Atlanta Christian Web Sarah Young

Despite a New York Times bestseller pedigree, many invitations to speak, and such advance interest for her latest releases that initial print runs had to be upped, there has been no high media profile for Sarah Young.

The author of the hugely popular Jesus Calling devotional remained in Perth, Western Australia—where she and her husband, Steve, are missionaries with the Presbyterian Church in America--as Thomas Nelson published Jesus Today and the Jesus Calling Bible Storybook last month (October).

See "Jesus Today" Book Trailer - Click Here

Her low-key involvement in the launches—even answering questions for this interview by e-mail, through her publicist—stems from her remote location (“Perth has been called the most isolated city in the world”) and on ongoing battle with ill health.

Diagnosed with two infections related to Lyme disease, she spent six months in the U.S. in 2009 getting “intensive, expensive treatment” without seeing significant improvement. For several years she has also suffered from chronic dizziness.

These struggles shaped Jesus Today, which features the same kind of first-person messages from Jesus as her previous three devotionals. First published in 2004 and drawing from her personal journals, Jesus Calling became a word-of-mouth sensation selling over 5 million copies. It and associated products and titles—including the follow-up devotionals Jesus Lives and Dear Jesus--have since sold a combined 6.5 million units.

“I am convinced that if I had been healthier I would not have been able to write this book,” Young says of her latest offering. “It chronicles my journey from discouragement to hope. There seems to be a sense of hopelessness creeping into many people’s mindsets as they look at problems in their lives and in world events. But the hope we can find in the Bible is a sturdy reality—no matter what is happening in our lives or in the world.

“My desire is that Jesus Today will be a lifeline to people who feel as if they're sinking in hopelessness, as well as a source of encouragement to those whose lives are not so desperate.”

Jesus Today features 150 devotional entries of two pages each, along with 50 quotations on hope. With illustrations by Carolina Farias, the Jesus Calling Bible Storybook includes devotions written in the same style as the original adult book but using simpler language.

Young has two married children and two grandkids in the U.S. and admits “living on the opposite side of the planet from our children and grandchildren is painful. I really miss them, as well as other family members and close friends.” In recent years her illness has meant that Young is unable to be involved much in her husband's ministry with a Japanese and international congregation. “I have concentrated on writing, which I can do from our home,” she says. “I’m very thankful I am still able to write.”

From Publishers Weekly - Click Here

Sarah Young currently has three of the top four books on the Christian Booksellers chart and eight of the top 50. See entire list Here

Peace in His Presence

by Sarah Young

How do you find peace in the middle of a hectic Christmas season? As we are often distracted with the worldly trappings of the holiday, we thought it would be helpful to hear insights from Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling, about finding Peace in His Presence. Through daily Bible study, reading classic Christian books, spending time alone in nature, but most of all through listening, Sarah has enjoyed the PEACE of being in the Lord's Presence. Here are a few highlights of her journey:

"At a very unsettled time in my life, I began reading the Secret of the Abiding Presence by Andrew Murray. The theme of this devotional book is that God's Presence is meant to be the continual experience of Christians. My husband and I were waiting for our Australian visas to be granted so that we could go as missionaries to begin a church among Japanese people living in Melbourne. I had quit my counseling job to prepare for moving to the other side of the world, so I was adjusting to the loss of this fulfilling work. I had also begun home-schooling our two young children. In the midst of these momentous changes, I began seeking God's Presence in earnest. My days started alone with God, equipped with Bible, devotional book, prayer journal, pen and coffee. As I waited in His Presence, God began to reveal Himself to me. An hour or two alone with Him seemed too brief.

I had been writing in prayer journals for years, but that was one-way communication: I did all the talking. I knew that God communicated with me through the Bible, yet increasingly I wanted to hear what He had to say to me personally. I decided to listen to Jesus with pen in hand, asking the Holy Spirit to guide my mind as I listened.
I felt awkward the first time I tried this, but I received a message and wrote it down. It was short, biblical and dealt with topics that were current in my life: trust, fear and closeness to God. I responded by writing in my prayer journal. My journaling had changed from monologue to dialogue. This new way of communicating with God became the high point of my day. I knew these writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but they were helping me grow closer to Jesus.

