A warm welcome to you! Thank you for stopping by. As you read through my pages, I believe you will find that I am just like you—a woman who loves the Lord and cherishes His grace. And, like you, I sometimes grow weary from the journey. I have experienced many difficult places in my life—a brother’s suicide, my mom’s young death, cancer, a prodigal child, extensive unemployment. There have been times when I thought I couldn’t go on. But, God…don’t you love that? But God carried me through and opened my eyes to see Him in my midst. He opened my ears to hear His sweet whispers of love.
Take hope in the knowledge that you are cherished by the One who made you—you are sheltered in the shadow of His wing, close to His heart. It is my prayer that as we get to know one another you, too, will see beyond the veil and will learn to say, “Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord”
With joy,
Nan
I recognize Christ in His Eyes Set Against His Ebony Skin
Passion flowed from his lips. Anguish. Desperation. Desire to evoke change.
Behind him throngs of multi-colored skin shouted. Some cried. Some clung to each other for courage as the amber glow of flames lit up the night sky while blasts of tear gas exploded and the harsh pops of firecrackers sprinkled more anger in the darkness of the city streets.
But this young man — he touched my heart.
A Prayer For Clinging Faith, Not Wrestling Circumstances
Lord, You are God of all Creation, the Sovereign Lord, Almighty King. You hung the stars in place. You counted the grains of sand.
You made me Your child.
I don’t want to wrestle with You about my circumstances, and yet I do!
Neglected Geranium, Crusty Soil, and Life Restored
My geranium sat neglected. Difficult life circumstances had taken priority and now the once lush and bountiful geranium looked … sad. Yellowed leaves edged in crumbly brown. Flowers, once plentiful, now barely raised their heads in search of their missing container-mates.
The soil had become crusty. Hard. Void of life-sustaining nutrients.
Much like a child of God finding herself in a desert wilderness at the base of the mountain, rather than soaring from its peak.
A Prayer When Things Are Looking Up … All But My Thoughts!
Lord, I’m so thankful for You. You are perfect in all your ways. Your timing can be trusted, Your purposes accomplished in Your strength. I rejoice in the knowledge of Your love.
Thank You for shining Your light in the darkness of my circumstances where I can find Your hidden, eternal purposes. I am encouraged to know You are using my brokenness for Your glory.
My spirit knows this but my flesh is battling moments of weakness.
I Lifted My Eyes to Behold His Glory in the Afternoon Sky
I relaxed on the gentle slope alongside the river flowing through the mountain valley. Cupping my knees with my arms, I lifted my eyes to look out across the silken ribbon streaming in front of me — its beginning and end I knew not.
Its Creator, though, I know well.
A Prayer for Strength When Life is Hard
Lord, not only are You my refuge, but You are my strength when life is hard. My strength, Lord!
You. Are. My. Strength.
When I am weary and worn, You come alongside me and carry me.
The Sacred Place of Dwelling, The Secret Place of Grace
I curled up on the end of our couch sipping hot coffee on that chilly May morning — gathering my thoughts, resting in the Lord … being still and remembering that He is God, and pondering His Secret Place. I’ve often sought understanding of this sacred place found in the shadow of His Presence.
It was a simple moment, but a holy one.
A Prayer When the Hand of Our Potter is Applying Pressure
Lord, there’s a whole lot of shaping and molding going on in my life right now. I know this has purpose, but it sure is uncomfortable! I’m thankful You have taught me to recognize the pressure from Your hands — the hands of my Potter.
For You are the Potter and I am but clay.
I want to be pliable in Your hands.
A Grapevine and The Pursuit of Faith
Spring rains brought on a growth spurt in my old grapevine. While gardening Saturday evening I noticed an offshoot making its way up the nearby apple tree. Ringlets of vine — tendrils — spiraled around tree branches as it climbed, securing the vine before venturing farther on its pursuit of strength and growth.
I paid attention to the climbing.
Higher and higher, stretching toward the heavens.