In the Hands of God

“Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says–‘I cannot stand anymore.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”
― Oswald Chambers

Living in Unity

Lord, I pray for peace among your people, and I pray that peace will begin with me. Teach me to be kind and loving, and to offer grace to others, especially those who do not treat me well or who disagree with me. Teach me to love them as your beloved creations.

First Kiss

Frost has kissed the forest.  Leaves and grasses have succumbed to its deadly touch. Yellow and brown leaves flutter from the trees. The stream is littered with autumn’s golden snowfall. As I wander off the soft, sandy trail, my feet crunch noisily through the leafy debris.  Looking up, I see trees lifting dark, barren branches skyward. Others sport a few green and yellow leaves, but these too are destined to drop to the forest floor.

It’s silent here. No birds call. No animals chatter to their mates. High above in the treetops the wind blows, rustling the remaining leaves. This rustling soon grows to a roar as the wind rushes past barren branches. So much around me seems dead, lifeless. Yet, I know the forest lives.  As I walk, I hear crackling in the dead leaves and know small animals run and hide from this human invading their territory. I stop a moment at the stream, listening to the rushing waters bouncing over the rocks. The sound soothes my soul.  I look at the brown grass and the barren trees around the stream and I imagine their roots digging deep into the soil. Above the soil they appear dead, yet their roots continue to draw nourishment into the living plants.

So it is with my soul. At times it becomes brown and looks lifeless. Life is difficult, and I struggle from an unresponsive spirit and lack of enthusiasm. But then I go to a still place and listen. Just like the wind rushes through the trees, God’s voice rushes through my soul, giving me peace. I listen. I learn. I allow the roots of my soul to draw up spiritual nourishment. I rejoice, waiting patiently for that first green blush of spring to sprout in my soul.

Thank you, Father, for giving reassurance of Your soul-lifting presence, even when life appears drab, dreary, and lifeless.

Psalm 30:5b NIV “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

I Worship You

“The point is not to completely understand God but to worship Him. Let the very fact that you cannot know Him fully lead you to praise Him for His infiniteness and grandeur.”

— Francis Chan

God, you are love and wisdom, creator and justice, all-knowing and all-powerful. I will never understand the depths of your grace. I don’t understand, but I worship all your amazing qualities. Thank you for loving me and redeeming me.

In the Palm of Your Hand

In the Palm of Your Hand

Softer than a breeze

rustling the cottonwood trees

Sweeter than a first kiss,

Your almighty hands cradle my soul.

The very hands that created the stars,

 the moon, and the fiery sun,

That formed every animal—the fierce tiger,

the massive whale, the purring kitten,

That “knit me together in my mother’s womb,”

 These hands cradle my soul.

As a mother cradles her baby, you cradle me.

Your hands guide, protect, and, yes,

 like a mother with her baby,

Rock away all my doubts and fears.

Thank you for Your willingness to suffer and scar the hands that so tenderly cradle me and offer me grace.

I Can Never Repay Him

Photo credit: Emma Sturm

“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” 
― A.W. Tozer

Lord, you know I sometimes feel this way, but not often enough. Each day, may I freshly remember all you have done for me.