The Hope We Know

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. – (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)

But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. But answer them in a gentle way with respect. – (1 Peter 3:15, ERV)

Exalt Him as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. – (1 Peter 3:15, VOICE)

If we revere, exalt, and keep holy Christ in our hearts, then we cannot help but have an answer for the hope we hold. When asked, we ought to be ready to answer why we have such hope. However, it is important that we do so humbly and respectfully, as our own experience speaks the loudest and is irrefutable. In my own life, I have seen and experienced the faithfulness of God so many times that there is no denying His existence or His love for me. Yes, there have been challenges, trials, and heartache, but each time, God has faithfully met me and provided His strength and love to carry me through when I could not walk on my own. He meets us both in our lack and our plenty, and He shows us His goodness, grace, and peace. May we ever seek the Lord and give Him praise, and trust Him to supply the words that clearly explain the hope we hold forever in Him.

Lord, You are our hope,

throughout all our days;

blessed assurance,

for now and always.

Our calm through the storms,

that life brings our way;

comfort in chaos,

strength that’s new each day.

True joy in sorrow,

hope when in despair;

faithful sweet presence,

that shows us He cares.

All things that are good,

sweet blessings from Him;

glimpses of heaven,

that let His light in.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, we know hope and help, joy and peace, and Your sweet presence that promises that all in the here and now is temporary, but our future with You is eternal. Thank You that You show us again and again that hope in You is what lasts. Forgive us for the times that we have lost sight of an eternal perspective when the present presses beyond what we can navigate on our own. Continue to teach us over and over that You are good, faithful and true. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make our hope in You evident and obtainable. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You anew each day, and remind us again of how to share the hope we know with all who are longing to hear. Amen.

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

Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:5

You Alone

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You. – (Nehemiah 9:6, NIV)

You are God. Lord, only You are God. You made the sky and the highest heavens and everything in them. You made the earth and everything on it. You made the seas and everything in them. You give life to everything. All the heavenly angels bow down and worship You. – (Nehemiah 9:6, ERV)

You are the Eternal, the only One. The skies are Your work alone – You made the heavens above those skies and the stars that fill them. You made the earth and everything upon it, the seas and all that lives within their depths. Your creation lives and is sustained by You, and those who dwell in the heavens fall down before You and worship. – (Nehemiah 9:6, VOICE)

Sadly, in today’s fast-paced, busy world, it is easy to lose sight of the greatness of God and all that He has done. Heaven and earth are the work of His hands, and all that has life and breath are part of His creation. His glory knows no end and those who dwell in His presence bow down and worship Him. The challenge for us is that we must be intentional to dwell in His presence or we lose sight of His greatness and glory. This month, I am participating in twenty-one days of prayer and fasting with my church. Fasting is setting aside a desire of the flesh to focus more clearly on God. Some people fast food, others fast certain types of food, others still fast technology or social media, and there are those who pause and listen to discover what might be a distracter from God that can be set aside, so that anytime it is reached for, it would be denied and replaced with focus on God through prayer. Living in the Pacific Northwest does help me recognize the glory of God often. I am repeatedly in awe of the beauty of creation, and cannot help but thank Him for all that His hands have made. Perhaps that is one of the many reasons that I love to travel, for in each new place I can witness the creativity and handiwork of God. Upon returning home, there is always the moment of awe and wonder as we witness the mountains, water, and woods that provide a glorious array of blues, greens, grays and white. Each morning as I wake, I am reminded of His kindness as I am flanked by our dogs. who love unconditionally. God’s word is alive and active, and it tells of His goodness and glory. May we ever seek the Lord to show us more and more of Himself, and may our response be one of awe and wonder as we choose to be intentional to spend time in His presence.

God of creation,

all glory is Yours;

from heaven to earth,

mountains to the shores.

Your hands have crafted,

all that is alive;

Your goodness surrounds,

for in You, we thrive.

The blessings poured out,

as Your face we seek;

Your peace and presence,

Your strength when we’re weak.

All glory we give,

to You, God alone;

for all that is good,

has come from Your throne.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all that Your hands have made. Thank You that Your goodness and glory is evident everywhere. Thank You for Your peace and presence that provide all that we need to navigate our days. Forgive us for losing sight of Your glory, for You alone deserve all of our worship and praise. Teach us to recognize Your hand in all things, and to ever praise You as we seek Your face. Lead us to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we set aside time to intentionally seek and praise You, for You alone are our reason to give thanks and praise. Amen.

