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 ~ How to Satisfy the Excessive Thirst of a Nation
My lips smacked together from the dryness of excessive thirst. I had worked in the yard all afternoon beneath a blazing summer sun complete with tropical air hovering over our mountain. Rivulets of sweat drenched me, adding to my thirst and need for water.
I came into the cool of the house, filled my glass with ice cubes and cold water, and gulped it down! The first glass made me want more — one glass was not enough. I quickly filled my glass again and practically inhaled the liquid refreshment. What joy as the cold water coursed through my lips and satisfied a voracious thirst.
A Prayer When Trusting God is Essential
You, Lord, are my Shepherd — I shall not want. You are my Shelter — I will trust and not be afraid. You are the lifter up of my head. I will not be downcast and disheartened, for You are my God and I belong to You. I will continue trusting in You.
Faith Notes ~ Jamie Britt: The Phone Call That Changed Our Lives
Jamie Britt is an amazing young woman who inspires me and many others often. You see, Jamie was a preemie and, as a consequence has no sight. She was born completely blind. But let me tell you, this young woman can see better than most of us. She has a sweet and sincere relationship with Jesus and has devoted her life to bringing Him honor through all things. I can’t wait for you to meet her. #FaithNotes
Finding God’s Presence ~ A Scrawny Tomato Plant Speaks of God’s Faithfulness
Harvest was plentiful. Luscious, scarlet globes hung in abundance. But now? Now my tomato plants are beginning to look scrawny. Summertime nourished them and they thrived, but now summer is exiting, giving birth to fall. Chilly mountain mornings threaten the fruit on the vine and the once sturdy stalks bow to the weight of their burdens, no longer strong from the warmth of summer’s sun.
Although the tomatoes are threatened, although the season of thriving has passed, fruit remains that is yet to ripen.
With cord, I bind up the weakened stalks …
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.