Beloved is where we begin, by Rachael Newham 

'Realistic and accessible devotional book, which recognises our desire for time with God can be impacted by many things'

Beloved is where we begin - a weekly devotional for sustainable rhythms of grace
By Rachael Newham
Form (SPCK group)
ISBN: 978-0-281—09111-9
Reviewed by: Jeannie Kendall 

This is a realistic devotional book. By that I mean the author recognises our desire for time with God can be impacted by many things, including life circumstances and physical and emotional well-being. She therefore has written this 52-week devotional in the hope it is possible to at least find 20 minutes each week to be still and tune in to what God might be saying, with an emphasis on hearing that we are loved: hence the title of the book.  

The content is based around the church’s year, with a section for reading each week of which a key verse is printed. There is an accessible, often very honest comment, followed by either a blessing (I would describe them more as poetry), a breath prayer (one line to inhale, another to exhale), a poem, or a short prayer.

The book is beautifully bound and would make a good gift for someone who might find themselves struggling with daily devotional times, or would like a gentle addition to their existing structures.
 

Jeannie Kendall is a ‘retired’ Baptist minister, speaker, trainer and until recently a tutor in Pastoral Supervision. She is the author of four books: the fourth of which, on Psalm 23, is due out in April 26, and she is currently working on a fifth, a devotional book on Luke’s gospel.