Good Morning from Arizona!
Thank you for reading faithfully and giving me the opportunity to share God’s word with you each day.
“Whoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with big things.” Luke 16:10 ERV
Yesterday marked a milestone!
100,037 reads
45,888 visitors
2,418 posts
408 FB followers
143 blog subscribers
7.5 years of daily postings
Untold number of new friends made, and prayers prayed.
Thank you for deep within my heart.
I don’t want to rush us through our enjoyment and gratitude of Thanksgiving but I do want you to look ahead to the first of December.
Several years ago I wrote a book, “The Best Gifts of Christmas”. Basically, it’s an advent book. Each day has a short devotional thought and story, We can only give away what we have received. Each day’s gift is a gift from the Father to us as His children.
Also available is my second book, “Like A Diamond”. This book gives insight into the Father’s heart and how He values us.
“ ‘They will be Mine’ says the Lord of All, ‘on that day that I gather My special people. I will have loving-pity on them as a man has loving-pity on his own son who serves him.’” Malachi 3:17 NLV
If you would like a copy of the books I still have a few copies in stock. You can order those directly through my email address, kristi@arizonakristi.com, and I will autograph a copy and send it off. Price per copy is $10 + $3 for shipping. I will combine shipping.
Just a few days back I was unpacking some boxes from our move last year. Can you imagine how surprised I was to find a limited number of copies of my book, “Like A Diamond”.
If you would like to have an autographed copy of this book, please email me at kristi@arizonakristi.com. I will be glad to get one in the mail to you. All I ask is that you be willing to help with the cost of shipping and postage. Total cost is $5 each. Payment can be made through PayPal.
Here is a synopsis of the book:
“For years I dealt with wondering about God’s love and plan for my life. To be perfectly honest, I felt I had to earn God’s love and beg for His blessings. Little did I know how wrong my thinking was.
In 1978-79, I begin to hear glorious teaching from God’s word. I learned that God had a plan for Christian to live a victorious life, while we’re here on earth. His plan and purpose was for us to walk in a loving relationship with Him – each and every day of our lives.
As I began to study the Bible I saw that Christ provided a way for us to always be in right relationship with the Father and that our life, as Christians, has many facets. Each facet causes us to shine brightly in God’s kingdom, Like A Diamond.
In this book I cover some of those areas. Areas I have grown in and am still growing.
We are valuable…no, we’re priceless to our heavenly Father. He willingly gave the ultimate sacrifice to see that we could have a loving relationship with Himself. “
Since I only have a limited amount of books, I will let you know when my supply is gone.
Both of my books, “The Best Gifts of Christmas” and “Like A Diamond” are also available through Amazon, although those will not be autographed.
For all my Arizona friends, I will be speaking at the Women’s Advance at Desert Christian Fellowship in Phoenix on September 25.
The one day advance begins at 9am continuing until 2pm. Lunch will be provided by Jason’s Deli. Childcare is also available. See the following link for registration information.
https://dcf-phx.breezechms.com/form/fef1fa You can register, pay and choose your lunch item on this site.
Our topic will be “Bold Wonen of the Bible”. I will have 3 teaching sessions. Here’s a little summary of the focus of the day.
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the “Bold Women of the Bible”? If you grew up in church, learning their stories, you may have thought that it wouldn’t be possible for you to be as bold as one of them. However, God doesn’t have favorites, He wants to use us all. He isn’t looking to use women with special abilities; His only interest is in our avail-ability.
Are you young or old? Married or single? Raised in church or have a questionable background? Orphaned or well-connected? The “Bold Women of the Bible” are women just like that. We will look at what made each of them special and worthy of having their stories written for our encouragement and instruction.
Join us as we look at their lives and find a pattern for living that we can imitate.
Did you know that before the world began God saw you, loved you and established your worth? You are more precious to Him than the world’s greatest treasures. You are priceless!
“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.” Ephesians 1:3-10 MSG
For years, I struggled with “being good enough” for God. I felt that He was constantly watching for my every mistake and was waiting to punish me for every infraction. And then I began to see, from God’s word, all that He has provided for us.
There are many facets to our Christian life; qualities and attributes to be exposed and polished. As we grow in our knowledge and relationship with the Lord we begin to shine with His character, “Like A Diamond”.
I want those who struggle in their relationship with the Lord to gain understanding of what the Lord has really provided for us. That’s why I am very excited to announce the release of my second book, “Like A Diamond”. Each chapter focuses on a different facet of our life in Christ.
The book is available through Amazon, eBay or can be ordered directly through www.arizonakristi.com .
