My Favorite Bible Verses

PLEASE WELCOME

ALICE H. MURRAY

TO

MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE

“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Revelation 1:11 (NIV)                                                       

Stunned, I sat in my office. My boss had dropped a nuclear bomb on my world by announcing he planned to retire and close our office. I had two weeks to wrap things up. I loved being an adoption attorney and was positive it was what God wanted me to do.

Why this abrupt change, God?

For years before my unceremonious early retirement, I identified Jeremiah 29:11 as my favorite Bible verse. God knew what His plans for me were, and I trusted Him to handle my future. While God understood the next steps for my life, I was currently clueless. Too close to retirement age to open my own office, I wasn’t close enough to stop working.

What’s the plan for me now, God?

Confused, I prayed and spent time in the Bible. God spoke to me about my future through His Word. While reading a passage in Revelation, a book I didn’t understand well or peruse frequently, my aha moment occurred. Revelation 1:11 commands John to write what he saw.

I’d always wanted to write about my experiences in adoption. Years of practice offered me numerous faith lessons to share. God was pushing me in that direction since I’d always been “too busy” to accomplish my intended writing project.

His stamp of approval for a book came in the verse’s second part. Seven churches were the intended recipients of John’s writing. This biblical number of completion indicated sending the writing out to the world.

God expressly told me His plans for my future through an unfamiliar Bible verse.

Given that directive, I poured time and effort into my recently released adoption devotional, God Adopted Us First: Faith Lessons From An Adoption Attorney’s Adventures. Is it any wonder Revelation 1:11 is my new favorite Bible verse?

ABOUT GOD ADOPTED US FIRST: FAITH LESSONS FROM AN ADOPTION ATTORNEY’S ADVENTURES

Adoption—a Beautiful Reflection of Divine Grace In God Adopted Us First, Alice H. Murray takes you on an unforgettable journey through the heart of adoption. With over 35 years as an adoption attorney, Alice shares poignant, true stories that reveal the beauty and complexity of this often-misunderstood process. From laughter to tears, each account invites you to witness the miracles and divine “God-winks” that shape families. Each story, paired with a thought-provoking devotion, offers universally applicable lessons, reflective questions, and practical steps that nurture spiritual growth, especially for those who are part of the adoption triad. Join Alice as she illuminates the profound connection between adoption and God’s unwavering love. Discover how every twist and turn in these real-life tales echoes the divine truth: we are all adopted into God’s family.

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Alice H. Murray, a retired adoption attorney, pursues her passion for writing with a weekly blog  (aliceinwonderingland.wordpress.com) and faith column (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/feettofaith/), articles, and online as well as print devotions. Her writing also appears in numerous compilation publications such as Guideposts and Chicken Soup For The Soul books and the Short and Sweet series. Alice’s first book, The Secret of Chimneys, an annotated Agatha Christie mystery, was released in 2023 by End Game Press. Her second book, God Adopted Us First: Faith Lessons From An Adoption Attorney's Adventures, an adoption devotional, came out October 7, 2025, from Iron Stream Media. Alice talks as well as writes, producing a spot, “Murray’s Motivational Moments,” every Monday on digital radio station Christian Mix 106. She also enjoys teaching classes at writing conferences.

MY REVIEW *****

I’ve had some experience with adoption, both as an adoptive grandmother and from professional experiences as a social worker. I encourage anyone to read this devotional, whether you’ve had personal experience with adoption or if you’ve known or currently know families involved in the process, whether a birth mother or a prospective adoptive parent. The author’s stories of her adventures as an adoption attorney would make for a great television series. But the added Faith application and Faith points made each “adventure” a spiritual lesson. I thoroughly recommend this book.