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

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. – Psalm 19:1

God is… (Day 24 – Worthy of Praise)

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. – (Psalm 145:3, NIV)

The Lord is great and deserves all our praise! No one can fully understand His greatness! – (Psalm 145:3, ERV)

God is magnificent; He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness. – (Psalm 145:3, MSG)

The God of all creation, the One who is everywhere, loves everyone, and is greater than all things, is deserving of all our thanks and praise. This morning, as I am trying to focus and write what God places on my heart, my lab keeps losing his ball under the coffee table. He tries to reach his paws under it to dig the ball out, but of course the carpet does not give way like the earth would. The “digging” continues until I get down from the couch, reach under the coffee table, and free his ball that is eluding him. For me, I love him to pieces, but get annoyed after the first or second time of “rescuing the ball”. God does not operate like us. Imagine how many times in a day we each “lose our ball” and seek God to help us. In traffic, teaching middle schoolers, interacting with humans, each provide opportunity for us to lose sight of what matters, and then desperately work to get it back. However, God is not impatient with us. Each time we ask Him, He helps, redirects, and lovingly nudges us in the right direction. He is faithful to show us His heart for others as we ask, and His mercies know no end. His kindness is what leads us to repentance and makes us want to do and be better. His ways are deserving of all of our thanks and praise, and He alone is the One who is worthy. May we ever praise the Lord, for He is worthy of all of our praise.

My God is worthy,

of all of my praise;

life, love, help, and hope,

He gives all my days.

His grace and patience,

show me He is good;

the depth of His love,

can’t be understood.

All praise to You, God,

Who sits on the throne;

yet dwells among us,

making presence known.

Help us to give thanks,

our praise should not end;

each breath, each moment,

good that You extend.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You alone are worthy of all of our praise. Thank You for the countless ways that You make Your love known to us. Forgive us for losing sight of the help, hope and grace that You provide through Your unending love throughout all of our days. Teach us to recognize the work of Your hands and give You praise for who You are and how You love. Show us how to love those around us in ways that point to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we recognize that You are worthy of all of our praise and seek to honor You in all of our ways. Amen.

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

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being. – Revelation 4:11

Present Joy

When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy. – (Psalm 94:19, NIV)

I was very worried and upset, but You comforted me and made me happy! – (Psalm 94:19, ERV)

When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many, Your comfort lightens my soul. – (Psalm 94:19, VOICE)

In this second week of Advent, the focus shifts to joy. In the context of Christmas, the joy of the world has come. I appreciate the reminder in this verse, as anxiety and worries have been an ongoing battle within me for the last few weeks. The space of waiting between a diagnosis and the procedure to solve it is long. Unknowns bring concern, and waiting makes anxiety increase. However, when God’s joy rises, anxiety slips away. The two cannot coexist. When one is in the forefront, the other fades into the background. Joy is the great delight in something good, and when we know Jesus, we always have something good to delight in, thus joy dwells within us. The challenge is to not lose sight of the joy we know in Jesus. Challenges, trials, heartache and hurt all try to steal our joy, yet Jesus, for the joy set before Him, endured it all. He knew the hope held in eternity, and the knowing is what brings joy. Though we know not what tomorrow will bring, we can be certain, and find joy, in the promises of all that is yet to come and in the ongoing presence of our Savior. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him took all upon Himself so that we might know true joy in and through Him.

Joy’s always present,

If we look around;

Evidence of God,

Is easily found.

Because Jesus came,

On the cross, bore all;

Hope is forever,

Through Him joy’s installed.

As we fix our eyes,

On Jesus alone;

Anxieties flee,

And joy is made known.

So, lift up your eyes,

With hope embrace joy;

It’s not a feeling,

But truth to employ.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son into the world. Thank You that Jesus demonstrated the joy that is found in knowing You. Forgive us for allowing our fears and anxieties to steal our joy, for You have planted Your joy deep within us, and it is not dependent on how we are feeling or what is going on. Teach us how to choose joy in all circumstances. Show us how to love those around us in ways that communicate the joy that is found in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they discover the joy that comes from knowing and being loved by You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the joy that we have in You and help us to spread joy wherever we go. Amen.