Single copy price $14.95 ea plus S&H
4-9 copies $12.95 ea plus S&H
10-19 copies $10.95 ea plus S&H
20+ copies $9.95 ea free shipping
“The Best Gifts of Christmas”, my first book, will be available at a discounted price of $8 per copy when purchased with a copy of “Like A Diamond”.
I talked to a friend last night and she was so excited that today is December 1. Why? Because, as she said, now she can start reading The Best Gifts of Christmas and not feel like she is cheating. I had to laugh, I thought that was so cute.
I gave her a copy of the book last week and she had been reading little snippets here and there. She said it was very encouraging to her. She’s not someone who grew up in church or has read the Bible but she liked what she was reading and didn’t want to put it down.
That means so much to me. Honestly, I had been reluctant to give her a copy because I didn’t know if she would read it. I’m so glad I did.
Many of us are going to be receiving special little gifts from God each day while reading through this book during December. Some of us read through it last year and recognized God’s precious gifts; this year it will be the same.
May I encourage you not to neglect the Practical Application at the end of each day. We never know how great an impact those simple acts of sharing can make in someone’s life.
If you think of someone who might enjoy reading The Best Gifts of Christmas you can still order a copy through Amazon by clicking on the title.
If you are like me you are beginning to think about Christmas; decorating, baking, family visits and the gifts.
Last year quite a number of you purchased the book I wrote, The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best. It was released in November and you joined me during December reading each day and then giving into the lives of your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.
This year I have a special request.
If any of you are members of churches with bookstores, belong to Bible Study groups, Sunday School classes or have other associations that would be encouraged from the daily “gifts” that we open, you may order the books at a group rate discount of 25% through the website page, Books by Kristi.
If books are ordered by October 20th I can have them mailed to you in time for them to be distributed by the first of December and we can open the first gift together.
Thank you for sharing this gift of God’s blessings with your church, your family and friends.
I also ask for your prayers as I continue to work on the next book. Hopefully it will be in print before year end.
We have passed the 2 year anniversary of this blog. Can you believe it? As best I can figure I have been posting Godly encouragement to Facebook and on this blog for over 7 years.
Thank you for being a part of that journey.
Just today I found out I have been invited to speak at a church in the Phoenix area in October. I will be speaking to one of their groups and sharing about the Best Gifts of Christmas.
What a blessing!
I treasure the opportunity to share the wonderful blessings that the Lord gives us. If you live in Arizona, or surrounding states and have a group that would like to be encouraged by the blessings in God’s word contact me and I would be glad to come share.
It’s been two years since I have been posting a daily blog. That’s amazing to me!
Last year I published “The Best Gifts of Christmas”. It is a self-published book offered on Amazon. Thank you to those of you who ordered a copy.
If it blessed you I would greatly appreciate if you post a review on the book on Amazon. Thank you!
We now have a link on www.arizonakristi.com for those of you would like to order books for your Bible Study group, church bookstore or other group that will give you a 25% discount on orders of 10 or more books. I will sign the books and get them in the mail to you, if they are ordered before October 20th. After that I can’t guarantee they will arrive before December 1.
Thank you for being a part of my daily blogs. If you have been blessed by the things I share I would appreciate it if you “shared” my teachings with your friends on Facebook. You can receive the morning blogs each day by subscribing to the daily emails. A link is available on this website.
I am currently working on a second book. Hopefully it will be published by year’s end.
God bless you all. I am so blessed by your faithfulness!
If you read “The Best Gifts of Christmas” this past December I would appreciate if you took time to write review and post it on Amazon. You will find a spot to write a review at the bottom of the book page.
I am praying that we are able to reach many more people this year; making them aware of “The Best Gifts of Christmas” and all that God has given to them.
“Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. ” James 1:17 CEV
If you are a member of a group that would enjoy doing this as a collective study I will be offering a discount on group orders of 10+ copies.
December 1st will be here before we know it. Order early.
Thank you for your help.
Black Friday – Cyber Monday, these mean that searching for the best Christmas Gifts at the best prices is in full swing.
The Best Gifts of Christmas is my first book and it was just released on Amazon. Each day of December I share a special gift that God has given us and then I offer practical applications so we can share these gifts with others.
Thank you to those who have ordered and received your copies. There is still time to order a copy and have it delivered by December 1. We can all start reading it together.
If you are a member of a small group, Sunday School class or Bible Study this would be a good study for you to share. If you have a time of family devotions I would encourage you to read this together each day, it will certainly keep your focus on the true meaning and importance of Christmas.
It can be ordered by clicking on the image above or using the link on the side bar of this site.
I know that this book will touch your heart as you Receive and Give God’s Best.