First Friday Book Synopsis

One of the most popular and best-selling devotional books of all time is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

Her newest book, Jesus Always:  Embracing Joy in His Presence (Thomas Nelson, 2016), has climbed as high as # 4 on the Wall Street Journal non-fiction best-seller list, and has also made appearances on the New York Times best-seller list.  At this writing, the book is still in the top 200 selling books on the Amazon.com list.

 

Like its predecessor, this is also a 365-day devotional book.

Here is how the book is described on Amazon.com:

“Life today is full of difficulties—loss, sadness, fear. In the midst of these challenges, joy often feels impossible or out of reach. But Jesus has more for His followers than a life of striving, pain, and discontent. He offers life abundant, life to the fullest, life brimming with joy! Jesus Always, the new 365-day devotional from bestselling author Sarah Young, was written as part of Sarah Young’s exploration of the promises of joy in scripture. Written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to the reader, Jesus Always invites you into a new way of living—a life of joy. 

Reaching out with joy-filled reminders from the Word of God, these devotions will intimately and gently connect you with Jesus—the One who meets you where you are. Draw near to Him in Jesus Always.”

Do you know about Sarah Young?  First, do not confuse her with an pornographic movie star of the same name.  Far from it.  According to the cbn.com site, “she was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in the South. After graduating from college she made four trips to Europe in less than five years. During her fourth trip, she became a Christian at L’Abri Fellowship in a tiny Alphine village in France. With a degree in philosophy from Wellesley College, Sarah also holds graduate degrees in psychology/counseling from Tufts University, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Georgia State University.

She met her husband Steve at Covenant Seminary. They are employed by Mission to the World and have worked in various sites in Japan and Australia, planting Japanese churches and counseling. Steve and Sarah currently minister to Japanese people living in Perth, Western Australia.“

I have not yet bought this book of devotionals, although I have owned and given away copies of her first one.  That will likely change this week.