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 to Face A Giant with the Giant-Slayer and Win
He was so tiny. All six legs moved in synch as his jaws struggled to carry the beetle delicacy across the porch, down the steps, through the dense foliage of an uncut lawn, and into his ant hill where family and friends waited. He exemplified how to face a giant with grace and ability.
An ant. A tiny, red ant.
Prayer From Eden to Golgotha to Glory
Lord, You are simply amazing! From Eden to Golgotha to Glory You remain. You have pursued us with Your love through light and darkness, good and bad, joy and sorrow. You pursue us.
You are faithful.
Searching for Hope Among Life’s Shadows
Trees bare from winter’s chill stand stark and rigid along the mountain slope. They appear as charcoal skeletons void of life. My spirit, weary and worn, searching for hope among life’s shadows, is drawn to the image outside my window.
As the sun comes up, a beam of heavenly light streaks through the trees, casting a golden thread weaving among the barren branches.
It’s a startling sight.
Prayer When My Heart is Steadfast, But My Thoughts Are Not
Lord, I love You so much. My greatest desire is to please You, to honor You with my words and actions. My heart is steadfast, but too often my thoughts are not.
Crazy thoughts pop out of nowhere — all the what-ifs, all the reasons for impossibility, inadequacy, and insufficiency.
How to Heal From Hidden Wounds of the Heart
The old wooden door creaked on its hinges as I gently pushed it open. Inside, beneath the musty shadows of the barn, lay hidden evidence of a life — someone’s story. Some items held value, but many were unwanted, many were simply forgotten, and all were gathering dust from neglect.
The memories lay in darkness, but the opening of the door introduced light, revealing their existence.
Prayer When Everything Says Go! Except Your Feet
Lord, You are my Shepherd. I shall not want. You lead me in paths of righteousness. You lead me in the ways I should go to fulfill Your purposes. I said yes to You, Lord. Now is the time. Everything says go … except my feet.
My feet are stuck in fear.
When Feelings of Captivity Wash Over Us, Where is God?
I tossed and turned as dreaded feelings of captivity washed over me. I pulled the covers tighter as the nightmare consumed me — the imaginary chains yanking on my ankles, keeping me bound in dark and painful circumstances.
My circumstances were hard to understand.
Confusing.
They seemed to have no end.
Prayer When Loneliness Overshadows Joy
Lord, You are my faithful companion. You promised to never leave me nor forsake me. Even so, some days loneliness overwhelms me and steals my joy.
On those days, Lord, will You whisper to my heart that You are near? Will You remind me that I am Your child and I am loved with an everlasting love?
A Dwelling Place Discovered Through a Swoosh of Feathers
A swoosh of black and gray feathers darted from the apple tree to the birdhouse nailed to my grape arbor. The chickadee twitched with excitement as she crawled through the circular opening and back out again, exploring her new dwelling place.
From the perch she flew to another branch, hopped across two or three others and swooped back to the birdhouse, again twitching with hyperactivity.
And … repeat.