Instead of the joy-filled celebrations that we build up in our minds, the holidays (pick one, any one) can often become stress-filled, money-draining, joy-less days of the year that we just "want to get through." And it is by our own volition that we have refused too many times to allow our holiday celebrations to be the spiritual experience they are meant to be. This book has been conceived and designed over 30 years as Dr. Bill Thrasher has spoken to thousands of people, helping them realize the spiritual battle that surrounds their celebration of the holidays. Littered with practical thoughts, ideas, experiences, and stories, Putting God Back in the Holidays will help you and your family celebrate holidays and birthdays with biblical truth in mind.
Putting God Back in the Holidays
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
FOR THE BACK OF THE BOOK ONLY:
This is a book that is long overdue, and I am grateful for the time and energy that Bill and his wife Penny have put into its preparation. It is my prayer that this book will help many Christians do what they sincerely desire to do: take every opportunity to receive and reflect the love of Christ to family and friends.
From the Foreword by New York Times #1 Bestselling author: Gary Chapman, Ph.D.
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This book will draw you closer to Christ and to each other and help you celebrate milestones in meaningful ways. I highly recommend it.
Chris Fabry
Author and radio host
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It's one thing to keep your kids focused on God during Christmas and Easter, but quite another to help them see the spiritual significance of Valentine's Day or Arbor Day. Bill and Penny Thrasher's book will help families think biblically about holidays throughout the calendar year.
Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family
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FOR THE INSIDES:
It's one thing to keep your kids focused on God during Christmas and Easter, but quite another to help them see the spiritual significance of Valentine's Day or Arbor Day. Bill and Penny Thrasher's book will help families think biblically about holidays throughout the calendar year.
Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family
--
"I love holidays! They are filled with family, fun and an opportunity to step away from my "day job" for a change of pace. Yet sometimes our anticipation of the holiday outweighs the actual experience. For some, holidays are full of haunting memories of the past. So how do we make the best of holiday celebrations? Bill Thrasher has some helpful ideas that will take your holidays to the next level."
Joseph M. Stowell
President, Cornerstone University
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"We often give but a passing nod toward traditional holidays without realizing that they were intended originally to be 'holy days.' This book will help put devotion on the agenda for our regular rhythms of life throughout the year, a sorely needed issue for many of us."
Josh Moody
Senior Pastor
College Church, Wheaton, Illinois
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"If you are concerned that the Christian holidays are becoming muted in the midst of the growing welter of state and national holidays-do not despair. Bill and Penny Thrasher's Putting God Back in the Holidays shows how you can better exalt Christ through the great days of the church calendar and, likewise, infuse the secular holidays with an elevating, life-giving spirit. What a positive read this is! And, because I know the Thrasher family, I can say that they live it out. Read this book and be encouraged and enriched."
R. Kent Hughes
Senior Pastor Emeritus
College Church, Wheaton, Illinois
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"The Thrashers have written a very valuable book to help with holiday advice and direction. An important and timely read."
Pat Williams
Senior Vice President
Orlando Magic
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"One of the most practical books ever on relationships and celebrating God's love through the holidays all year round. This book will draw you closer to Christ and to each other and help you celebrate milestones in meaningful ways. I highly recommend it."
Chris Fabry
Author and radio host
--
"Holidays are often endured, not enjoyed. While anticipated, the net outcome for families today is usually fatigue and frustration. Having navigated, often unsuccessfully, my family through the maze of holidays, I rejoice in this important work by Bill and Penny Thrasher. Any parents who wishes to transform their holiday experience needs to ponder their words carefully. They speak as practitioners, not theorists. They offer encouragement, not judgment. May you find refreshment in this book!"
Paul Nyquist
President
Moody Bible Institute
--
"Holidays are some of the busiest times of the year. It is so easy to get caught up in the details of preparing for the events surrounding the holiday. Bill and Penny show how each holiday can have spiritual significance for the body of Christ as well as each of us individually. Then they give us practical ways we can glorify God through the holidays and be conforming ourselves to the image of His dear Son."