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

(Let us) fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

Protective Plumage

He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. – (Psalm 91:4, HCSB)

You can go to Him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust Him to surround and protect you like a shield. – (Psalm 91:4, ERV)

Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers, will protect you under His great wings; His faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you. – (Psalm 91:4, VOICE)

Feathers provide protection, warmth, and the structure to support flight. The imagery of being covered with God’s feathers is one that feels gentle and strong, supportive and freeing, as protection and warmth are things that make us feel secure enough to spread our wings and take flight. Being surrounded by His wings provides a safe, warm space where we can rest and take refuge in Him. In this season, as the busy and unexpected challenges arise, it is so good to know that we have a safe space where we are covered, protected, and supported so that we can keep moving forward. May we ever seek the Lord to cover us with His wings, as He surrounds us like a shield and teaches us to take flight.

We are protected,

Surrounded, kept warm;

A shield about us,

Through all of life’s storms.

Covered by strong wings,

To rest and delight;

Renewed and strengthened,

So we may take flight.

To soar each season,

We find ourselves in;

And rise in His strength,

Despite where we’ve been.

Lean into His wings,

Both gentle and strong;

Secure and stable,

By grace we belong.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You cover us with Your strong and gentle wings, and You protect and encourage, through all that life brings. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when we lose sight of Your nearness. Teach us to lean into You and to rest in the hollow of Your wings. Show us how to love those around us with similar gentleness, protection and strength. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to cover us with Your wings. Amen.

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

Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge. – Psalm 16:1

Good Through All Generations

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. – (Psalm 100:5, NIV)

The Lord is good! There is no end to His faithful love. We can trust Him forever and ever! – (Psalm 100:5, ERV)

Because the Eternal is good, His loyal love and mercy will never end, and His truth will last throughout all generations. – (Psalm 100:5, VOICE)

Though I know very few stories from my family’s history prior to my grandparents, I do know that despite trials and heartaches, God’s faithful love was abundantly clear throughout their lives, is still in their children’s lives, their grandchildren’s lives, and now too, in the lives of their great-grandchildren. God’s goodness and love does not mean we will be free of challenges and trials, but it does mean that God will be near and that we can trust in the goodness of His love forever. When life is hard, the Lord is faithful to meet us with His strength to carry us and His love to lead us through. As we experience God’s goodness and faithful love, we recognize the bountiful blessings that we have in Him. May we ever give God thanks for His faithful love that we can trust forever, and praise Him because He remains the same throughout all generations.

The love of the Lord,

Is faithful and true;

Forever remains,

As He sees us through.

Every heartache,

And joyful event;

He’s present with us,

His peace, heaven sent.

So, keep trusting God,

Throughout each new day;

Forever faithful,

He’ll show us the way.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good, kind, loyal and loving throughout all generations. Thank You that we can trust in You forever, no matter what comes our way. Forgive us for the times that we lose sight of You, as our eyes become diverted by our circumstances. Teach us to look to You with total trust, and show us how to continue to make Your goodness known to those who follow after us. Lead us to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they recognize that Your faithfulness knows no end, and that You are trustworthy in all things at all times. Be glorified O God, as we recognize and praise You for Your faithful love that has been present always and will continue throughout all eternity. Amen.

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

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. – Psalm 36:5

Forever Faithful

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. – (2 Timothy 2:13, HCSB)

If we are not faithful, He will still be faithful, because He cannot be false to Himself. – (2 Timothy 2:13, ERV)

If we give up on Him, He does not give up – for there’s no way He can be false to Himself. – (2 Timothy 2:13, MSG)

For all who are in relationship with Christ, these words are an encouragement. In our frail humanity, we have the propensity to give up, lose hope, and lose sight of the truth when storms come our way. That being said, God in us, remains faithful. He stays near, and fights for us, even when we feel like giving up. In His goodness and grace, He comes and encourages our hearts and minds, and reminds us what is true. By His great love, He shows us who He is and how He is with us every moment of each new day. May we ever seek the Lord, even when we cannot see what He is doing or how He is moving, for He is present and faithful forever.

No matter the view,

We have through our days;

The Lord knows what’s true,

He’s present always.

He stays by our side,

Grants strength that we need;

Forever faithful,

Despite what we see.

When we are His own,

He will not deny;

His help and His hope,

Planted deep inside.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful, even when our faith falters. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our circumstances to cloud our view of the truth. Remind us again of Your love and what is true. Teach us to trust You and Your faithful love in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we remember that You are always faithful and present to help, no matter what we see or feel. Amen.

