This small title has thoughts about Advent that we should all consider. This is the book I choose this year prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you will consider this as I will explain some of it's virtues.

First, this book really does get into the stunning magnificent events and truths of the birth of Jesus. From the introduction, he writes, "Sadly, many of us are no longer gripped by wonder as we consider what this story tells us about the character and plan of God. Sadly, many of us are no longer humbled by what the incarnation of Jesus tells us about ourselves. We walk by the garden of the incarnation, but we don't see the roses of grace anymore. One eyes have gone lazy and our hearts have grown cold."

I love the metaphor of the incarnation as a garden. I love that he speaks of roses of grace. Take some time to consider this image and all that it means.

"I know how easy it is for me, on any given day, to forget who I am and what have been given in the person and work of Jesus. Other things in life capture my attention and the allegiance of my heart. Other things rise to levels of importance in my mind, way beyond their true importance. And when other things capture and control my heart, little room remains for wonder and worship. Familiarity often means that what is very important may no longer exercise important influence over us in the way that it should."

He writes to recapture his attention and our attention. "I wrote it with hope that this amazing story would reactivate your awe. I hope that as you read, your heart will be surprised by things in this story that you have never seen before or maybe haven't seen in a very long time."

What a lovely introduction to looking down in the manger! Look down and look up. See the angels sing to the shepherds. Enjoy their song!

The first day's devotional sets the stage for the rest of the book. "God would take on human flesh and invade his sin-broken world with his wisdom, power, glory, and grace. But he wouldn't descend to a place. Instead, the Lord Almighty, the Creator, the sovereign King over all things would humble himself and take on the form of servant; he would live on our behalf the life we could have never lived, he would willingly die the death that you and I deserve to die, and he would rise from his tomb as the conqueror of sin and death. He would suffer every single day of his life so that he could, with his life, give grace to rebels, extend love to those who would deny his existence, impart wisdom to those who think they know better, and extend forgiveness to everyone who seeks him. His coming stands as an affirmation that he will not relent, he will not be satisfied until sin and suffering are no more and we are like him, dwelling with him in unity, peace, and harmony forever and ever."

"The majesty of the patient and forgiving love of this story defies words. The implications of this birth are not only transformation to the cosmos, but also eternal in their extend. This is the story of Jesus, born in a barn in Bethlehem. The Messiah the earth cried for now cries to be held by Mary and will soon cry in torment of the cross of salvation. He came to suffer because he came to save. The angels sang because finally hope had come. Don't you want to join them?"

Another virtue of this book is the suggested activities for children that are at the end of the devotionals. The first one asks about favorite songs and why we songs. This is done to help us consider the angels singing to the shepherds when Jesus was about to be born. 

If you are looking for an Advent title for the whole family, this is a good choice. You will enjoy his devotions and your children will enjoy the discussions! 

What are you reading for Advent? There are so many good books out there, and one of my favourites is this gem from Malcolm Guite. This man has poetry in his blood, in his family, and he is a pleasure to read! 

I am re-reading this one for a second time because it is such a great one to get you to slow down, think about Advent themes, and just enjoy the language in it. I recommended it last year along with two others, but this has lingered with me.

So, what does it have? There is a poem a day and a bit of commentary on it. It will slow you down, and it will give you hope.

He has carefully selected poets, old and new, for this beautiful book. There are older names, like Christina Rossetti and G.K. Chesterton. The newer poets include Scott Cairns and Robert Hayden. All the poems have been selected because there is something in them that relates to Advent and the themes of waiting, Grace, gifts, creation, and, of course, hope.

Each of these pieces is beautiful in and of itself. But taken together, it becomes more. It becomes hopeful and hope filled! His deep insight and spiritual wisdom created in me a new appreciation for each day of Advent and a deeper love for Jesus, Immanuel, the Light of the World!

Let's look at his entry for December 12:

The time draws near the birth of Christ:
  The moon is hid; the night is still;
  The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.
 
Four voices of four hamlets round,
  From far and near, on mead and moor,
  Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound.

Each voice four changes on the wind,
  That now dilate, and now decrease,
  Peace and good will, good will and peace,
Peace and good will to all mankind.