Mike Smith
President
Home School Legal Defense Association
About the Author
WILLIAM D. THRASHER (B.S., Auburn University; Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) has served on the faculty of Moody Theological Seminary since 1980 and on the graduate school faculty since 1990, where he oversees the Master's Program in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship. He is a frequent speaker in churches and retreats across the county. He has written numerous articles on a variety of subjects related to Christian living. His books include, Living the Life God has Planned, A Journey to Victorious Praying, Believing God for His Best, and Putting God Back into the Holidays published by Moody Publishers and he has also written How to be a Soul Physician, The Attributes of God in Pauline Theology, and Principles of Christian Living from Romans 5-8. He has written "Jonah" in the Moody Bible Commentary and has authored two online courses: Biblical Spiritual Formation and Biblical Spiritual Formation Lab 1. He is married to Penny and they have three sons- Will, Michael, and David.
PENNY THRASHER- Penny Thrasher was raised in a home given to hospitality and feels privileged to carry on that tradition, especially in hosting large holiday celebrations. She contributed to her husband's book, Believing God for His Best -- How to Marry Contentment and Singleness. Penny is in her 17th year of home schooling and enjoys serving in their church, being part of a prayer group which supports missionaries, and mentoring younger women. Bill and Penny have three sons, Will, Michael, and David.
PENNY THRASHER- Penny Thrasher was raised in a home given to hospitality and feels privileged to carry on that tradition, especially in hosting large holiday celebrations. She contributed to her husband's book, Believing God for His Best -- How to Marry Contentment and Singleness. Penny is in her 17th year of home schooling and enjoys serving in their church, being part of a prayer group which supports missionaries, and mentoring younger women. Bill and Penny have three sons, Will, Michael, and David.
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More About the Author
Bill Thrasher has served on the faculty of Moody Bible Institute since 1980 and on the graduate school faculty since 1990, where he oversees the Master's Program in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship. He is a frequent speaker in churches and retreats across the county. He has written numerous books and articles on a variety of subjects related to Christian living. He is married to Penny and they have three sons--Will, Michael, and David.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The easiest way to express what I think about this book is to say that there are some thoughts and ideas in this book that I really like and others that either I'm not comfortable with or wouldn't be realistic for my family based on the personalities of me and my husband. Reading this book reminded me that every family I know has different family traditions.
Many of our family traditions come from things that our families did when we were growing up. Every Thanksgiving, I make spiced peaches. Every Christmas Eve, we had friends over for homemade noodles and sauce. My husband's family made pizzelles and gingerbread cookies every Christmas Season. But, there are other holidays that we don't celebrate as much. I do celebrate them with our children as part of homeschooling, but they aren't family holidays.
Sometimes I think reading a book like this can make a mom feel guilty or struggle that her family doesn't or can't celebrate holidays the way the Thrashers talk about. What are some possible reasons why we might not be able to celebrate this way? 1) A marriage is between 2 people. Both people have a say in how the family runs with the husband having the ultimate authority and responsibility to be the leader of the family. 2) Physical or financial limitations and availability of resources. I believe these are both legitimate reasons.
So, how can we respond? I think we can find our own ways that do work within the framework and finances of our families to celebrate these holidays.
The bulk of this book is devoted to spiritual birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My favorite section is actually none of these, but actually the section for other holidays. I enjoyed the discussions of Valentine's Day, MLK, Jr. Day, Presiden'ts Day, Arbor Day, and other American holidays. I know that I am going to reread the pages on these holidays as we go through this next year. I may not "do" anything per se other than talk and discuss with my children what the days are about, but those discussions matter. I look forward to talking with my children about submitting to authority on President's Day and praying for the leaders of our country. I am very thankful for the biblical passages that the Thrashers included in their discussions.
