I recently purchased Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons to use as my 2022 Christmas devotional. This 25-day devotional is subtitled: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always.
ISBN: 9780736984966
This book was purchased for review. All opinions are my own.
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This book is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and some local bookstores
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Devotions
The devotionals are divided into 4 “weeks” with six devotionals each and finally a Christmas Day devotional that is different from all the others.
The themes for the weeks are Our Posture, God’s Promise, Our Response, and Our Messiah. Each week starts with a passage of Scripture and an introduction.
Every devotional (except the last) has its own topic that fits within its week’s theme. They each have the same layout of a passage of Scripture, a 2-page devotional (some are a bit longer) that includes a highlighted thought, an illustration that highlights a phrase of scripture, a point to Ponder, a suggested song to sing or listen to as Praise, and a pattern to Pray. Lastly, there is an illustrated page with either a quote, a thought from Ruth, or an additional Scripture.
The Christmas Day devotional is a one-page conclusion to the book, a couple of pages of artwork, and the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20.
Artwork
If you are familiar with Ruth’s art at all you expect this book to be filled with beautiful illustrations. Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons certainly delivers.
Gorgeous greenery, beautiful flowers, a bird or two, and even a nativity scene for Christmas Day.
I love the detail of having a different specific type of greenery or flower in every illustration for each day’s devotional. The artwork for the introductions to the week’s themes even includes several of the plants for the following six days.
I believe the beautiful artwork helps make the book more inviting. It might also make it easier to interact with for those less comfortable with large quantities of text.
My Thoughts about Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons
(Photo also includes pens and ruler from the Pigma Pen Favorites Kit and journals from the ESV Scripture Journal Set with Art by Ruth Chou Simons)
I am really looking forward to using Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons as my devotional this Christmas season. Stepping back and focusing on having “God with us” in our daily lives is a great theme for a Christmas devotional.
I love the fact that most devotionals focus on a passage of Scripture and not just a single verse. Suggested Christmas songs to fit each day’s theme are a nice addition to standard devotions.
I’ve read the introductions to the book itself and to each week’s theme. I like the tone it sets for focusing on Christ and his amazing gift for Christmas and beyond. So far, I’ve only skimmed the actual devotionals. Since I want to take my time and really read and contemplate them for my devotional time this December. (I’ll come back and update this article after having done at least half of them for a more informed opinion for those buying this for future years.)
It is a sewn hardcover book and should last well to use again for future Christmas seasons.
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