Looking for a new way to prepare for Christmas? Try this Advent devotional

Trillia Newbell’s latest devotional offers 25 daily readings for Advent, complete with recipes and reflections. Despite some seasonal confusion in the title, this accessible book provides a refreshing take on preparing for Christmas, says our reviewer

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, and already the author of three previous books, Trillia Newbell is no stranger to writing books that capture the vitality and essence of Christian life. Her latest release, Behold the Lamb of God Has Come: Celebrating the 25 days of Christmas Together (Harvest), is a worthy addition to her body of work – one that will no doubt resonate with her loyal readers.

That said – and this may sound a touch pedantic – the book begins with one or two obvious conceits that some readers might find misleading. The title speaks of “celebrating Christmas,” yet this is, in fact, a book for Advent – the four weeks leading up to Christmas – rather than Christmastide, which runs from 24 December to 5 January. Moreover, as many Christians will know, Advent traditionally lasts 28 days, while Christmastide spans 12 – not the 25 days suggested by the book’s title. So, setting aside these titular confusions, how does the book overcome its seasonal ambiguities?

Newbell makes it clear from the outset that this is a devotional book, designed to be read daily from 1 December through to Christmas Day. She offers a refreshing perspective on how we might use that time in preparation for celebrating Christ’s birth. Rather than treating Advent as a period of waiting for Jesus to arrive – as though He has not already come – Newbell begins from the reality that He has been present with us for over two thousand years. The invitation, then, is to spend the month before Christmas to remind ourselves of the stories of His life and deepening our understanding of His significance on earth. Though this may not be the traditional approach to Advent, it is perhaps the more realistic one – recognising how easily many of us become distracted in the lead-up to Christmas, and how often we treat the celebration as over by Boxing Day, rather than just beginning.

To fulfil this aim, Newbell offers 25 daily readings spread across five weeks. Each week opens with