Unexpected jewel

In April of this year, I went down to Savannah to visit the friend I spoke about in this post. We always have the best time together - the days pass much too quickly - and I wish she lived closer so that we could see each other more often...sigh...

Where was I?

Oh yes! My visit! Anyway...one afternoon while I was there, we spent hours (literally hours) in her local Lifeway store. We were specifically looking for a Beth Moore study that we could do together via IM/phone (we chose this one!) and that took the longest time because you know how I love Beth Moore...how do you pick just one?!

We finally decided that we had been in the store an embarrassingly long amount of time and that we should probably haul our purchases up to the register and check out.

And that's when we found this waiting for us:


This beautiful little devotional was being offered for $5.00. Yep, you read that right...$5.00

We each grabbed one. I mean - for $5.00, why not, right? I love a good devotional and the sales clerk said this was an excellent devotional! I figured that was high praise coming from someone who deals with hundreds of devotionals!

So how come I got home and this excellent devotional was forgotten until recently? I don't know...maybe I wasn't ready for it. Or maybe the entries that I missed are better suited for next year for me...whatever! I believe everything happens for a reason.

What I do know is that what I'm reading now is ah-mazing. Truly. I'm thinking this is maybe the best devotional I've ever used. Just maybe. What I can say for sure is that the sales clerk was right...this is an excellent devotional! And for $5.00! Truly an unexpected jewel!

Want a sample? Here was my reading for yesterday, November 5th:

YOU CAN LIVE AS CLOSE TO ME as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.

People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out as they'd hoped. They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation.

Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.

Philippians 4:12; Genesis 28:15;

Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:38-39

from Jesus Calling Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young

I needed that yesterday. In fact...it was good to read it again today as I typed it. Such treasure.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Have a blessed weekend, my friends...I pray that we'll remember to connect our joy to His precious promises!