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9/1 – 9/3 
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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
If you love listening to devotionals while you garden, walk the dogs, or drink your morning coffee, the audiobook version of The Divine Series on Amazon and Audible are officially ready for you!
How to find them right now:
1️⃣ Open your Amazon or Audible app.
2️⃣ Type “Melissa Giomi” (with the quotation marks!) directly into the search bar. The series will pop up and you can see the 3 formats in which the books are available.
If you listen, please consider leaving a quick star rating. It helps the system show the books to other readers who might need some encouragement today. Thank you all for walking this journey with me! 🙏📚
Where do you spend time with Jesus?
Do you have a special spot where you go to pray?
You all know I love being in nature & talking to Jesus. This beautiful Redwood Regional Park is about 30-35 minutes away from where I live. It’s a gorgeous oasis in the middle of a big city. It’s tucked in & you feel like you miles away from city life.
I hope you find time today to get to your special place & spend time with Him. Peace be with you.
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.
This is an excerpt from Ascending found in my book, Divine Appointments…
Your prayers–whispered, shouted, sobbed, sung, laughed–are all precious to Jesus. He hears every word and pays such kind attention to every bit. He speaks healing, prophecy, joy, love, and belonging over every word you speak to Him. He speaks Himself into everything that concerns you. How loved you are…rest in that peace.
Photo credit: Sergio Zhukov
I am a worrier and an overthinker. I rehearse all the what-ifs because I’m afraid of being blindsided and having no control.
Like many of us, bad things have blindsided me more times than I like to remember. The blindsiding leaves wounds that don’t quite heal–a nervous system always on alert, scanning and planning to try and prevent one more thing. It is an exhausting way to live and takes such a toll on us.
I’m in a season of life where I want more joy, peace, calm, and a surrendered way of living. Surrendered. That’s a tough one for us controllers. I am a work in progress!
Each day I talk to Jesus about everything going on. I do my best to carefully place all the people, things, pets, circumstances, and what-ifs into His hands…and leave them all there with Him. I confess, I often have to give it all to Him again and again, but He knows my heart. He knows I’m trying and how hard and frightening it is.
I love this verse. I needed to see it today. This is truth. Worrying will not add anything joyful, peaceful, calm, or surrendered to my life. It will perpetuate the cycle of fear, hyper-vigilance, and rehearsing all the outcomes.
I don’t want to miss the beauty, joy, peace, and blessings that my Father wants to pour out for me to enjoy and rest in, as I go about my day. He wants to do that for you, too, my fellow worrier. How He loves us!
I prayed for us this morning that God would speak to us, heal us, and calm our worried minds, as He reminds us that He’s got us and He’s trustworthy. He won’t fail us.
Extravagant Hope 