Bearing Our Burdens

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19, NIV) 

Praise the Lord! Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV) 

Blessed be the Lord who carries our heavy loads every day, the True God who is our salvation. – (Psalm 68:19, VOICE) 

God is faithful, always. In the throes of the heaviness, He is present. When we are feeling stuck, He is ready and able to lead us through so that we may believe in the midst of our burdens.  Salvation is understood as we find hope in the heavy, and recognize the presence of God. I find myself in a solid space of reminiscing about God’s faithfulness, and how He bears our burdens. A little over a year ago, my mom suffered a massive stroke. We were blindsided by this, as she had always been strong and healthy and independent. As we have walked through the recovery process with mom, each day, God has handled our burdens and helped us carry the weight of worry and fear.  The verse found in Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” has been a sort of battle cry and comfort as we have navigated all of the new that comes with this sort of challenge. Being a visual person, I have wanted to artistically memorialize the anchor that God has been, in a way that was a tangible reminder of His faithfulness to steady us, always. Yesterday, the desire that I had held finally came to fruition. On my right foot, which is the side of mom’s body impacted by the stroke, I had an anchor with flowers from mom’s yard, along with her usual signature on cards, memorialized in ink. For me, every step I take, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to continue to bring healing, help and wholeness to my mom. It also reminds me to pray with gratitude for the life that He spared, and is continuing to restore. She went from being wheelchair bound a year ago, to walking by herself with a cane today. It has taken tremendous determination and hard work, but mom has never shied away from either, and depends on God to be her strength. May we ever remember Who is near and present to help us with the loads we carry, and loves us through every step that we take. 

Hope is the anchor, 

A gift from the Lord; 

His grace and His love, 

As asked, He’ll afford. 

He’ll carry the weight, 

Of burdens we bear; 

Bring loving comfort, 

Tangible, His care. 

Regardless of weight, 

His grace is enough; 

To lead and guide us,  

Through all sorts of stuff. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You help us with the burdens we bear, and when they grow too heavy, You carry us. Thank You that You are the faithful anchor of our soul – strong and secure. Forgive us for the times that we attempt to carry things alone, rather than seeking You for help. Teach us to trust You more, as You are forever faithful to help, as You love us through every storm that comes our way. Show us how to love others well. Lead us to love in a way that brings comfort, encouragement, and strength, so that all might know that they are not alone when storms rage around them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for being our ever-present help, and the anchor that secures our heart in the midst of storms. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2

Joyful, Patient, Faithful

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – (Romans 12:12, NIV)

Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. – (Romans 12:12, ERV)

Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times. – (Romans 12:12, TPT)

 

I imagine that these words are a timely reminder for many, as this season of waiting seems extraordinarily long. Yes, I know there have been many throughout history who have endured far worse for far longer, yet this is our season of waiting and staying and missing what we all knew before, and it is a challenge. Thankfully, we do have hope. Hope in God’s presence right now, which brings us joy and peace and strength, and hope in knowing that our current season and circumstances will not last forever; they have an end date. Knowing there is an end does help with patience, yet there are moments that I wonder if my capacity to be patient has come to an end. Of course, God, in His wisdom, reminds us to be faithful to pray – to commune with God at all times. In those moments when I am weary and worn and feeling like I might lose my mind, if I slow down, take a breath, and turn my attention to He who gives me all I need, patience comes as peace within me is restored. May we be intentional to commune with God, for He is our source of hope, joy and patience that helps us persevere, no matter what lies before us.

 

For where there is hope,

Joy too, shall spring forth;

It comes from our trust,

In God, our true Source.

Patient endurance,

When life gets too hard;

Strength when we’re weary,

Our light and our guard.

