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
Why Were These Menacing Clouds Stirring My Spirit?
I rounded the curve along the row of hemlocks and pulled my hood over my head. The drizzle was changing to a cold rain. Clouds hung heavy in the menacing sky as, step-by-step, I made my trek along the dirt road. Pondering. Reflecting. Why were these menacing clouds stirring my spirit?
Frustration shrouded my thoughts because I had fallen asleep during my quiet time. Yes, I was worn out and needed rest. But my quiet time with Jesus is where I garner strength.
In the Wilderness You Teach Me Who You Are, Lord
O God, You are my God, early will I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land. Only You can satisfy the longing soul. Only You can search my heart and know my anxious thoughts … only You can give me perfect peace. In the wilderness place, You teach me who You are.
Never has Your love failed me. I have no need to fear the difficult places because You promise that Your presence will go with me and You will give me rest.
The Parable of An Exclamation Point When Life is Hard
The world outside my window is cased in ice, thick like crystal glass. Hints of morning light begins to break through the dense cloud cover casting sparkling light across the landscape. A cardinal serves as an exclamation point against the white wintry backdrop.
The beauty of the ice is stunning.
The danger of the ice is daunting.
It’s a visual of what I’m experiencing in this current life season: The blending of joy and sorrow, the conundrum of blessed and broken.
O Morning Star, Arise. My Darkness Needs Your Light
Lord, I’m struggling. Not every moment of every day, but there are some days that overwhelm comes in like a tsunami and consumes me. I sense a steady slide that needs Your intervention. You are the bright and Morning Star. Would You shine into my darkness and overcome it with Your light?
In the morning I look to You. As I sip my coffee and watch the sun come up over the ridge, I lean into Your love and find peace. Indeed, Your mercies are new every morning. I open my mouth and You fill it … I’m so thankful.
Like a Tapestry Pattern, I Trudged Along on Repeat
I pulled the hood on my jacket closer to ward off the chill in the air. Like a tapestry pattern repeating over and over, my footsteps trudged along our mountain road. My daily walk with Jesus is consistent, predictable, and beautiful.
And lately, beneath each step, a tangled mess of heartbreak and often frustration appears — just like the underside of a tapestry.
God, You are in the Midst of Us. Open Our Eyes to See
Father, Your love has lifted me from the pit of miry clay. You have set me on high — safe and secure in Your arms, for You are a strong tower for me. In Your presence is where I want to be — I need to be. You are in the midst of us. We need only to open our eyes to see You. Teach us to look for Your fingerprints all about us.
You have taught me to abide in You as You abide in me. You have taught me that it is in You that we live and move and have our being. So why am I anxious?
Dappled Light Flickered as God Offered Me Reassurance
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.
Help Me Stand Firm in the Storms of Adversity, Lord
Mighty are You, O God! You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present in unimaginable ways. You are my refuge and strength. Help me stand firm in the storms of adversity, for they are plentiful and grow harsher by the day.
Although the battles are relentless, Your grace has been sufficient … Your presence, my refuge. Therefore I will not fear.
Wind Ceased, Revealing the Beauty of Its Occurring
The morning woke with peace after a brutally cold night magnified by a howling wind. 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 morning broke through the darkness.
A cardinal robed 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.