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
Finding a Peace Long Sought After — Jehovah Shalom
Sunshine bathed my face in warm light as I gazed at the sapphire sky of early fall. Peace stirred within me — a peace long sought after. I walked up the gravel drive of the country church nestled in our mountain hollar. Sitting down on the church’s top step, I wrapped my arms around my knees, intertwined my fingers, gently rocked, and thought of the Lord — Jehovah Shalom, the Lord my Peace.
Leaning back on my elbows I looked upward.
You are My Shepherd, Lord. Lead Me Through This Valley
Father, life is beautiful, but life is hard. Rain falls on the wicked and the good. Bad things happen to good people because our world is fallen — sin is rampant. Difficulty abounds. But You are my shepherd. Lead me through this valley of difficulty.
I sense the shadows of darkness but then I remember that You draw near to us in the difficult places and I realize the shadow of Your presence is about me.
Eyes Are the Window to Our Souls. Was God Looking In?
It is said that the eyes are the window to our souls, and though I could not see into his eyes, I had the overwhelming feeling that those tiny black globes were staring directly into mine. Searching. Questioning.
He just hovered there, bobbing up and down, left and right. I gripped my coffee cup and dared not move lest the hummingbird became frightened and darted away from the window.
Regardless, I Have a Reason to Be Thankful. It’s You, Lord!
Father, where can I go from Your presence? If I find myself in the deepest, darkest valley of difficulty, You are there. You never leave me … You never forsake me. You are my reason to be thankful.
When I can’t praise You for my circumstances, I can always praise You for who You are. Praise and a thankful heart go hand in hand — there can’t be one without the other. Not really.
A Sparrow Falls, Your Child Cries, and You Care Lord
Father, I love Your tenderness — I need Your tenderness. I’m strengthened in the battle with Your mighty power, but I am comforted by Your tender watch-care. Even though You are Almighty God, when a sparrow falls or Your child cries, You know and You care, Lord,
You are faithful to draw near to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in Spirit. What a wonderful God You are, full of compassion … gracious, and kind.
His Voice as Gentle as a Light Refreshing Breeze
The air had been still as I sat on my porch, even though I knew storms were brewing from the west. A light, refreshing breeze began to blow, stirring the air ahead of the storm. I sat quietly before the Lord considering His ways.
Just that morning my spirit awakened within me as I considered wisdom from Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest: “The voice of the Spirit is as gentle as a zephyr, so gentle that unless you are living in perfect communion with God, you never hear it …
My Confident Expectation is in You, Lord, My Helper
Father, to You I lift up my soul, I have placed my trust in You. My confident expectation is in You, therefore I have hope. Your love has never failed me.
Keep my eyes on You. Keep my heart ever before You so that I might walk steadfastly in Your paths of righteousness. With You by my side, my footing is sure. You go before me into an uncertain future, making a way in the impossibilities.
Roots Dug Deep, Challenging the Gale-Force Winds
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.