Our Eternal Rock

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal. – (Isaiah 26:4, NIV) 

Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. – (Isaiah 26:4, MSG) 

Trust in the Eternal One forever, for He is like a great Rock – strong, stable, trustworthy, and lasting. – (Isaiah 26:4, VOICE) 

Life continues to feel uncertain with little being predictable or ordinary. Teaching online with no certain end in sight, growing responsibilities being heaped upon one another, in this time and space I am eternally grateful for the One to whom I can trust. Even when all around me is uncertain, He remains the same forever. His love, kindness, mercy, grace, and strength, are ever present and available to all who call on His Name. When all is unstable, I crave a strong, stable, trustworthy and lasting place. There is such a space; it is in the hands of Jesus. We can be strong, stable, and trust in His lasting love.  

Lord, teach us to trust, 

In Your endless love; 

Our Rock and shelter, 

Certainty above. 

Forever we trust, 

In You and Your Name; 

For You are our peace, 

And hope we can claim. 

Lord, hold us so close, 

That we are assured; 

Of grace and goodness, 

Hope in You, secured. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the eternal Rock, the One in whom we can trust forever. Thank You that You remind us and show us again and again that You are good. Forgive us for our fearfulness and anxiousness in the uncertain. Teach us to trust and lean into You, for You are faithful forever. Show us how to love those around us in ways that provide peace and security, grace and goodness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we depend on You, our faithful Rock forever. Amen. 

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

There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. – 1 Samuel 2:2

Always Love

It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV)

Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. – (1 Corinthians 13:7, ERV)

Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. – (1 Corinthians 13:7, TPT)

 

God is love. This perfect sort of love comes from Him alone. We are flawed and frail and fallen; He is good, gracious and merciful. When we seek the Lord first, He deposits these things within us, and grants us the capacity to protect, trust, hope, and persevere in love. In our broken humanity, we will never be flawless in our delivery. However, God is. When we choose to love God and love people as we are called and designed to do, we become better equipped to protect, trust, hope and persevere, as His love leads us in every area of our life that we grant Him access. The more we give God room, the more we become aware of the hope, security, and overcoming, lasting love that is found in Christ. May we ever seek the Lord with our whole heart, so that we too, may love in a way that creates a safe place of shelter, that never stops believing the best for others, never takes failure as defeat, and never gives up.

 

Our space of shelter,

When weary and worn;

He grants strength to move,

In Christ, hope’s reborn.

The One we can trust,

Protection in love;

He never gives up,

Our Help from above.

Even through the times,

When we can’t shake fear;

His presence surrounds,

To rise, persevere.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, we begin to understand the power of love. Thank You that Your love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Thank You that the more we walk with You, the better we are able to love as You love us. Forgive us for the times that we have been lacking in our love. Continue to teach us how to love like You. Show us practical and tangible ways to love those around us well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we always trust and hope in You, as You protect us and provide for us, all that we need through Your overwhelming and unending love. Amen.

 

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

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34

How We Love

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. – (1 John 4:9, NIV)

The light of God’s love shined within us when He sent His matchless Son into the world so that we might live through Him. – (1 John 4:9, TPT)

Because of this, the love of God is a reality among us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we could find true life through Him. – (1 John 4:9, VOICE)

 

We know love, because God first loved us. Jesus made the way for all who choose believe and receive, to access a love so great, that once it is known, it must be shared. The beauty of God’s love is that it is so all-encompassing that we are filled to overflowing and cannot help but give love as we have been given. Our challenge is to actually receive what is being extended. When we truly take the time to taste and see how good God is and how vast His love is for each one of us, it is impossible to not be overwhelmed with gratitude. It is in that space of grace, when we are fully aware, that we long to give that which we have been given. May we each take pause and allow God’s love to wash over us so that we may view others through His lens of love.

 

The love of the Lord,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

Is granted to us;

Ready to receive,

Through His Son, Jesus.

In Him there is life,

Grace and lasting love;

Floods both heart and mind,

As we trust above.

And as we receive,

We expand and grow;

Equipped to love well,

So grace overflows.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to show us love and to equip us with the capacity to love others as we are loved by You. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to choose to love. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may view others through Your lens of love, and extend all of Your goodness and grace to each person we meet. Show us how to love those around us in ways that demonstrate Your light and love in ways that bless their hearts most. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive all that You have to give so that we may go forth and love like You. Amen.

 

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

 

But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him. – 1 John 2:5

Resolve to Love

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. – (1 Thessalonians 3:12, NLT)

We pray that the Lord will make your love grow. We pray that He will give you more and more love for each other and for all people. We pray that you will love everyone in the same way we love you. – (1 Thessalonians 3:12, ERV)

May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity, like our love for you. – (1 Thessalonians 3:12, VOICE)

 

In Paul’s first letter to the church of Thessalonica, he admonished them to love one another, and let them know that love for one another and for people everywhere, would be his priority in prayer for all. The very same encouragement and lasting love that Paul had for the body of Christ, ought to be our example that leads us to allow love to direct our steps and choose to pray and lift up one another. A resolution to love, results in God’s love being made known. May we pray and encourage and love one another, just as the Lord loves each one of us.

 

Let love and His grace, 

Lead us each along;

For the Lord is good,

His grace makes us strong.

Strong in the spaces,

Where love can be tough;

Hope in the places,

Where we aren’t enough.

