I cannot believe that summer is almost over. We had a LONG winter in North Carolina and it seems like half the spring was filled with cold fronts and the other half with showers. I enjoy warm weather and to me, it seems like the summer just rolled in. In spite of talking a full academic course load for most of the summer, I wanted to settle in and reflect on the Psalms during my morning devotions.
Revell and author, Caryn Rivadeneira, graciously sent me a copy of the spring release, Known and Loved: 52 Devotions for the Psalms. Caryn completed this book in partnership with the Mothers of Preschools (MOPS) international.
Caryn uses personal experiences and those of her friends to make the Psalms personal. She reminds every mom that:
You are Wonderfully Made
You are Held by God
You are Part of God’s Story
You are a Work in Progress
You Are Made in God’s Image
You Are Made for Many Things
You are Given Fresh Starts
You are Worthy
You Are Loved by God
You are Called and Equipped
How many of us need to remember these previous truths in our lives? Take a moment to read those truths again. Speak them with a loud voice, meditate on them, and thank God today.
I love the reflective feel of this devotional and have found the format and presentation quite refreshing. It would be a great tool to lead you in a time of personal journaling and prayer. This book makes a thoughtful gift to inspire and encourage moms on their parenting journey. I would also recommend gathering a few moms in a small group to go through this devotional together.
At the end of the book, Caryn includes an appendix titled, “About the Psalms” which helps the reader better understand the biblical text. She also encourages us to write our own Psalm.
The Book of Psalms give us all an opportunity to praise God, acknowledge his presence and power, and lament or be honest with Him about the heavy concerns of our burdened hearts. The Psalms draw us near to God; therefore, we should read them regularly.
For Meditation Today:
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (Ps. 37:23-24 [NIV]).
Don’t forget to grab a book and a group of friends and join us for The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor book discussion being next Tuesday, August 6.
Blessings, Natasha
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 