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 ~ A Prayer for Strength to Keep My Hand to the Plow
I want my heart to be steadfast Lord, and not tossed about by circumstances. I want my hand to hold steady to the plow, moving forward with eyes focused on You, plowing the fields, planting the seeds, and reaping the harvest for Your glory. I have work to do — Your work — and don’t want to let You down. I want to glorify You with my life.
But Lord, I need Your help. I must go forward in Your strength, and not my own, for the burdens are too great to carry.
Faith Notes~ Shadia Hrichi: The God Who Sees Me
On Faith Notes today, Shadia Hrichi shares a powerful testimony of God’s redemptive love:
You and I live in a broken world. A world in which each of us, at one time or another, will experience some form of suffering. Some caused by others; some due to our own poor choices.
I suppose the first major heartbreak in my life happened when I was twelve years old and my parents divorced. Looking back, I realize that soon after my father left home, I began looking for love in all the wrong faces.
Finding God’s Presence ~ A Portrait of Hope Splashes Across the Ridge
An occasional red leaf tinged in yellow shows off in the midst of green leaves clinging to summer, painting a portrait of hope for weary onlookers. Chilly mountain mornings belie the humid, hot afternoons, and watermelons vie for attention in the noise of pumpkin this and pumpkin that.
Seasons change. Transitions come.
And the Word of the Lord never fails. Not ever.
Finding God’s Presence ~ A Prayer When the World Becomes Chaotic
Lord, You are awesome and worthy of our praise! You are constant — never changing — in the midst of what seems chaotic. Things certainly feel chaotic, shaken — hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, wars and rumors of war. It’s frightening Lord. But then I think of You and find peace because nothing takes You by surprise and You go before us.
Faith Notes ~ Julie Dibble: But God, I Want To Be In Control!
My first impression of Julie Dibble is that she sparkles with the Light of Christ! I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her in person, but her online personna makes my heart smile. I can’t wait to share her testimony with you. Julie speaks candidly of her frustration with her husband’s extended complications from surgery and why God wasn’t handling things the way she thought He should be. She even admits to wanting to be in control. Now, I know you’ve never felt that way, right? Yeah, right. I think we all have felt that way at one time or another. But our God is longsuffering, merciful, and good to His children. Please welcome Julie to Faith Notes.
Finding God’s Presence ~ But I Don’t Want to Wait. I Want to Soar. Now.
I walked through the meadow grass, remnants of summer brushing against my leg. Signs of autumn appeared with splashes of red and gold here and there, dotting the forest-scape like fire flies on a summer’s eve.
A red hawk soared above. His grace intrigued me as he yielded to the currents of the wind.
He didn’t resist the wind.
He seemed to stretch his wings farther, lean in, and allow the wind to carry him to new heights.
I want to be like that.
Finding God’s Presence ~ A Prayer When You Could Use a Smile
Lord, Your love surrounds me. I love this remarkable truth. Thank You. Your abiding presence makes my heart smile. Even when I feel distressed, I can smile at the thought of being completely and securely surrounded by Your love.
Some days the burdens are great and fear pounds at the door, but then I think of Your great love and I find peace again.
Faith Notes ~ Tracie Manders: Where Are You God When My Child Dies?
You are about to meet a precious young woman, Tracie Manders. Tracie and her husband, Nathan, lost their five year old son, James, in a tragic car accident January 12, 2017. This is her story of raw pain and questioning the God she loves and ultimately her story of faith. It is a story of unbelievable heartache, yet determination to keep the memory of her son alive and to use his story for God’s glory. James was a happy child with a smile always on his face. He would light up a room when he walked in. James loved Jesus and looked forward to seeing heaven one day. As hard as these months have been, Tracie and Nathan have found the Lord to be faithful and His grace sufficient. They have found His tender mercies really are new every morning. I know their story will impact your life deeply.
Finding God’s Presence ~ What Happens in the Shadow of His Presence?
Gravel crunched beneath my feet as I walked with my face to the afternoon sun, long shadows all about me. My heart weighed heavy with the fear of an unknown future. I wrestled to keep my eyes focused on Jesus — the One who holds my tomorrows and leads me in paths of righteousness … even when I murmur and complain.
A thought kept circling through my mind: surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.