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
A Prayer to Remind Us Who God Is When We Can’t Find Joy
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Praise flows my heart and lips for You, O Lord. You are so incredibly wonderful to Your children — so faithful and kind.
I depend on You Lord. You are my anchor. My sure place. You are the ruler of my heart. Thank You for the price You paid that I may know You. Father, thank You for the sacrifice You gave for us — for a world that didn’t deserve it. I can only imagine how difficult it was for You to watch Jesus suffer and die. But I thank You from the bottom of my heart because I am a life that was changed by Your love.
Help each of us find #joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Faith Notes ~ Nan Jones: How Do I Find the Secret Place of God?
From time to time I will be sharing parts of my story with you on Faith Notes. God truly is amazing, isn’t He? He astounds me often.
Today I’m sharing an excerpt from my book, The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife where I help my reader understand the concept of the secret place of the Most High. Have you ever thought about it? Ever wondered where it is and how to get there? I have!
The Lord promises in Psalm 32:7 that He is our hiding place and in Psalm 91:1 He promises that when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, we will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Are you intrigued too? I hope my exploration of this great truth will add to your understanding. Don’t you just love Him today?
Finding God’s Presence ~ Outside Were Conflicts. Inside Were Fears
Sirens began their eerie scream as the sky turned dark and the clouds began to undulate in the currents of the wind. Kids hurried home from the apartment playground while worried mommas called their names. I grabbed our upstairs neighbor — another seminary student — and convinced her to stay with us until the tornado passed.
We huddled in an extra walk-in closet that had been designated as our storm shelter during our tenure in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The kids pulled blankets up under their chins and cuddled in one big heap beneath my arms. I was terrified, but I couldn’t let them know. They were counting on me to keep them safe.
And I was counting on God.
A Prayer to Step Out Into the Deep Water
Lord, I know You are calling me to step out into the deep water. That is my desire too. But my heart and flesh fail me — I am overcome often by fatigue and anxiety. You, Lord, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. It is You, Lord.
I can’t do this alone … in my own strength. I ask that You pour over me a fresh anointing of power, passion, talent, ability, and joy. Grant me the wings of eagles to rise above and soar into the heights of heaven. Train my focus on You.
Faith Notes ~ Marcie Bridges: Mercy Revealed in the Shadow of Surrender
It is with great joy that I introduce you to my bestie, Marcie Bridges. This is one of those friendships that began online and blossomed into the real deal. Marcie has cried with me, schemed with me, traveled with me, and laughed with me — oh mercy! The laughter. She is affectionately known among friend circles as “Miss Pollyanna” because she can always find the silver lining in EVERYTHING.
Marcie is a very talented poet — in fact, poetry oozes out of this girl. Seriously. She included a poem at the end of her testimony that commemorates her day of surrender to the Lord.
To know Marcie is to love her. I know the words of her heart will give you strength for the journey.
Finding God’s Presence ~ Where is God While the Storm Passes By?
A thunderhead rolled across the mountain ridge. The sky slowly darkened like black ink spilling and oozing across blue paper. Torrents of rain pummeled the earth as lightening crashed with its electric fingers. This storm, though swift, was fierce, filling the mountainside with apprehension.
As quickly as the storm came with its bite, it was gone. The wind subsided and torrents of rain became a refreshing shower. There, against the blue of the sky peeking out from behind lingering clouds, arched a rainbow.
A rainbow will forevermore delight my soul.
A Prayer When God’s Goodness Needs to Be Found
Lord, You know what? I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see Your goodness. I knew I would! I knew because You are goodness wrapped in a holy love we cannot comprehend.
Yes, You are good. You are faithful and I thank You for that Lord.
It’s hard to wait patiently for Your goodness when we are in the throes of difficulties. But You are teaching me to wait and to rest in the knowledge that You have never failed me and never will.
Faith Notes ~ Latoya Mayberry: A Life Redeemed After Spiritual Abuse
Latoya Mayberry is a beautiful, spunky, on-fire-for-God young woman that I admire greatly. In fact, she had to go through the fire of spiritual abuse from church leaders to come to this place of solid footing on the Rock of Christ — her refuge.
After reading Latoya’s testimony, the Holy Spirit reminded me of one of my favorite verses: Lamentations 3:22-24, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion’, says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!'”
I believe these words of Jeremiah resonate in Latoya’s heart for she knows the One in whom she has believed. She has found Him faithful and trustworthy. She has wept as He redeemed the abuse of those who should have known better than to cast their stones in an attempt to destroy this young woman of God.
Maybe you have been hurt by church people. Unfortunately, it happens — not because we wrestle with flesh and blood, but because we wrestle with principalities of darkness. The bad news is that all too often these principalities come with skin on, but the good news is that our God is the Redeemer of our lives. Through Latoya’s testimony I pray you will find encouragement and healing.
Finding God’s Presence ~ Thirsting After Him. That’s How We Gather His Provisions
Down below the old apple tree in the meadow where goldenrods grow freely and the mountain stream sings its soothing melody, we put out deer corn everyday just before dusk. The deer have come to expect it and often come early, anticipating their sustenance before we’ve cast it across the slender grass.
We delight in providing for them.
We delight in their trust.
But they must journey from the forest wilderness to receive the blessing.
The children of God had to do the same while traveling on their wilderness journey, except in place of golden nuggets of corn, the Lord provided manna — bread from heaven.