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
Beneath the Outward Pristine Often Lies a Muddy Mess
A blanket of snow covered our mountain in pristine color, disguising the harsh browns of winter and the muddy mess where lush meadows waited for spring. The trees and forests, rooftops, and vehicles were painted in thick white frosting — beauty beyond description.
White, like our robes of righteousness that cover all shame and make all things new.
Lord, Remind Me to Be Still Lest I Forget
Lord, life has been so crazy lately. Chaotic. Confusing. Heartbreaking. Such is life in a fallen world. But Lord, I am in this world … not of it. Remind me to be still lest I forget.
Remind me to be still and remember that You are God and You hold the whole world in Your hands.
What Manner of Love is This? He Calls Us His Beloved
Beloved of God.
Esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love.
What manner of love is this?
Raindrops — glistening tears from heaven’s throne — began to fall. Slow, but steady. The last of the animals entered the massive vessel. I imagine Noah prodding them with a staff, steering them to their stalls. As tufts of lamb’s wool brushed against his robe, did he gently caress the fleece and ponder the ways of God?
Purify My Heart, Lord. Set Me Apart for You
Lord, You are the Lord God Almighty, the Omnipotent One, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. And You are holy. Purify my heart so that I, too, might become holy.
You have redeemed me and called me Your own. You have made me Your righteousness through Jesus Christ, and for that, I am so thankful. Yet, I know I still harbor things in my heart that are not of You.
One Solitary Evergreen Shouts Life in Winter Bleak
High atop the mountain ridge stands a lone evergreen surrounded by the stark, barren trunks and branches of a full forest of deciduous trees. Oak and locust, elm and maple packed in like a crowded marketplace speak clearly of the dead of winter.
But one solitary evergreen stands alone and shouts life.
Lord, You are Precious to Me. Please Hold Me Close
Lord, what would I do without You? Where would I be? You are precious to me in all Your ways. Hold me close and wrap me in Your love.
When I think of You, peace descends and washes over my broken places. When I sit still, cease striving, and remember You are God, You steady my heart and capture my restless thoughts.
In the Beauty of His Holiness, He Longs for Us
I opened the well-worn devotional seeking to garner strength for the day. The reflection was on the necessity of spending time in God’s presence, relishing the beauty of His holiness, and soaking in His grace.
But it was the last sentence that penetrated my heart:
“He walks in glory on the hills and longs for men [and women] to join Him there.”
I Am Weak, Lord. Please Strengthen Me by Your Grace
Lord, You promise me strength for each day of my life. When I am weak, You promise to be strong. I hold fast to this gift of Yours — I believe it and I rely on it. Some days I am just plain worn out, but then I remember Your promise and it causes me to look up and I smile because of Your grace.
Because of You, the weak say, “I am strong,” the poor say, “I am rich.”
Crimson on Branches Bare…Reminders of God’s Love
Picking up my coffee cup, I turned my head to look out the window toward the lower end of our property. There’s an old chestnut tree there, haggard from decades of mountain weather, barely standing, its branches stark against a winter sky. Even though I’m thankful for God’s love, I could relate to those stark branches reaching toward heaven.
From a distance, I could see bright pops of crimson on the bare branches.