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
Quietly Following the Shepherd, One Step At a Time
Blue is getting older. He’s not quite as rambunctious or hard-headed, and rarely needs a leash as we trek up our mountain road.
He stays close to me.
Quite often Blue will pick up a scent and stop to investigate on the edge of our road, nose scrunching rapidly up and down.
I’ll continue to walk on ahead.
Then I’ll stop, turn, pat my leg, and say, “Come, on, Blue. Let’s go.”
read more
A Prayer When the Consequences of Obedience are Hard
Lord, You are beautiful in holiness, magnificent beyond comprehension. If I should go to the highest heaven You are there; or to the depths of hell, You are there also.
You carry me to the mountaintops and comfort me in the valleys deep.
Your love astounds me.
The more and more I desire to make You Lord, the harder it is — sweeter than anything imaginable — but hard.
read more
I Heard Her Song Through the Impending Darkness
There’s a dark cloud on the horizon — the deep charcoal winter-kind-of-dark cloud. A storm is coming with significant snowfall and fierce winds. A gray veil is settling over the mountain valley as the snow clouds roll in, softening the harsh brown of winter.
I sipped my coffee as I watched the sultry winter clouds deepen over the ridge.
To my right, down towards the old apple tree, a burst of sunlight made its way through the clouds and I could hear her song — a meadowlark rejoicing in the warmth of the unexpected light. Her song trilled across the impending darkness — perhaps in spite of the darkness and comforted my restless spirit.
read more
A Prayer When You Need to Take His Hand, Walk, and Trust
Lord, You shine as the noonday sun lighting my darkness. You are the Morning Star, the Waymaker, the Faithful God who tenderly watches over me.
I praise You for these truths, Lord. I praise You for Your goodness, for being my Sure Place to hold onto when the earth trembles beneath me.
Sometimes, I feel like my feet are encased in concrete — heavy-laden, unable to move forward.
read more
Thus Far He Has Helped Us
It was a long hike. I had veered off the gravel road that ribboned across the mountain valley and chose a trail created by the multitude of deer that grazed this land.
My breathing was a bit labored as I hoisted myself onto the rocky ledge overlooking the river below. I bent over with hands on my knees to catch my breath, only to lose it again once I raised up and took in the glorious sight below.
Sunshine glimmered across the river in the alcoves where the flow was serene. Ferns blanketed the banks in the shadows of hemlocks, pine, and oak. Hills rose and fell, sculpting the land all the way to the summit on which we stood.
read more
A Prayer When You Want to Rejoice, But …
Lord, what a Mighty God You are! You are faithful and true, merciful and kind. You work miracles in our midst, even when we aren’t aware of it.
You, Lord, are worthy of praise.
Remind us of this, Lord.
Remind us that, even when life is hard, we can — and should — rejoice in You. Always.
read more
A Christmas Prayer ~ Jesus, I Want to be Your Bethlehem
Oh this, His birthday, may our hearts become His Bethlehem. "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to...
read more
A Prayer for the Quest of Solitude
Lord, You are the Song in my night, the light in my darkness. You are the hope in my brokenness and my quiet in the chaos.
Teach me to seek after the quiet — to understand the treasures of solitude.
Solitude feels elusive, Lord, unattainable in this busy, noisy season of Christmas.
read more