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
Desperate to Garner Strength to Trust God in the Days Ahead
I opened the well-worn devotional and strove to garner strength for the day. The reflection was on the necessity of spending time in God’s presence, of relishing the beauty of His holiness, and soaking in His grace.
But it was the last sentence that penetrated my heart:
“He walks in glory on the hills and longs for men [and women] to join Him there.”
A Prayer for God Holding Me Close Like He Promised
Lord, Your tender watch-care brings me such comfort and security. I am safe in Your arms. Thank You for holding me close.
Thank You for teaching me to recognize Your presence and to rely on Your promises. For in Your promises You assure me You will be near — You will be holding me close in my time of struggle.
MessY Beneath Your Tapestry? His Grace is Enough
I pulled the hood on my jacket closer to ward off the chill in the air. Like the pattern in a tapestry repeated over and over, my footsteps trudged along our mountain road … over and over … my daily walk with Jesus consistent, predictable, and beautiful.
And usually beneath each step, a tangled mess of heartbreak and often frustration — just like the underside of a tapestry.
A Prayer When Your Steadfast Heart Seems to be Missing
Lord, I adore You. I’m so honored to be Your daughter, Your beloved, and Your servant — such an honor! Create in me a steadfast heart, O Lord — immovable in the work of my hands and heart.
Some days I’m just plain tired. And distracted. And yes, even discouraged.
Clouds Hung Heavy in the Troubled Sky Pointing Me To Jesus
I rounded the curve along the row of hemlocks and pulled my hood over my head. The drizzle was changing to rain. Clouds hung heavy in the troubled sky as step-by-step I made my trek along the dirt road.
Frustration shrouded my thoughts because I had fallen asleep during my quiet time. Yes, I was worn out and needed rest. But my quiet time with Jesus is where I garner strength. I don’t want to ever take His love for granted.
A Prayer When Sighing is the Best You Can Do
Lord, great is Your faithfulness. Your mercies fail not — they are new every morning. Therefore I know my sighing is not hidden from You.
And You love me anyway.
God’s Treasure. Out of All Creation That is Who We Are
Our country road (my personal treasure) meanders up and around the mountainside making its way to the ridge where wind sweeps across the pastures on either side. Pavement changes to gravel as it passes by the white clapboard church; rocks and stones crunch underfoot.
I curled into myself, hunching down inside my oversize coat to ward off the cold wind. My gaze met the gravel at my feet. There in some dry, brittle grass of the road’s edge a rock caught my attention. Heart-shaped, it quickly stole mine.
A Prayer to Hear the Powerful, Yet Tranquil Voice of God
Lord, You are Almighty God — our Father. You are powerful, yet gentle, fully in control of our lives and what comes our way.
Teach us of Your Sovereignty. You are not a puppet that we should tell You what to do. You are the Maker of heaven and earth! You tell the oceans how far to come, the sun when to bring forth the dawn.
You are everything to me.
Visuals. God’s Tools to Help Us Understand
Visuals. Oh, how they help me understand!
Especially the ways and truths of the Lord.
It had been a grueling week with multiple doctor appointments, financial concerns, and the steady drip, drip, drip of the well that was supposed to be springing up in my soul.