During the years that I have been listening to God with pen in hand, I've found themes of His Peace becoming more prominent in my writing. I'm sure this tendency reflects, in part, my personal need. However, when I get to know people, I find that most of them also desire the balm of Jesus' Peace.

A life-changing verse has been "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). This is a delightful invitation from God to lay down our cares and seek His Presence. I believe that He yearns for these quiet moments with us even more than we do.

This practice of listening to God has increased my intimacy with Him more than any other spiritual discipline. The Bible is the only inerrant Word of God, and my writings must be consistent with that unchanging standard. I have written Jesus Calling and Jesus Lives from the perspective of Jesus speaking to the reader, and I have included Scripture references after each daily reading.

Remember that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. May He bless you with His Presence and His Peace in ever-increasing measure.

From MTL Magazine - Click Here

Bestselling Jesus Calling Author Releases Two New Books

Over five million lives have been touched by the writings of author Sarah Young, author of bestselling devotional “Jesus Calling” and the messages of peace it has brought them. Sarah and publisher Thomas Nelson are thrilled to release a new devotional filled with messages of hope: Jesus Today, and a beautifully illustrated children’s book, Jesus Calling Bible Storybook.
Young’s bestselling first book, Jesus Calling, was born after years of writing in her prayer journal and feeling led to write down what she believed God was telling her. Also written with a first-person Jesus talking to the reader, Jesus Today is a themed devotional focusing on the hope that Christians can find in their Savior. The book contains 150 devotional thoughts designed to connect readers to their Lord with the help of written-out Scripture and hope-filled quotes scattered throughout the book.

In Jesus Today, readers will be renewed with a deeper sense of hope as Sarah shares this about her spiritual journey in writing the book: “When I began writing Jesus Today, I was deeply discouraged by the failure of many months of intensive medical treatment to improve my health. However, the longer I worked on the book—focusing on finding hope in Jesus—the more hopeful and encouraged I became. If I’d been healthier I would not have been able to write this book. I might have been able to write a different book but not this one. This book really came out of the trenches.”
“Jesus Today offers hope so real and intimate, it feels like you can reach out and touch it,” says Laura Minchew, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Specialty Products at Thomas Nelson. “With the current troubles this generation is facing, whether they be economic, personal, or social, a sense of hopelessness seems to be permeating into the mindset of many people. That’s why the message of hope is pervasive throughout Jesus Today—because that’s what people are looking for and need.”

Little ones can also experience the same “Jesus Calling” messages in a vibrant storybook format they’ll love with the new “Jesus Calling Bible Storybook.” With beloved stories and Jesus Calling devotions, this Bible storybook will become a classic for families everywhere.
“‘The Jesus Calling Bible Storybook’ can help young children understand how much Jesus loves them so that they can learn to respond to Him with love and trust,” says author Sarah Young. “If children form loving, close relationships with Jesus in early childhood, it will help them throughout their whole lives.”
Jesus Today and the Jesus Calling Bible Storybook are part of the Jesus Calling^® brand, a world-recognized inspirational line of products that has now sold over five million products. Jesus Calling has been translated into 18 languages and has inspired products in multiple formats: eBooks, apps, audio books, calendars and CD’s. Young’s other works include Jesus Lives and Dear Jesus, children’s 365 day devotional Jesus Calling for Kids, the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, and a Spanish translation of the original devotional book, Jesus Te Llama.

Sarah Young is quietly leading millions of men and women worldwide on a journey of intimacy with Christ. Her devotional books—which include the #1 bestseller Jesus Calling and the top sellers Jesus Calling for Kids, Dear Jesus, and Jesus Lives—have sold over 5 million copies. She received her bachelor’s in philosophy from Wellesley College, a master’s in child development from Tufts University, and a master’s in counseling and biblical studies from Covenant Theological Seminary.
Sarah also earned a specialist’s degree (one year beyond a master’s degree) in community counseling at Georgia State University and studied under Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri in Switzerland.
Sarah and her husband have traveled extensively, planting churches and counseling. They currently are living in Australia, where they are ministering to Japanese people and helping establish an international church. They have two married children and two grandchildren.