I am always looking for good Lenten devotionals, as Lent is my favorite time of the Church year and I want something that can shepherd me through each day in a contemplative and thoughtful way.

The cover and the topic caught my eye, though when I tried to get into last year, I was too distracted by work, life, lots of negative things happening personally that I just couldn't focus. So I picked it up again this year and a year made all of the difference. Sometimes it's not the book, it's the timing of the book. That was the case with this one.

Some of the daily discussions, Bible passages and questions hit the bull's eye with me, others were "meh". While the hits were not as frequent for me as I would have liked (I'm greedy and wanted it all to "hit me"), the parts that hit, hit DEEP.

I have the feeling that this book is one I need to re-visit periodically and that when I do, it will yield up different hits. Again, it's not the book that changes, but the person reading it. It will speak to me, God will speak to me with the book, to guide me where I need the guidance.

I did like where the author interjected examples from her own life, making the daily readings down to earth where we all are, though she doesn't ignore the Divine. I also like that she is writing from the Presbyterian perspective (woot, represent!), though honestly, God is God, whatever words you use to describe Him and talk about Him. I do like to read Christian books from my particular stripe of Christianity, but won't eschew a Christian book from a different branch/sect/whatever you want to call it. I may agree with it less, but I believe that every spiritual journey is different for each person, so a book that might not help or speak to me will speak to and help others.

This particular book did speak to me on occasion and while this may seem like darning with faint praise, it spoke enough that I will be re-visiting it in the future. I will also suggest this as a Lenten study at my church and will recommend it at my store as well. I think I might get more from it if this was read and discussed in a group setting than from me just reading and contemplating it on my own.

4 solid stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

I was intrigued by Duffield's use of ten objects to scaffold this journey through Lent. She draws in passages from the Old Testament as well as from Jesus' life. Each day lists a Bible passage with a key verse quoted in full. This is followed by a devotion by Duffield. I found these wordier than I like for a devotion. I felt like she explained too much that seemed obvious in the passage, and I didn't always relate to her contemporary examples. I did like her questions for reflection, which were followed by a prayer for the day. I thought these prayers could have served as the body of the devotions. They touched on key points in a way that did move me more deeply into the Bible passages. A solid choice for Lenten reading.

Designed as a six week devotional from Ash Wednesday through to Easter Sunday.

Chapters include Bible verse, story, questions for reflection, prayer. There is some white space at the end of the third page where one could add their own thoughts if desired.

This book comes across as unpretentious. Nothing showy or flowery about it. Just the basics for a daily devotional to focus our thoughts on the meaning of the season.

Lent in Plain Sight by Jill J. Duffield. This is a lenten devotional. From Ash Wednesday to Easter. I will use this next lent. Each week in the devotional there is a new object, that Jesus would have encountered on the way to Jerusalem.

Wonderful thought provoking daily devotional to journey with through Lent. Reflecting on ordinary every day objects was a very unique way of relating to scripture and Jesus' final days.

This is a high-quality addition to the category of Lenten devotionals, with deep insights and thought-provoking reflection questions. It maintains a serious or sombre tone throughout (appropriate to the liturgical season), but doesn't veer into the depressing. The theme of using ten objects works well throughout the book. Most suited to those in a mainline Protestant denomination with interest in theological learning.

I’m not QUITE finished with this as I’m reading it day-by-day this year for lent, but I’m really enjoying this. I plan to get a hard copy to keep on hand for years to come. It’s the perfect balance of lament and hope!

It is popularly said, "Seeing is believing." Faith reverses the paradigm to say that belief is seeing. In the Bible, especially the book of Hebrews, we read of people of faith who believed even when they have not seen the results. Having eyes of faith essentially means we believed even when our eyes do not see God. Having said that, it is entirely appropriate to use signs to point us to God, just like Jesus's seven signs in the gospel of John, that all points to Him and His working out of the will of God. Without derailing our minds on the need for faith to be fixed on the invisible God, we can use objects as reminders of that very focus. We don't worship the things or focus our devotions on these things. Like a prayer mat to enable us to kneel or a quiet room to help us focus on prayer in silence, objects can enhance our remembrance of Christ's journey to the cross. Enters this Lent devotional with ten objects to help us do just that.

Dust reminds us of how we have been created. This is most appropriate as Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, where believers are reminded that "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," we were created from dust, and our bodies will return to the earth as dust. Dust reminds us we are mortal; that we are limited; and that we are created beings made in the image of God. Bread reminds us of gratitude to God, and about the Lord's prayer where we ask for our daily bread. The Cross is about self-denial, and has much to do with the call to discipleship, to caution us of the cost of discipleship. It entails the suffering and pain that we all experience from time to time. Coins prompt us of the various episodes in the gospels; how Jesus answered the Pharisees with regard to paying taxes; how the poor widow's donation of two copper coins exceed the giving of the rich; and the parable of the lost coin. They also warn us about the betrayal of Jesus, because of Judas Iscariot's greed and self-interests. Shoes point out the holiness of God, how Moses was specifically told to remove his shoes as he was standing on holy ground. They emphasize our mission for Christ; humility to tie other shoelaces; wearing the armour of God with shoes as instruments of peace. Oil is for anointing; for preparing our lamps in anticipation of Christ's coming; for generosity; for compassion, healing, etc. Come Holy Week, the author introduces four more objects to guide us through our Lenten journey. The Coat marks the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The Towel brings us back to the Upper Room where Jesus washes the disciples' feet and asks them to do the same for others. The Thorn is a reminder of the crown of thorns Jesus had to bear. Finally, Stone is about the tomb where Jesus was buried; albeit a soon-to-be- empty tomb.


