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Unexpected Blessings: 90 Inspirations to Nourish Your Soul and Open Your Heart
Actress and New York Times bestselling author Roma Downey returns with an uplifting and life-affirming devotional celebrating the power of God’s love that will comfort your heart and nourish your soul.
Inspired by her New York Times bestseller Box of Butterflies , Roma Downey presents a beautiful 90-day devotional that guides you to savor God’s blessings.
Featuring some of the most moving content from her previous book, along with new heartwarming material, Unexpected Blessings combines scripture with insight and prayer, helping you enjoy a moment of calm and encouragement as you reflect on God’s love for you. This is the perfect gift for anyone looking to be reminded that when we open our hearts, we discover blessings surrounding us in every circumstance of our lives.
Inspired by her New York Times bestseller Box of Butterflies , Roma Downey presents a beautiful 90-day devotional that guides you to savor God’s blessings.
Featuring some of the most moving content from her previous book, along with new heartwarming material, Unexpected Blessings combines scripture with insight and prayer, helping you enjoy a moment of calm and encouragement as you reflect on God’s love for you. This is the perfect gift for anyone looking to be reminded that when we open our hearts, we discover blessings surrounding us in every circumstance of our lives.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 12, 2022
20 people are currently reading
1144 people want to read
About the author
Roma Downey
34 books120 followersIn a career spanning 25 years, Roma Downey has earned multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe nominations as an actress and a producer. Born in Ireland and classically trained in London, Ms. Downey has performed on stage with the famed Abbey Theatre Company and has appeared both on and off Broadway. Among her many television appearances Downey is probably best known for her starring role as Monica, the tender-hearted angel on the hit show “Touched by an Angel" which ran on CBS for almost a decade. She also played the leading role of Jackie Kennedy Onassis in the Emmy® award winning six-hour miniseries for NBC ‘A Woman Named Jackie.'
Downey is president of LightWorkers Media a joint venture with MGM. Downey along with her husband Mark Burnett produced the Emmy® nominated miniseries ‘The Bible’ for History Channel, which was watched by over 100 million people in the US alone. They also produced ‘Son of God’ the feature film that stunned the box office when it became the 2nd highest faith movie opening of all time. In 2016 Downey received the Irish Diaspora Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Screen from the IFTA as well as her star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood trade publication Variety recognized Downey as a "Trailblazer" and listed her as Variety’s ‘100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood.’ The Hollywood Reporter included her and Burnett as their ‘Most Influential People of 2013’. In 2014, Downey won the ‘Movie Guide Grace Award’ for her role as Mother Mary. That same year, Downey was also honored on Variety’s Women of Impact.
In addition to “The Bible” and “Son of God”, Downey and Burnett have produced numerous television series including "The Women of the Bible" for LIFETIME, ‘The Dovekeepers’ for CBS, ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’ for NBC, and “ answered Prayers” for TLC. They were also executive producers on the feature films “ Little Boy” for Open Road Films, “ Woodlawn” for PureFlix, “Ben-Hur” for MGM and Paramount and the documentary “Faithkeepers” about the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the middle east.
Downey's new venture LightWorkers.com, sees her label come to life as a digital platform and movement. The mission of LightWorkers.com is to create and curate engaging, empowering and inspirational short-form content and to build a community of sharing, while igniting a movement in the real world that motivates people to share the good all around them.
Downey is president of LightWorkers Media a joint venture with MGM. Downey along with her husband Mark Burnett produced the Emmy® nominated miniseries ‘The Bible’ for History Channel, which was watched by over 100 million people in the US alone. They also produced ‘Son of God’ the feature film that stunned the box office when it became the 2nd highest faith movie opening of all time. In 2016 Downey received the Irish Diaspora Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Screen from the IFTA as well as her star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood trade publication Variety recognized Downey as a "Trailblazer" and listed her as Variety’s ‘100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood.’ The Hollywood Reporter included her and Burnett as their ‘Most Influential People of 2013’. In 2014, Downey won the ‘Movie Guide Grace Award’ for her role as Mother Mary. That same year, Downey was also honored on Variety’s Women of Impact.
In addition to “The Bible” and “Son of God”, Downey and Burnett have produced numerous television series including "The Women of the Bible" for LIFETIME, ‘The Dovekeepers’ for CBS, ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’ for NBC, and “ answered Prayers” for TLC. They were also executive producers on the feature films “ Little Boy” for Open Road Films, “ Woodlawn” for PureFlix, “Ben-Hur” for MGM and Paramount and the documentary “Faithkeepers” about the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the middle east.
Downey's new venture LightWorkers.com, sees her label come to life as a digital platform and movement. The mission of LightWorkers.com is to create and curate engaging, empowering and inspirational short-form content and to build a community of sharing, while igniting a movement in the real world that motivates people to share the good all around them.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 26, 2025
For fans of Touched by an Angel, and Roma Downey. This is a lovely collection of short daily devotionals to inspire you. Many passages are based on snippets from Roma's other book, Box of Butterflies. I would recommend reading Box of Butterflies first. I enjoyed this devotional from Roma, and continue to look forward to any other new publications she may write.
April 10, 2022
I absolutely loved this book, I also loved the TV series "Touched by an Angel" growing up. I handed it down to my daughter who is struggling right now and could use something to help her keep moving forward. I found that the book was very uplifting and had good words of wisdom for a chaotic world where everything seams to be out of control and just getting worse by the day.
April 22, 2022
This is a wonderful book. In a time when the world feels so out of control most days, this is just what I need to read every morning before starting my day. It gives peace and comfort to help me handle things in a calm way. I love Roma Downey and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend it to help you handle things that you may need help with.
