Christmas Gift List: 10 Ideas for Saying Thank You

You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving. ~Amy Carmichael

Tell me again why we give gifts at Christmas when it’s Christ’s birthday? (I hate to admit it, but sometimes that’s my first response when it’s time to start Christmas shopping). What always helps me get over that proverbial hump is to remember that gift-giving is at core a way of saying “thank you,” “I love you,” “I appreciate you”—first, to God, and second, to others. Gift-giving is a way of fulfilling the greatest commandment to love God and to love our neighbor. Once I remember why I’m giving gifts, and once I’ve gotten through the decision-making aspect, I find that I actually enjoy giving them (if not, wrapping them, since wrapping is not in my “gift-set”!). In case you struggle with choosing gifts, and in case you didn’t, like some of the best gift-givers I know (my daughter-in-law among them!), start shopping in July, I’m giving you my first gift of Christmas: a few ideas to get you going.

Encaustic Art

Lisa Tarplee

I recently discovered Lisa’s lovely art while doing a Bible study on Ephesians, for which she created a gorgeous piece. Here’s a description of her work from her website:

“Lisa draws inspiration for art from life and faith. As she wrestles with concepts of God, the church, suffering, and joy, she works it out with torn paper, hymns, Scripture, encaustic paints and other media. Her mixed media art reflects her personal faith journey of lament, joy, and hope, and beauty.

Her work often stands as a visual parable and prayer. As she composes each piece, she converses with the Lord, her Creator, in prayer and meditation. The final work invites the viewer to join into a conversation of faith and life.”

Gentle and Lowly

Dane Ortlund

We believe in the grace and mercy of God…until we don’t. Ortlund meets us in our struggle to stay squarely on the gospel path with sound theology and a Scriptural description of Jesus that reminds us of the surpassing hope we have in Christ. Jesus is Gentle and Lowly, with both sufferers and sinners. He will never cast out any who come to him. Read this book and fall in love with the Jesus who is head over heels in love with you.

Tul Notebooks

Office Depot

There’s just something about the feeling of placing real ink from a real pen on real paper. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, or if you’ve read my books, you’ve probably heard me mention my prayer journal. My new favorite notebook for prayer journals and other writing projects is the Tul at Office Depot. You can easily move pages around; the paper is thick and hearty; and the covers are attractive. Tul offers junior and standard sized notebooks, as well as planners, lined paper refills, and graph paper. You can even purchase dividers, stickers, to-do lists, and all sorts of other accessories for your notebook. This could be a delightful gift for the paper and pen lover in your life.

Ephesians: The Love We Long For

Scotty Smith

Reading Scotty’s daily prayer is like drinking a gospel protein shake to get your day started! Scotty always begins with one or more Scripture verses, and then goes on to pray in everyday language about everyday realities. The prayers always energize and encourage with the gospel. Even though you can subscribe to Scotty’s prayers for free, it’s nice to have them all together in one place. I often pull out Everyday Prayers and Every Season Prayers when I’m stuck for something to pray, when I want to understand a passage of Scripture better, or when I need an injection of gospel encouragement.

Finding Rest in Christmas

An Advent Devotional Guide

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Where can you find a great gift for teachers, co-workers, friends, and family for less than five dollars? This advent devotional guide will take you through Mary’s story and help you reflect on the story God is writing in your life. Four weekly guides, with five days of possible activities:Day 1: Devotional on the life of Mary; Day 2: Reflection questions on the devotional; Day 3: Story starters: ideas to reflect on and share your story; Day 4: Prayer; Day 5: Music. Check it out today.

Get Finding Rest in Christmas for Free

I want rest!

A Holy Fear

Christina Fox

If fear disrupts your sleep or hampers your freedom, this is the book for you. Christina gently addresses our inordinate fears and graciously guides us to see how “a holy fear” of the Lord brings us relief. Christina guides us into the deeper meaning of the command to “fear the Lord” — reminding us of how powerful, holy, and good he really is. As we begin to live into this “holy fear,” our anxieties about the “what-if’s” of this world subside, and our enjoyment and hope in the Lord increase.

Your Story Matters

Leslie Leyland Fields

If you’ve ever considered writing parts of your story but had a hard time getting started, you will find a helpful guide in Leslie Leyland Fields’ book. Always encouraging, Fields not only convinces us of the importance of writing and sharing our stories, but she also gives practical instruction on how to do so. A great gift for a friend or family member who loves to remember stories, or a great gift to yourself.

Christmas

Phil Wickham

For all the vinyl lovers in your life (yes, “vinyl” is what we used to call “records” if you’re of my generation;-), why not give them a Christmas album that they’ll enjoy for years? Wickham’s mellow, folksy style conjures up images of sitting by the fireside with a group of longtime friends sipping warm drinks and sharing good stories.

The Beautiful Community

Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best

Irwyn L. Ince

What a beautiful book! In a season when the division in the church has seemed to mimic the division in the world, Irwyn L. Ince Jr. engages us with the reminder of what it looks like to live in as members of the spectacularly diverse, unified in difference, body of Christ. He gently and kindly invites those of us in the majority to consider what it would be like to be in the minority in our churches. Open this book and discover the hope of the gospel to transform our churches and our hearts.

Let’s Make Art

Sarah Cray

A couple of years ago, I decided I needed a new hobby. I had heard that watercoloring could be relaxing, but it turns out, for unartistic novices like myself, it’s way more relaxing when you have a good teacher, the right materials, and some readymade projects. The awesome thing about Let’s Make Art is that Sarah Cray makes her tutorials available for free. And, she’s probably the most encouraging teacher you will ever have. You can use your own materials to paint along, or you can order a complete kit from her, which will come with the outline to trace, the paints you need, and the paper to paint your creation. There’s even a monthly subscription, with four projects per month. I haven’t tried the lettering because I’m so bad at that I think it would be more stressful than relaxing, but I have watched a tutorial, and it looks like it could be fun if you like lettering.

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*Author’s note: Any small earnings from Amazon affiliates are poured back into the maintenance of this site for your enjoyment! Other items in this gift list are not affiliate links.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Encaustic Art

Lisa Tarplee