In all things, choose pray,

Commune with the Lord;

In love, He’s present,

And grace He’ll afford.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our source of joy in hope, patience in trials, and the One in whom we can trust, always. Thank You that You hear us and love us through all things. Forgive us for our lack of dependence on You. Teach us to trust You more, for You are the One who gives us joy and hope, patience and strength; all that we need to persevere, even when things seem too much. Show us how to love those around us in practical and tangible ways, so that they may feel hope and joy and patience, as they are encouraged to persevere. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the joy we have in knowing You, for You are our hope and strength and all that we need to keep pressing on. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

Trust is Greater than Fear

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. – (Proverbs 29:25, NLT)

Fear can be a trap, but if you trust in the Lord, you will be safe. – (Proverbs 29:25, ERV)

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. – (Proverbs 29:25, MSG)

 

Fear is a funny thing; it can prevent us from becoming the very person that God intended us to be. Incredibly, when we walk forward in faith, despite our fear, God meets us and leads us to the places we are meant to go. We grow bolder in our becoming, and discover so much more than we ever knew before. As we place our trust in God, rather than allow human opinion to adjust our sails, we discover the fullness and blessing beheld in all that He has for us. The joy and blessing found on the other side of fear are well worth the walk of faith. God has good in store for us. Often, we have to “climb the mountain” to arrive at the place where we are best able to appreciate the incredible view. May we release all fear into Your hands, trusting You to keep us safe.

 

Help us to not fear, 

For all that fear does;

Stop our momentum,

Trap us in what was.

But, trusting in God,

Our protection plan;

As He leads and guides,

Grants us strength to stand.

So, choose to fear not,

And trust in the Lord;

Keep moving in faith,

As grace He’ll afford.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us past our fears. Thank You that as we bring our fears to You, You take them and grant us strength and safety to keep moving in the direction to which You have called. Forgive us for allowing fear to paralyze us and prevent us from being who You designed us to be or doing the things intended for us alone. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would face our fears with faith, as faith fuels our fight to keep forging forward. Show us how to love those around us in a way that eases fears and strengthens faith. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we place our fears in Your hands and trust You to protect us and provide for us as we seek to become who You have created us to be. Amen.

 
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13

Take Delight

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. – (Psalm 37:4, NIV)

Enjoy serving the Lord, and He will give you whatever you ask for. – (Psalm 37:4, ERV)

Enjoy the Lord, and He will give what your heart asks. – (Psalm 37:4, CEB)

Take great joy in the Eternal! His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires! – (Psalm 37:4, VOICE)

 

God is so good. As we seek and serve Him, our desires are shaped by who we are becoming in Him, and He shows us in ways beyond what we could hope or imagine, how He will give us the very things that we are hoping for in His Name. As my fiancé and I are preparing for our wedding in July, we have begun the process of searching for a home that will accommodate he and his son and me and my two boys. It is a challenging task to find a space that meets the needs of three teenage boys, two adults, several vehicles, and the need for space to spread out, as the personalities of each need room of our own. Additionally, we would love a space that has room to welcome others into our home to share a meal, come and visit from out-of-state (as we both have extended family far away), and space to decompress from the hurried pace that is required in both of our jobs. Yesterday, we were shown our dream home. It fulfilled everything on our wish list and more. The price was higher than we had hoped, and we did not think it would be feasible until we went back, sat down, and really analyzed numbers on paper. We both were in awe as we ran the numbers and discovered that as two heads of household merged into one, we would indeed be able to afford the home we desired most without overextending ourselves. God continues to remind me that as I delight in Him, He will bless me with the desires that He has placed in my heart. The hopes and dreams that my heart holds are not simply random thoughts that came out of nowhere, but rather they are things birthed and nurtured within my design, intentionally. May we ever delight in the Lord and seek to serve Him, as He is the One who gives us what our hearts desire most.

Delight in the Lord,

For He is the One;

Who knows our heart’s cry,

As each day is done.

The more that we seek,

The Lord and His will;

Our hopes shall align,

And dreams be fulfilled.

