Endings and Beginnings

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:114, NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope. – (Psalm 119:114, NLT)

You are my hiding place and my shield of protection; I hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:114, VOICE)

 

Though David often had need for the Lord to be his literal hiding place, there were times too, that he needed his heart to be covered and “hidden” by God. For me, that is more often the space that I find myself in. When the cares of my circumstances become overwhelming or seem far too heavy to bear, it is in that space that I need seek Christ to cover my heart with His, as He is my place of refuge and a shield about me. He renews my hope with the truth of His word and reminds me anew of who He is. Today, I am being granted the gift of time with my boys as they prepare to leave for a ten-day cruise with the Sea Scouts. I had hoped and prayed for a way to get home to help them pack and prepare and send them off, and God has been faithful to provide faithful friends for such a time as this, so that I could do exactly that and know that mom is in great hands and comfortable in my brief absence.

Yesterday was an incredible day to end mom’s therapies in Washington. As she met with Nick, her physical therapist, he had me guide mom through the paces of navigating her front steps with her hemi-walker. Giving her verbal cues and only keeping a hand touching her low back to remind her that I was present if there was a need, she was able to go down the steps, walk some steps in the grass, turn around, and then return up the stairs. It was the very first time since her stroke that mom had set foot on grass, and after Nick left, she could not stop the tears from falling. For her, it was yet another mile-marker that reminded her that hope is tangible and that she is truly making progress. A few hours later, mom had her final session with Susan, her speech therapist. The beautiful thing about speech therapy is that there is much opportunity to visit, as word recall is largely called forth through conversation. Time flew by, and goodbyes were difficult. Lastly, a bit later in the afternoon, was Larissa, mom’s occupational therapist. Larissa went to great lengths to make certain that we had a solid plan in place for ongoing exercises and stretches for mom to be doing daily during the gap time between now and when therapies begin in Oregon. She has been innovative and kind, and has gone above and beyond to help research and facilitate mom’s needs. As she was leaving, she refused to call it goodbye, but rather a “see you later.” Each of mom’s therapists parted ways with mom with hugs and words of well-wishes, encouraging her and letting her know how much they had loved working with her and how much they would miss her. Mom has a way of winning folks over quickly, and once she has, she is not forgotten. My hope and prayer now, is that she will find the same to be true of her new therapists in Oregon, and that she will discover a new community with which to connect during her season in that space. God has always been her refuge, and I trust that He will continue to provide her hope and tangible evidence of His faithfulness.

 

My refuge and shield,

Where all hope is found;

The God of all grace,

Your word’s always sound.

You grant me safety,

And You cover me;

My heart is hidden,

In You, lovingly.

Hidden from the things,

That make me choose fear;

Blind to Your presence,

As You’re ever near.

Help us ever seek,

The light of Your grace;

For goodness is found,

Following Your ways.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our safety and our refuge, and that we can ever find hope in Your word. Thank You that You are present to help and protect and provide. Forgive us for our fearfulness in the unsteady or the unknown. Teach us to trust You more. Show us how to love those around us in a way that offers peace and grace and safety. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust and hope in You forever. Amen.

 

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

 

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:2

Conferred by Christ

You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – (Luke 22:28-30, NIV)

 

You men have stayed with Me through many struggles. So I give you authority to rule with Me in the kingdom the Father has given Me. You will eat and drink at My table in that kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. – (Luke 22:28-30, ERV)

 

Jesus offered these words to His disciples at the last supper on the night He was betrayed. Though they had just been arguing about who among them was the greatest, Jesus pointed them to the proper perspective on personal position, and then proceeded to acknowledge all of them as His faithful friends who would be seated at His table in Heaven. Our charge is to serve, rather than concern ourselves with attaining a place of power. Whatever our position, we are called to serve and honor Christ. If we seek to serve, rather than be served, our heavenly rewards far outweigh any earthly acquisitions we might hope for. To know that we will be in Christ’s presence forever, is reason enough to seek Him all the more. May we be faithful to stand firm, and rest assured in the reward that is yet to come in Christ.

