The Work of the Lord

About the Book

Life on an island overwhelms me with transcendent time, beauty, and revelation. Just being there inspires the soul. Memories of laughter, a favorite song, or a story told embrace the heart once again with distant thoughts and brief pleasures. Magical. Taking in the familiar surroundings leads to powerful self-renewal and sharpens the senses to a new awakening. Spiritual. God’s full glory is mirrored in nature’s passion of color and aroma. Timeless. A moment is captured to stand the test of time’s erosion. Harmony.

I blend into the island. It seems like a physical extension of myself as I feel the rhythm of the message it retells just for me. Amelia. An ancient island of enchantment that summons me to stay, to remember its spirit, and to treasure this special place in my heart.

For those of you who frequent the beach, you could use The Work of the Lord as an oceanside devotional. Carry it in your beach bag, and read it with your toes in the sand. Explore the character of the Lord as exemplified in His creation at the beach. Spread out your beach towel, and soak in the Son.

Perhaps you live in the city or you have never experienced the seashore. Allow God to draw you away to spend time in His presence. You have been gifted with an imagination. Close your eyes, listen for the ocean’s roar, and escape to the serenity by the sea. It is not necessary to be on an actual beach to encounter God’s character through His creation. Be carried away out of traffic and into community with the Lord—to an oceanside retreat.

About the Author

Ann Marie Melson

Ann Marie Melson was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. As the second of four children, she grew to love family dinners, vacations, and general chaos. In the midst of the noise, Ann found her sanctuary early on in the peace and quiet of writing. Starting at a young age, Ann kept a daily journal of activities, thoughts, and prayers. Though a true Texan at heart, Ann considers Amelia Island, Florida, her second home.

Growing up she spent every summer on the island’s beaches with her siblings and many cousins. Amelia quickly became her beloved retreat and great inspiration. Captured by the beauty of creation and her faith, Ann kept a journal during her frequent visits to Amelia Island. Little did she know that this love for writing and her passion for the beach would one day come together in a book.

The Work of the Lord: Seaside Reflections is a celebration of God’s character as exemplified through creation at the beach. Growing out of her journal entries and original photography, the book is a collection of colorful beach pictures and heartfelt devotionals. It captures Amelia’s unique majesty and timeless history and calls the reader away from the noise of daily life into the stillness where hearts are transformed. Countless sunrises, sunsets, and walks on the beach have shaped and inspired her vision of the Lord’s beauty as revealed in His creation. The book’s chapters are windows into the attributes of the God she loves and worships, the God who made the heavens to declare His glory. Her hope is that the Lord might use the book to draw people into a closer relationship with their Creator and Savior.

Ann is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. In April 2008, she married Robby Higginbottom and they live in Dallas where she continues her pursuit of writing.

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The Work of the Lord

About the Book