Whether you are looking for an advent devotional, a cozy nonfiction read, or a festive holiday fiction—here is a list of recommendations to get you started. I hope these encourage some special reading moments this Christmas season!

Garrison Keillor once said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” I could not agree more! If you are looking for the perfect gift here is a book guide for every type of reader in your life!

And it is the Prince of Peace, who is at once Mighty God and Everlasting Father and Wonderful Counselor, for whom we wait. And when we consider the final Kingdom, I believe what we are experiencing now is a mere picture of the entirety of restored creation filled with His perfect peace. The entire Kingdom will be completeness (in number), safe and sound, healthy and prosperous, tranquil and content, and deep friendship will abound between men as well as between God and man.

God stepped in time and time again to redeem His people, to bring them back to himself. Now, on this side of history, we look back with hearts overflowing with gratefulness for the time when God stepped in once again to redeem His people—this time through His Son, the exact imprint of the nature of God—once for all. In our ultimate redemption though the incarnation and sacrifice the Son, we see the image of the invisible God—our Everlasting Father. 

Years ago, I read about the most enchanting holiday tradition in Iceland. It is called Jólabókaflóð and translated means “Yule Book Flood.” On Christmas Eve, it is customary to give loved ones a book as a gift and then proceed to read the new book all night long. Sign me up! Seeing that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, Christmas is sure to look a little different this year, so why not adopt a new tradition of gifting books to those you love?! Here are my recommendations for readers of all ages and literary preferences. 

It’s a picture of God as warrior, defender, champion. Mighty in battle. It brings to my mind the image of the God of Armies, named over and over in the narratives of the kings and the prophets. He is protector, avenger, MIGHTY.

Jesus does all of these things but infinitely more. He didn’t live a perfect life to show us how it’s done so we could follow Him in attempting this same perfection. He came and lived a perfect life for us because we simply cannot… With every stripped-down, vulnerable encounter with our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) we are changed forever for His glory. It doesn’t get more wonderful than that.

Holiday cups have dropped at Starbucks which means one thing—the Christmas season is upon us! If you are like me and enjoy curling up next to the Christmas tree under a warm blanket with a good book, I hope one of these holiday picks will add a little extra joy.