In “Advent for Exiles” Caroline beautifully weaves the exhilic theme throughout the Bible from Jesus’s first coming to anticipating His second coming. With passages each day from Isaiah, the New Testament, as well as various other Bible readings to go along with each day, there is a prayer and a meditation based off of a reflective thought, activity, or her own song lyrics. This beautifully and articulately shows just how special and intentional Jesus is not just was with His people in the very beginning, but how specially and intentionally seeks out the lost today. I highly recommend this book for your advent reading! It would be great to incorporate into a family advent devotionals as the activities and reflections can easily be tailored to people of all ages. Plus her song lyrics and musicality is gospel saturated! Highly recommend for advent preparations or any time of year to prepare your heart!

Ms. Cobb's songwriter side shows in these 25 advent devotions, full of rich prose, painting the narrative of a groaning creation longing for a Saviour.
Great for readers who appreciate prose and poetry, each day's readings roll smoothly through reminding us the reason why we celebrate the hope that Jesus brings.

While a well done devotion, it wasn't quite my personal style, but I know many others will enjoy it.

First sentence: The Old Testament tells the story of two tragic exiles.

Devotional books are not my first go-to, usually. However, I wanted to read this one because I love, love, love, love, LOVE Caroline Cobb's music. One of the things I love most about her music is that it is saturated in Scripture. Every song, every verse and chorus--all can be drawn back to Scripture. There is something edifying about listening to her music. I think she is under-appreciated. Just my opinion. But if you haven't given her music a try, do so.

There is a playlist that goes with this advent devotional. I HIGHLY recommend it. In fact, I'm not sure the devotional would be as impactful as it is without listening to the music. The music should not be seen as "an extra" but as the main attraction. Again, just my opinion. The playlist is on Spotify.

The devotional is written "for those who have felt--or at least feel ready to acknowledge--the long groan of exile."

Caroline Cobb has used seven essential threads to weave together this advent devotional. The seven essential threads are: the season of Advent, the book of Isaiah, the theme of exile, biblical imagery and metaphor, music and lyrics, narrative storytelling, and responsive exercises.

There are eight "parts" to this advent devotional:
The First Exile
In the Darkness of Exile, a Sunrise
In the Wilderness of Exile, a Seed and a Highway
For the Lost Sheep in Exile, a Shepherd-King
In the Silence of Exile, God Speaks
In the Ashes and Ruin of Exile, a New Home for God
In our Present Exile, a Future Hope
Emmanuel
Readers do get to explore the big picture of Scripture which isn't always the case with advent devotional books.

I personally did not always "enjoy" the responsive suggestions. The suggestions--to me, again this is subjective--seemed unlikely activities for me to actually do. However, perhaps for others it's a better fit. Not every devotional reading has a physical activity to do.