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
How Great Thou Art, Lord! May I Never Forget
Lord, You are perfect in power, tender in love. You are my God, my Savior, and my Lord. How great Thou art! Oh, how I love to think about Your greatness — may I never forget who You are.
When I consider the heavens and the works of Your hands, I am humbled and overcome with awe. You are magnificent … and yet You call me daughter.
When God is Our Refuge, He Races Over Heaven to Help
A ridge of ominous clouds the color of charcoal hung low on the horizon. Heavy with rain. Laden with warm, humid air. Forecasters warned of ferocious winds that would surely howl across our beloved mountains, hurling flooding rains, and toppling trees and power lines in their wake. I sought comfort in the knowledge that God is my refuge.
As I peered out the window toward the setting sun, the wall of clouds darkened, shadowed by the twilight.
I Will Sing of Your Mercy Lord, Even if Life is Hard
Lord, You are wonderful. Your mercy is great, reaching to the highest mountain and stretching into the deepest valley. I will sing of Your mercy forever, even in the difficult places.
For You are good! You cannot not be good. Your eyes are upon Your children seeking those who need to be encouraged.
I Found Myself in Stillness Even in the Rushing Wind
The rushing wind swept through the treetops like the sound of crashing waves, its power witnessed in the bending of branches and the tousling of the leaves. Yet I found myself in stillness. Far below the forest canopy, I walked in a broad patch of sunshine without the slightest breeze.
In fact, I knew the rushing wind was present only because I heard its whistle and saw its effects above me.
O Lamb of God, I Come to You to Find Rest
Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised. You are the precious Lamb of God, slain for me so that I might live for all of eternity with You.
May I never take You for granted. May I never be so self-absorbed that I fail to see You in my difficult places.
Ponderings About the Threshold of Transition
I crossed the threshold of the country road — that place where pavement meets gravel and dirt. Several hemlocks grew on the slope just to the right of the road. They were old. Tall. Bountiful. But here and there branches bared themselves and the lush of its evergreen.
Beneath the massive trees lay several broken, dead branches — victims of the storm from the day before. I stood and considered the carnage littering the ground.
You Are My Joy, Lord. I Sure Could Use a Laugh!
Lord, You are my light and my salvation, the Rock on which I stand. You are my strength, my peace … You are my joy, Lord.
I understand there is a difference between happiness and joy. I understand happiness is superficial — circumstantial — and that joy remains steadfast, deep within me because it is born of Your presence.
The Dark of Night Held Its Last Breath, A Holy Hush
The blush of dawn unfurled like a delicate rose. Layer upon layer of darkness rolled away, yielding — bowing — to the morning light. Lavender and teal, tangerine and coral swirled together on the canvas of the sky — a palette of exquisite colors proclaiming glory to the Lord, the stillness of a new day echoing the holy hush.
With the unfurling of the morning sky came an exuberant song of praise.
You Are My Strength and My Song. I Need You, Lord
Lord, whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. When I don’t know what to do, I will look to You. You are my help. You are my strength and my song. My hope is found in You.
As the cares of this world multiply, they are eating at me. I listen for Your gentle whisper, but it’s hard to hear over the noise. I seek You and lean into Your embrace, but the shadows seem darker. I need to hear Your voice, Lord.