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Kindness
Divine Presence eBook
Divine Journey
Have you ever felt like you need to slow down and just breathe?
The Divine Series is for the moments when you need to feel God’s arms wrapping you up in His presence.
He’s there…
on a hike through the Redwoods 
as you sip your morning coffee 
in the chatter of a mountain stream 
in a whispered prayer 
when you need to remember that you are not alone 
Through poetry, short stories, Scripture, and reflections inspired by nature, these devotionals give you space to relax and experience God’s presence in the beauty of everyday life.
If this speaks to your heart, I invite you to take a look at the Divine Series and see where the journey takes you. Perhaps one of these books will become a much-loved companion for your own journey with God.
Explore the Divine Series here:
https://www.amazon.com/author/melissagiomi
Peace
May His peace and comfort follow you today. Be still, the Lord is near.
Monday Morning
Photo credit: azra melek
Hello Monday!
I pray that you begin this week with:
+delicious coffee
+eyes to see the blessings around you
+hands to help another in need
+healing in the places you need it
+peace that comforts you &
+kindness from a stranger
Morning Blessing
May the God of compassion fill you to the brim with generosity, kindness, and provision. May these treasures spill out and over everyone you meet – ripples of blessings and goodness.
Friends and Seasons
I love this sweet sign a precious friend gave me. It’s so true, isn’t it?
God handpicked specific people for every season of life to care about us, laugh with us, celebrate & grieve with us. Some encourage us & give gentle nudges when we get stuck. Others offer us the beautiful gifts of listening & compassion. There are friends who bring out our adventurous spirit & spontaneity & friends that bring a calm, steady peacefulness.
If you find yourself in a season of loneliness, I know that it’s a really hard place to be. I’ve been there. It hurts. We need to believe & trust that God is right there waiting to fill up that lonely place with Himself – the best friend one could ever have.
In that season, I think He’s also handpicking, shaping, & setting all the things in motion for you & another, who’s waiting for a friend, to bump up against each other, smile, & embrace the blessing of a dear soul taking up residence in your heart.
The Candle
Photo credit: Tijana Drndarski
Olivia wakes to the sound of rain pattering against the windows and sluicing off the eaves. It’s one of her favorite sounds. Soothing, repetitive, calming.
Slowly stretching her sleepy muscles, she pulls the warm quilt up under her chin. It feels chilly in her room. The weight of the quilt feels like a comfy cocoon wrapping her up in warmth and safety.
The clock on the bedside table reads 3:33 am.
Her cats, Goose and Mr. White, raise fluffy, sleep-mussed heads from the end of her bed, wondering what is disturbing the nightly routine.
Lying quietly, listening to the autumn rain, Olivia notices the wind picking up. The bamboo wind chimes hanging on the patio cover sing out their woody song as they are buffeted by the random gusts.
No longer sleepy, she decides a nice cup of herbal tea will be just right on this stormy night.
Cats in tow, Olivia slips on the soft, worn slippers she keeps next to the bed, grabs her robe, and heads to the kitchen.
The woodstove in the corner of the family room gives off a faint, warm glow, as the embers continue to spark and snap. The kettle sings! Hot tea in hand, Olivia settles onto the comfy loveseat next to the stove and nestles in listening to Mother Nature’s autumn storm.
Sleepy cats find their soft blanket tucked into an old Amazon box near the stove. They begin bathing and jostling each other for the best spot in that old box.
As she sits with her tea and listens to the rain stinging against the windows, Olivia’s mind wanders to the difficult conversations and puzzling circumstances that have been hounding her of late. Unfair accusations, misunderstandings, and self-righteous pride have clouded and tainted a long-time friendship. The situation leaves her unsure, wounded, and lonely. Her efforts at reconciliation, having the hard conversations, and trying to understand what went wrong, leave her feeling betrayed and so very tired.
“Father, I need you to take this. It hurts and I don’t understand. Can this be fixed? Will you reveal the next steps?”, she prays.
Watching the glow of the dying fire, the tendrils and flickers of orange and blue-yellow flames dart and snicker around bits of the burned logs.
A strong gust of wind rattles the windows and the front door as the lights flicker, then go out.
Dark envelopes her cozy spot, except for the glowing embers in the woodstove.
Remembering the Redwood Forest scented candle she purchased from the new boutique downtown, Olivia fumbles around in the drawer of the table on the other side of the loveseat and finds the matches.
Lighting the candle, the new flame struggles and sputters a bit, then gets its footing. The flame strengthens and burns softly.
Its warm light is like a halo pushing back the darkness, reaching into the shadows, and exposing what is hidden – highlighting those mindsets and wounds that secrets and hidden agendas seek to keep obscure and under cover. Revelation, healing, and new life are murky and hard to see under the veil of shadows.
Sitting in the glow of the wavering light, Olivia feels the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up and goosebumps raise along her arms. She’s not alone. She’s not afraid. She feels His divine presence in the air – love, safety, and ancient wisdom flowing around her. He will see to it. He will give her revelation and wisdom. He will bring healing.
“Rest now, I am here”, He says. “All is well. I see what’s in the secret, hidden places. All will be made right. Everything hidden will be revealed.”
In the flickering candlelight and warmth from the cozy woodstove, Olivia feels her mind settle and her eyes flutter. Sleep is waiting. Peace calls to her as her breathing slows. The Holy One sings to her spirit in languages of love, healing, and ancient things. All is well…
“For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” Mark 4:22 NLT
His Goodness
Go with what you know
Go with what you know.
Every season of life tends to bring with it different situations, relationships, and challenges that we aren’t prepared for and are unsure how to navigate.
Those changes might come as blindsiding chaos, or slow shifts into different seasons of parenting, friendships, health issues, and managing our time.
Perhaps one key to getting through these seasons is to fall back on what you know about God. I mean back to the bare bones basics–He is sovereign, good, Savior, compassionate, and omnipotent.
What He promises in His word is true. He is closer than our next breath and has never left us alone. Never.
We are so deeply loved.
It’s good to remind ourselves of what He has already brought us through, given us His strength to handle, and the times He has simply carried us when we couldn’t go another step.
When I was battling an aggressive form of breast cancer there were days that I had nothing left to give and very little hope. Fear, pain, and the unknown were too overwhelming and that is when I KNOW He carried me and my family. He made a way where I couldn’t see one.
I had to go with what I knew about God even when it felt like I was walking down a dangerous, crooked path with no clear destination in the dark.
I knew He was good, kind, merciful, Healer, Warrior, Provider–Emmanuel and the God of the impossible. I knew He loved me and that is what I held on to.
When we focus on what we know about God and seek out moments of joy and blessings, I believe that the spirit of heaviness and sadness that the enemy desires to cover us with, can become a garment of praise and an oil of gladness that soothes and protects us, drawing us into the arms of Jesus.
I pray that whatever season you are in right now, you will take a minute to go with what you know about God. Breathe Him in. Ask Him for reminders, blessings, and precious bits of joy to sustain you, comfort you, and give you hope. He’s got you, my friend. You will be okay.
Photo credit: Luis Becerra Fotografo
Extravagant Hope 