{"product_id":"the-women-of-christmas-isbn-9781601425416","title":"The Women of Christmas","description":"\u003cb\u003eGod Reached Down from Heaven with the Best Gift of All\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e A sacred season is about to unfold for three women whose hearts belong to God. \u003cbr\u003e Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God’s Son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently, prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Following in their footsteps, you too can prepare for the Savior to enter your heart, your mind, and your life in a vibrant, new way. Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs explores the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, unwrapping each verse with tender care and introducing you afresh to The Women of Christmas.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCBA\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eECPA \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Women of Christmas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Breathtaking! \u003ci\u003eThe Women of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e is tender and joy filled and funny and faithful. With genuine warmth, profound wisdom, and refreshing wonder, Liz Curtis Higgs offers up a perfect seasonal blend—just what every woman in the midst of Christmas needs. I savored every word.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Ann Voskamp, author of the New York Times bestseller One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Liz Curtis Higgs ably mines the Scriptures, revealing undiscovered treasures in the familiar story. Through the pages of this powerful little book, we get to peer into the hearts of these women and find our own hearts melting at the beauty of God’s grace.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Nancy Guthrie, author of the Bible study series Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This season delight your friends with an early gift of \u003ci\u003eThe Women of Christmas,\u003c\/i\u003e inviting them to see how Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna were part of God’s great plan to rescue us. As Liz puts it, ‘Never doubt for a moment that women matter to the Almighty.’”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Dee Brestin, author of Idol Lies: Facing the Truth About Our Deepest Desires\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Women of Christmas\u003c\/i\u003e invites us to steal away with our Savior during the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest seasons of the year. In her warm and welcoming voice, Liz Curtis Higgs draws us into the compelling stories of the women who surrounded our Messiah’s birth and encourages us to consider our own relationship with him. An inspirational and biblically rich devotional. What a wonderful way to experience Christmas!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Kelly Minter, author of Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiz Curtis Higgs\u003c\/b\u003e is a popular conference speaker, who has presented inspirational programs for audiences in all fifty United States and fourteen foreign countries. She is also the author of more than thirty books, with 4.5 million copies in print, including her nonfiction study of Ruth, \u003ci\u003eThe Girl’s Still Got It, \u003c\/i\u003eher best-selling series, \u003ci\u003eBad Girls of the Bible, Really Bad Girls of the Bible, Unveiling Mary Magdalene\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSlightly Bad Girls of the Bible, \u003c\/i\u003eher award-winning Scottish historical novella, \u003ci\u003eA Wreath of Snow\u003c\/i\u003e; and a series of children’s books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Pine Tree Parable\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e Liz is happily married to Bill Higgs, who serves as director of operations for her speaking and writing office. They share their life together in a nineteenth-century farmhouse near Louisville, Kentucky.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOne\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJoy to the world, the Lord is come!\u003cbr\u003eLet earth receive her King;\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLet every heart prepare him room,\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eAnd heaven and nature sing,\u003cbr\u003eAnd heaven and nature sing,\u003cbr\u003eAnd heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.\u003cbr\u003e—Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World,” 1719\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLet Every Heart\u003cbr\u003ePrepare Him Room\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eLong before silver bells jingled, Christmas lights twinkled, and horse-drawn sleighs went dashing through the snow, God reached down from heaven with the best gift of all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLove, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Hope, nestled in a manger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThree women played vital roles in the Messiah’s birth: Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. Even if you’ve met them before, I think you’ll enjoy getting to know them better. And I’ll love sharing the journey with you!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir lives were markedly different. Elizabeth was married, settled, mature. Her kinswoman Mary was young, still living at home, and engaged to a carpenter. Anna was an elderly widow whose every waking hour was wholly dedicated to God. Before we reach the final page, we’ll understand why God chose them. And why—this part boggles my mind—God has chosen us too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe’ll also spend time with the men in their lives, including an old priest called Zechariah, a new husband named Joseph, and a brother of the faith known as Simeon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStill, it’s the women who carry the story, teaching us by example to wait upon the Lord, to trust him with everything that matters to us, to pray until our prayers are answered. We’ll also hear from more than two dozen women who shared their comments through my online Bible study. Their honesty and humility bring these ancient stories right into the present, showing us what it means to surrender our lives to the One who loves us most.