May 1, 2022
I really should have read one chapter per a day but instead I read them as I have short break. The book was very easy to read. The first page I read I thought of Touch By an Angel, and I was like what the heck so I looked at the author’s only to recognize that it’s the Angel. I really enjoy the short stories she shared with each topic.
July 28, 2024
4.5
I really enjoyed this devotional! I thought there were some really good truths and inspirations in it. I loved the daily prayer and how it felt like a conversation with an old friend. I feel like some of the devotions were repetitive but overall I really liked this and would recommend it!
I really enjoyed this devotional! I thought there were some really good truths and inspirations in it. I loved the daily prayer and how it felt like a conversation with an old friend. I feel like some of the devotions were repetitive but overall I really liked this and would recommend it!
July 3, 2022
This beautifully printed book was so especially nice I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day and she loved it!
July 15, 2022
I enjoyed these uplifting devotions showing the love of the Lord. Ms. Downey shared how the Lord has worked in her life as well as her families.
July 25, 2022
Excellent book.
June 4, 2025
The sequel to her book Box of Butterflies...got it on audiobk. Roma's voice is so soothing. Love the extra insight she gives to some of the stories that she started in Box of Butterflies
March 2, 2023
In my small circle I felt alone in my appreciation for Touched by an Angel. Some felt that it didn’t go far enough. Salvation in Christ was absent. I marveled that “God loves you” was proclaimed each week on national TV.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone because the show became popular lasting for nine seasons. At the heart of it was the sometimes feisty but caring banter between co-stars Roma Downey and Della Reese, one of the great duos in television history. A highlight in this devotional are the occasional thoughts on their close relationship.
Though it may have been absent in the series, faith in Christ is not foreign to these writings. It informs every comforting and challenging page. Who would have guessed in the early days of the show that a book pointing to Jesus would come forth many years later?
Each segment starts with a small quote from Box of Butterflies, Downey’s previous book, or some other inspirational thought. A scripture verse central to the main thought is included along with a concise, well-written reflection. These are grouped under the topics: strength, kindness, courage, love, stillness, gratitude, home and lastly, you’ll never walk alone. Each ends with a short prayer.
Downey makes herself vulnerable in personal stories drawn from her life and work. This is what makes it especially rewarding. Readers get to know her though glimpses into her struggles and stories about Touched by an Angel and other productions. It makes me want to investigate the other programs and read Box of Butterflies.
If you are wondering about the butterfly connection, they are a sign to Downey of God’s nearness, giving her comfort through difficult times. Her mom’s favorite flowers were pansies, which she said reminded her of little butterflies. Shortly after her mother passed, she and her father took some pansies to her mother’s grave. A butterfly flew in front of them as they thought about their significance. “I have always felt that that butterfly was a gift from God, a reminder of his loving presence.”
Though the entries are short, easy reading they can be life-changing. The challenge is applying them but the author makes it practical and her love and compassion are obvious.
If you are a fan of Touched by an Angel this is highly recommended. The inspiring words along with the beautiful cover, graphics and layout make this a keeper. It may even be well-received by those outside the Christian faith. It appeals to those shaped by popular culture.
I purposely never wanted to read more than one a day so as to savor what’s here. It’s not My Utmost for His Highest or Streams in the Desert but has a light of its own.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone because the show became popular lasting for nine seasons. At the heart of it was the sometimes feisty but caring banter between co-stars Roma Downey and Della Reese, one of the great duos in television history. A highlight in this devotional are the occasional thoughts on their close relationship.
Though it may have been absent in the series, faith in Christ is not foreign to these writings. It informs every comforting and challenging page. Who would have guessed in the early days of the show that a book pointing to Jesus would come forth many years later?
Each segment starts with a small quote from Box of Butterflies, Downey’s previous book, or some other inspirational thought. A scripture verse central to the main thought is included along with a concise, well-written reflection. These are grouped under the topics: strength, kindness, courage, love, stillness, gratitude, home and lastly, you’ll never walk alone. Each ends with a short prayer.
Downey makes herself vulnerable in personal stories drawn from her life and work. This is what makes it especially rewarding. Readers get to know her though glimpses into her struggles and stories about Touched by an Angel and other productions. It makes me want to investigate the other programs and read Box of Butterflies.
If you are wondering about the butterfly connection, they are a sign to Downey of God’s nearness, giving her comfort through difficult times. Her mom’s favorite flowers were pansies, which she said reminded her of little butterflies. Shortly after her mother passed, she and her father took some pansies to her mother’s grave. A butterfly flew in front of them as they thought about their significance. “I have always felt that that butterfly was a gift from God, a reminder of his loving presence.”
Though the entries are short, easy reading they can be life-changing. The challenge is applying them but the author makes it practical and her love and compassion are obvious.
If you are a fan of Touched by an Angel this is highly recommended. The inspiring words along with the beautiful cover, graphics and layout make this a keeper. It may even be well-received by those outside the Christian faith. It appeals to those shaped by popular culture.
I purposely never wanted to read more than one a day so as to savor what’s here. It’s not My Utmost for His Highest or Streams in the Desert but has a light of its own.
October 13, 2022
A lovely book
August 20, 2023
I was meant to read this book. I was browsing at a local book store and one copy of this book was hidden amongst others and it caught my eye. I love it. I love Roma. Reading her devotional each morning for 90 days was such a good start to my day. I loved this quote near the end by Tagore: Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp as dawn has come. And another by Michael J. Fox. " Acceptance doesn't mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there's got to be a way through it."
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews