Hope for Today's Heart

By Penny Frost McGinnis

I am in awe of the incredible, natural world God has created. A walk in the woods, a visit to the water's edge, a pause to admire a bloom in the garden, and a moment to listen to the birds' tweet inspired me to pen the devotions in this book. I believe my first genuine connection to God happened as a child. I had wandered outside, on my parents' five acres, with woods and a pond, and observed the natural world. From those experiences, I learned to appreciate God's creation and listen to Him speak to my heart. As an adult, I still enjoy tromping through the woods to discover the spring flowers and sitting by the water's edge at Lake Erie and listening to the waves crash. Every day, I'm amazed at the plants that grow in my tiny garden. The more I observed God's natural world, the more He nudged me to share about His world. The devotions in this book were first published on my blog, Hope for Today's Heart. I hope as you read these words, you'll be inspired and pause and contemplate nature as God's amazing gift and allow God to speak to your heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mt. Zion Ridge Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781955838665

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Day 1

In Relationship With God

Job 12:7-10

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind."

God's creation amazes me every single day.

When was the last time you...:

❖  stopped to watch a monarch sip nectar from an azalea?

❖  spotted a yellow finch twitter about the purple thistle as it seeks out food?

❖  dipped your toes into the waves that carry in shells and sand?

❖  rested in the shade of the maple or oak and enjoyed the comfort of the breeze?

❖  gazed at the stars as they twinkled in the sky?

❖  listened to the robin trill his song?

Every walk in the woods, hike up a trail, and visit to a beach shows me Jehovah, God, the Creator of all things. Even the television shows and books that explain how things work in nature amaze and humble me before God.

Why? Because nature is my happy place. Please don't take the term happy place lightly. In all seriousness, I love that I have a relationship with God that's enriched by His creation. A place where I commune with my Lord and Savior without the noise of this crazy world. The natural world He made with His hands reminds me of God's wisdom and grace, but most of all, His love.

Maybe your kinship with God is strengthened through music or working. Maybe it's writing or playing with children. Maybe you sit in a quiet place and reflect. If you haven't found your connection, begin with prayer. Talk to God and ask Him to show you how your relationship with Him can be enriched. Read the Bible and seek God's wisdom in His word. Find your connection with the One who loves you beyond understanding.

God created each of us to be in relationship with Him because He loves us.

Shape Description automatically generated with low confidence Jot down your observances in nature and your prayers and praises.

Day 2

Jesus Offers Peace

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

I am the most peaceful, when I’m by the water, listening to the waves lap.

I could sit and listen to water race to shore and lap back out all day. There is something about the sound and the motion that covers me with calm. Perhaps the lull or the push and pull, or maybe the overwhelming feeling that God is in control, and I don’t need to worry about one little thing, because the crashing waves remind me of the incredible power of God and His love for us.

As I sat by the lake, on a huge rock at Marblehead State Park, I closed my eyes and my mind painted a picture of the Father who loves me. I imagined Him reaching out and embracing me in a hug. At that point, I understood, a little more, the peace that surpasses my comprehension; the peace I feel in times of trouble. Only then did I get a glimpse of Jesus’ gift of calm.

In John 16, Jesus preps His disciples, the twelve He chose, to understand His future. He laid out God’s plan and assured them that whatever happened to Him—He was with God. He revealed to them their future, too. They would all go to their own homes, their villages, back to their work, and He’d be with His Father in heaven. Even as Jesus assured these men, who traveled and taught with Him for three years, that they’d experience peace, He reminded them they’d have