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 Found Church in the Middle of a Country Road
I passed beneath the pine canopy just before the clearing up ahead. Stepping into the open space, the sky beckoned me to look up. Right there in the middle of a country road, sunshine kissed my face and brought a smile to my weary soul.
Heavy thoughts weighed me down. Too many unanswered questions. An onslaught of flaming arrows seemed to be targeting me left and right … life had been hard.
Lord, You are My Blessed Assurance — Regardless!
Father, You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Regardless of the world condition, regardless of the evil plans of man, I find peace because of You — You are my blessed assurance, not the world systems. Your love will never fail me.
When I consider the heavens and the work of Your hands, I am overwhelmed by Your majesty. Indeed, You hold the whole world in Your hands and orchestrate the days of our lives.
Uncertain Days Rattled My Soul, But God …
The porch swing comforted me with its steady, peaceful rhythm. Uncertain days were taking a toll on my heart and mind. Fear of the unknown hounded me, and the rise of evil in this world rattled my soul.
I looked toward the ridge where the sun began its evening descent. Magenta began rising above the trees. Lavender and apricot clouds tossed their petals across the wide expanse as the North Star made its appearance. Soon a multitude of stars — glistening diamonds — would make their presence known against an indigo sky.
Great Are You Lord and Greatly to Be Praised, Even If
Father, You are high and lifted up. Your majesty fills the heavens and Your glory covers the earth. Great are You, Lord and greatly to be praised! Indeed, all praise is due Your Name … even if.
Thank You for teaching me this. Thank You for teaching me that I can trust You, especially in the difficult places when I don’t understand.
The God of Israel Was, Still Is and Forever Will Be
On this cool spring morning, while praying for Israel, I played worship music recorded on the streets of Jerusalem by Christians and Messianic Jews. The lyrics from Isaiah 61 filled my room:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
Lord, You are the Eternal God, My Refuge in the Chaos
Father, great is Your faithfulness. Your mercy reaches to the heavens and Your love endures forever. You are the eternal God — the same yesterday, today, and forever, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
I’m so thankful for Your watchcare. You never sleep, nor slumber. Your eyes roam the earth seeking those who love You who need to be strengthened. That would be me, Lord. I need to be encouraged by You.
Yeshua and Sounds of Worship in the Quiet of Morning
I raised the window to let in the fresh morning air. The sound of worship filled my quiet space where I meet with Jesus each morning. The singers and instruments were in Jerusalem near the Mount of Olives. Their song evolved into, “Yeshua, Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power, Yours is the glory forever, amen. Yeshua … ”
I joined in worship and let my thoughts focus on Jesus, the Savior of my soul. Tension released and peace steadied my heart.
You Are The God of Justice. I Will Wait for You, Lord
Almighty God, You are Truth, therefore You will always reveal Truth. You are righteous, holy, and sovereign, and You are the God of Justice — under Your Rule, justice will be upheld.
Yet, darkness is consuming the earth. What was good is now called evil and what was evil is now called good. The depravity of mankind is blatant with its arrogance … Lord, I could go on and on!
My heart aches for my beloved America.
God’s Appointed Time is Perfection in Motion
Daylilies and irises burst through the crusty earth, long before the threat of frost had passed. Grass took on the color of emeralds. Buds on the old apple tree began to unfurl like crisp white linen. But the grapevine lay dormant. Waiting. Content to rest until its appointed time. I watched it morning by morning wondering when its tiny buds would appear.
An early spring cool snap crossed the mountain. Some of the iris fronds tinged brown. I held my breath for the tender apple blossoms, wondering if they could survive the chill. Their sweet fruit would be in danger if frost crowned the cool air.