The Christmas We Didn’t Expect by David Mathis

I absolutely love Advent. I remember the first time I intentionally participated in Advent that it stirred my heart for the true meaning of Christmas like no other. Every year, I look for a new Advent devotion book to lead my wife and I through so we can set our eyes on Jesus and drown out the commercial noise of the holidays. 

This year my wife and I will be reading The Christmas We Didn’t Expect by David Mathis. Just to be perfectly transparent, when I write a review of an Advent devotion, I haven’t read the whole thing. Instead, I’ve read one or two entries so I can get the feel for the book. Because this is a tradition I cherish with my wife (and our daughters once they get older), I like the readings to be fresh for me too so we can enjoy and focus together.

That being said, The Christmas We Didn’t Expect focuses on the twists and turns that we may miss or not think enough about in the Christmas story. Mathis says in the Preface, "In particular, in the pages ahead, I want to rehearse the surprising twists and stunning turns of God himself being born as a man. In this season of waiting—as we wait with expectant hope—I want to highlight how much of that first Christmas teemed with the unexpected."

In the one entry I read, Mathis truly takes the reader to the unexpected. It made me excited to jump into this devotion on December 1st. Each devotional entry ends with a prayer of response. 

I think you will enjoy picking up this resource and helping your family or even just yourself focus on Jesus this Christmas season. If you’ve never observed Advent, give it a try. See if it doesn’t make a difference in the joy you feel this Christmas.

You can pick up your copy of The Christmas We Didn’t Expect on Amazon. (affiliate)

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for a fair and honest review.