Have you done any Christmas shopping yet? I have not…and I’m kinda freaking out about it! I usually have a much better head start! I’m at LEAST a month behind. Ahhhh!!! So I’ll be taking my own advice about Christmas gift ideas in this post. 😉
We wanted to compile a different kind of guide for Christmas gift ideas than most floating around the internet. Not that I have anything against a set of fancy shower gel/lotion or a delicious-smelling candle (I love both!), but there’s just something special about hunting down a slightly more meaningful gift, especially if it’s scripture-based. You’re giving one of the best kinds of gifts…showing love for a sweet friend or family member’s very soul and wanting to cultivate that desire in them for God’s Word. It can sometimes be a tricky process…especially for gifting to children. So I like to bundle two or more items for our nieces and nephews. Something “fun” and then something a little more useful for training in godliness. 😉
Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7b-8)
Many of these items from this Christmas gift ideas list remind me of this scripture:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
If you’re like me, I love having scripture reminders alllll around me. It helps me focus on what’s truly important and tends to bring me back to reality when I get stressed or worried about trivial life stuff. God made us, so He knows that. Hence the verses from Deuteronomy. 😉
One of my favorite things about Etsy is the enormous variety of inspirational home decor signs. I love these big, happy reminders of God’s promises and love. Like this or this or this. This one is actually from a VBS song that I hadn’t thought of in a long time. But once I saw the sign, I happily had it stuck in my head for the next few days. 😉 What a perfect sign would that be for a breakfast room, right?? Or maybe it should be the first thing I see when I get out of bed. =) (Here’s a smaller, cheaper option for this same song.)
Besides already-made wooden or canvas signs, a meaningful (and cost efficient) gift is to buy a pretty instant download (like this one) from Etsy, (they’re usually about $5.00) – then have them printed at Kinko’s or wherever, and pop into a pretty frame. (Check at TJMaxx, Marshall’s, or HomeGoods for great selections and great prices for frames.) Gorgeous and special! And you can print as many copies as you need for multiple gifts! Here’s one more because I love lighthouses and I love Matthew 5:14. =)
OR! Jewelry from Etsy. That’s my other favorite thing there! I’m a big fan of these scripture bracelets: one, two, three, four, five. All different styles – some of them I hadn’t seen until researching this post. Many of them can even be customized with your favorite verses! I’m also loving these necklaces. And this one’s a bonus because it has glitter! 😉 (And if my husband is reading this, I’d love any of these to appear in my stocking this year! Ha!)
I just remembered another favorite from Etsy – I adore looking through the shirts. So many cute options – and a ton of them have some kind of inspirational message. This is one of my favorite phrases I see everywhere. And this one is from a classic beloved hymn. One more, because I find it hard to stop when I’m finding cute things. 😉
Of course, I have to tell you about our new shop here at The Ruffled Mango, too! =) We’re selling 2018 Wall Calendars and (un-dated) Faith Planners and a series of 7-Day Bible Study Challenges (one for each month of 2018). All of these were designed with you (and us!) in mind. We wanted to create these items because they either didn’t exist – or they are few and far between. And our beautiful watercolor florals are prettying each of them up. ? I can’t wait to use mine – and give some as gifts, too! Plus, if you get the biggest set, it’s the best value because it comes with 3 bonuses…which you can then turn around and print some for giving as gifts – especially the greeting card set. Just purchase some envelopes, some stamps, and a nice pen to pile into a gift basket. =)
(Pssst….you can get 25% off the calendars and faith planners by using this code before Friday, December 1, 2017: THANKFUL25.)
Alright, up next: I love giving books for all different occasions! I have given many of these as gifts – both for Christmas or for part of a wedding gift! Loveology, Sacred Marriage, You and Me Forever, The Five Love Languages
I will usually stock up on 5 or 6 at a time so I can grab one from the gift closet, write a special inscription inside, and wrap it up with another item. (I do suggest you read a book yourself before gifting it. You may even want to make special notations or disclaimers, ha!)
If your friend or family member enjoys Christian fiction, get her a book or two. =) Serena B. Miller is one of my favorite Christian fiction authors and I absolutely LOVED these books from her. They’re probably two of my favorite books ever – I would reread each of them again; that’s how I know. 😉 I also love Tamera Alexander (these, specifically, and this one – though she has several newer ones I haven’t gotten to read yet – this is going to be my Christmas book I read this year. I haven’t started it yet, but I’ve heard very good things. =) Well-written historical fiction is just lovely, isn’t it? I enjoy Tamera’s stories especially because they take place in Nashville, Tennessee, just a few hours away from The Ruffled Mango Headquarters. 😉
Now, for a different kind of book: have you seen these sermon notes for kids? I’ve stocked up on these and these and like to give them in addition to a “fun” gift. 😉 They also make great gifts after a young friend gets baptized. =)
And Bible activity books: I’ve bought this one and this one for my little 10-year-old cousin to work on during church services. She’s really enjoyed them, plus a quite a few more similar to those that I found at the Dollar Tree last year. Keep an eye out for items like that! (But also, keep an eye out for anything questionable in these books. They are generally great, but I’ve noticed a few things that I’ve had to point out to Tessa to make sure she knew that wasn’t exactly how it happened in the Bible.)
I love adult coloring books: I have this one and this one. I’m really liking these volumes, too and they’re great prices!
These coloring cards are fun, too: I like to give these – they’re ideal for decorating and then sending to a friend. =) It’s a perfect idea to grab some gel pens or markers to go along with a gift of an inspirational coloring book or coloring cards. I’ve bought several of these as gifts with a coloring book or coloring cards
Speaking of writing utensils, a nice set of Bible study highlighters is a lovely idea. I don’t have those, but they’re going on my list!
Have you gotten into the Bible journaling craze? I both like it and don’t like it. It seems like a beautiful, interesting idea…but I don’t like the ones that cover any of the words in the actual Bible. Seems to be defeating the purpose, you know? 😉 This one interests me because the pictures are already drawn in – you just color them. (I’m too much of a perfectionist to draw free-hand IN A BIBLE. But seriously – my nerves couldn’t handle it! Haha!) Here’s another version. Ah, wait! This one might be my favorite! O.K., I officially need one. 😉
And lastly, if you follow us on Facebook, you might remember several weeks ago when I was asking advice about Bible covers. My poor (imitation) leather Bible I’ve had the last 9 years was looking pitiful and scraped up, so I purchased a new quilted fabric cover for it on Etsy. I’m really enjoying it! I’ve never had a Bible cover before, but it’s nice to protect my Bible and have a pen pocket on the inside. =) At some point, I may get my Bible rebound in actual leather, but I decided to save a little money and go this route at the moment.
Alright, I think that’s it! Hope you’ve enjoyed this extensive list of inspirational Christmas gift ideas! Now, excuse me…I’ve got to get shopping myself. 😉
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