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
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.
Help Me Remember You are the One True, Living God
Father, You are Elohim Chayim, the Living God, the everlasting One. Before the earth was formed, You were. You are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End — all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present.
You have been our dwelling place through all generations and now we are Yours. Through the Blood of Jesus, You have made us Your temple. You walk with us, and You talk with us — we are Your people, and You are our God.
Consider the Heavy-Laden Branches of Winter
The long, spindly branches of the forsythia bush outside my window bend heavy-laden with a glaze of ice. The coating is thin, and though its appearance is lovely, the branch struggles to sustain its weight.
I feel this way sometimes.
Fires, Earthquakes, Floods … Be Merciful, O God
Father, I know You are trustworthy and worthy of all praise. I know You are sovereign … You are merciful and kind, faithful and true. You are who You say You are — I know because I know You and I have walked with You for over fifty years. That’s a long time to know Someone.
However, I must say, that even though I am secure in Your love, world events are unsettling, especially the natural disasters. Floods, fires, earthquakes … they have been anything but natural. They are epic. And I believe they have spiritual roots.
Can the Ache of Wilderness Become a Sacred Space?
As the frigid arctic air blasted its way across our mountains, I shivered and turned even further into myself. The past few weeks had been hard, demanding … emotional. I wasn’t comfortable in this wilderness place. The bitter cold only served to reinforce my wayward thoughts.
““The wilderness is an unpleasant place, fleshly speaking. We naturally want prosperity, health, and easy-going. But the same God who created the garden also created the wilderness … “
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God. Renew Me
Father, You are holy, merciful, and mighty. I desire to abide in Your presence, to be ever-aware of Your Spirit drawing near in my times of need. However, when my heart is cluttered with bad attitudes and less-than-righteous decisions, there is a break in our fellowship. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Above all things, I must guard my heart against the world’s influences and the temptations and taunts of the evil one. I even need to guard my heart against myself!
When Life is Hard and Joy is Distant, There is Jesus
Lord, I cannot believe it’s time once again to celebrate Your birth — to rejoice in the moment You came to earth so we could know You. How can it be? Miracle of miracles! Immanuel. God with us. Hallelujah! For When life is hard and joy is distant, there is Jesus. Never failing. Always abiding.
Though weary of life’s struggles, I want to rejoice in You — I choose to rejoice in You — for You are my God and I love You.