Customer Reviews

God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered this book while doing some last minute shopping on Christmas Eve day. I was experiencing that familiar feeling of "missing" Christmas again this year. I found it again in this book. It has inspired me to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas for the first time. The readings are timely, thought provoking, prayer inspiring, and quite simply BEAUTIFUL! I'm already looking for copies to give as gifts for next year. I hope the authors are planning on a similiar collection for Lent and Easter. I would order it sight unseen.

Every Christmas my wife and I think, "O my, we've done it again - Christmas is here and we've allowed the busy-ness of the season to keep us from preparing our hearts and our home for the coming of the Christ child." We started using this book at the recommendation of a friend and whole-heartedly recommend it to you. We are being prepared this Advent and this book has much to do with it. The paintings, Scripture verses, discussions and prayers have been a great help to us and those in our small group as well.

I was looking for a way to focus my attention during Advent this year and heard about this book from the journal Image. As promised, the book has beautiful reproductions of art to go with each daily reading during Advent. There are also scripture passages each day and a short reflection written by one of the six contributors. Information and reflections on feast days are included, and I really like the fact that the book continues until Epiphany. I've been able to keep up so far and have been challenged and encouraged by the readings to remember Jesus in the midst of what can be a very distracting time of year. This book will make a great gift for my friends and family for next year's Advent season.

This book guides readers through the four weeks of advent with short devotionals and prayers that lead one into new and wonderful contemplations of the Incarnation. It also includes histories of feast days and every other page is illustrated with a breathtaking sacred masterpiece. I would highly recommend it as a rich pre-Christmas gift for any deep-thinking, art-loving individual.

One quote in particular by Neuhaus struck me with awe:

"God who is the fullness of Being infiltrated our world of beings in order that we might fully be. Christmas is about incarnation, and incarnation is God's becoming what he is not, in order that we might become what he is."

This is a book that is beautifully produced: high quality paper,printing,art,and writing. It's a perfect gift for the Advent season - for you or for others. It would be especially meaningful for those whose spirituality is a major part of their daily life. It's perfect for reading in the morning before the busy-ness of the day begins.

This is our third year using this book as a family devotional guide to Advent. I have to say that each year I have looked more and more forward to going through this book again. Even the very first reading goes deep, and for the most part it stays deep, across the various authors. Reverence...what an antidote for the commercial desecration of this profound Celebration of the most profound Mystery ever conceived. Literally. And reverence for Jesus, is what separates the lasting joy of Christmas from the transient happiness of getting whatever else we thought we wanted or needed. Be prepared to think, ponder and to allow God to open your heart anew to His Gift, as you prayerfully go through this book and the Scripture readings. My only caution: much of this book will go over the heads of small children...they need to know Jesus at a level they can appreciate...but when they are old enough to long for the Truth and for real meaning in their lives, then they will begin to appreciate the excitement of pondering the mystery of the Incarnation encouraged by this book. I only wish there were a book of equal quality for Lent!

This books helps you to follow the liturgical calendar in a helpful way. Great readings and meditations!

My husband and I are reading through these Advent meditations and they are rich and beautiful. Of course we're only half way through, so I can't review for the entire book, but we've shared excerpts with friends and family, and very much enjoyed these readings.

This book was a gift to me in the spring of 2011 and I remember thinking that maybe it would help me reconnect with Christmas as I wanted to experience it- in a faith deepening way. I pulled it out at the end of November and committed to reading it as a daily devotion. Well I was hooked. The scripture, the words, the art, the poems and the prayers all drew me in powerful ways to experience the `anticipation' of what Christ did and is doing in and through us. I did not grow up with an orthodox or traditional faith background and I loved the exploration of the different traditions. at the end of each week I would think oh the next writer can't be nearly as good as the one this week - and yet each author - engaged me with their words reflections and prayers. I plan on giving it as gift to a number of people for next year....

Perhaps the best buy I've made on Amazon. I cannot believe I only paid cents for the book, and a couple of dollars for shipping. The quality of the book itself (not referring to content but composition of materials and binding) is very high. And what a great set of authors. I am very excited about working through this during Advent this year. The artwork is beautiful.