Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu

"Those who believe in Jesus will go to be with Him."

We did not celebrate Advent when I was growing up.  I have only become acquainted with it as an adult.  This year, I am planning on including it, as part of homeschool, but also to add a new element to our celebration of the birth of Jesus.  I love the idea of including this every year, so my children and my family can become closer to Him.

In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah Ciuciu takes you through the four weeks of Advent by going through twenty of the different names that Jesus is called throughout the scriptures.  A few of these include Jesus, Christ (Messiah), Lord of Lords, and Immanuel.

Other elements of this delightful book include:

*an introduction from the author with the explanation of Advent
*four sections for each week of Advent including the themes of Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love
*activities to commemorate the theme of the week

Each week, the reader will begin a new theme on Sunday, such as Joy.  There will be a lighting of a new candle, reading of scripture, reading the Christmas story, and then singing a Christmas carol. On each day of the week following, you will read a devotional about one of the names for Jesus.  The devotional also contains a challenge, a prayer, and scriptures for further study. The week ends with a list of activities you can participate in to further celebrate that theme.  For example, during the week of Joy, you could "carol your neighbors," or "take cookies to your children's ministry leader."

I CANNOT WAIT TO GO THROUGH THIS BOOK WITH MY FAMILY! The author has done so much research. There is an incredible amount of detail.  In the section on "Alpha and Omega", she writes:

"For those who are unfamiliar with the Greek alphabet, this name may not mean much at first. But simply saying it's "A to Z" wouldn't give you the whole picture.

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and represent the entirety of not just letters but all knowledge, all existence, and all time.  From beginning to end, and even before those, Jesus was, is, and all things live, move and have their being in Him (Acts 17:28).  There is nothing outside the realm of His presence; He sovereignly rules over all existence.  Through Him all things were created that will be and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17)."

This is a great book.  I believe in reading this book, you will come to know Jesus more, and your walk and relationship with Him will be enriched. Spending time learning more about who He is, is time well spent.

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus would be great for homeschoolers.  We are going to use it, as I have already stated.  But it would also be good for a Bible study, individually or group.


Many blessings to you as you prepare for His coming and become more acquainted with our Lord and Savior.  Merry Christmas!

Beth

To read an excerpt from Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional, go to amazon.com.

To learn more about the author, visit her blog here at onethingalone.com.


Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this devotional in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.

The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

"And the candle disappoints people?" 
 "How can it not?  One candle.  A village of needs.  God would not single out one person and ignore others. It's not fair." 
 Emily replied with measured words.  "Perhaps he singles out one person to show the others what he can do."

Ahhh....what a lovely book.  I started reading Christmas literature very early this year.  My first encounter with this novella was an audio book from the library.  When I started listening to the audio, it made me want to read the book.  Providentially, it was one of my choices at Booksneeze.

Set in the late 1800's in a fictional town in England, the novella The Christmas Candle takes us back to childhood.  At least, that is what it did for me anyway.  Every year at Christmas, people are seeking, "The Christmas Spirit."  In reading this book, then seeing the movie, and pondering on both for a while, I have come to believe in the heart of every person is the desire to remember the presence of God in the birth of Christ that we experienced as children.  That is why we continue to seek after the Christmas Spirit even into adulthood.  This book did this for me.  It took me back to simplicity and miracles and faith and hope.

The Christmas Candle is the story of a town and its people who are in need of some faith, hope, and miracles.  Beginning in 1664, and starting with the candle maker and his family, God begins to minister that hope to all.  During the time of Advent, leading up to Christ's birth, an angel visits the candle maker and touches one of the candles he has made.  While at a church service, the candle maker and his wife encounter a woman in need.  The candle maker's wife gives the candle to the woman and tells her to "light it and pray."  She does and at the Christmas Eve service announces the amazing blessing she received.  Thus begins a cycle of the angel returning every 25 years and the candle maker and his family passing along the candle each year at Advent.

The story picks up in 1864 with the arrival of David Richmond, a young minister who is in need of some faith, hope, and miracles for himself.  Through a series of events, God teaches David and the town about His presence and prayer, and that He is still ever ready and available to meet our needs.

I almost didn't read this book because it seemed odd to me and not very scriptural that an angel would touch a candle and miracles would take place.  Thankfully, I was reminded of this scripture:

For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool, and trouble the water:  whosoever then first after the troubling of the stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.  

Now, that is not normally the way God heals people, and I believe it was contrasted against the ministry of Jesus in the Bible for a reason.  Nevertheless, God is still in the business of healing people and answering prayer, as the reader will find out in the story.

I truly enjoyed this book, so much so that I couldn't wait to see the movie; so much so that I don't want to forget it.  It serves as a reminder that He hears and answers when we pray.

I recommend this book to everyone.  It will serve as a reminder of what your soul longs and aches for at Christmas.

Much love and blessings.  Merry Christmas!

Beth

Disclosure Statement:  I received this e-book free from Booksneeze as part of their  free books for bloggers program.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.