This year I slept and woke with pain,
  I'd almost wish'd no more to wake,
  and that my hold on life would break
Before I heard those bells again:

But they my troubled spirit rule,
  For they controll'd me when a boy;
  They bring me sorrow touched with joy,
The merry merry bells of Yule. 
-Alfred Lord Tennyson

The man hears the peaceful calm of the bells but cannot listen. There is a fuller confession of grief and bitterness.

And grief does attack when we are in the midst of someone else's peace and beauty. 

And yet he returns to listen to the bells. It helps to control the grief. He returns to an earlier time when he was a boy and the bells were a comfort to him. 

There is healing, hope, in the sound of the bells. He is changed.

Malcolm Guite is Chaplain of Girton College in Cambridge. He has written a number of books that are similar in helping the reader to ‘see’ the Holy Spirit in the poetry.  He has written for the church calendar, including Sounding the Seasons, Word in the Wilderness, and The Singing Bowl.

Order this from Amazon or anywhere else and I am sure you will slow down like I did! You will see the Lord Jesus and his birth. Enter his world and be filled. Waiting, wonder, mystery, and mainly hope.

The anticipation of Christ's birth during Advent is always a blessing and trial in its waiting.  (Yes, the blessing comes in the trial of waiting!) Here is a poem to help us look forward to the birth of Christ and the meaning of Christmas. It did give pause and a moment of breath and space to believe...

CALM and Bright

​C A L M as  
Near-got slumber
C A L M as
Longed-for solitude
C A L M as  
Your own steady breathing
From dark rows of empty pews


B R I G H T like
Candle's glow at midnight
B R I G H T like
Summer's longest day
B R I G H T like  
Hope that will not falter
When your heart can't see a way
 
 
C A L M  &  B R I G H T 
And ever shining
C A L M  &  B R I G H T
And never done  
C A L M  &  B R I G H T
The slow revealing
Of the Father's perfect Son  

​-Leigh McLeroy

I wanted to give you some Advent book recommendations that are blessing me with thoughtful reflection. So, here is my trinity of Advent blessings. These recommendations are beautiful in their ability to take you deeply into Christ and his heart as well as the human experience. The first one I would like to recommend is Malcolm Guite's Waiting on the Word: A poem for Advent, Christmas, and Ephinany. I am revisiting this book this year after listening to him on Sally Clarkson's podcast earlier this month where he made some brilliant statements about how imagination is above reason. 

This one explores a wide range of poets including some contemporary poets like Luci Shaw and Scott Cairns.  The poem is first, and then his theological and spiritual insights into the poem are expounded. This book is not for those who are interested in Hallmark comments on Christmas. He goes deeply into all kinds of Advent paradoxes. At the end of each chapter, I feel like I have worshiped, nudged a little closer to our God in heaven, and come away refreshed.  This man is Chaplain at Girtin College at Cambridge and lectures on poetry and you need to read him (I will be ordering his book of poetry for Easter  as well)!
​
I was a little late to start this but I'm loving this one as its new and amazingly thoughtful in helping me understand more than just Advent. In The Art of Advent, I am learning how to look at a piece of art, how to see spirituality in great artistic works, and that is leading to reflection on my own life choices. This woman lectures in Systematic Theology at Saint Mellitus College has written a number of books that explore theology for the lay person as well as those interested in academic perspective.

I have wanted to check on this one for years. but it didn't happen until now.  This is the story of Christ's birth told through Jotham, a ten year old boy searching for his family in Israel at the time of Christ's birth. He encounters robbers, thieves, kidnappers, as well as shepherds, wisemen, innkeepers. This book brings some real insight into culture at the time of Christ that is easily understood by young readers, but even I have been able to gain insight into a completely different time and place that really is rarity in a narrative like this. 

I also like the scripture references and comments/reflections that come at the end of each day's reading.

All of this has inspired me to focus a little more on reading next year. I am picking 12 books to read through 2019, one for each month. A few are books that I feel I need to revisit along with some new ones that I just didn't quite get to this year. Do any of you want to join in making 2019 a reading year? It really is a beautiful idea...

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.  -Revelation 1:3