There is a short section devoted to birthdays, but a larger section is devoted to "spiritual birthdays" and having a blessing party. This is one of those topics that I wasn't sure what to think about as I read it. I've talked to several people about it. I don't think the idea of "name it and claim it" is biblical. God does listen to our hearts and he does give us the desires of our hearts--when those desires are in line with His will for our lives. But, simply praying and asking or "claiming" a blessing is no guarantee that we will receive what we ask for. I have encountered discussions like this before and I am uneasy about it. It doesn't sit well with my soul. My pastor's wife shared with me that she believes God can give us wisdom about what to pray for for our children. I do agree with her.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I began to realize that this book will be loved by many people, but most of the ideas won't really work for my family. If your family enjoys celebrating holidays together and your husband and children would really enjoy the ideas in this book, I think you'll probably love it. I've given this book four stars because I enjoyed the section on other holidays so much.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Moody Publishing.
Many of our family traditions come from things that our families did when we were growing up. Every Thanksgiving, I make spiced peaches. Every Christmas Eve, we had friends over for homemade noodles and sauce. My husband's family made pizzelles and gingerbread cookies every Christmas Season. But, there are other holidays that we don't celebrate as much. I do celebrate them with our children as part of homeschooling, but they aren't family holidays.
Sometimes I think reading a book like this can make a mom feel guilty or struggle that her family doesn't or can't celebrate holidays the way the Thrashers talk about. What are some possible reasons why we might not be able to celebrate this way? 1) A marriage is between 2 people. Both people have a say in how the family runs with the husband having the ultimate authority and responsibility to be the leader of the family. 2) Physical or financial limitations and availability of resources. I believe these are both legitimate reasons.
So, how can we respond? I think we can find our own ways that do work within the framework and finances of our families to celebrate these holidays.
The bulk of this book is devoted to spiritual birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My favorite section is actually none of these, but actually the section for other holidays. I enjoyed the discussions of Valentine's Day, MLK, Jr. Day, Presiden'ts Day, Arbor Day, and other American holidays. I know that I am going to reread the pages on these holidays as we go through this next year. I may not "do" anything per se other than talk and discuss with my children what the days are about, but those discussions matter. I look forward to talking with my children about submitting to authority on President's Day and praying for the leaders of our country. I am very thankful for the biblical passages that the Thrashers included in their discussions.
There is a short section devoted to birthdays, but a larger section is devoted to "spiritual birthdays" and having a blessing party. This is one of those topics that I wasn't sure what to think about as I read it. I've talked to several people about it. I don't think the idea of "name it and claim it" is biblical. God does listen to our hearts and he does give us the desires of our hearts--when those desires are in line with His will for our lives. But, simply praying and asking or "claiming" a blessing is no guarantee that we will receive what we ask for. I have encountered discussions like this before and I am uneasy about it. It doesn't sit well with my soul. My pastor's wife shared with me that she believes God can give us wisdom about what to pray for for our children. I do agree with her.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I began to realize that this book will be loved by many people, but most of the ideas won't really work for my family. If your family enjoys celebrating holidays together and your husband and children would really enjoy the ideas in this book, I think you'll probably love it. I've given this book four stars because I enjoyed the section on other holidays so much.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Moody Publishing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Putting God Back in the Holidays by Bill & Penny Thrasher is another great resource for individuals and families alike! Five major holidays (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, New Year's) and many "minor" holidays (MLK Day, Valentine's, Presidents' Day, St. Patrick's Day, Arbor Day, Halloween, Mother's / Father's Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, Labor Day) are featured in the book. Each section includes an explanation of how the holiday got started, ways we can make sure God is included in the holiday, and practical suggestions for keeping God as the focus with family, friends, kids, neighbors, etc.
I got this book before Thanksgiving, and I was excited to read this book in preparation of the holidays coming up! I didn't read in order, rather I started with the special days that were coming up. I was encouraged that this wasn't simply a bashing of secular holidays (or the secularization of Christian holidays). Instead, it was a sincere look at each day and wonderful suggestions of how we can keep all of our days Christ-centered. Some of the ideas would be very simple to implement. Others will take a little more time and planning. As we build new traditions in our home and as our family grows, this will be a wonderful resource for us!
I received a free copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.
