2+ non-singing stars

I would have liked a more uplifting focus, like the title – Heaven and Nature Sing: Bringing Joy to the World. Sentences like the following don’t fill my heart with joy. “I can see straight through the thicket of trees now, their naked trunks and leafless branches as then as wisps of hair on an aging head.” Some chapter titles are: The Serpent, Birth Pains, No Room, Among the Beasts. From The Serpent chapter: “In this sense, we are also the hissing deceitful ones. We, too, creep and crawl along the earthly plane. We, too, face certain judgement.” Yes, we are sinners, but I need some Hope. Speaking of the children’s Christmas play, Anderson elaborates on busyness throwing in a touch of sarcasm, rather than the joy. “We drag out sets, hand our parts, sort through costumes and sew ears and tails. Simultaneously, the adult choir begins practicing their cantata, including the work wooing its delinquent members back ‘just for Christmas.’”

In the ARC that I read, the Bible verses references are listed in the footnotes. I would rather have citations (such as Rom. 8:28) in the body of the narrative. Most Christian devotions do that, so the reader knows where the verse is from.

In the Holy Seed devotion Anderson discusses the fertile period in a woman’s cycle. She goes on to elaborate, “In fact, the reproductive process is so vulnerable that many people say a third to one-half of fertilized eggs never attach to the uterine wall, leaving the body without implanting. Of those that do implant, another 10 to 20 percent will be lost to miscarriage, never having the chance to develop. This agonizing, grief inducing effect of the fall has been women’s reality.” I do not believe that women have miscarriages because of ‘Eve’ succumbing to temptation.

The writing and progression of thoughts does not flow. “Just as Mary received, welcomed, and cared for her son, God receives, welcomes and cares for us, his sons and daughters. Seeing us helpless and exposed, he clothes us, wrapping us tightly in the bands of his merciful compassion. Even when we have only ourselves to blame.” I ask, ‘Huh, blame for what?’

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Writing Advent devotionals that are engaging and awe-inspiring can't be the easiest endeavour. However Anderson reveals not only a deep love for the Saviour who came to dwell among those he would save, but a rich theological understanding of the implications of that salvation for all of creation. Indeed, this devotional is a journey that reveals in observable, relatable ways that heaven and nature do indeed sing - and will sing - of the Lord who has come.
Heaven and Nature Sing is well worth adding to your Advent tradition; or kick-starting a new tradition for the Advent season to come.

Having spent nearly ten years in southwest Virginia myself, there is something deeply personal about reading Hannah's words. I read this during advent by myself, usually one chapter a night, and really enjoyed it. Each chapter is long enough to challenge you and tell a full story, without being so long that you can't manage reading one each night. I would definitely gift this to friends, and plan to reread it next year at advent.

Heaven and Nature Sing by Hannah Anderson is a beautiful experience to take you through the Advent season. Its visual appeal and captivating writing are a perfect way to view the Christmas season in a new light. If you are looking for a fresh way to journey through the days before Christ’s birth, I highly recommend this devotional.

Heaven and Nature Sing by Hannah Anderson is a book that you can read during the Advent Season. Heaven and Nature Sing is a 25 day devotional. Each devotion is in essay format with the Author sharing her thoughts on Advent/Christmas Season. I liked Heaven and Nature Sing, but the wish there was more to it. If you are looking for a book for a Advent/Christmas devotional, then Heaven and Nature Sing could be a good fit for you. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" is a collection of advent readings. Hannah Anderson isn't just an insightful writer, she is a lovely one. I've always enjoyed her thought processes and prose. Although not as nature-based as some of her previous books, her way of viewing theology often comes through the natural world and in this book that includes nature, science, and the body,

Heaven and Nature sing offers a fresh perspective on the season of advent. Each selection is an essay that offers parallels between observations from nature and life with heavenly truths. I love the connections the author makes between the natural world and the spiritual one--it offers a really unique way of appreciating Biblical truth. Each essay takes the reader a step closer to the events of Christmas.

Just as Jesus, in His majesty broke into the everyday world of earth, Anderson, helps the readers see the majesty and meaning in everyday things: dealing with stubborn taproots, life with pets, diminishing habitats, the reality of pathogens, or the mysteries of procreation. As readers get a glimpse into these everyday things, Anderson skillfully draws conclusions that illuminate the significance of various aspects of the Christmas story. Deeply moving and thought-provoking, this is a book that can be enjoyed at any time in the year to help preserve the wonder and beauty of a Savior coming to earth.

I recommend buying even now that the gifts have been opened, and you may begin to dismantle the decorations. Perhaps after all the holiday bustle and chaos is the perfect time to revisit Christ's anticipated birth as we anticipate his second coming. This may be the perfect book to help counteract the post-holiday letdown. So grab a copy and let heaven and nature sing in your heart today and throughout the year ahead!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Heaven and Nature Sing from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

5 Stars. No question. This is a great book.

I didn’t grow up really observing advent, but the active anticipation has become one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season.

After David Mathis' 2020 publication of The Christmas We Didn't Expect, the bar was set high. My 2021 backup selection didn’t live up to it, so I was on the fence about Heaven and Nature Sing. I was hearing great things, but … I wasn’t too sure about this whole nature-based devotional thing. I wasn't sure if it would be too fluffy.

My concerns were absolutely unfounded.