For when He’s our joy,

Desires come from Him;

Blessings are bestowed,

Both outside and in.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we delight in You, You give us the desires of our hearts. Thank You that You love to bless Your children. Thank You for the incredible ways that You move beyond what we could hope or imagine, and that the hopes and dreams that dwell within us come from You. Forgive us for our doubts or for thinking that anything is impossible for You. Teach us to trust You more, and to place our hopes, dreams and desires in Your hands. Show us how to love those around us in a way that grants hope and courage and joy in the wait between the dream and the fulfillment. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we delight in You and give all glory to You as You bless us with the very things our hearts are longing for. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. – James 5:13

Right in His Sight

If you listen to Him, you will understand what is just and fair and how to do what is right. – (Proverbs 2:9, ERV)

With wisdom you will be able to choose the right road, seek justice, and decide what is good and fair. – (Proverbs 2:9, VOICE)

 

When we seek the Lord and listen for His voice, He shows us what is good and right in His sight. God grants wisdom to those who ask, and makes plain His path that is just and leads to joy as we journey through life with Him. We need to worry less about the weight of our options, and more about what matters to God. As we heed His instruction, the right road is made plain before us. God is faithful to answer when we ask Him what is just and fair and how to do His will. May we ever seek the Lord and listen for His voice, so that we will know and understand what is right in His sight.

 

True understanding,

Is gained through the Lord;

As we seek, we find,

Wisdom He’ll afford.

God shows us what’s just,

The road to do right;

If we choose listen,

Confusion takes flight.

Understanding comes,

As we hear His voice;

True wisdom granted,

To make the right choice.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we listen to You, You grant us understanding of what is just and fair and how to do what is right. Forgive us for the times we neglect to listen, or choose to ignore the instructions that we have heard, to do what we think is best. Teach us to trust You and Your ways, as You know the outcome before we ever begin. Show us how to love those around us in a way that is just and fair, and that models doing right. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we listen to You and follow the road that You make plain to do what is right. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21

Waiting in Hope

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. – (Psalm 62:5, NLT)

God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as He says. Everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not? – (Psalm 62:5, MSG)

 

Waiting. For some things, this is not so difficult, as I have seen and known the Lord’s faithfulness a thousand times before, so waiting once again, is not a challenge. However, there are areas in my life, despite knowing His character and love for me, that I struggle to wait in hope. Quiet is my nature, but trusting rather than questioning the ultimate outcome when things appear unfavorable, is an ongoing learning process. This has to be a daily decision, to wait quietly before the Lord and place my hope in Him, rather than what I see or do not see in front of me. May we all choose to trust in His timing, and wait on He who is the provider of all of our hope.

 

Let all that I am,

image from quotespictures.com

Wait before the Lord;

Quietly trusting,

His grace to afford.

For He is our hope,

The answer to all;

Whatever the need,

On Him we should call.

No matter how long,

He asks us to wait;

His timing’s perfect,

Not early or late.

Lord help me to wait,

In quiet, choose hope;

You are the answer,

That we need to know.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help and our hope. Thank You that we can trust You in all things and at all times. Forgive us for our impatience and our lack of faith. Teach us to wait patiently before You in hope, trusting that You are able to do exceedingly more than we could ever hope or imagine. Show us how to love others in such a way that we would be beacons of hope where it is lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we wait quietly before You, placing all of our hope in You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5

Use Your Body to Glorify God

You have been purchased at a great price, so use your body to bring glory to God! – (1 Corinthians 6:20, VOICE)

 

When we are in Christ, our bodies are not our own. We have made room and extended the invitation for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within us. If I am mindful of that, I operate far more intentionally with my body, than I might otherwise. I know that my body operates best if it is well-nourished, given plenty of exercise and ample rest. Additionally, my body benefits from being trained to submit to whatever schedule is necessary to create time and space to begin my day in the word and with prayer. The price that was paid for my freedom in Christ can never be repaid, so the least I can do is glorify Him with all that I have. May we each use the body we have been given to bring glory to God. Let our hands serve, our hearts be open, our mouths speak, our ears hear, and our feet be willing to go wherever He is calling.

 

We each are body,

Redeemed at a price;

That we can’t afford,

We’re given new life.

Because of this gift,

The least we can do;

Is glorify God,

With the things we choose.

