I loved reading this devotional. It brings Jesus right back to where He's meant to be - at the centre of our lives, even in the busy lead up to Christmas. Each day is a short easy read, and it's all too tempting to read ahead - it's that good! I love Lucy's style of writing - her humour, and very real down-to-earth wisdom. This devotional is hugely thought-provoking, with sections on redeeming our homes, redeeming our Christmas, redeeming our hearts and redeeming our communities. If you want your Christmas season to be about Jesus this year, then reading this book is a great way to start!

Redeeming Advent by Lucy Rycroft is the perfect book to accompany you his December as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. The book is split into four sections, each with six chapters. At the end of each chapter are questions to ponder and a prayer. All are designed to draw us closer to, and keep focused on Jesus. “Don’t lose Jesus in the haze of Christmas consumerism.” Lucy Rycroft writes in a very personable way. It feels more like advice from a dear friend. She uses personal anecdotes and we get a glimpse into her life. One reading that really impacted me was about our visible faith. Can my faith be seen physically and in my conversations and actions? Wow! We are not called to ram our faith down anyone’s throat but we are called to show the love of Jesus in action – ‘what you did for the least, you did for Me.’ If we were on trial for our faith, is there enough evidence to convict us? Jesus does not always give us what we want. And He certainly does not give us what we deserve – we deserve death but He gives us life. Jesus came to shine a light in a dark world. We are called to spread His light. Redeeming Advent was a powerful illuminating read that will help you in your Christian walk this advent season. I will leave you with this simple but profound quote: “While we wait for Heaven, there is an adventure that God wants to take us on.” I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Redeeming Advent is an excellent devotional for anyone who wants to make sure that Jesus doesnt somehow get lost in the hecticness of December! The short, witty, thought-provoking chapters are brilliant at getting back to the heart of Christmas, and Lucy's warm style helps the reader make a practical response to all she is saying without feeling judged or discouraged. I have bought this for several of my friends as early Christmas gifts and am looking forward to reading it again with my entire family once the season of Advent begins!

You don’t have to read Lucy Rycroft’s blog posts for long to know that you’re in the presence of something special. Lucy has a phenomenal gift of perception, and I’m excited that she uses the gifts God has given her for his glory through her encouraging and more-ish blog, ‘DesertMum’. Relatively unusually for a parenting blog, Lucy’s posts eschew the perennial quest for perfection and present her family life in a ‘warts-and-all’ manner - with lots of laughs along the way thanks to Lucy’s keen sense of humour! BUT - and here’s what I believe sets Lucy apart from other ‘warts-and-all’ mummy bloggers - there’s a substantial level of challenge and thought-provocation thrown into the mix too. Lucy takes the responsibility to disciple her kids seriously, and her readers are all the richer for the myriad ideas and experiences she has to share with us all. I always find Lucy’s writing (and indeed her outlook on life) very ‘balanced’ - she never gives an opinion without looking at the other side of the coin too, and weighs up any and every situation very carefully. Suffice to say, Lucy has something to offer that’s unique. And ‘Redeeming Advent’ will not disappoint those who enjoy the honesty of the blog! Lucy is courageous enough to share honestly with the book’s readership about the challenges we face as parents and as disciples during the festive season, but does so in a way that continually and non-judgementally draws the reader back to the One who has already won the victory for us. I’m amazed at how many different highways and byways Lucy manages to take us down during these daily readings - the effect is one of having been given plenty to chew over without having to spend too long reading (a must for parents, definitely!). The time given for reflection and prayer at the end of each reading ensures that the content stays with the reader throughout the day, unlike some devotionals which are easy to give mental assent to without having really taken much in. I personally find Advent and Christmas a pretty overwhelming time, but I know that with this book to hand, I’ll much more easily enjoy time out with my Heavenly Father during this busy season. Thank you Lucy!

I was fortunate to see an early copy of this and I must say it makes a refreshing change from other advent study books I have read. Many have caused me to feel more stressed and tense as they assume that i am organised with my present wrapping and shopping. I have felt like shouting before now 'don't you know I work for a church? Of course I'm not ready!'. Lucy's book is much more real! and makes me feel like it's okay that I'm behind. More than that, though, there is enough challenge in what she's written to keep me thinking on what she's said for a day or so each time. She has a knack for keeping it real and yet challenging you whatever stage of life you are at. This will undoubtedly appeal to those with small children but will also appeal to those of us who have been through that stage and remember what it was like! Worth getting. I am certainly looking forward to using my copy this Advent.