I got this book before Thanksgiving, and I was excited to read this book in preparation of the holidays coming up! I didn't read in order, rather I started with the special days that were coming up. I was encouraged that this wasn't simply a bashing of secular holidays (or the secularization of Christian holidays). Instead, it was a sincere look at each day and wonderful suggestions of how we can keep all of our days Christ-centered. Some of the ideas would be very simple to implement. Others will take a little more time and planning. As we build new traditions in our home and as our family grows, this will be a wonderful resource for us!
I received a free copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Holiday traditions are important to our family. We've been very intentional about trying to create special traditions to help us as a family see these as days to really focus on God's blessings in our lives. Any resource that assists that effort is welcome. I have several books on developing family traditions and fun activities for the major holidays but I found this one to be unique. It covers not only the major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, but also birthdays and less-celebrated days such as President's Day, Labor Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and even Arbor Day.
I really enjoyed the husband/wife team format. Dr. Thrasher begins each chapter with Biblical application and theological insight. Sometimes these sections are almost devotional in nature...I found them personally edifying just for the perspective they gave me on some of the days. This is followed by "Penny's Thoughts", which is just that: her thoughts on the holiday and why and how she has prepared and celebrated with her family. Last is a "Practical Helps" section that lists specific ideas and activities for celebrating. I found some ideas and sections more appealing than others, but this is definitely a resource I'm glad to add to my holiday collection!
Thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a review copy to me.
I really enjoyed the husband/wife team format. Dr. Thrasher begins each chapter with Biblical application and theological insight. Sometimes these sections are almost devotional in nature...I found them personally edifying just for the perspective they gave me on some of the days. This is followed by "Penny's Thoughts", which is just that: her thoughts on the holiday and why and how she has prepared and celebrated with her family. Last is a "Practical Helps" section that lists specific ideas and activities for celebrating. I found some ideas and sections more appealing than others, but this is definitely a resource I'm glad to add to my holiday collection!
Thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a review copy to me.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book
This product was one of the books I read for my first Halloween thanksgiving after the loss of my father. Read more
Published 2 months ago by mary
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some Good Ideas
Authors Bill and Penny Thrasher reflect on their own holiday traditions in Putting God Back in the Holidays, and provide a great springboard of ideas for Christian families to keep... Read more
Published 17 months ago by S. Bowler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Idea, Decent Content
I love the idea of this book. I have been looking for creative ways to build spiritual and meaningful activities into our families holiday plans. Read more
Published on January 15, 2011 by Mama23
4.0 out of 5 stars
excellant
This book was received in very good condition and the packaging was neatly done to protect the books.
Barb Long
Barb Long
Published on January 6, 2011 by Barbara J. Long
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memorable Holidays for 2011
This year went by fast! This Christmas came and left so quickly that I didn't even feel like it was celebrated! The tree was only up for a week before Christmas. Read more
Published on January 3, 2011 by Tami Q.
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT.
Putting God Back in the Holidays by Bill and Penny Thrasher grabbed my attention right from the start. Read more
Published on January 1, 2011 by BrandyCormier
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST BOOK ON CHRIST CENTERED HOLIDAYS I HAVE EVER READ!!
PUTTING GOD BACK IN THE HOLIDAYS
This is a book that will definitely NOT leave my personal library; it is a keeper for study and reference! Read more
This is a book that will definitely NOT leave my personal library; it is a keeper for study and reference! Read more
Published on December 23, 2010 by Moonpie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stimulates your thinking about God and celebrations
This is a very good book about ways to celebrate pretty much every major holiday in the United States with a God centered focus. Read more
Published on December 14, 2010 by W. Matthews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Putting God Back in the Holidays
God is alive and we should celebrate him and give thanks to him and there are ways we can do that. Bill and Penny Thatcher show us how. Read more
Published on December 10, 2010 by In-awe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Putting God Back In The Holidays by Bill & Penny Thrasher is a book that makes sense. Do you ever think the reason we have some of our main holidays is because of God? Read more
Published on November 18, 2010 by Hayley Kolb
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