Only by His grace,

Will love in us grow;

So, ever seek Him,

That His love’s made known.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and grace. Thank You that You love us with an unending love that You plant deep within us so that we too, may love like You. Forgive us for the times that we have ignored Your leading to love. Show us how to choose to love all people at all times, even when it is the last thing we desire to do. Direct our steps so that those around us may know the greatness of Your grace and the endless depth of Your lasting love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to love as we are loved by You, and pray for others to be equipped to do the same. Amen.

 

 

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

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:8

Grow Not Weary in Doing Good

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. – (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

May we never tire of doing what is good and right before our Lord because in His season we shall bring in a great harvest if we can just persist. – (Galatians 6:9, VOICE)

 

Choosing to do the right thing can be exhausting. When everyone around us seems to be taking an easy way out, or going and doing things that He has made clear are not acceptable for us, individually, it takes His strength to keep walking the way in which we have been called. Fortunately, God does not call us to good for naught. He has a plan and a purpose for each one of us, and each time that we choose to do good, our decision can impact those around us in a way that points hearts to Him. It is so often through faithfulness over time, that people come to know the goodness of God through the loving kindness of those who choose to keep doing good. May we rise up and rely on the Lord and His lasting love to never tire of doing what is good and right before Him. In the end, the reward will far outweigh the sacrifice.

 

Let’s not grow weary,

Of doing what’s good;

For we have been called,

Make love understood.

Each time that we choose,

To do what is right;

We make God’s grace known,

Harvest of delight.

Our greatest blessing,

Awaits at the end;

So let us press on,

Choose good, love extend.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us what it means to not grow tired of doing good. Thank You Jesus, for loving with Your life, all whom You encountered. Forgive us for growing tired of choosing to do what is right, as we rely on our own strength instead of Yours. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You and Your strength in every circumstance so that we will not grow weary of doing what is good. Show us how to love and bless those around us in a way that points hearts to You, our Provider. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we grow not weary in doing good. 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

What is Required?

So often, what is expected for one to walk out a life of faith, becomes convoluted by rules and regulations that God did not impart.  If we go back to the beginning, as God was about to lead the people into the promise land, He told Moses what He required.  “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” – (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

To fear the Lord our God, is to have reverence for Him.  He is all-knowing and the Creator of all, that alone should inspire our awe.

To walk in His ways, is to live our lives in obedience to what He is asking.  This means we must come to Him and not only ask, but also be willing to listen and obey.

To love Him, is to give Him our whole heart, holding nothing back from the lover of our soul.  He who is Love, deserves nothing less.

To serve the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, is to give each day our very best unto Him.  Regardless of the obstacles that come our way, we must choose to trust Him, and seek to serve and honor Him in all that we say and do.

To observe the Lord’s commands and decrees, is best summed up by loving God and loving people.  If we do both of these, we are obeying His commands.

Peace is found not through our doing enough, but in the true recognition of who He is, and how much He loves us.  The more we know Him, the more we are compelled to respect, follow, love, serve and obey our awesome God.

Reverent fear,

for Ancient of Days;

hope and our help,

for now and always.

Seek out to serve,

with whole heart and soul;

honor, obey,

our God we extol.

Do all He asks,

and love above all;

obedience,

to answer His call.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not ask anything of us, that You won’t also equip and empower us to do.  You grant us strength to surrender, power to persevere, hope in longsuffering, and peace in the eye of the storm.  Forgive us for our fearfulness and for our lack of respect and reverence unto You, for You deserve all of our hearts, in all things and at all times.  Teach us how to trust in such a way, that we are swift to surrender all unto You.  Let Your love lead us to follow You so that we lovingly and respectfully serve You, as we obey what You ask, and love others with Your great and lasting love.  May many come to know You personally, as their Savior and King.  Amen.

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

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6

Light of the World

Jesus our light,

light of the world;

world in darkness,

darkness has stood.

True light has come,

come so we’d see;

see the right path,

path unto Thee.

Place trust in Light,

Light that will last;

last shall be first,

first will be passed.

Those in the dark,

dark hides what’s true;

true is His word,

word that guides you.

You are children,

children of Light;

light meant to keep,

keep hearts set right.

“Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons(daughters) of light.” – (John 12:35-36)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to be the Light of the world. Thank You that in Him, there is no darkness. Jesus, thank You that while we were still shrouded in darkness, You came close and shined Your light, so that we could become children of light. Forgive us for letting our light grow dim, or for keeping it hidden where we are meant to shine. Lead us and guide us in Your way, so that we may shine brightly before all who are stuck in darkness. May Your lasting love be found through the radiance that shines through all who remain in You. May many come to know Your light, so that they too, may leave darkness far behind them. Let sparks spread quickly, so that our flames will burn bright unto You. Amen.

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

Revealing Reconciliation

image by St. Mark’s Church

If there is any

good that’s done through me.

It’s because of Christ,

who has set me free.

By His willing death,

the old’s all but gone.

A new creation,

to pass His love on.

The outside, fleeting,

yet insides will last.

In Christ, a new heart,

true freedom from past.

Each of us is called,

to do all we can,

to share of His love,

with our fellow man.

All were created

to be reconciled,

but all must hear it,

to know we’re His child.

(Responding to 2 Corinthians 5:14-20)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that because You came and bore all of our ugliness, we, by Your Spirit, can be used for good.  Thank You that from the moment we come into relationship with You, we are a new creation, with a new capacity to love like You.  Forgive us for attempting anything in our own strength, and help us to be completely dependant on You.  Use us mightily Lord, to touch hurting hearts with Your lasting love that heals and grants eternal hope, so that many may enter into an everlasting relationship with You, our Redeemer.  Amen.

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