 

When we seek the Lord,

His power resides;

He dwells within us,

so near, He abides.

Christ’s great faithfulness,

and goodness alone;

ought to compel us,

make our heart His home.

With hearts set to serve,

may we go in peace;

to honor our King,

His glory, release.

When our days are done,

and we stand alone;

may we hear, “Well done,

come child, you are home.”

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You, we find You, and You love us to life. Thank You that You sent Your Son to show us the way to love and serve, as You want us to do. Forgive us for being more concerned about our position or acquisitions than about people. Teach us to prioritize as You do. Let Your love lead us to serve others, so that they too, might come to know the truth. May many find their way to a lasting relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we seek to serve as You call and equip us to do. Amen.

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

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23

God’s Gift in Grief

It is not good to navigate grief, nor face trials all on our own.  God gives us people to walk beside us and keep watch.  Though our first and foremost resource is our Heavenly Father, He created us to need people too.  In the glory of His goodness, He allows people to be His hands, heart and voice.  Jesus in us, makes Christ tangible to others, when we are faithful friends who do life with one another.

This morning, as I read further in Matthew, something stood out to me in a new way.  “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.” – (Matthew 26:38)  Though Jesus, who was fully God, did not need to have people with Him, He wanted to have friends near Him in His hour of need to keep watch, as He knew what He would soon endure.  If the God of all creation wants to keep friends near when trials come, how much more should we desire the same?  We are relational creatures, created to be in relationship with God and with people.  We must do both to obey the greatest command: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Luke 10:27, also Mt 22:37, Mk 12:30) 

God’s greatest gift,

in the face of grief;

His heart made known,

friendship’s sweet relief.

For we are called,

to love people well;

as Christ loves us,

our actions do tell.

To walk beside,

through the good and bad;

grants glimpses of,

our Heavenly Dad.

Seek Father first,

and let people in;

we are all made,

for sweet communion.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created us to be relational people.  Thank You that even Jesus, in His hour of need, wanted to have those closest to Him nearby.  Though His priority was time with You, the nearness of friends was also good.  Forgive us for the times that we isolate ourselves, not wanting to bother those who care about us and are a gift from You, and for the times that our priorities are out of order and we do not seek You first.  Help us to know the balance.  Teach us how to seek You first, and to know when to reach out, and when we are meant to sit in Your presence on our own for a time.  Thank You that You love us so well.  May we be a blessing to those around us, as we choose to love as we are loved.  May many come to know You as their Redeemer and Friend.  Be glorified in our love for You and for those around us.  Amen.

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

Forgiveness Fuels Freedom

Stuck in this body,

image by hoyasmeg @ flickr

trapped in my shame.

Were my sinful ways,

alone to blame?

These four faithful friends,

now carry me.

Hope to see Jesus,

maybe set free?

The place is a zoo,

there’s no way in.

That stopped not my friends,

they always win.

They climbed on the roof,

and cut out a hole.

Brought me way up high,

to reach the goal.

I was lowered down,

before His feet;

so vulnerable,

this way to meet.

Nerves frayed, I dared look –

into His eyes.

“You are forgiven,”

was His reply.

In that one moment,

just Him and me,

I knew His power,

I was now free!

People in the crowd,

questioning hearts,

Jesus addressed them,

to tell God’s part.

He said unto me,

“Get up and walk.”

So, I did just that.

Amazed was the talk.

(Responding to Mark 2:1-12)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, there is freedom.  Thank You that You forgive us from all that paralyzes our hearts and minds, and prevents us from embracing the truth.  Forgive us for holding onto that which keeps us bound, and lead us to further freedom in You.  Teach us to trust You with our whole heart, so that we might live and love well.  Please grant healing to the hearts, minds and bodies of all who are in need of Your healing touch, and may each one be ever aware that the healing has come from You.  Use us Lord, to encourage and bless those around us, and may many come to call You King.  Amen.

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