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
When Evil Abounds, Hold My Hand, Lord
Lord, my heart is so troubled. Sorrow washes over me with an agony of heart. Groaning, too deep for words ascend to Your holy hill. When evil abounds, hold my hand, Lord. Wrap me in Your warm embrace of comfort.
As deep calls to deep, I call to You. I ask that the depth of my pain would meet the depth of Your love and I would find peace. I pray the same for everyone impacted by these recent shootings. I pray the same for our nation. Pour out Your grace. Wash over us with Your great love.
Even the Grasses Dance in the Presence of the Lord
A gentle breeze ruffled the blades of grass in the afternoon sun. They swayed. Bowed down — a spontaneous dance in the presence of the Lord as He walked on the wings of the wind. Red poppies and blue chicory lifted their faces to the sun, points of glory scattered across the field.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” ~ Isaiah 40:8, NKJV
I Have Hope, Lord, But Then There is This Doubt
Lord, I have found my hope in You — my hope of salvation, my hope of life everlasting, and hope for the needs of my heart. Yes, I have hope … most days. But sometimes, when the battle is fierce, I catch doubt sneaking around the corner.
I don’t want to be tossed about like a feather in the wind. I want to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in my faith and the hope I have placed in You.
Either I believe … or I don’t.
When Lack of Peace Oozes Into the Night
The night was filled with tossing and turning, framed by restless thoughts. The day had been challenging with many difficult situations causing my lack of peace to ooze into my night.
Rising before dawn, I grabbed a strong cup of coffee and stared out the window at the dark shroud of night — that magical time just before the rising of the sun. The earth lay still. Peaceful. Immersed in the sound of silence.
He is the Alpha & Omega, But I’m Found in the Middle
Lord, I love the knowledge of Your sovereignty. I love the fact that You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. But I’m here in the middle, waiting, wondering … hoping for a heavenly response to my need.
Give me eyes to see, Lord. Give me tenacious faith to wait, perseverance to hope.
A Nail in A Sure Place: The Lord our God
Just inside Daddy’s garden shed, beside the door, was a nail — a nail in a sure place reserved for Daddy’s cap. His baseball cap stained with sweat and garden soil could always be found hanging on that nail.
Unless, of course, the cap was on his precious bald head.
Set Me Apart, Lord … But Can It Wait Just a Bit?
Lord, I’m so thankful to be Your child. Your love is from everlasting to everlasting. Set me apart, Lord — You have called me to be holy as You are holy. You have called me to be in this world, not of this world. This can only happen by embracing sanctification.
But can it wait just a little bit longer? Sanctification is not easy. It requires me to die to self, to crucify the flesh. And that’s hard.
Rushing Spring Before Its Appointed Time
One of my hostas broke through the cold, hard dirt of winter too early this year. Its location circling the old juniper receives constant sun and faces south. I suppose this little guy got confused and pushed its way through the protective soil before winter had completely lost its grip. In his haste, he was rushing spring.
This determined hosta sprouted about four inches, its tightly wound leaves pointing like spikes toward the sky. The other hostas forming a circle around the juniper lay dormant, safe beneath the blanket of soil, waiting for the appointed time to emerge.
Preserve Me O God, For the Storm is Raging
"Preserve me, O God, for in You I have put my trust." ~ Psalm 16:1, NKJV "The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." ~ Psalm 121:7-8, NLT "You are my hiding place;You shall...