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

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. – Psalm 33:4

All That We Need

Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. – (Psalm 16:5, HCSB)

Lord, You give me all that I need. You support me. You give me my share. – (Psalm 16:5, ERV)

You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup. In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches. – (Psalm 16:5, VOICE)

God is good. He knows what we need and is faithful to provide. No matter what comes, He holds our future in His hands, and His plans for us are good. Though we may have to walk through valleys, He leads us back up to the mountaintops. May we ever seek the Lord in faith, trusting that He is good and that He will provide all that we need.

O Lord, You are good,

My portion always;

For You fill me up,

Throughout all my days.

You are my support,

The strength that I need;

Grace to keep going,

All peace that exceeds.

Beyond what’s hoped for,

God’s plans are divine;

Hope now and always,

His heart is for mine.

Lead us in Your love,

For Your love sustains;

Supplied forever,

As we praise Your Name.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Source and Supply, for You provide all that we need to navigate each day, now and forever. Forgive us for the times that we lose sight of Your goodness and grace. Teach us to trust in You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us in ways that provide peace, comfort and strength. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your comfort and provision, and the overwhelming blessings we behold through the power of Your great love. Amen.

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

I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. – Lamentations 3:24

Teach Us to Love

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, accept one another in love. – (Ephesians 4:2, HCSB)

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love. – (Ephesians 4:2, ERV)

With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. – (Ephesians 4:2, TPT)

This is how we are called to love one another. Love is a choice that has to be made again and again. Humility and gentleness take the time to truly listen and seek to understand. Patience propels us to persevere, to accept each other with love, especially those who are more difficult to love. As a middle school teacher, I am provided plenty of opportunities each day to practice doing just this. The kids who act out the worst are typically the ones who need patient and loving acceptance the most. Some days are easier than others, and most days are exhausting. That being said, God does not call us to an easy life, but to one of purpose that is rooted and established in love. May we ever seek the Lord to equip and empower us with His love, so that we may go forth each new day in humility, quiet patience, gentleness and generous love.

Lord, teach us to love,

As You love us all;

Lavished with Your grace,

You hear all who call.

Call on Your goodness,

Seek patience and peace;

Accept each other,

Frustrations released.

Equip us to love,

The challenging ones;

May goodness and grace,

Point hearts to the Son.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us and equip us to love as You intended. Forgive us for every time that we lose sight of what You are calling us to, and we allow our emotions or frustrations to dictate how we respond to one another. Lead us to seek and depend on You for strength, help and hope as we navigate each new day. Show us how to love as You are calling us to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love you and depend on You to show us how to love best. Amen.

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

But when we obey God’s teachings, His love is truly working in us. This is how we know that we are living in Him. – 1 John 2:5

To Love One Another

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, NIV)

The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, ERV)

For all the law can be summarized in one grand statement: “Demonstrate love to your neighbor, even as you care for and love yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, TPT)

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is a loaded statement. If we truly love our neighbors as we desire to be loved, then we are on the right track. We are not always great at loving as God intended, for we forget or lose sight of the things that define love. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is defined through telling us what love is, and what it is not. Love is patient, kind, protective, trusting, trustworthy, hopeful and perseveres. Love does not envy, boast, dishonor, anger easily, hold grudges, celebrate evil, and is not selfish. When we are patient with those around us, we are showing love. As we choose to extend kindness to others, we are living out love. Protecting those around us who cannot protect themselves is love. Choosing to assume positive intent and being trustworthy are also ways we can show love. Each time we extend hope and choose to persevere, despite obstacles, love is being made tangible to those around us. Will we get this right every time we interact with those around us? No, but the more we choose to operate in love the more we are loving our neighbors as God intended. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in a life of choosing to love well.

To love is to see,

What others might need;

Helping, equipping,

So each may succeed.

To love each other,

As Christ has loved us;

Through choices we make,

Chance to show Jesus.

Lord, help us to show,

What love truly means;

As we love others,

Help Your heart be seen.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You not only command us to love each other, but You show us what it means to do so. Forgive us for every word, thought and deed that has not displayed the love that You call us to give. Help us to seek and rely on You to lead us to love well. Show us how to love each person we encounter where they are at. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to love others as You intended. Amen.

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

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7