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
Finding God’s Presence ~ It Was Still Dark When the Mighty Wind Blew
Eyes widened with wonder as the enormous pillar of cloud spun, lifted, and moved to place itself between the enemy and God’s children. Never before on this long, arduous wilderness journey had they witnessed such an intentional move of protection from their God.
Oh, for sure, God’s provision had been evident, His power amazing.
But this … this was different.
Doubt and frustration had flung itself through the Israelites’ camp. They were hot. Dirty. Hungry. Thirsty. Surely if God really loved them, He would not have brought them to this despicable place — this desert place with no end in sight.
A Prayer to Find God in the Desert Place
Lord, Your ways are not our ways, but Your ways cause me to marvel. I marvel because as I watch and wait and wonder, You fulfill Your Word, especially in the desert places of my life. Why should I doubt? You always do what You say You will do!
You promised us streams in the desert, water in the wilderness. When we are parched and desperate for hope You, according to Your Word, often lead us into the desert where we finally reach the end of ourselves and will yield our hearts and ear to You.
Oh, how great is Your love!
Finding God’s Presence ~ Not On My Watch, Mister!
A small yellow butterfly darted across the mountain laurel blooms, oblivious to the danger lurking on the next stem. A spider, on the other hand, was very aware.
And waited.
The butterfly lapped at the sweet nectar, moving slowly across the multiple blooms — each bloom drawing her towards her enemy. One misstep — one moment of focusing only on satisfying her thirst for nectar — and she met her demise. Her feet became entangled in the sticky thread of the spider’s web.
She fought. She resisted.
But to no avail.
A Prayer When You’re Facing Giants in Your Land
Lord, You are the God who lifts my head when I am down, who strengthens me when I am weak. You are the Keeper of my soul. I am so grateful.
There are giants in my land that threaten to consume me — to distract me from the work You have given me to do. But I know that You are greater than he that is in the world and nothing You have spoken over me will return to You void. You will complete those things You have begun in me — giants, or no giants.
Finding God’s Presence ~ When I Need to Lift My Eyes and Behold Him
Blue and I relaxed on the gentle slope alongside the river flowing through the mountain valley. I rubbed his head and looked out across the silkened ribbon streaming in front of me — its beginning and end I knew not.
Its Creator I know well.
Peace whispered to me from afar as I thought about everything … thought about nothing. Back and forth. Everything. Nothing. Sometimes a brain gets worn out from thinking too much. It short-circuits and says, “No more, my dear. No more.”
That was me on this beautiful summer afternoon.
A Prayer When It’s Hard to Love the Unlovelies
Lord, You are the very essence of love — a love that our human frailty cannot comprehend. Yet Your Spirit dwells within us and lays your love at our fingertips giving us the capacity to love in all circumstances. I want to walk in love — to honor You by how I treat others.
But sometimes it is so hard.
It’s hard to choose love when evil abounds and injustice pierces my heart.
Finding God’s Presence ~ Will My Life Alter the Landscape?
The cornstalks rustled in the breeze as their slender leaves brushed against one another. Row upon row. Plant upon plant. Seed upon seed. From each furrowed row that once was burnished brown and bare, lush shades of green with golden tassels dance in the wind. [Tweet...
A Prayer When You Need Endurance
Lord, I desire genuine faith. Authentic. Raw. The kind that keeps its peace and does not become rattled when life is hard. I desire endurance — not endurance that is merely a source of survival, but endurance born of hope and joy and complete trust.
Endurance born of unwavering faith.
Finding God’s Presence ~ A Peculiar Glory
Blue and I turned toward home to beat the approaching storm. A stiff breeze was kicking up, carrying ominous black clouds over the mountain ridge.
We picked up our pace as darkness veiled the afternoon sun.
Birdsong rang out across the forest canopy. Loud chattering crossed back and forth among the trees. I suppose my feathered friends were warning one another of the impending danger. The breeze morphed into strong wind. The darkness grew darker, flanked by rolling thunder in the distance.
The closer the storm got, the quieter the birdsong.
Except for one.