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
Radiant Light in Darkened Places: The Birth of Christ
The candle flickered in the night, its reflection dancing across the ceiling. bringing radiant light into a darkened place. My eyes fixed on the flame. My thoughts fixed on my heart where I had encountered many unexpected darkened corners.
Self-examination is not my idea of fun.
When Heaven Meets Earth, I Am Helped Lord
Father, You are sovereign. You are mighty … You are good. Your faithfulness is a sure place I can cling to and rely upon. When I cry out, You hear me — heaven meets earth and I am helped. Always.
All my life You have been faithful to me. You are just a breath away, a word spoken and You race through the heavens to help me.
Finding Thankfulness in the Difficult Places
This post is a bit different than my usual Thursday message. My heart is heavy for loved ones. My heart is heavy for the condition of our world laden with wars and rumors of wars, wildfires, earthquakes … I’m sure you feel the same at times. I’m searching for thankfulness in the difficult places.
I thought I’d grab your hand and perhaps help you find it, as well.
God’s Heart. A Place of Thanksgiving, Peace, and Hope
I’m learning a lot about thanksgiving — maintaining a thankful heart despite very difficult circumstances, understanding the importance of a thankful heart, and recognizing how a thankful heart is a gift and tool straight from God’s heart to lift us above the difficult places.
This type of thanksgiving runs deep through our veins bringing life to our weary bones.
Against All Hope, Abraham Believed. I Believe Too, Lord
Father, You are who You say You are; You do what You say You will do. You are not a man that You should lie. Therefore, like Abraham believed against all hope when there was no reason that he could be the father of many nations, so I believe that I will see Your goodness in the land of the living.
I believe that Your goodness will conquer the evil.
Defying All Odds, It Stood Its Ground … Just Like Me
The windswept branches snaked around the body of the tree, curling, grasping. Weather-beaten, the tree defied all odds. It stood its ground. Roots dug deep, clinching their fists into the rocky soil of the mountain ridge, challenging the gale-force winds in battle after battle.
And stood it did.
Lord, You are a God of Peace, Not a God of Confusion.
Father, I remind myself often that You are a God of peace and not a god of confusion or chaos. With You all things are done in order — there is an appointed time for all things under heaven.
The certainty of who You are is a beautiful reassurance for me as I watch world events unfolding. It’s frightening, Lord, alarming. It’s as if evil has been unleashed and decency has run out the door.
Transitioning. New Season … I Sense a Hush of Glory
Autumn reds have transformed into deepest burgundy velvet; lemon yellows now reflect burnished gold. Stark branches stretch towards the heavens and yield their transition to the new season of winter into the hands of their Creator, the Lord our God.
I picked up my steps as I rounded the curve along our country road. A strong north wind watered my eyes and blushed my cheeks. But my thoughts turned towards Jesus and His unfailing love and especially towards His mercy, new every morning.
Sure as the Sunrise is Your Mercy Every Morning God
Father, I am so very thankful for Your mercy every morning that refreshes and sustains me. It beckons me to Your side, reminding me of Your love. Because of Your mercy, I am not consumed in the difficult place. Your compassionate love sustains me and gives me strength.
You are good to those who wait on You, to the one who seeks hard after You. In the seeking I find You, and in the finding, the promise of new mercy awaits me every morning.