Outpourings of Beloved Heart & Living in the Presence of God

Hey friends! Recently I read Outpourings of a Beloved Heart by Joan Embola, and I wanted to share because it was a blessing to me. I haven’t talked much about what I've read in ages, and I kind of miss it. :)

Outpourings of a Beloved Heart is a 30 day devotional book with a poem, scripture reading, and reflection in each chapter. It explores various aspects of the gospel and Christian experience, centering on God’s everlasting love. It’s full of Bible verses, and for me it was one of those books where I came away feeling like I’d spent time with Jesus, rather than exploring an author’s ideas. It was also the whole gospel – not love and grace without mentioning sin, nor law and sin without mentioning mercy. It’s something to be read slowly and digested.

I really appreciated the genuineness and authenticity of Outpourings of a Beloved Heart. Joanny doesn’t shy away from speaking the truth, but it’s done in love. This is written from the heart, and that’s what held my attention. I don’t often read poetry, but the poems were raw, an honest and heartfelt portrayal of growing in Christ.

It was also cool to see how authentic Joanny’s writing style is. I could literally imagine her speaking the words from hearing her voice in her YouTube videos. And there was one little sentence she wrote over and over again, and it impacted me. He loves you. When you hear something enough times it finally sinks in and becomes a part of your subconscious beliefs. That’s my God. That’s your God. 

There was also another statement I’m still thinking about. Everything you need is in the presence of God. p83

If everything I need is in the presence of God, then all I need is to be in the presence of God continually. It’s the essence of the Christian journey; drawing closer and closer to God. This is where peace and rest and joy and love and hope are found. This is what Jesus meant when He said abide. I’m still trying to process what it looks like on a daily basis, but this is it. This is the true Christian life. 

So, I’d love to hear if you have any thoughts or experiences on living in the presence of God, and what that looks like in everyday life! I feel like I’ve lost any knack I had for writing book reviews, but Outpourings of a Beloved Heart has been a blessing to me, and I wanted to pass that on, especially because it's just been released! :) Here's the link for the paperback. My friend Joanny has put so much time and heart into this book, and it’s solid. I hope it can be a blessing to you too! I've included the official description below:

The name "beloved" refers to one who is dearly loved and deeply treasured. God called Jesus His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased and because of Jesus, we have been accepted into God’s family and given the right to be called His children. So we are deeply loved by our Heavenly Father and He loves us as much as He loves Jesus. But do you believe that with all your heart? What about when you are surrounded by the worries and cares of life? Are you still sensitive to His love then? Do you feel you are too imperfect to be loved by a perfect God? Do you feel you carry so much garbage that His love can't possible take away? Well, here's a chance to know more about the Father's love for you through poetry and reflections. It is a chance to find peace, comfort and joy in His presence. A chance to be reassured that His love for you never fails even in the storm. These are the outpourings of a heart that has found true solace in the arms of a loving God.

What’s a book that’s impacted you recently? Have you checked out Joanny’s blog or channel? How do you think we can live in the presence of God?