This a beautiful, simply written book that is a fantastic resource if you want to slow the pace, pause and reflect during the busy-Ness of the advent period. It's written in a very relatable way that recognises that life can get super busy during this time and in the midst of the warm and funny writing there are questions that give the reader so much to ponder, while being reminded of the real reason for the advent period. This book helped me rediscover the joy and wonder in a story that I have heard so many times.... a story that Lucy Rycroft reminds us is anything but ordinary. I loved this book!!

Really enjoyed this book. Lucy is down-to-earth, relateable and funny and she talks about festive scenarios we can all relate to in our busy lives. But out of these scenarios she draws spiritual lessons and encourages you to look heavenward during the busiest season of the year. When Christmas chaos reigns, God is amongst it all, and Lucy is great at encouraging us to pause and notice the reason for the season. I can't wait to read this again during advent and will definitely be buying a few copies as gifts!

Redeeming Advent does exactly what it claims to do: take the trivial, secular joys of Christmas and restore the heart of the festive season; in other words, put the Christ back in Christmas. It’s not weighty, not a deeply theological investigation of Scripture, but it doesn’t claim to be. Its sincerity and light-hearted approach is perfect for busy people who want to focus their thoughts this Christmas on the true reason for the season. If you are familiar with Lucy’s ‘desert mum’ blog, then her writing style will be familiar to you. Using personal experience and amusing anecdotes from her life as a mum, vicar’s wife and writer, she deftly draws her reader to the crux of the Christmas message, using key scripture passages as reinforcement. Finishing each of the 24 daily readings with a suggested prayer, this devotional material is a real gem. Whatever stage of your Christian walk you are at; however close to (or distant from) your Saviour you may feel right now, this book will inspire, encourage and challenge. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Lucy, aka Desertmum, has given us this daily devotional to help us through the crazily busy time leading up to Christmas Day. Advent, the time of preparation or, as she calls it, ‘a small representation of the journey we’re on to draw closer to the Babe in a manger.’ Here is a book that’s easily readable, in short daily chapters, yet with profound truths and penetrating and thought-provoking questions to ponder. Lucy is a busy mum of young children (both her own and adopted) and she relates her own adventures in preparing madly for Christmas and then applies what she learns along to the way, to Advent. "Advent, like adoption, tells us that the tragedies of this life are not supposed to bring us down, but to make us look up, waiting and hoping more desperately for a future in which destruction, lies, corruption, ill-health and death don't exist." It’s light hearted and easily readable; yet it’s not afraid to tackle big issues such as should we teach our children about Santa and reindeer? Should we follow the guidelines on the back of the wrapping paper? How does the fact of Christmas impact our everyday lives? What is it in particular that makes you stop and think about the incarnation and all it offers? And gift lists – what if you don’t get what you asked for? Each day has a short story or reflection about some area of Christmas preparation, that’s related to a short Bible verse or story, followed by questions to ponder and think about through the day, and a brief prayer to end. It’s really do-able, even for the extra-busy or stressed person!

Here is a book that’s easily readable, in short daily chapters, yet with profound truths and penetrating and thought-provoking questions to ponder. Lucy is a busy mum of young children and she relates her own adventures in preparing madly for Christmas and then applies what she learns along to the way, to Advent. "Advent, like adoption, tells us that the tragedies of this life are not supposed to bring us down, but to make us look up, waiting and hoping more desperately for a future in which destruction, lies, corruption, ill-health and death don't exist." It’s light hearted and easily readable; yet it’s not afraid to tackle big issues such as should we teach our children about Santa and reindeer? Should we follow the guidelines on the back of the wrapping paper? How does the fact of Christmas impact our everyday lives? What is it in particular that makes you stop and think about the incarnation and all it offers? And gift lists – what if you don’t get what you asked for? Each day has a short story or reflection about some area of Christmas preparation, that’s related to a short Bible verse or story, followed by questions to ponder and think about through the day, and a brief prayer to end. It’s really do-able, even for the extra-busy or stressed person!