In 25 devotionals, Hannah Anderson invites readers to reread the advent stories of the Bible with new eyes. To take these stories out of the realm of repeated same old and really sit with them, to dig deeper, and ask why certain details are included. She reexamines the stories of angel visits and gifts of magi and messages to shepherds and while weaving in stories and examples from her own life helps uncover the ongoing relevance for our lives today, and just why the coming of Jesus was so special and is so worthy of celebration and a pause from the ordinary routine.

If the Christmas passages in the Bible are feeling a little dry, routine, or shallow, Anderson’s devotions invite you to dive deeper and see them in new ways. It’s a refreshing 25 days of 3-5 page devotionals that really made me see things in a new light, had me thinking about something I’ve read a couple 100 times and never paused to think about before, or just reminded me why Christmas is so important to celebrate. She continually redirects the focus not just on the birth, but back to his death and resurrection and why Jesus came. Because Christmas is a whole lot more powerful when you keep Easter in mind. If you are tired of all the glitz and glamor of Christmas, this will remind you of the most important bits. A refreshing advent devotional that doesn’t feel anything like any other advent devotional I’ve ever read. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: One devotional is on “the birds and the bees” but talks more about God redeeming the way he makes bodies and is very clinical in the way it talks about bodily processes.

(4/5) This is a beautiful advent devotional, great for a single reader (perhaps still doable for a group discussion, but I think it's more suited to personal reflection). Anderson balances the "already and the not yet" of the Advent season, reminding us that while weeping may last for a night, joy comes in the morning. I think in the Advent season, sometimes we gloss over the fact that it is a season of waiting, not just celebrating Christ's coming. Would recommend for your own Advent reading or as a gift to a friend or family member in preparation for the season! This book is out TODAY!

Heaven and Nature Sing – 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World by Hannah Anderson is a book I recently finished reading through! I so enjoy her writing, she has a way of connecting nature and God’s Word together that is full of truth, beauty, and goodness!! She joined together the biblical Christmas season and nature of the season. I also enjoy the advent season, and have a small collection of advent books and so this one is a great addition to my stack to read during the Advent season! Also, this isn’t the first book I have read by Hannah Anderson, so I knew before I read it, I was going to enjoy it and I certainly did!

She wrote the book inspired by the hymn Joy to the Word. A reminder of looking forward to the day when Jesus will return. The book will help you prepare your heart for Christmas by reading about why Jesus came to earth and why we long for His return. She writes, “I want to offer you hope – not by ignoring the brokenness but by looking it squarely in the face, knowing that your Redeemer has and will come. And I want to tell that story through the lens of the natural world, to consider how not just we, but all of creation, waits for our Creator King.”

This book is meant to be read once a day starting December 1st through the 25th, but I love that she shared “Feel free to begin this book with the best of intentions, get busy with holiday preparations, lose it among the gift wrap, find it two weeks later, and binge several readings in one sitting to catch up. This, too, will deliver you to Christmas, as I have never known the day to wait until I was ready for it.” So no guilt reading!

Here is a few sections from the book I highlighted, that will give you a feel for the daily readings, which are about 3-5 pages long.

“In Romans 8, the apostle Paul writes that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” – that no matter what we’re currently going through, no matter the heartbreak, no matter the confusion, no matter the grief or loss, God’s goodness and glory await us. That deep, under the surface, out of sight, He is at work. That He always has been, and He always will be. To prove this, Paul turns our attention to the natural world:”

“The quite, steady work we do today – even if it’s as simple as celebrating the Promised Son during the season – will echo through the years. Until one day, we find ourselves gathered together with all those who have hoped in Him, with all who have found Him faithful from generation to generation.”

“And on the days when you feel too common for God to use, when you find yourself overrun, defiled, and desecrated, rest in this hope: the holiness of God never runs out, and His grace is as limitless as He is.”

This book is also put together beautifully, so one to have a hard-copy of, which is what I will be getting, as currently I have the eBook version.

This book was positively lovely. I think it’s better for an individual devotional over one to do with a group, but it’s definitely a delightful read. It is great for those that like to connect with both their emotional side and logical side. Anderson’s writing encourages the reader to truly appreciate and reflect on many aspects of Christmas, without minimizing some of the melancholy and darkness that can come in life. I highly recommend this devotional.

A truly beautiful and inspirational Advent devotional. I love the focus on the creation and all that is in it. The verse “let earth receive her King” has long held my imagination as I remember the verses in Romans 8 that creation groans and waits for His return. Each reflection, or chapter, takes you through a theme that presses deeper into this idea, and is well supported with Scripture to remind you of God’s love, care, and concern for ALL of His creation. The reflections inspire awe and worship, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have read this collection.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Heaven and Nature Sing is a delightful advent inspirational reflections to stir your heart by author Hannah Anderson. This is such a beautiful book with many things to ponder. The author has a brilliant way of writing. It is inviting, warm, and easy to understand. In this advent devotion she blends Christmas effortlessly with the things of nature. Animals, plants, her family are among those that bring joy to the Christmas Season.

There are 25 reflections or devotions. The first one is entitled Wintering, and the last one is Christmas Morn. Scripture is woven throughout the stories. It really is uplifting and thought provoking.

I highly recommend this sweet book. It would be a perfect early Christmas gift. Readers would begin Day 1 on December 1st and end the 25th reflection on Christmas morning. It receives a 5 out of 5 stars rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

Hannah Anderson is a fabulous writer and is one of those few authors whose books I still buy. With Heaven and Nature Sing, she has woven the things of Christmas beautifully with the things of nature, whether it be human nature, or wildlife, or botany or simply her family, her pets and her children.

The 25 chapters make for lovely Advent reading just before Christmas in a variety of ways. I enjoy her personal stories and the sense of joy, wonder and hope she manages to infuse in everything.

Adding to the delight are the sweet illustrations from her husband, Nathan.

5 full stars from me.