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
When Crushing Burdens Meet the Hem of His Garment
Crushing heartbreak seared through my thoughts, impacting my spirit, bending me over with despair. Tears streamed with reckless abandon saturating the open pages of my Bible as I cried out to the One who loves me.
He loves me through thick and thin with more love than I can possibly imagine in my wildest dreams.
Or yours.
He loves us.
A Prayer When You Need Some Answers From God
Lord, You have called us Your sons and daughters. You have allowed us to call You Abba, Father — our Daddy God — when You adopted us into Your family. That in itself carries us across the abyss between earth and Your heavenly places.
That, in itself, allows us a personal audience of one with the Maker of heaven and earth.
That, in itself, is amazing, and I thank You for making a way for us to know You — not just about You, but know You intimately.
What a miracle, Lord!
The God of the Mountain is Still God of the Valley
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.
Under the cover of sleep I asked the Lord to lift me above the fray. I imagined His strong arm stretching forth from heaven and taking hold of my hand that groped desperately for Him.
And then the sweetest thing happened.
Remembering the Essence of Grace
The quiet hush of the dawn distanced itself from the harsh winds of the storm. Sunlight filtered through the leaves — morning light sparkling like diamonds midst a setting of emeralds on the old juniper.
The storm had passed.
Peace had resumed.
God’s grace, beauty, and faithfulness surrounded me. Even though my spirit grew weary — I knew His love remained.
A Prayer When You’re Waiting for Joy to Come in the Morning
Lord, You have shown Your love to me — Your grace, Your mercy. You have given me glimpses of who You are, especially during the difficult places.
You are powerful. You are Almighty God — the Sovereign Lord. You are El Shaddai, the All-sufficient One who nurtures and comforts me.
Even so, sorrow overwhelms me, Lord. Not everyday, but most days.
Can Peace Like a River Be Mine?
Out of the blue my spirit began to sing — not out loud, but like the still, small voice of the Lord …
When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, “It is well … it is well with my soul.”
I zeroed in on “peace like a river ATTENDETH my way.”
Weeks of sorrow brought on by grief over times gone by and now lost, were slowly drawing me into a pit. I could feel it. I knew it was happening, but I felt powerless against its grip.
A Prayer to Release Praise in the Midst of Suffering
Lord, You are mighty to save, to deliver me from all my troubles. You hung the stars in place, You tell the ocean how far it can come — nothing is too hard for You; You do all things well.
And yet, my suffering remains.
And my heart hurts.
And my mind drives me crazy with restless thoughts.
Where are You, God, when everything falls apart?
The Parable of One Solitary Tree
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.
It’s odd to see a pop of deep green in the midst of winter gray and brown. A cluster of evergreens, yes. But one solitary tree shouting life in the dead of winter … well, it spoke to my heart.