His Hand at Work

Help me, oh help me, God, my God, save me through Your wonderful love; then they’ll know that Your hand is in this, that You, God, have been at work. – (Psalm 109:26-27, MSG)

Lord my God, help me! Show Your faithful love and save me! Then they will know that You did it. They will know that it was Your power, Lord, that helped me. – (Psalm 109:26-27, ERV)

 

Though these words were the cry of David’s heart to God as he faced his enemies, they are still applicable today as we go through every type of trial. Yesterday, I was reminded again, countless times, of the faithful love of our Heavenly Father and the healing hope He extends through His hands and the hands and hearts of those He places around us. Throughout the day, I was reminded of His kindness and compassion for me in many ways. My students were better behaved than usual, despite not knowing my loss. Friends near and far extended sweet words of condolence and comfort, and my teaching twin, friend and fellow coach gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses (my grandmother’s name was Rose, unbeknownst to her) with a sweet card containing kind words and a verse that points to the promise my heart is holding. Practice after school went well, and I found myself smiling a bit more again. A quick run with a sweet friend followed, and further reminders of God’s goodness ensued. As I came home and was met with great greetings from my boys, gratitude filled my heart. Laughter and smiles were plentiful during my return trip to the gym with dear friends, and in the midst of my time there, a “just because” text came in and further reminded me of how truly blessed I am, and how God helps me in tangible ways in my time of need, by showing His love through the hands and hearts of those around me. May we call out to Jesus and seek His wonderful love, for there is no one who can help our hearts like Him.

 

Oh help me, my God,

By Your love and grace;

Make Your power known,

Be near in this place.

Show Your faithful love,

Through Your tender hand;

So all too may know,

By Your grace, we stand.

Thank You, Lord Jesus,

You graciously show;

Your hands and Your heart,

Through people we know.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your help and Your hope in our times of need. Thank You that You make Your love tangible through people that You place in our lives, as they remind us of how readily You are moving on our behalf. Thank You that Your faithful love saves us from despair and reminds us again and again of the hope that is forever held in You. Forgive us for not calling out to You in our need, and teach us to trust You more. Show us how to hear Your heart for those around us, equipping us to be Your hands and heart to the hurting. Help us to love others well so that many see You through Your life within us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and Your faithful love so that Your power may be made evident in our lives. Amen.

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

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

Strength in Sorrow

My spirit sags because of grief. Now raise me up according to Your promise! – (Psalm 119:28, CEB)

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word. – (Psalm 119:28, NIV)

My soul weeps and trouble weighs me down; give me strength so I can stand according to Your word. – (Psalm 119:28, VOICE)

 

Life has a way of walking us through seasons of grief. It is a space that no one longs to enter, and all desire the season to end quickly. Sadly, the only way out of a space of sorrow, is to walk through it. In order to move, we need His strength. God’s word is full of His promises to be present and to give us the strength that we need to navigate the trying trails. When we seek Him, we find Him; and He remains present, even in the most difficult places. The Lord will lift us up, take us by the hand, and lead us through the muck, until we find way to the space where we are no longer stuck in the sorrow. His peace shall remain, always. May we seek the Lord when we are weary and weighed down with the woes of this world, and trust Him to give us the strength that He has promised.

 

When sorrow surrounds,

we‘re weighed down by grief;

seek the Lord alone,

whose strength brings relief.

His promises clear,

that He will provide;

all that is needed,

to help us survive.

He will raise us up,

where grief brings us low;

as we trust in Him,

the way He will show.

Through all the heartache,

the mourning and grief;

the truth of God’s love,

is hope we can keep.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are with us and You are faithful to strengthen us, even in the weight of our sorrow. Thank You that we can stand firm in You, despite our weariness with what surrounds us. Forgive us for not seeking Your strength in our sorrow, and teach us to trust You more. Show us again Your faithfulness and unending love, in the midst of our heartaches. Lead us to love others in the middle of their trials, so that they too might see Your help and hope through our hands and hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek Your strength in our sorrow, and hold fast to Your promises – always. 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

Come Boldly

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)

 

It is easy for me to get so busy in the routine of my day, that I don’t realize how desperately I am in need of His grace. Often, He has already given it, which is why I am still standing, yet when I take pause and set my sight on Him, I recognize how much I need His grace, mercy and ongoing presence in order to navigate an ordinary day in His way. God is always available. He never leaves; He patiently waits for us to come. Our charge is to seek Him, as God is gracious and full of mercy. His arms are wide open and He is ready to grant us what is needed to faithfully honor Him in all that we do. May we boldly approach the throne of God, ready to receive His mercy and grace, as He loves us through the trials and triumphs of all of our days.

 

With boldness, let’s seek,

the throne of our God;

for that’s where our hearts,

hear heaven’s applaud.

All thanks for mercy,

gratitude for grace;

that He freely gives,

when we seek His face.

Whatever our need,

He comes where we are;

He holds hands and hearts,

collects tears in jars.

