Unwrapping the Names of Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu offers an enriching and soul-nourishing journey through Advent. Its emphasis on the true essence of Christmas makes it a valuable addition to any Christian's holiday reading list. With its warm-hearted and insightful approach, this devotional is a powerful reminder that the real gift of Christmas lies in the person of Christ. 4 stars.

Jesus stands grounded in the reality that is Truth. He defines it, He lives it, and He calls us to experience the freedom that comes from walking in him, for you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Truth is not merely the absence of a lie. Truth is the construct that defines reality, it stands in stark contrast to a lie because lies cannot exist without something to twist and oppose. Truth, in contrast stands on its own, it needs nothing external to prop it up, it needs no other affirmation.

This is my favorite Advent Devotional for 2017. It is family oriented that every member of your family from young to oldest of children can participate in the hope of the Christmas season. Where Mary and Joseph could not find a room at the inn, do we have room in our hearts for the one who knows our heart the best. Many times better than we do.

This devotional is a celebration of all the hope that is in Jesus. To be in awe is to truly worship. If we understand worship, we move from darkness into the light. I have two granddaughters that are under two years of age, and I feel they both are showing me this in a whole new way. It made reading this devotional more delightful and with wonder. My granddaughters see everything like it is the very first time. A Christmas tree, a bird, and when you delight in them, the joy on their face just melts any heart.

Week 1 is devoted to hope
Week 2 is devoted to preparation
Week 3 is devoted to joy
Week 4 is devoted to love

The beginning of each week starts with scripture and every day all in the family is encouraged to respond to the text. It is easy to follow along and to experience the advent season. Each week ends with activities to experience what Christmas is all about. Responding to others in love.

I highly recommend this one and I will be passing this one to my daughters families for next year.

A Special Thank You to Moody Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu is a lovely Advent devotional that can be used individually or adapted for use with a whole family. Protestant traditions have moved far away from liturgy but in doing so have lost the power of speaking out who God is. Asheritah takes the names of Jesus and focuses on one at at time. For each one, there is a prayer and devotional as well as ideas to serve the community as a family. I love the author's idea to give parts of the devotional to different members of the family to read together. Overall, I was very impressed with this devotional and I am excited to use it with my family this year. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a very hectic year for our family…on the heels of three very hectic years in a row that included close family deaths, personal illnesses, job changes, homeschooling, online college classes, cleaning out and selling a parent’s house, cleaning out and selling our own house, and moving to a new community… I’m exhausted! And here comes Christmas!!!!! Oh boy…. (groan…)

I was completely dreading Christmas this year. Like I have the past three years. My heart has been too sore and my body too tired to take any joy in the preparations. All the carols just made me cry. The weary world in my soul couldn’t find the energy to rejoice. This fall I’ve been pleading with God to help me find some joy, some rest, some simplicity in these celebrations. And He has provided wonderfully with this lovely book by Asheritah Ciuciu.

We moved into a new house this fall, and I wanted to start a new tradition for Christmas, but I wasn’t sure what. I finally settled on studying the names of Jesus with our teen daughters and using those names to decorate for the holiday. I wasn’t sure where or how to get started, and then along came this book.

I was relieved to read in the introduction the author’s attitude about perfection – that God won’t be disappointed if I miss a day (or even a week’s) devotional or challenge. Likewise, the author assured me that God would not be impressed if I checked it off my to-do list each day. She elaborated that the purpose of the devotional was not to get more favor with God, but rather to rest in the finished work of Jesus. Rest? At Christmas?!?!? Sign me up!

Each week contains a special devotional reading for each Sunday of Advent plus five devotions for the week. Each devotion centers on one of the names of Jesus. In it, the author presents a main scripture passage and some thoughts about the selected passage. She then presents a challenge in regards to the name, scripture, and thoughts. She includes a brief prayer and then lists several more scriptures to study that name further. At the end of the week, the author presents a few ideas for activities to help cement the ideas of that week’s Advent focus and names of Jesus in our minds.

I found the format of the book easy and gentle. None of the thoughts were taxing to my tired brain, and all of them were soothing and hope-giving to my heart. The book could easily be used either as a personal devotional or in a family setting. Small children would understand most of what is discussed, and older children and teens could be involved in looking up and reading the supplementary scriptures. Each night that we do the devotional, our family is going to decorate one ornament with the name of Jesus that we study that night. By Christmas, we will have four ornaments with the Advent themes and twenty ornaments of Jesus’s names – a nice start to a new tradition. I hope to add to these ornaments through the years as we study more names of Jesus.

I gratefully received this book as an eARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. However, I liked the book so much, I bought a copy to keep.

Beautiful book for advent covering 25 names of Jesus: Jesus, the resurrection and the life, king of kings, light of the world, the Christ (messiah), word of God, lion of Judah, holy one of God, etc. the book begins with a simple explanation of what Advent is and why we should celebrate it. I️ love this quote from the introduction: “We all suffer from soul amnesia, forgetting who God is and what He has done for us from one day to the next. Like you, i too must remind myself each year who Jesus is and why His birth is so miraculous — not because my mind doesn’t know but because my heart ceases to be amazed.” The book is divided into sections of each week of advent. It starts with a introduction day with dialogue starters, scripture reading, a focus verse, questions and a Christmas song to sing. This can be done individually or with a family, friends or a small group. There is a devotional for each day of the work week and activities for possible Saturday fun. Daily devotional provide historical context, bring the Old Testament into the new, and help the reader to apply what they’ve read to their daily life. Everything points to Christ. There is a daily challenge, prayer and scripture for further reading. The readings are simple but effectively point the reader towards Jesus and the cross. I love this book! I can’t wait to read it daily with my family this advent season.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu is one of the best Advent Devotionals I have ever read. The sole focus in on Christ, celebrating his coming and readying our hearts for his coming again. Early on in the book, the question is asked as Christians prepare for the Christmas Season, “But what exactly are we doing to prepare spiritually?” That one question spoke to heart, finding that this book helped me to find the answer I was seeking. It encourages a look closer at Christ and the meaning of his names.

Using the common advent wreath themes, the author expanded each week to have a daily closer look at a name of Jesus. Along with the scriptures are a devotion and a challenge. I especially liked the weekly activities at the end of each week’s chapter. It is an easy to read book, appropriate for family or for a single person either young or old. Clearly Unwrapping the Names of Jesus is written for Christians but I believe it would be enjoyed by non-believers perhaps even turning their hearts toward Christ.

In the book Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, author Asheritah Ciuciu, shows us the power of Advent through daily devotions. This is a good devotional that helps the reader prepare their hearts for Christmas through Advent readings focusing on the names of Jesus. This can be used by individuals but the book also has fun family activities included to strengthen our connection to Jesus. I would highly recommend this book to anyone for deep reflections during the upcoming Christmas season. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas is all about Christ Jesus and His heartwarming love. Let us prepare our hearts to adore Him. In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, inspirational author, Asheritah Ciuciu guides us through an Advent devotional of Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love. Each day's reflection focuses on one name of Jesus. When you read this devotional in your own personal quiet time or in family worship during the Christmas season, you will be filled with a highly incredible, great and glorious sense of awe and wonder at who Jesus really is. As you focus on the person and character of Jesus, your heart will rejoice exceedingly and be filled with awesome wonder at the greatness of the glory of God. You will sing exuberantly from the depths of your heart in adoration and praise, "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!" Let us recapture the joy of Christmas and imprint upon our souls the love and wonder of Jesus.

Lovely book. This will be a winner in Christian circles.