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
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.
As the Deer Pants for the Water, So I Need You, Lord
Lord, You are the joy of my heart, my refuge, and my strength. Oh, how I need You, Lord. As the deer pants for the water, so I thirst for You, the Living God, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Only You can satisfy the longing soul. You created a God-shaped space in the heart of Your people that only You can fill. Fill me to overflowing, Lord!
Pondering Dappled Light and My Walk of Faith
The cold wind swirled around me, sudden gusts pushing me along the gravel road. Dry meadow grass swayed and bowed at the wind’s command. Dappled light flickered beneath the forest’s canopy up ahead.
I had been walking a while, thinking perhaps too much, questioning the ways of the Lord — not with accusations, but with a heartfelt desire to understand.
I Am Your Child, Lord. Fear Has Lost Its Grip on Me
Lord, how amazing to know I am Your child — You call me daughter. You search my heart and know all my anxious thoughts. You know ME and You love me still.
Bless You, Lord. I rejoice in the knowledge of Your love.
You are my shield, my defender, the glory, and the lifter up of my head. You surround me with songs of deliverance and rescue me from my enemies. Their names are fear, anxiety, and overwhelm …
Blank Space in Transition is Not Empty. God is There
Six hundred thousand men, plus women and children tramped across the desert sands in the dead of night. Their sojourn, their captivity, in Egypt had ended after 430 years. Pharaoh sent them out in haste following the 10th plague: Death of the Firstborn. Transition came at them fast.
A familiar story, right?
But have you ever noticed verse forty-one in this passage of Scripture found in Exodus twelve? “God kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as He brought them out of Egypt.”
Please Hold My Hand, Lord. Life Can Be So Hard
Lord, I have found that on the mountaintops, You are there. And in the valleys low, You are there — You are steadfast in all Your ways. But still … life is hard, Lord. Please hold my hand.
I love when I call out to You in my distress, You hear me — You incline Your ear, leaning into the sound of my weary-soaked voice. I appreciate how miraculous that is, and how tender You are.
Morning Broke Through the Darkness Bringing Peace
After a brutally cold night howling with harsh winds, the morning woke with peace. Snowflakes peppered down, covering the barren earth of winter with a soft blanket of white. Tucking my legs beneath me, I nestled into the corner of the couch, gripped a warm cup of coffee, and watched out the window as the glory of morning broke through the darkness.
A cardinal clothed in scarlet perched on the edge of our bird feeder. As he feasted on sunflower seeds, large snowflakes fell. Soft. Gentle. Cascading all about him.