Our great gracious God,

gives hope in our need;

He helps and He loves,

our hungry soul feeds.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can come boldly before Your throne. Thank You that as we do, You grant us Your grace and mercy to help us when we need it most. Forgive us for trying to navigate our trials on our own, rather than seeking You and Your strength. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would boldly and with unwavering faith, come to You with our trials and triumphs, thankful that You are with us in all things. Show us how to love those around us in a tangible way, so that they may find mercy, grace and hope through how we love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we come boldly before You in all things and at all times, trusting You to be our help and our hope. 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

Nearness Fends Off Fear

You came near when I called You, and You said, “Do not fear.” – (Lamentations 3:57)

Why is our default fear or panic, despite the ongoing faithfulness of God? Every time I call on the Lord, He is faithful to answer, and reminds me that I need not fear. His presence is tangible, and His heart for me is made evident. Though His answers are rarely what we expect, and His timing is not our own, the Lord listens to every whisper of our heart, and every prayer raised in faith before Him. Each time fear, anxiousness or panic begins to press in, I have to remember that His words to us are, “Do not fear.” Greater is He that is in us, than anything that is in the world. That includes every struggle, situation and circumstance that we find ourselves in, as He knows the outcome before we even face the challenge. Our charge is to call on Him and to trust. He will meet us every moment, and carry us when we are no longer able to keep moving. He is good, and His heart is always for us, no matter how things appear. May we draw near to our faithful Father, as He holds our hands and hearts, and says to us, “Do not fear.”

When we call on Christ,

He hears every word;

faithful to answer,

as our voice is heard.

From our heart to His,

He’s faithful and kind;

worthy of our trust,

Most Holy, Divine.

He says, “Do not fear,”

for He is enough;

no challenge too great,

nor trial too tough.

Greater is the One,

dwelling within me;

than all that we face,

or ever will be.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You come near when we call on You, and that You remind us to fear not. Thank You that no matter what comes our way, You are greater than anything that attempts to come against us. Forgive us for forgetting how near and powerful You are. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would not fear when storms rage around us, but rather would cling to You, the anchor of our soul. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they too might see the strength and nearness found in You, and recognize that with You, there is no need to fear. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we call on You and trust Your presence to keep fear far from us. Amen.

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

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41

We Must Love

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. – (1 John 4:20-21)

Our “brother” includes all people that God places on our path.  It is not merely family members,  but ALL whom God has created in His image.  Some people are easier to love than others, but we are not called to love on our own.  If we love God and place our trust in Him, He equips and supplies us with the strength we need to do that which He calls us to do.  It is only when we neglect to extend the love that He has placed in us for others, and withhold from those who need it most, that we are living our lives as liars.  People before us can be seen with our own eyes and touched with our hands and hearts.  If we cannot choose to love those standing before us, how will we ever choose to love God, whom we cannot see, nor touch in a tangible way?  So often it is through our choice to love others, that God makes Himself tangible to both us and those whom we are loving.  May we allow the Lord to lead us today, as we go forth and love well, all whom He places on our path.

To truly love God,

we must love others;

love those who are seen,

sisters and brothers.

Not just those by blood,

but all on the earth;

all God created,

have tremendous worth.

If we love not those,

whom God gives to us;

then we don’t love Him,

our actions express.

Lord help us to love,

all whom we are near;

to love as You love,

without any fear.

God, be glorified,

as we answer You;

and make tangible,

Your love as we do.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us, even though we are sinful and broken.  Thank You that You call us to love all whom You place on our path.  Thank You that You do not expect us to do this on our own, but You equip and empower us to love others as You love us.  Forgive us for not loving those who are difficult to love, as this makes us liars.  Teach us to trust You more, so that we would be quick to extend the very same love that You give to us, to everyone around us.  May many come into a saving relationship with You, through the mercy and grace that they have been shown.  Be glorified O God, as we choose to love as You call us to love.  Amen.

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

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11

Do What You Can Do

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how His body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. – (Luke 23:55:56)

 

What stands out to me about these women, was that though they could not go and speak out on the Lord’s behalf before the Roman government or Jewish council when Jesus had been on trial because women we not permitted to do such things at that time, they did the things that they could do. They followed Jesus, even as He was taking His final steps to the site of the cross. As He hung in agony, they did not flee, but stood near, watching, waiting. After He breathed His last breath, the faithful women followed Joseph with Jesus’ body, so that they would know where He had been laid, so that Christ’s body could be properly preserved with spices and perfumes. To the ladies, their faithful acts may have seemed small and insignificant, yet clearly to Christ, they had great value. In fact, I imagine that their devotion had much to do with them being the first to see the risen Lord. May we each be faithful to the tasks that we are called to do, regardless of how we view them. What may seem insignificant to us, could actually be monumental in the eyes of the Lord.

 

Whatever we do,

let it be with grace;

may our hearts be right,

as we run our race.

May we serve with joy,

and honor the King;

may our every breath,

be an offering.

No task is too small,

to honor the One;

Who grants us new life,

through His only Son.

May our hands and hearts,

continually seek;

to love and to serve,

Your words, help us speak.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You see our hearts, and You love us where we are. Thank You that when we seek to serve You, You meet us and equip us and bless us with Your presence. Thank You that You love and forgive, the moment we ask. Forgive us for the times that we scatter, or for thinking the things that we faithfully do everyday, don’t matter. Help us to fix our eyes securely on You, and to focus on loving You and loving people. May many come to know You and Your loving kindness as we are obedient to who You have called us to be. Let the lost be found in You. Be exalted, O God, as we are faithfully devoted to You in all things. Amen.

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

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