It's that time of year again! Can you believe how fast time flies? The older I get, the faster the years fly by. I fell like that by the time I get all my decorations packed away, it's time to get it all back out again. I don't mind though. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love all the decorations and ornaments. Most of mine have sentimental value. Each one has it's own Christmas story to tell. Well, it's time for the Dayspring Gift Guide for Christmas 2018. Here is a list of great items from Dayspring's Christmas Gifts and Decorations department. This is only a short sample of the itmes available. Be sure to shop around the Dayspring website and stock up on all your favorites. Come back tomorrow to check out their Christmas ornament collection!

Read more posts about celebrations and gift giving here.

Dayspring Gift Guide for Christmas

Oh What Joy - Christmas Giving Plate, Hand-Thrown Mug & Candy Dish Set - $47.97
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Rejoice! Christ Is Born - Large Glass Christmas Candle Holder - $39.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Jesus, Peace, Joy, Shine - Christmas Hand-Thrown Mugs and Wooden Tray Set - $69.95
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Joy & Peace - Christmas Tray - $29.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Oh What Joy - Christmas Giving Plate, Hand-Thrown Mug & Candy Dish Set - $47.97
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Joy & Peace - Wooden Napkin Holder with Conversation Starter Cards - $19.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Happy Birthday to the King - Christmas Metal Wall Art - $40.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Heavenly Peace - Christmas Ceramic Pie Plate - $24.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Heavenly Peace - Christmas Wooden Bowl - $28.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Silent Night - Wood Framed Art - $55.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Christmas Church - Wood Framed Canvas - $32.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Joy - Wooden Serving Tray - $36.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Merry Christmas - Wooden Framed Art - $30.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Wooden Framed Art - $25.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

O Night Divine - Wooden Framed Art - $25.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

A Savior Is Born - Wooden Plaque - $15.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

O Come Let Us Adore Him - Wooden Plaque - $22.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Joy to the World - Christmas Throw Pillow - $30.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Christmas Begins with Christ - Christmas Mug - $8.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Ann Voskamp - The Wonder of the Greatest Gift - $34.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Asheritah Ciuciu - Unwrapping the Names of Jesus - $11.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Mary E. DeMuth - The Beautiful Word for Christmas - $14.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Nativity Wood Blocks, Set of 5 - $29.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Christ Is Born - Nativity Nesting Blocks, Set of 6 - $16.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Days till Christmas - Nativity Countdown Plaque - $14.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Christmas Tree Countdown Calendar with Pockets - $18.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Days 'Til Christmas - Wooden Countdown Blocks Set - $20.00
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Wooden Cross - $29.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Joy to the World - Round Wooden Wall Art - $37.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

O Holy Night - Wooden Tree Board with Easel - $39.99
from: DaySpring Cards Inc

Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women

Image Credit: Abundant Family Living

Today begins a new series here on Abundant Family Living. My son has been in the Army National Guard for 7 years now, but today, things changed. Today is the day he reported for his first day on active duty status. OPSEC guidelines (Operational Security Guidelines) prevent us from sharing dates, times, and places so I won't be revealing those here on the blog until or if ever a such time is appropriate, but when the time arrives, this will be the second time I've lived through a deployment. The first time began in 1992 when I watched my husband, a young US Marine, head for Somalia. At the time, I was pregnant with my son who will deploy at a time and to a place unnamed for now. I've known this was coming for a long time so I thought I would handle this pretty well. After all, I've done this before so I can do it again. Let me tell you though. No amount of time this side of Heaven and no amount of previous military family experiences could have prepared this mama's heart for watching her son prepare to head for the dangers of a foreign land to fight a so-far 17 year war. My heart is breaking into a million pieces along with many other moms, wives, husbands, children, and all sorts of people who love these brave men and women.

This ornament is available here.

I have been thinking about what I might be able to send with my son to help encourage him in his faith during this long span of time away from his family, his home, and his church. I know that I could never bear this calling - this high calling - chosen by God to be the wife and mother of two brave military men - without a firm foundation of faith.

There is an old saying that says, "God will not put on you more than you can bear." My friend, my partner in the bearing of heavy burdens, this is not true at all.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

God does allow us to be burdened more than we can bear. In fact, according to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, He allows us to be burdened EXCESSIVELY more than we can bear so that we will not trust in our own strength but in God.

I've decided that one of the things I want to send with my son is a stack of cards. On each card will be a Bible verse of encouragement. Each verse is intended to help him gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as he endures certain weaknesses. If you have a loved one deploying or you have a loved one enduring a different kind of hardship, perhaps these cards will help your loved on too. In fact, I will be creating two stacks, one for my son and one for me. I know that I will be enduring all these weaknesses too. We all do from time to time in our daily circumstances.

I want to share these with you. I'll be offering them for free right here in this post. The only thing I ask is that, if you want to share them with someone else, you will refer them back to this blog post.

20 Encouraging Scripture Cards for Deployed Military Men and Women

Simply right click. Then save to your computer. I will be printing these out on card-stock in the 4X6 size. Then, I'll write a personal message to my son in my own handwriting on the back of each card.