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! 🙏📚
Good morning from the garden! The sun is on its way up.
The early light on the clouds has a friendly, bright look to it; showing off the paintbrush clouds that God designed for us this morning.
Have a beautiful day & keep your eyes open for blessings & divine encounters.
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.
Photo credit: Zeynep Karaman
If you are worn down and it’s hard to express what’s on your heart, be encouraged! The Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are speaking about you in heavenly languages–whispering love, singing healing, prophesying mercy, & infusing you with hope.
Peace be with you. You are so loved.
Photo credit: Johannes Plenio
Hallowed
The word hallowed often evokes a mysterious and magical feeling. Supernatural. Visions of sacred, lovely light and silence swirl in my mind—a sense of something in the atmosphere crackling with divine prophesy. Holy ground—a place where angels and heavenly beings tread.
In my limited understanding of all things Divine, these images come from the knowledge that a place deemed hallowed has been consecrated and made holy by the divine presence of God.
Imagine a quiet neighborhood in the early morning hours, still sleepy from a night of peaceful rest. A man and his dog venture out for their morning constitutional. The beauty of the morning, the sleepy quiet of the houses, and the cool air on his skin bring a smile to his face and a lightness to his steps. Heavy things are weighing on him. This lovely morning soothes his spirit and invites conversation with the Creator. As he spills his fears and concerns to the Father, he is enveloped in such peace; peace that shouldn’t be here in light of his circumstances and worries, yet it is. The Father soothes and speaks provision and safety into his tired soul. Hallowed.
The woman on her bike follows the paved path through the city on her way to work. The busy street, impatient drivers, and slow-moving pedestrians blur as she frets over the presentation she will be giving in a few hours. Is she prepared? Did she remember to hit all the important points? Will what she says make sense? Her mind spins and panic tries to surface, so she lifts up a quick prayer asking for wisdom and courage. As she pedals, her thoughts come together more clearly. She remembers the hard work she put into this presentation and the success she’s had in the past. She is enough and deeply loved. Her worries dim and fade. Excitement replaces fear as her tense shoulders and churning insides relax. The Lord is with her; she can do this. Hallowed.
Night falls in the campground as the older couple settles into their camp chairs to relax and unwind before bed. The campfire dances and sparks, giving off a warm, happy glow as s’mores fixings are passed between them. The peace of the Redwoods falls around them, filling them with a sense of belonging. They find peace in nature. Listening to the forest slow down for the night, the feeling of being wrapped up and carefully tended to fill their souls. They know they are in the presence of the Holy One. Their campground in the Redwoods is hallowed ground. The Creator is everywhere. He whispers peace in the wind sighing through the trees, and sings provision as His creatures scout for food in the nooks and crannies of the forest floor. He speaks joy into this season of life as the campfire snaps and cracks. Hallowed ground.
Wherever life takes you today, myriad opportunities are waiting to usher you into the presence of the Divine. He is everywhere. Divine encounters and Divine appointments are waiting like hidden treasures to be found. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace, healing, hope, and freedom. Hallowed ground.
