Devotional Destinations

By Ellie

For those who ever wondered what it's like to experience a religion other than their own, this book is just that journey. For those who don't practice a religion but are spiritual, this book is just that journey.

For an entire year, each month features a visit to a different house of worship. Whether it be a temple, mosque, church or synagogue, come inside and sit with the author and experience an abundance of love through each door.

Sing, pray, cry and eat with other religions as you open your mind and feel the glory of goodness from one heart to another; strangers with loving souls. Each visit makes the reader excited for the next.

Learn more as you feel the common threads of humanity while gaining a greater appreciation for religions. 
Where we believe, how we believe, what we believe may all vary to an outsider looking in. The when, why and who are those personal beliefs and journeys that bring us inside or not. Faith in God gave this writer hope while seeing first-hand how houses of worship reestablish fundamental values. It does not matter what religion one practices; what matters is that we understand what we have in common. We all yearn for kindness. We all want to be loved and to give love. We all want a better world. See faith, hear hope and feel love on this truly inspiring field trip of unity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098089900

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Devotional Destinations

Ellie

Copyright © 2021 by Ellie

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Opening

A Visit to Grace and Glory Apostolic Church

A Visit to St. Bernard Catholic School

A Visit to Congregational United Church of Christ

A Visit to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

A Visit to United Methodist Church

A Visit to Crossroads Community Church

A Visit to Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer

A Visit to Temple Beth Hillel

A Visit to Calvary Baptist Church

A Visit to Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib Sikh Temple

A Visit to American Muslim Center

A Visit to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Holy Family Church

Dedication to Our Vets

My father, uncle, and brother were in the Air Force years ago.

Another uncle and cousin served in the National Guard.

I have a brother-in-law who retired from the Navy.

I had a great-uncle who was a POW in WWI.

Oh boy, I better mention my Marine father-in-law.

I’m sure there are many ancestors whom I did not mention.

Growing up, I never had to hear the word deployment.

I can’t imagine the worry Soldiers leave behind today.

The United States of America is made up of a diverse military.

I imagine they pray in different ways and in different languages.

Faith is always there for us, waiting with loving arms.

This book is dedicated to all those who serve.

Past, present, and future.

May God bless America.

Opening

Hello,

This friendly everyday greeting of good cheer is so common, you may not even realize how often you say it. We converse with others more than we realize. In lines, in travels, even in walks—to name a few examples. We like being friendly. It makes our souls sing. Even when social norms tell us to be careful, we take little chances with our joyful hearts because the goodness in us wants to be shared. We yearn for kindness—to both give it and to receive it. Halleluiah. For in these tender moments, nothing else matters. Only the glory of goodness from one heart to another is what’s really important.

I discovered a brand-new reason to say hello and in doing so, it’s been a beautiful and rewarding experience. I visited a different house of worship every month in 2017 and kept a diary of them. Though this journey was intended just for me, I knew I had to share it with my family as Christmas presents. After once visiting with my dear friend Kristen who asked, what’s new?—she then asked if I had any intentions of sharing it. Later in the year, during a luncheon with my Aunt Dotty, she too asked me to publish it someday. Kristen is a librarian and my aunt was a professor. Though I met a lot of strangers during the year, I knew God was talking to me in those two familiar voices.

Every year we learn of a lot of reasons to feel for others, and the U.S. had plenty of headlines to ponder. The human heart beats with so much love as God receives prayers every hour of every day in all kinds of languages. I wanted to be there during these prayers. There were churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues to visit. I wish I could have visited more. The year went by too fast. I suppose I could have read up on different religions, but realistically, I wouldn’t have made the time. Plus I wanted to put my five senses in action. I meant no disrespect in seeing how others worship. I called first when I thought it was right. I tried my best to show gratitude for their hospitality and respect for their religion. I had reservations (and they weren’t for two.) Sometimes I was nervous, but never in my heart. It made me see so much good in the world. I prayed, sang, cried, hugged, danced and ate with loving