Do you long for serenity and refuge, peace and hope? Are you seeking a deeper spiritual life through a closer relationship with God?
If you're tired of dwelling in busyness and noise, then perhaps one word a day can change your life. Award-winning author Lucinda Secrest McDowell knows that if you spend time each day turning to God's Word for wisdom and guidance, your faith can flourish and grow.
Through short and inspiring readings, McDowell unpacks a single word---such as mercy, beauty, gratitude, or grace---to reveal a biblical blessing or challenge relevant to where you are. Full of stories and illustrations to empower you to live the word you have just read, each devotional ends with a benediction, written as if God were speaking directly to you.
These "dwelling places" that offer the joy of God's promise and presence cover four seasons: fall, Advent, Lent, and summer. Whether in the midst of busy holiday schedules, holy days, ordinary moments, or changing seasons, a deeper faith can be as simple as a single word.
Lucinda Secrest McDowell is the author of 11 books, including Live These Words, Amazed by Grace, and Quilts from Heaven. She has contributed to an additional 25 books and has been published in more than 50 magazines. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, she speaks internationally through her ministry Encouraging Words. An award-winning writer who has earned accolades from prominent writers' conferences and retreats, McDowell has also worked in radio broadcasting, in retreat planning, and on church pastoral staffs. She writes from "Sunnyside" cottage in Connecticut.
MY REVIEW:
This has become my new devotional! I love how it's divided into the four seasons and I chose to focus on Fall - my favorite time of year!
This devotional starts with a beautiful Scripture to meditate on. Then the author shares a wonderful devotional to help you focus on God's goodness and to help you grow in your faith. There are usually questions within the devotion for you to ask yourself and I really like that.
My favorite of the Fall devotions was called, "Presence". In this devotion the Scripture is, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." - Exodus 33:14 God was with Moses and He is with us. Just like the sky-diving instructor was with Kevin, in this devotion, as he did his first jump, so God is with us as we feel sometimes like we're free-falling in life. He has control and is as close to us Kevin's instructor strapped to his back.
"God's Presence makes the perfect dwelling place for our soul."
Don't you love that? We may not always feel His presence, but that doesn't mean He's not there. This was so comforting to me!!
At the end of each devotion is a prayer to help us apply what we learned in the devotion. This is a great starting place for your prayers each day.
My other favorite part of the book is the Epilogue called, "Secrets of the Nest". She gets more in-depth in what it means to truly dwell in God. I found this really great and did draw me closer to God!
This is a wonderful book and I know you'll love it as much as I do. I highly recommend this book!!
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
Blessings - Julie
Julie - I am so grateful you read my new book "Dwelling Places" and especially that you enjoyed "Secrets of the Nest" and "presence". Your blogsite is beautiful and with all the birds and nests I know we are kindred spirits. (To dwell in OT Hebrew is sometimes translated "to nest") Summer Blessings! Lucinda
ReplyDeleteJulie - I am so grateful you read my new book "Dwelling Places" and especially that you enjoyed "Secrets of the Nest" and "presence". Your blogsite is beautiful and with all the birds and nests I know we are kindred spirits. (To dwell in OT Hebrew is sometimes translated "to nest") Summer Blessings! Lucinda
ReplyDeleteWe all need to find that secret dwelling place we can be alone with God! "Secrets of the Nest" sounds wonderful! God bless you for sharing! patsy
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