When God Calls the Heart at Christmas: Heartfelt Devotions from Hope Valley

By Brian Bird, Michelle Cox and Beverly Lewis

Celebrate Christmas in Hope Valley


Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Whether it's in the fictional town of Hope Valley in the early 1900s or in our lives today, nothing is more profound than celebrating God's most important gift to the world.

When God Calls the Heart at Christmas is about a celebration of faith, family, friends, and the most meaningful Yuletide traditions. Inspired by best-selling author Janette Oke and the Hallmark Channel original TV series When Calls the Heart, these twenty-five devotions not only explore "God-moments" from the series, but also commemorate favorite holiday recipes, stories, and traditions—many of them contributed by the Hearties, the beloved fans of the show. 


Journey with us to Hope Valley as we focus on all the reasons for this most blessed season. As shepherds and angels learned on that holy night so long ago, when God calls the heart at Christmas, you can expect a celebration.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781424557295

Brian Bird

BRIAN BIRD is executive producer and co-creator of the Hallmark Channel original series When God Calls the Heart. In his three decades in Hollywood, he has written or produced two dozen films, including The Case for Christ, Captive and Not Easily Broken, and more than 250 episodes of such shows as Touched By An Angel, Step By Step and Evening Shade.

Book preview

  1  

WHAT IS YOUR UNEXPECTED STORM?

We usually associate Christmastime with happiness, but for Jack and Elizabeth, the joy was tempered the year he came home unexpectedly. He was overjoyed to be back for a few days with Elizabeth, but knowing he’d have to return to the Northwest Territories before Christmas Day left a cloud over them both.

Abigail had been excited to have Becky coming home for Christmas—their first official Yuletide as a family. She was devastated when the telegram arrived with news that a snowstorm had stranded Becky in Nelson Ridge. Her heart was broken, but worse, how would she tell Cody? He’d been so excited his sister was coming home.

As most of us discover sooner or later, there are unexpected heartaches that come at us rain or shine, sometimes even at Christmas. Maybe it’s a financial situation that makes the gifts under your tree skimpy or even nonexistent. Or perhaps you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, or a health problem.

Those times can prove difficult, but they can also be blessings in disguise because they cause us to lean on God in ways we wouldn’t otherwise. And sometimes the same storms that bring challenges can also be surprise godsends. The storm Becky needed to be rescued from was the same storm that allowed Jack to stay home an extra few days. That’s the way God works. When life brings unexpected change, we can expect one thing from Him: He never changes.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,

because we know that suffering produces

perseverance; perseverance, character;

and character, hope.

ROMANS 5:3–4 NIV

Dear Lord, I don’t like disappointments and difficult circumstances—especially at Christmas. Even though my heart is heavy, remind me of why we celebrate this time each year, of the joy of your amazing gift of ultimate love and redemption for the world. Help this hard time to draw me closer to you. Help me to feel your presence in a special way. Thank you for always being with me and for the comfort you bring. Amen.

THE GIFT OF YOUR HEART

How can difficult times actually be blessings?

How should you respond when those difficult moments come into your life?

MARNIE’S CHRISTMAS BROWNIES

From the Kitchen of Heartie Marnie Swedberg

INGREDIENTS

Brownie Layer

Your favorite boxed brownie mix, made as directed

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Middle Layer

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

3 drops green food coloring

Top

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

8 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. For the brownie layer, use your favorite boxed brownie mix. Make as directed on the box and add one teaspoon of peppermint extract. Mix well and then pour the mixture into a greased 13×9×2 pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

For the middle layer, mix together the two cups of powdered sugar, the half cup of softened butter, the tablespoon of water, the teaspoon of peppermint extract, and the three drops of green food coloring; blend until smooth. Layer onto the cooled brownies.

For the top layer, melt the cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, eight tablespoons of butter, and the teaspoon of peppermint extract. Stir until smooth. Spread over the green layer.

THIS TREE WAS MEANT FOR YOU

From Heartie Dee Dee Baxter Parker

(As Told to Michelle Cox)

My beautiful daughter, Brooke, had fought for several years against the cancer that had invaded her body, but it had taken a heavy toll on her. As Christmas Eve night arrived, she was quite weak, propped on pillows on the couch, her head bald from the effects of the chemo and radiation.

Brooke had always loved Christmas, but this year, her husband and I had been so busy caring for her that Christmas decorations had been the last thing on our minds. But as she looked around the room that night, Brooke said softly, "I wish we had a Christmas