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd he truly does love you. Always has, always will. If only one message from this book finds a home in your heart, let it be that God’s love for you is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than you can ever imagine!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChristmas is so much more than a holiday. So much more than buying and wrapping and cooking and eating and trimming with tinsel and mailing out cards. It’s a season for reflection, for preparation, for renewal. The perfect time to put aside our shopping lists and reach for our Bibles, where the story of the Christ child awaits us.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCurl up in a comfy spot, and let’s dive in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThis year I want to look up and be refreshed anew by the true meaning of it all.”\u003c\/i\u003e —Miriam\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd so we begin with Elizabeth, our first woman of Christmas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnticipation builds as we turn to the book of Luke. We know what’s coming. Or do we? The forgotten details, the overlooked truths may catch us by surprise and teach us something new about God and his love for us. The birth of his Son is a story that never grows old, never loses its power to alter our thinking and realign our priorities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary is, of course, the most famous of our trio, yet her older kinswoman Elizabeth moved into the limelight first, along with the man she married.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah,…\u003ci\u003e Luke 1:5\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eJust an ordinary priest. The streets of Jerusalem were full of them. Depending on the translation, his name is spelled “Zacharias,” “Zachariah,” even “Zachary.” Same guy. Zechariah was not only a good man; he was also God’s man, descended from a long line of holy servants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     …who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;… \u003ci\u003eLuke 1:5\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbijah was just one of twenty-four divisions, so there were \u003ci\u003elots\u003c\/i\u003e of priests. Since the time of Aaron, their duties included handling various offerings, giving thanks, and singing praises at the gates of God’s dwelling place. A worthy calling, though with so many priests, few were singled out for ministry within the temple’s Holy Place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow that we have Zechariah sorted out, here’s the woman we’ve been eager to meet.\u003cbr\u003e     \u003cbr\u003e     …his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. \u003ci\u003eLuke 1:5\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA popular name, much loved through the centuries. My mother was an Elizabeth, I’m one too, and so is my daughter-in- law, though each generation picked a different nickname: Betty, Liz, and Beth. The meaning remains the same: “God’s promise” or “oath of God.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike her husband, Elizabeth was in Aaron’s lineage, which made her a fine catch since marrying a woman of priestly ancestry was a special blessing. Among her many tasks Elizabeth kept her husband’s priestly garments in good repair and welcomed visitors into their home to discuss temple matters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe know this couple. We’ve seen them at church, exchanged smiles in the parking lot. Happily married people, busily serving the Lord, always doing good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. \u003ci\u003eLuke 1:6\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey lived “honorably before God” (msg ) and humbly as well, knowing the Lord alone was their source of righteousness. It may sound as if Elizabeth and her husband were obedient and so earned God’s approval, but, in truth, it was the other way around. God’s power and strength at work in their lives made it possible for them to do the right thing in the first place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe same is true for us, of course. Though it’s tempting to praise people for their goodness, it’s better to praise the One who made them. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter such cheery news about Elizabeth and her hubby in the opening verses, it’s time for the other shoe to drop. When God’s blessings are piled on our heads, it’s easy to be faithful. The real test comes when disappointment calls and sorrow pulls up a chair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     But they were childless… \u003ci\u003eLuke 1:7\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eOh no. Not these two godly souls?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfraid so. Even with all their goodness and righteousness, sadness had crept into their home. In their world children were seen as God’s reward for faithful service. We can guess the desperate questions that threaded through their minds as each year went by without a child in their arms. \u003ci\u003eAre we not faithful enough, Lord? Have we dishonored you in some way?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eWhenever they heard the psalmist’s words “The fruit of the womb is a divine reward,” Zechariah and Elizabeth must have steeled themselves, hiding their pain, even as they avoided sidelong glances from their neighbors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     …because Elizabeth was not able to conceive,… \u003ci\u003eLuke 1:7\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"WaterBrook","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300614066405,"sku":"NP9781601425416","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781601425416.jpg?v=1767742286","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-women-of-christmas-isbn-9781601425416","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}