Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World

by Hannah Anderson, Nathan Anderson (Illustrator)

“Joy to the world—the Lord has come!”

We sing these words every year, but what does it mean that the Creator came to his creation as a baby? How exactly does the “earth receive her King?”  What does it sound like when rocks, hills, floods, and plains echo his praise? And what would it mean for you to join in the chorus?

Heaven and Nature Sing invites you into a fresh reading of the Christmas story—one where earthy, overlooked things like snowflakes, trees, serpents, bodies, and swaddling bands reveal the glory of the Promised Son. Journeying from the first pages of Scripture to the last, you’ll experience the goodness of our Creator King and learn how the whole earth sings his praise.

So this Advent season, join Hannah Anderson as she guides you through 25 meditations on the natural elements of the Christmas story. Accompanied by Nathan Anderson’s distinctive artwork, the entries gradually move you from hope to faith to joy to peace. Find your soul renewed and your heart restored, and discover once again why heaven and nature sing. 

Genres: Christmas, Devotional, Faith, Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Christianity

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Hannah Anderson lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband in and their three children. She is You can connect with her at her blog sometimesalight.com and on Twitter @sometimesalight.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023: read for the second year in a row and still love it.

I really loved this. Each day was about 4-5 pages, which was the perfect length for some scripture and reflection. Hannah Anderson writes almost poetically, but without overdoing it, so the prose remains simple to read. There were several readings that really touched me and helped me linger on the meaning of the season. Will be reading again!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Hannah Anderson chases down truth and finds the wisdom of scripture reflected everywhere from weighted blankets to woodpeckers. She’s consistently perceptive and never settles for cliche. On every page there is something to cheer you on to pursue the goodness, truth, and beauty of scripture.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023: Something was different about the compilation of these Advent essays than others I have read. In the Author’s Note, Hannah Anderson writes, “With this book, I hope to … [give] you a chance to prepare your heart for Christmas by considering both why Jesus came to earth in the first place and why we so desperately long for his return. I want to offer you hope—not by ignoring the brokenness but by looking it squarely in the face, knowing that your Redeemer has and will come. And I want to tell that story through the lens of the natural world, to consider how not just we, but all of creation, waits for our Creator King.” For me, she met her goal by organizing her essays into four themes: hope, faith, joy, and peace. Her husband’s simple pencil illustrations at the beginning of each essay is worth pausing to enjoy his skill. This devotional was a peaceful, slow, contemplative read at the break of day.

2024: Becoming a favorite

[Martha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I read this year! Everyone should go ahead and order it to have for Advent next year.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is depth here, as I've come to appreciate from Anderson, and yet each reading is bite-sized and readable. Recommend.

[Stephen Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full confession. I have not yet finished this book of essays because, you know, it's not yet Christmas. But today I was positively gob-smacked at one of the finest reflections on the incarnation I've ever read—"Swaddling Bands”—and I couldn’t help it.

I’ll admit that devotional books are not my cup of tea. There is a distantly AI quality to the format: input twenty-five Advent/Christmas passages, add a soft take, and out comes a devotional. Not so with "Heaven and Nature Sing."

Anderson displays a deftness in moving about scripture in a way that betrays a long apprenticeship that cannot be faked with a subscription to Logos. There is true attentiveness in every corner. Her backyard, her experience as a mom, and her weighted blanket aren’t “illustrations” in the awful sermonic sense but rather objects close at hand to be considered. Adolph Schlatter says the primary goal of interpretation is “to see, to see, and to see again.” I never saw the swaddling bands, though I’ve read Luke 2 a hundred times. I never saw God clothing our first parents while considering Christ the kid being tightly wrapped by his mom.

There is seeing everywhere here. Thanks be to God.

One last note. The best indicators of a book’s quality, in my opinion, is how it feels to read it out loud. This one sings. I have a one- and three-year-old and something about the cadence draws them in just as Anna and I have been drawn in. What a rare and wonderful quality.

[Jennifer Squire]

I thoroughly enjoyed this devotional through the Advent season. Hannah’s writing is inviting, authentic, and thoughtful. Her style shows you how she learned something not just her conclusions- one of my favorite authors!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already looking forward to reading this again next year!

[Aberdeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession: I didn't read all of these but that's okay because while they are based around weekly themes (hope, faith, joy, peace) and generally follow the nativity narrative, they are also self-contained gems that you can dip into and out of. Anderson stands out among contemporary Christian writers for her rootedness in the natural world, as her other books beautifully showcase. Her deep love and appreciation for the details of her Blue Ridge Mountains shines through the vignettes that she masterfully weaves into theological reflections. I haven't been in a daily devotional mood much in recent years but this one did help center me on Jesus and the cosmic yet personal story of His incarnation this Advent, and I'll likely come back to it in future years.

