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
“Do I Not Fill Heaven and Earth?” Says the Lord
“‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?’” (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
My spirit is restless to understand the ways of the Lord. I know His thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are His ways my ways, but still. I’m His child, and I want — I need — to see His hand at work in the world around me.
I Want to Be Thankful, Lord, Even If Life is Hard
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart...
By Faith, I Feel God’s Grip If I Can’t Trace His Hand
I remember choosing the blue crayon — cobalt. The color of a deep sky reaching the heavenly heights. Placing my grandson’s tiny hand on the construction paper, I began to carefully trace his hand — every nook, every curve, every detail I could possibly capture.
A memory I could always hold.
Capture My Restless Thoughts, Lord. Renew My Mind
Father, You have taught me to fix my eyes on You, and not my circumstances. You’ve taught me to renew my mind by thinking on those things that are lovely and pure, those things worthy of praise instead of filling my mind with the world’s influence. I know what to do to escape sin’s temptation, but goodness gracious — some days are hard.
If I don’t hold my emotions by the reins, my thoughts easily run wild.
Facing the Storm With Abandon, Strengthened by Trust
I thought about the eagle this morning, how she faces the storm with abandon, not afraid of its threat, strengthened by trust.
She rises to her highest perch when the storm winds begin to blow. She rises to wait. Prepare. And watch from her loftiest of places. As the storm gets closer, the eagle locks her wings in place, ready to catch the turbulence of the wind as it roars past.
Life is Hard God, but You Are So, So Good
Father, You are the essence of goodness. I don’t think I truly understand the depth of Your goodness, but surely it correlates to the depths of Your love which far exceeds my imagination. You are good in the widest sense, the furthest extreme … even when life is hard.
I’ve learned that Your goodness remains regardless of my circumstances — You cannot not be good.
Weary Pilgrims Receive Strength by a Portrait of Hope
An occasional red leaf tinged in yellow shows off in the midst of green leaves clinging to summer, painting a portrait of hope for weary pilgrims. Chilly mountain mornings belie the humid, hot afternoons, and watermelons vie for attention in the noise of pumpkin this and pumpkin that.
Seasons change. Transitions come.
And the Word of the Lord never fails. Not ever.
Open My Ears to Hear Your Songs of Deliverance, Lord
Father, You are my refuge and my strength, my God in whom I trust. You preserve me in trouble as a shield protects the soldier, as a father protects his child. You surround me with songs of deliverance — the praise of Your angel army thwarts the enemy.
I like to imagine Your angel army, the one Elisha saw as his gaze scoured the mountain ridge above Dothan. Chariots of fire encircled the chariots of the Syrian King as they hunted down the man of God.
When Jesus Called Me to Come Just As I Am
With my Bible in hand, and coffee cup close by, I clicked on a YouTube playlist of worship songs to begin my morning. Jesus was calling me to come just as I am. Worship songs with powerful melodies soared, and thought-provoking lyrics rang true in my heart. I lifted my hands in praise and focused on Jesus.
Then it happened.
Out of the blue.