsoring bloggers.

Staci’s Winter Is Coming Giveaway Event

Echoes of Joy: A Daily Devotional for Christmas

Blurb

Echoes of Joy: A Daily Devotional for Christmas is the second volume in the Echoes of Joy devotional series by author Staci Mauney. Containing 25 devotionals, this book will inspire and encourage you during this busy season. Each devotional contains a Bible verse and prayer along with a story from the author’s life or a lesson learned that will point you toward Jesus.

From playing an angel in a Christmas program to struggling through the holidays after divorce to finding hope in unlikely places, this book features stories from the author’s own life as she explores the lessons learned at Christmas which apply all year long.

During this time of year, we find that emotions are magnified – both good and bad – and that our busy schedules rob us of our joy. The short entries in this book will allow you to focus on Jesus and remember why we celebrate this season. You will find messages of joy, hope, and perseverance throughout this devotional written with you in mind. As you look toward Christmas and into the New Year, let the messages contained inside this book move you into God’s presence.

Excerpt

Day 4

Hustle and Bustle

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” (Ps 62:1)

I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared at the calendar. December 12. Almost halfway to Christmas, and I still didn’t have the tree decorated. I had a strong urge to give up on Christmas that year and just forget about participating in the trappings of the holiday.

Each year, I check my list twice so that I don’t forget anything. Decorations in place? Christmas cards in the mail? Gifts purchased and wrapped? Christmas plays attended? Christmas candy made? Not to mention going to work and caring for my Yorkie. My list of tasks continued to grow to the point where I didn’t want to do anything at all.

I needed to take a step back and reevaluate my reasons for celebrating the season. I realized that much of the reason I felt overwhelmed was that I had difficulty saying no to people. I didn’t want to let anyone down. I kept saying yes to good things, but the accumulation of too many good things meant that nothing – and no one – was getting the attention it deserved. Decorating the house for Christmas that year was the last straw for me. I was overwhelmed and stressed, and I had lost perspective – Godly perspective – on the season.

That was the year I finally understood I didn’t have to do everything or be everywhere. While I had always known that, I had difficulty putting that knowledge into practice. Over the years, I have cut back on activities so I can spend more time just being and less time doing.

When Jesus became overwhelmed by the crowds and constant needs of the people, he went off by himself to pray and spend time with his father (Mt 14:23; Mk 1:35). By spending time alone to recharge, he showed us how to reclaim our energy when life threatens to overwhelm us.

When we become so busy that we forget to slow down and enjoy the spirit of the season, we miss out on a blessing from God. For without the blessing of the Savior’s birth, there would be no reason to celebrate this time of year. Christmas would be just like any other holiday. It doesn’t matter whether or not I complete any of the tasks on my list; what matters is whether I turn my heart in praise to God for the gift of his love through Jesus Christ. This is the reason we celebrate this time of year, and we should never be so busy that we can’t take time out to share this gift with those around us.

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me that spending time with you is a good thing. Help me to remember at Christmas time and all year long to stay connected to you. Amen.

Buy the Book!

Thanks for stopping by and reading a little of my Christmas devotional! Remember to visit the other blogs listed below that are participating in this hop and enter to win more wonderful prizes! Good luck!


 

94 thoughts on “Winter Is Coming Giveaway Event Blog Hop”

  3. I love reading during the winter months. This is relaxing and this would enable me to purchase a few books. What a great thing

  6. I am very excited for this giveaway. I love the hops, as it is a great opportunity to find some new blogs, as well as win some fun prizes.

  8. My favorite Christmas memory was dressing up in my pajamas with my family and driving to see Christmas lights.

  9. I am grateful for the recovery of my mom after her Christmas eve stroke back in 2001 and helping me remember that there’s much more to Christmas than the presents under the tree.

    1. What a great memory! My dad loves trains, too, and he left his model trains set up throughout the year for me and brother to play with. Good luck in the giveaway!

  13. I would love to win this gift card to buy books for my daughter. I love giving books, or gift cards for books.

  14. My earliest memories of the holidays all have to do with baking. I would always seem to be in the kitchen with my mom and grandma, helping to bake all sorts of cookies, bars, and breads in December. We gave our hard work as Christmas gifts in the form of cookie trays, with more than enough cookies to munch on ourselves. 😉

    1. What great memories! I have lots of memories of helping my own mom and grandma in the kitchen, and I still love to bake and make candy at Christmastime. Good luck in the giveaway!

  15. I remember when dad would say to us kids, “It’s time to look for the Christmas tree.” We would bundle up in our warm snow boots and ski pants, with big scarves that mom made for us around our neck and face. We would walk out in the deep snow and into the woods to find a tree.

  20. I’m very excited about this giveaway! I always shop on Amazon and this gift would really help during the Christmas holidays!

  29. I’m super excited about this giveaway, hops are alot of fun! Thank you so much for sharing and Merry Christmas.

  31. I am really excited about this giveaway. I love Amazon for so many things but especially kindle books!

  32. Love hops like this, especially at the holidays. It’s always nice to win a little extra something-something to make a girl happy!

  37. This is a great giveaway! My Christmas memory is of my kids opening their stockings Christmas morning before we got out of bed to open gifts.

    1. What a great memory! Opening stockings has always been one of my favorite things, whether it was me opening it or watching my brother and parents go through theirs. Good luck in the giveaway!

  39. I am so excited for this giveaway because I love Amazon gift cards and save them for birthdays and Christmas

  40. Im really excitied for this giveaway didnt get to get my wife anything for Christmas so i would like to get something quick even if it is after Christmas. I love Christmas this is the time i see my kids faces light up like a Christmas tree

  41. This is a fun giveaway with a very useful prize. Amazon is a place anyone can find something they need.

  44. My favorite Christmas memory is 22 years ago. We were awaiting the arrival of our second daughter, she was born on New Years Eve.

  45. I’m so excited about this giveaway because I can give the gift card to my grandson for Christmsas. At 17 he enjoys gift cards so he can get exactly why he wants. My favorite Christmas memory is the last one I enjoyed while my parents were alive. My son & I had just gotten a new home & they came that morning to open presents and enjoy a wonderful brunch. It was my favorite even before I knew it would be my last with them. Thank you for the chance to win.

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