The story of Advent and Christmas is the rehearsing of these truths over and over again. It is the story of a creation growing, longing to be reconciled to its Creator. It is the story of a Promised Son come as a Baby. It is a story of sacrifice and redemption, of not just new life but life after death. And it is a story we must keep telling and retelling, until it is finally fully true, both in in our own hearts and in the world around us. This is how the kingdom comes. And this is how we enter it.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advent read with beautiful connections to nature.

[Meredith Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4/5) This is a beautiful advent devotional, great for a single reader (perhaps still doable for a group discussion, but I think it's more suited to personal reflection). Anderson balances the "already and the not yet" of the Advent season, reminding us that while weeping may last for a night, joy comes in the morning. I think in the Advent season, sometimes we gloss over the fact that it is a season of waiting, not just celebrating Christ's coming. Would recommend for your own Advent reading or as a gift to a friend or family member in preparation for the season! This book is out TODAY!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Hoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was positively lovely. I think it’s better for an individual devotional over one to do with a group, but it’s definitely a delightful read. It is great for those that like to connect with both their emotional side and logical side. Anderson’s writing encourages the reader to truly appreciate and reflect on many aspects of Christmas, without minimizing some of the melancholy and darkness that can come in life. I highly recommend this devotional.

[Tori Samar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Easily my favorite Advent devotional I've read since I started the tradition a few years ago. Hannah Anderson has such a gift for making connections between the natural world and spiritual truth, and that gift shines here.

[Mariah Delposen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a delightful Advent devotional and my favorite to date. I loved how the author weaved together general and special revelation to tell the story of Christmas with deep insight and beauty. I will be pulling this off the shelf again next December!

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this advent book. The format of seeing different parts of the Christmas story represented in nature and daily life is thoughtfully and beautifully executed. Highly recommend for next advent season!

[Ranelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favorite advent devotionals.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written advent devotional.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely.

I had trouble finding a copy of this, but I’m so glad I kept trying to track it down. Anderson’s writing is beautiful, and her way of weaving together aspects of the Christmas story with elements of natural world and other passages of Scripture is enlightening.

I really enjoyed this, would recommend it, and will surely read it again in future years.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advent. Deep themes to connect to many layers of advent. Beautiful drawings by birding husband. Enjoyed the country family stories and attention to detail in her writing style.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Overall a good advent - I really enjoyed the theme of this advent and found that it was very different than others I have read. However, she made a few comments I simply differ on, but overall we enjoyed it. We will keep it in the family rotation.

[Samantha Choy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite advent devo I’ve read so far. I love the way she incorporates nature into her reflections. A couple days really stood out to me, but all were well done!!

[Jan]

Dec 23, 2024

[Amy Bento · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this advent study and learned a lot!

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply one of the best Advent books I've read in a long time. Although I've appreciated Anderson's other writing, I wasn't sure about the format of this book when previewing it on Amazon. I typically like more a of a scripture first then devotional format as opposed to an essay, per se. This format was definitely an essay format, with the scripture woven throughout. But in the end I adored it. Anderson takes the Christmas story and the various symbols we are so familiar with and weaves daily essays for the Advent season with great skill, insight, and depth. I will probably be rereading it next year.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

God used this series of essays to stir my affection for him and the rhythms he’s established in creation and in our human hearts that all ache for a coming of salvation and healing.

“Every year, as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of peace, we rehearse and retell our own longing for God’s shalom. Through our decorations, holiday food, church services, wrapped gifts, and joyful songs, we teach one another to believe in the hope of the Promised Son… and so with Heaven and nature, we sing.”

I’ll definitely be reading this annually.

[Shelby J Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Hannah Anderson writes!

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, hopeful, tearful. Tears of joy flowed in gratitude for God’s goodness beautifully told by one of my wife’s favorite author’s, Hannah Anderson. This is her second book I’ve read.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Anderson's writing style is conversational and reflective, and it was a joy to read through her Advent reflections this December. Each devotional felt like a leisurely walk through the woods, pondering God's natural revelation in light of what He has revealed to us in Scripture. This devotional portrays these ponderings in a contemplative and poetic way, rather than concise and academic, connecting images of nature and experiences of everyday life to profound truths of Scripture. Anderson wrote this devotional with the perspective that the Christmas season is one of both joy and sadness. She wants to give us the chance to prepare our hearts for Christmas "...by considering both why Jesus came to earth in the first place and why we so desperately long for his return." The more of life that I experience, the more poignant this perspective of Christmas becomes to me. It makes me grateful to have read this book, thinking about the topics Hannah Anderson covered so beautifully.