Let our bodies be,

Instruments of peace;

Giving God glory,

All praise be released.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You Jesus, that Your sacrifice provided life for all eternity for all who choose to believe in You. Thank You for a healthy body that can do incredible things. Forgive us for not using our bodies to bring glory to You. Teach us how to honor You with our bodies in all things. Help us to love others in such a way, that they see You through our offering. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we use our bodies to bring glory to You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3

Home Among Us

I will make My home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. -(Ezekiel 37:27, NLT)

Though this promise was given to Ezekiel for the people of Israel, it remains true and valid for those who follow Him today. When we invite Christ to be The Lord of our lives, He comes and dwells among us. We are His, bought at a price that not one of us could afford. May we embrace this amazing grace and go forth in love, as we have been loved.

 

Where dry bones once lay, 

New life has been breathed;

There’s purpose and hope, 

For all who believe. 

When we make the choice,

To serve God alone;

The Lord comes and dwells,

Makes our heart His home. 

He is our great God,

And we are called His;

No more a dry land,

We’ve a call to live. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You, You make Your home among us.  Thank You that You are our God and we are Your people. Thank You that You breathe life where none could be found, and You call us each to more. Forgive us for getting comfortable in places that are dark and lacking life. Teach us to trust and rely on You to know how to be light and life, and to know when to walk away. Show us how to love as You so lavishly love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace Your presence among us. Amen.
May God Almighty grant you mercy. – Genesis 43:14

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Praying on Purpose

It is easy to get caught up in the rigor of daily life, and forget just how critical it is to lift up one another in prayer. When we cover each other, there is power released through our prayers. Protection, courage, passion and perseverance all come by His grace when choose to be intentional in our prayers.

 

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. – (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NLT)

 

That is the very sort of covering that I desire, so that I might live my life worthy of His call. I am well aware that on my own, I cannot accomplish that which I am prompted to do. However, by His strength, I can do all things that He asks of me. Faithful women of prayer have gone before me. My grandmother and my mom are both women whom I know have lifted many words heavenward on my behalf. The grace that I have been given, has largely been prayed in by them and faithful friends. I desire to do the same. May we each have the seed planted deep within our heart, so that we would be people who faithfully and consistently pray for those around us.

 

Power is released,

When we choose to pray;

The grace to do good,

To walk in His way.

As faith leads us on,

Shows us what to do;

Ask God for the help,

To see His plan through.

May we choose live lives,

Worthy of You, Lord;

Praying by Your grace,

Use all You afford.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and the power that is released when people pray. Thank You that You hear every prayer that is lifted before You, and You give what is needed to accomplish that which we are called to do. Forgive us for our lack of faithfulness in prayer. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would bring before You, every need, concern, praise, and hope – daily. Show us how to pray as You would have us pray. Lead us to love those around us in a way that encourages each to seek You for strength and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pray for the people around us, trusting You to enable each of us to live lives worthy of our call. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – 1 Chronicles 16:31

Choosing Strength and Courage

This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – (Joshua 1:9, NLT)

 

As I prepare to depart for a four-day conference in Denver, this is an excellent reminder. Though I am not necessarily feeling fearful, I am a bit uneasy, as I venture into the unknown. Being away from my boys while I fly several states away, and tackling new training for a job that I want to do to the best of my ability, are triggers for a bit of nervousness. I know that God will go before me, be with me, and will be with my boys, but it is still an unknown. Strength and courage come as we choose to trust, so I must choose to trust this day anew. May we each hold the truth in our hearts as the new lies before us. Not only are we called to trust, but He commands us to be strong and courageous in Him. The Lord does not ask of us anything that He will not also equip us to do. Let us go forth in His strength and courage today.

 

With courage and strength,

Choose trust in the Lord;

For He’s always near,

With grace to afford.

Whatever we need,

The Lord freely gives;

To help and to guide,

So in Him, we live.

As our God commands,

Be strong and be brave;

The Lord’s ever near,

And by grace, He saves.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we need not be afraid nor discouraged in You. Thank You that You command us to be strong and courageous – not in our own strength, but in Yours. Thank You that You are with us wherever we go. Forgive us for our fearfulness and lack of faith. Teach us to trust You more, as You go before us and make a way where we are uncertain or afraid. Show us how to love others well, so that they too might find their strength and courage in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to be strong and courageous because You are with us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you.” – Exodus 33:19