Rambles of a SAHM

Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always

Ruth Chou Simon

Christmas/Advent

If there’s one name for Jesus that captures the whole heart of God, it is Emmanuel—God with us. No other name similarly expresses the fullness of God’s eternal desire for His image-bearers. He’s always wanted us to be with Him. From the bestselling author and artist behind GraceLaced and Beholding and Becoming comes this gorgeous exploration of what it means to intimately experience God’s presence in our daily lives. Ruth Chou Simons welcomes you and your family to partake in a season of surrender as you discover the true miracle behind Christmas: that while we journey to grow in our relationships with Jesus, He has already come so He can be with us forever. Christmas Day is not the end of our celebrations, but the beginning! Emmanuel is an invitation to rejoice in the everlasting fellowship and hope God extended to us on the day of His Son’s birth, guiding us to realize that having God with us all year long is Christmas’s most incredible gift.

Inside photos of Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons

My Thoughts

Each year I look for a new book to go through during Advent. As one of my selections this year I've chosen Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons. I'm doing the audio version of it that is read by Ruth herself. It's absolutely lovely.

It's divided into 25 different daily readings and the audio version is about five minutes each. Ruth's voice has a tone that is soothing and invites the listener to slow down and ponder what is being said. It would be the perfect companion to the busy momma. Short, sweet encouragement to start the day.

I don't think I've ever bought both the audio version and the physical version of a book before but for this one I really must. As I just said I loved the audio version but I adore Ruth's artwork so I am going to have to purchase the hard copy as well.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate the season of Advent you can't go wrong with either edition.

Disclosure

I received a copy of this audiobook to facilitate my review.

The Amish Clockmaker

The Men of Lancaster County, Book 3

Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner

Contemporary Fiction/Amish

Only Time Will Tell

Newlywed Matthew Zook is expanding his family's tack and feed store when a surprising property dispute puts the remodel on hold--and raises new questions about the location's mysterious past.

Decades earlier, the same building housed a clock shop run by a young Amish clockmaker named Clayton Raber. Known for his hot temper, Clayton was arrested for the murder of his beloved wife, a crime almost everyone--including his own family members--believed he'd committed, even after charges were dropped. Isolated and feeling condemned by all, Clayton eventually broke from the church, left Lancaster County, and was never heard from again.

Now the only way Matthew can solve the boundary issue and save his family's business is to track down the clockmaker. But does this put Matthew on the trail of a murderer?

A timeless novel of truth, commitment, and the power of enduring love,

where secrets of the past give way to hope for the future.

"Your father said something about time that day, that we can use it or misuse it or waste it but we can't stop it."

My Thoughts

I have enjoyed both Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner's books so when they teamed up for The Men of Lancaster County series I was thrilled. The two women have joined voices to make this an intriguing set of stories that play to each of their strengths.

The Amish Clockmaker is the final installment and I think it was my favorite. The story centered on a decades old mystery that slowly evolved to a very satisfying conclusion. The present day story is about Matthew Zook and his family. I enjoyed the father-son relationship so much. The two were very different yet they found a way to support and honor each other.

The mystery comes about when the Zooks are remodeling and expanding the feed store. Years before the Raber family owned the land and were clockmakers but after a horrible family tragedy they sold the land to the Zook family. In the midst of remodeling and expanding the old clockmaker's shop Matthew Zook discovers some surprising circumstances and evidence about the son Clayton Raber. Before Matthew can continue to expand his feed store he must unravel the events of the past.

This story will take you on a heart-rending journey of love, betrayal, forgiveness and healing. It is a story of learning to look beyond the surface to see the person and to understand what is behind their actions. I was totally overwhelmed by Clayton's faithfulness in the midst of such trials. The ending isn't your typical fairytale happily ever after. It is much better than that. It is the picture of what Christ would have us base our lives on. Faithfulness. Hope. And above all else love.

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