Guideposts - Mornings with Jesus 2018: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul

ZONDERVAN

Mornings with Jesus 2018

Copyright 2017 by Guideposts. All rights reserved.

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Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Epub Edition August 2017 ISBN 9780310347200

ISBN 978-0-310-34716-3 (softcover)

ISBN 978-0-310-34720-0 (ebook)

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Acknowledgments: Every attempt has been made to credit the sources of copyrighted material used in this book. If any such acknowledgment has been inadvertently omitted or miscredited, receipt of such information would be appreciated.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ERV are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version Bible. Copyright 2006 by Bible League International. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation in Todays English VersionSecond Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked GW are taken from Gods Word. Copyright 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked HCS are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ICB are taken from the International Childrens Bible. Copyright 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ISV are taken from the Holy Bible, International Standard Version. Copyright 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. All rights reserved internationally. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Public domain. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from two editions: The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Cover and interior design by Mllerhaus

Cover photo by Shutterstock

Indexed by Indexing Research

Typeset by Aptara

First printing August 2017 / Printed in the United States of America

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Mornings with Jesus 2018! The 365 devotions were written as a reminder of the faithfulness of Jesus and the inspiration of His teachings. Our hope is you are able to breathe new life into your morning and bring special blessings to your day by reading each one. Learn from the wisdom of Scriptures, be comforted by personal narratives, and find encouragement through the daily practice of taking a Faith Step.

Mornings with Jesus is a devotional written with care by twelve women of faith. They share personal stories about their walk with Jesus. These friendly, sometimes familiar, voices affirm this truth: the peace and promises of Jesus are real. Gari Meacham, a devoted missionary in Uganda, Suzanne Davenport Tietjen, a retired nurseturned-beekeeper, and Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, a church pianist and college professor, are among the writers who describe how they came to understand their relationship with Jesus as a lifelong process. We know you will relate to their stories of courage after loss, grace in the moment of surrender, and wisdom at embracing the new year with open hearts and minds.

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12, NIV ). Mornings with Jesus 2018 will light your path as you begin each day knowing you are in His care every step of the way.

This year weve included Ash Wednesday and Easter reflections by Isabella Yosuico and an Advent series by Rebecca Barlow Jordan. Mornings with Jesus 2018 offers you the reassurance of Jesuss close presence and constant comfort throughout the seasons. Though we face financial difficulties, overwhelming obligations, and even physical suffering, Jesuss boundless love provides the strength we need to live beyond our challenges. He reminds us that His love is greater. And that great love draws us ever closer to Him.

It is our hope that Mornings with Jesus 2018 will fill you with peace and inspire you to embrace each day with Jesus by your side. We invite you to be encouraged by His promises of hope, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. May you begin your day with the love of Jesus in your heart!

Faithfully yours,

Editors of Guideposts

P.S. We love hearing from you! Let us know what Mornings with Jesus 2018 means to you by e-mailing BookEditors@guideposts.org or writing to Guideposts Books & Inspirational Media, 110 William Street, New York, New York 10038. You can also keep up with your Mornings with Jesus friends on Facebook.com/MorningswithJesus.

Especially for You!

Enjoy the daily encouragement of Mornings with Jesus 2018 wherever you are! Receive each days devotion on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Visit MorningswithJesus.org/MWJ2018 and enter this code: Hope.