The book is a delightful refresher of many biblical scenes which are familiar to many of us. Duffield shows us that it is entirely possible and fruitful to let objects point us to the teachings and ministry of Jesus; and our call to follow Him. This is a brilliant idea to use simple objects to show us the journey of Christ. We can easily expand this idea to the other occasions of the Christian year. Epiphany, Pentecost, Advent, and Christmastide! What I like about this book is the simplicity and easy availability of the everyday objects. They are not difficult to find. We can even download images of these objects on our computer desktops and use them as wallpapers as a regular reminder of our Lenten journey. The chapters are brief, exactly what devotionals ought to be. They are also framed with the typical format:

- Date of reading
- Scripture Passage
- Brief Meditation
- Questions for Reflection
- Prayer for the Day

Has the book open one's eyes and ears to see God's power and providence? Yes, for they point us to the Word of God. Has the book inspire us toward walking closer to the cross? Yes, for each day leads us closer to the entry to Jerusalem and the subsequent, death, burial, and resurrection. Are these objects able to help us pay more attention to the things and thoughts of God? Yes. They are no longer things per se, but pointers to our God of all creation. This is a wonderful devotional to read, to keep, to gift, and to journey along during the Lenten season.

Jill J. Duffield is editor of The Presbyterian Outlook. She holds an MDiv from Union Presbyterian Seminary and a DMin from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a concentration in preaching. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

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This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

A daily devotional for Lent starting with Ash Wednesday based on the Presbyterian outlook. Lent in Plain Sight covers objects that Jesus faced during his final days. Each section encourages readers to devote their time reading set scriptures and the set topic. As devotees and readers are encouraged to reflect on some questions of how your life as been before beginning the journey of Lent. We recall and reflect our daily life, have we embraced God, who have we encountered and given thanks for the time we spent with them. Each day is finished with a prayer. Lent in Plain Sight can be completed with family, friends, youth or with your faith family even alone. I would highly recommended to go through the daily devotional with someone so you can communicate any issues, thoughts and feelings during this season. Amazon.com.au, Christianbook.com, goodreads, Barnes and Noble my review will be published/posted at. Run date of 24 February 2020 the review will be posted/published at. A link to your review on my Facebook blog page, is available.

I prefer the daily devotionals. They allow me to read as much or as little as I have time for.

I love the way this book was organized. Each day starts with a verse. Then Jill explains it and gives examples. She ends each day with thought-provoking questions to help you apply the material. Finally, she leads you in a prayer covering the topic of that day. The questions at the end of the chapter would make great conversation starters for a group or bible study.

One of my favorite verses Jill covered was Exodus 16:4, Bread for Heaven. This verse has been covered in so many bible studies and services in the past. She made it relatable to every day and it had much more impact on me.

With the daily devotionals, I always find some crumbs and at times a whole loaf of bread.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

A just-right lenten devotional. Considering a daily life, biblical topic each week (ie. bread) the daily readings offer unique insight, prayer and reflection questions. I could see a person using this year after year.

This collection of prayers and reflections during lent would be a great resource for churches of any denomination during Lent. Lent is a time of reflection and self examination before Easter. There is a prayer for the day, a connection story, and then questions for reflection. Much thought was put into creating a devotion that relates to today's world and the troubles we see.

A daily devotional book following the hope of Jesus. Each day starts with a verse and commentary ending with prayer and questions to reflect the hope that we have this Lent season. It is a time to lessen our anxiety and burdens about the past. A season to grow in faith and share the hope of the gospel.



A Special Thank you to Westminster John Knox Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Full disclosure, I am not Christian in the traditional sense. I am a Unitarian Universalist who was raised in the Spiritualist movement. However, the remarkable thing about this book is that I don't believe you need to be a devout Christian to get something out of it.

Lent in Plain Sight focuses on specific objects that appear multiple times within the story of Jesus. The author uses those objects and the stories associated with them to start a conversation with the reader. The reader is encouraged through daily reflection questions to look at mundane objects, symbols, and events and pause for a moment of mindfulness. It isn't a direct call for change but a call to be self-aware.

In the text itself you can feel both the compassion and the conflict that exists within the author. How is one to be a good and kind person when there are so many opportunities to give in to anger, selfishness, or greed? The impossibility of achieving perfection can be discouraging but this book breaks things down into smaller pieces and allows the reader to see that small acts of kindness count. I feel better for having read this book and, religious or not, we should all take some time to reflect on how we treat other people.