A Husband's Christmas Prayer

I love Christmas books, and this is a good one. I know I can depend on Kathi Macias to deliver an inspiring and uplifting story, and this one is definitely my cup of tea.When Paul Michaelson finally gets an opportunity to plant a church in a small town two hours away from he and his wife.s beautiful, spacious house, he believes their prayers have been answered, After all, before they even got married, they both talked about how they'd love to plant a church somewhere. He accepts without a qualm. Why is it then that Diana is less than thrilled? Paul expected her to be as excited as he is.Diana pastes smiles on her face and goes with Paul without complaint. The parsonage is smaller and anything but modern. She hasn't been able to find a suitable preschool for their two toddlers. She misses her friends terribly, and her loneliness threatens to overwhelm her.What will it take to get Diana onboard with this project? Will their relationship survive? Why did he accept this position without even asking her? She alternates between feeling resentful and feeling guilty. Paul's a wonderful, loving husband and father, but it's just not fair.I know it's not Christmas right now, but even though the tree has been undecorated and all the lights are put away, this is one that will give you that last little Christmas lift.

I enjoyed reading this true-to-life book by Kathi Macias. In fact, I have enjoyed all of her books that I have read! She has a way of describing the characters' hidden feelings in her books so you feel like you know these people. In this story, she shares the lives and emotions of a pastor's family, and how the power of prayer and communication are so important. The children in the story were adorable, typical youngsters. The pastor and wife's characters were well written to draw you into their emotions. I really enjoyed it. You should read it, even if I don't have a way with words!

I expected a more realistic story. This was way too sappy sweet, not at all relatable to real people. I love God, Jesus, and prayer. But this just went way overboard for people to relate.

Excellent book, as I've come to expect from this author.

Pastor Paul Michaelson just received the dream position of his pastoral career. Of course, he accepted the senior pastor position. Certainly his wife Diana would be thrilled to move from the moisture laden seaside climate to the sunny desert. For some baffling reason, she wasn’t, but being a dutiful wife, she went along, albeit with an internal struggle. Once at their new church home, the two children, a boy Micah, and his older sister, Lizzie adjusted fairly well. Still, something nibbled at their peace. Neither parent could put their finger on what niggled in the back of their heads. What was it?Throughout this short Christmas story, Kathi Macias takes the reader along into the life of a pastor and his family, complete with twists and turns. The ring of the telephone, or doorbell, can bring unexpected challenges into a pastor’s life, often at the expense of his or her family.In this tale, Kathi Macias recounts the life of the parsonage with accuracy and compassion. If anyone ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a pastor, or a pastor’s wife, this book certainly gives the reader a behind-the-scenes peek.This is a gentle book with an occasional challenge that does keep the reader flipping pages. A clean story without violence or immorality, this book fits well within the CBA market guidelines. If it were a TV movie, it would be “G” rated. This is a refreshingly spotless, moral story that anyone can read. As a reviewer, I highly recommend this story for anyone who wants a respite from the mayhem and immorality that plagues our society these days. You won’t be disappointed with this book.I received this complimentary book from the publisher to read and review. I'm under no obligation to give a positive review, but how could I not? It's such a lovely little story.

Deb’s Dozen: Happy husband, unhappy wife, major move. Will they make amends by Christmas?Kathi Macias’s book, A Husband’s Christmas Prayer resonated with me. I’m one of the wives who have been moved to follow a husband’s career. Most times, I was fine with the move; one almost cost us our marriage. Paul and Diana Michelson faced the same situation. They had married and embraced ministry together. As a result, when a ministry opportunity came up for Paul to be senior pastor of his own church, he jumped at the job without consulting his wife. She put on a brave face, but was deeply hurt by the move—both because Paul didn’t consult her and by the fact she had to give up friends and a home she loved. The town to which they moved was small and lacked the amenities of the city they’d left. Paul’s job as the sole pastor left him little time for his children or his wife.Will they be able to surmount the hurts and hardships? Will Paul ever understand why his wife is so unhappy? Will Diana ever find her place in this new environment? Will the ministry ever encompass them both again?I enjoyed reading this book. The struggles Paul goes through gave me insight into the struggles my husband may have had. And I enjoyed getting to know the characters who became real to me as the book progressed. A Husband’s Christmas Prayer is a keeper—and one to be reread for the many insights to be gained. Four stars.Kathi Macias is a prolific author and editor who has written more than forty books. She has won awards for several including the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year for Red Ink along with finaling for a Carol for that book. She speaks at women’s retreats and churches, has a prison outreach, and mentors many. Kathi lives in California with her husband, Al, and loves being a mom and grandmom.