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
Anticipating God’s Sustenance, Gathering His Grace
Down below the old apple tree, there’s a meadow where goldenrods grow freely and the mountain stream sings its soothing melody. Each day, just before dusk, we put out deer corn. The deer have come to expect it and often come early, anticipating their sustenance before we’ve cast it across the slender grass.
We delight in providing for them.
We delight in their trust.
But they must journey from the forest wilderness to receive the blessing.
I Trust You, Lord. Well … Most of the Time
Lord, You are the mighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, and yet You know every intricate detail of my life — You know and care about all that concerns me. I trust You, Lord … most of the time.
That is never a good idea.
I confess that sometimes I struggle with trusting, probably because I place my focus on my circumstances and not on You.
The Authority of the Wind, the Breath of the Creator
I stood beneath the pine grove at the crest of the hill. Autumn leaves shimmied in the breeze. Floating. Twirling. Submitting to the authority of the wind, the breath of their Creator. Storm clouds pressed eastward leaving an October indigo sky in its wake.
I closed my eyes.
You’re the Song in My Night. Help Me Hear the Melody
Lord, what would I do without You? On my darkest days You are the light in my darkness, the song in my night. You give me peace when there is none to be found.
Sometimes the world tries to drown You out — sometimes I let it. In the quiet of the night, my thoughts grow restless and try to consume me. Help me hear the melody of Your song in the night.
God Draws Near to His Struggling Child
There is something so glorious — so unfathomable — about the Lord our God: He draws near to us in our difficult place. Truly. His tender watch-care and His intimate, personal engagement with His struggling child are evident for those who will open the eyes of their hearts to see.
His child consumed with fear.
His child overwhelmed by hopelessness.
His child cast away through betrayal and rejection.
Teach Me to Number My Days Lord, The Clock’s Ticking
Lord, You are Maker of heaven and earth, the All-Sufficient God. Your sufficiency meets my insufficiency and I am made whole. I am equipped. I have all I need to serve You well. Teach me to number my days, to recognize that time is running short — people need You, Lord.
I don’t want to be selfish. I don’t want to hide my light beneath a barrel and put my gifts in a pretty box where they gather dust. You have prepared me for such a time as this.
The Battle of Faith and Despair. Put Your Hope in God
My gaze landed on the mountaintop in the distance. Blue-purple ribbons of rolling hills surrounded the giant dome. I was in the battle of faith and despair, trying to let faith win out. Why are you troubled and weary, Nan? I asked myself. Why so downcast? Put your hope in God, Maker of heaven and earth.
I often lecture myself. I suppose King David did the same.
Keep My Hand to the Plow Lord, But This Dirt’s Hard
Lord, You are my praise, my glory — You are my God. All that I am I give to You for You are the glory and the lifter of my head. I keep my hand to the plow, Lord, but the dirt is so hard. Fallow. Baked with stubbornness.
I’m sorry I’m so stubborn sometimes. Please forgive me. I delight in doing the work You have called me to do, but on the hard days it takes great effort to keep my hand to the plow.
From the Sweat of My Brow Transformation Meets Glory
I struggled through the fallen limbs and briars cluttering the mountain trail. Droplets trickled down my face from the sweat of my brow, the arduous journey almost over. The ridgetop was in view — a glorious transformation in sight. Just a little farther and the struggle would be worth it.
The height would offer a magnificent view of my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.