I have been absolutely delighted with this volume. The gentle, welcoming observations give way to invitation to consider the Christmas story from a fresh perspective. This is a beautiful book that draws me in deeper and stirs my affection for Christ in new ways. I would gladly gift this book to others or enthusiastically recommend it for the next Advent season.

I love the way Hannah writes and how she is able to see God's world. What a blessing of the rest of us that get to read her words. I am thankful for this new Advent book and recommend it if you are looking for something to read this Advent season.

Every year I try to read a different Advent devotional and this was the one I choose for this year. It quickly has become one of my favorites.

There is something in each of these 25 reflections that will grab everyone. She writes in a way that will capture your emotions, imagination, and intellect. Several devotionals that I have read can feel sanitized or almost bland in their writing. The writing in this book is almost poetic and beautiful in its own right.

Most of the reflections follow the Christmas story with traveling back and forth between the Old and New Testaments. Frequently I was floored by some of the observations and reflections in these devotionals. She pointed out parts of the Christmas story I had never considered or never paused to notice before.

I highly recommend this devotional for Advent. There is plenty to chew on without it seeming overly academic or dry.

Perfect read for Advent - I don't know how well it would do in a public library, but would be perfect for church bookstores to carry.

Heaven and Nature sing by Hannah Anderson is a great book just in time for Advent. The book helps take you through 25 natural elements of the Christmas story. The art work was stunning!

What a delightful addition to the Advent season! The author invites us to slow down and contemplate the wider meanings of items that are often overlooked during the busyness of the season. This book allows us to slow down and reflect, refreshing us and sharpening our focus on Christ.

Heaven and Nature Sing is 25 Advent reflections, journeying through the story of Scripture and of Christmas, with a lot of nature tidbits thrown in. Hannah Anderson opens with a discussion of Advent and our search for the warm and light of the holidays as a sign of our search for hope.

Overall, there were a few really good chapters, but it wasn't as profound as I expect from Hannah Anderson and it didn't quite hit the searching for hope/longing for restoration chord as much as I had hoped it would.

Still, it's a solid, thoughtful Advent devotional.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Push back against the darkness of this season by immersing your thoughts in the truth that Light has come into the world–and we celebrate redemption with all creation! Hannah Anderson has borrowed great news from an old carol that’s ever new, because Heaven and Nature Sing the greatness of our God, “the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Anderson comes alongside the reader as a friend, pointing at the evidence and whispering a gentle reminder of truth easily misplaced in a busy season.

These twenty-five meditations, designed to carry you through Advent, connect details of geography, topography, or nature from the Christmas story and lay them down beside spiritual truth with an eye fully attentive to the selective nature of redemptive history. Why did the Gospel writer include the lowly shepherds’ eye-witness status? “Supreme artist that he is, God is not about to miss an opportunity for symbolism. So when his Shepherd is finally born, he sends the news to… shepherds.”

Then, reaching beyond the traditional gospel accounts of Christ’s birth, Anderson has woven connections with relevant Old Testament passages and New Testament teaching that highlights the seamlessness of Scripture’s metanarrative. My favorite image from Heaven and Nature Sing makes the connection between Son of Adam and Son of God, for Jesus, the God-Man created us and also makes provision for us. “So instead of filling the manger with hay or corn, he fills it with himself.”

Worship is the invitation of this season, so prepare your heart to join in the celebration of God’s greatness by remembering the why behind Christ’s arrival and the blessed hope of his return.

Many thanks to NetGalley and B&H Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

A walk through the Bible, from the beginning, feels just right for a walk through the Advent season. The emphasis on nature reminded me of authors Gayle Boss and Christie Purifoy. Plus, the bonus illustrations. A wonderful holiday offering all-around!

This is, come to find out, the second book I've read by Hannah Anderson (the first being Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit, which I equally loved).Both books are illustrated by her husband, too, and the pairing works just as well here as it does in _Turning of Days_.

I love the simplicity of the art; it foils the devotional text perfectly. (I'm also glad I switched to reading the NetGalley version rather than Kindle while reviewing, because the Kindle proof didn't include the art and I was going to be very disappointed! Seeing the art, where available, is half the fun!)

The devotional text itself is surprisingly deep, in a good way. It doesn't take long to read, nor is it "so deep only someone in seminary could read it"--but instead a good balance of incorporating examples from everyday life and drawing out theological application. I especially enjoyed the discussion of liturgy during the Advent season, and the power of silence. (Yes, partly because #introvertlife, lol.)

An enjoyable and refreshing Advent devotional.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Heaven and Nature Sing takes a similar approach as Turning of Days, but focuses in on Advent. The book is made up of 25 Advent devotions and once again includes illustrations from the author’s husband (although since I was reading an arc I did not get to fully enjoy the illustrations).

I thought the book benefitted from being focused on the themes and events of the Advent season. The connections made between the nature reflections and the biblical story seemed a lot stronger to me than in Turning of Days, and it gave me a chance to reflect on different aspects of the Christmas story and the events leading up to it. Maybe because I was reading Hannah Coulter at the same time, but I found Hannah Anderson’s love for and reflections on the places that have influenced her to stand out in this book.

The intended audience is probably more older readers than being intended as a family or children’s advent book. I usually paired it with my daily Bible reading and the length of the reflections worked well with that.

This was a book that will be great during Christmas time.
I love that it weaves nature in with the essay that is of that day.
the paintings are done by her husband and its beautifully done!
It is a book that will be used in he years to come.

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.