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Simply Christmas
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Simply Christmas

A Busy Mom's Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional

About the Book

Thirty-one encouraging devotions to help busy moms pause and ponder the true miracles of the Christmas season--the wonder of a Savior who would leave heaven to save us and the love of those who share our home.

Between holiday baking, hunting for the perfect tree, decorating, preparing for visiting relatives, and making sure everyone gets the ideal gift, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for a busy mom. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult to find time to just sit and reflect on the wonder of the Savior's birth.

If this sounds familiar, allow Simply Christmas to be your personal invitation to slow down and savor the beauty of the manger this year. These thirty-one devotions are not dated, so you're welcome to begin reading anytime--whether that's on December 1, Christmas Eve, the day after Thanksgiving, or the middle of July--without even a smidgen of guilt or shame.

Accompanied by seasonally inspired full-color photographs, this thirty-one-day devotional brings a bit of calm to each day through a short reflection and Scripture, together with points to ponder and fun ideas for simplifying your Christmas traditions.
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Praise for Simply Christmas

“What a wonderful, tactical resource for busy mothers who care deeply about creating meaningful traditions to celebrate the season of Christmas. I love Tama’s intentional ideas and thoughtful take on the ways we celebrate. Highly recommend this keepsake book!”—Emily Ley, author of Growing Boldly

“If we’re honest about the holiday season, it can be so congested with activities that we often have to fight to remember why we do it all. In Simply Christmas, Tama so creatively presents to us what it looks like to savor the season, to breathe deep, and to drink in the joy of the Savior. Her words and wisdom will help you fix your focus this Christmas as you lead your family and your home.”—Jennie Lusko, author of Fight to Flourish

“If you have ever felt like the Christmas season is stressful and exhausting, dive into these pages, rest in God’s word, and reclaim the goodness of the Christmas season for yourself and your family!”—Jamie Ivey, bestselling author, and host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast

“As a busy mom myself, I’m so thankful for this beautiful guide to reclaiming the holiday season with my family. Filled with simple tips and gentle reminders, this devotional is a must for every momma as we approach the holidays. Let’s enjoy this season to the fullest—with less fuss and more joy—with the Lord at the center of it all.”—Liz Marie, author of Cozy White Cottage
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Excerpt

Simply Christmas

Dear Mama,

I’ve been there. I know what you’re up against. The pressure to create the perfect Christmas celebration for those we love. To bake the perfect cookies, host the perfect party, find the perfect gifts. And then there are trees to decorate, stockings to hang, parties to plan, cards to create, and, and, and . . .

We rush and scurry from one event and obligation to the next, until all-too-soon, it’s December 26, and we’re staring at a pile of empty boxes and crumpled wrapping paper, wondering how we missed the joy.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

This book isn’t going to give you any quick-fix, one- size-fits-all answers. Nor do I have the ultimate checklist that will solve all your problems in a blinding whirlwind of organization. What I do have are some thoughts about that long-ago first Christmas, along with a few practical tips for simplifying the season and staying mindful of the true reasons we celebrate it.

To use this book, simply read one devotion each day. These thirty-one devotions are not dated, so you’re welcome to begin reading on December 1, December 15, the day after Thanksgiving, or the middle of July—without even a smidgen of guilt or shame. Pray the prayer, meditate on the “Remember” thought and try out the “Reclaiming Christmas” tip—if you want to. No pressure. Use the tips that work for you, and simply skip the rest. Seriously. Just skip ’em. And if you miss a day, don’t worry. After all, Christ isn’t just for Christmas, and He’s worth celebrating every day of the year.

Simply Christmas is your invitation to slow down and savor this time with the Savior. And it’s your permission to kick the pressures of perfection to the curb.

This year, let’s choose to pause and to ponder as Mary did, to get lost in the wonder of Immanuel, of God with us. This year, let it be simply Christmas.

—Tama

About the Author

Tama Fortner
Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer with more than thirty-five titles to her credit, including Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom's Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays. As a ghostwriter, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a footwarmer. More by Tama Fortner
Decorative Carat