The Word Among Us

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – (John 1:14, NIV)

The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw His divine greatness – the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. – (John 1:14, ERV)

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. – (John 1:14, MSG)

Jesus came close so that we would know who God is and what He is like. I love The Message translation of this verse as it shows how tangible and present Jesus became so that we would know Him. Incredibly, even though we do not live in the same time as when Jesus was on earth in the flesh, we see tangible evidence of who He is and how He loves through those around us and through all that His hands have made. The Word comes alive in our hearts as we seek Him, and He shows us more and more of who He is. Grace and truth surround us as His love overwhelms us. May we ever seek the One who is the Word and made His dwelling among us.

The Word of the Lord,

The truth is alive;

Actively teaching,

Instructions to thrive.

It is by His grace,

That His heart is shown;

In goodness and love,

He makes Himself known.

Father, please help us,

To ever seek You;

Our Help and our Hope,

All things that are true.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your one and only Son to show us who You are and how You love. Thank You that Your grace is plentiful, and Your love is unending. Forgive us for the times that we somehow make You small. Thank You that You are greater than all that we face and that Your grace is sufficient to meet our every need. Teach us to trust You more. Lead us in Your love so that we may make Your heart tangibly known to those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank and praise You for making Yourself clearly known. Amen.

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

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – John 1:1

Always Rejoice

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus. – (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ERV)

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. – (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, MSG)

Though it has been a whirlwind of a four-day adventure, with hundreds of miles driven, gratitude has been at the forefront of my mind. Joy comes from within, not from our circumstances. We can give thanks in all circumstances without giving thanks for our circumstances. When mom fell and broke her hip, we were not grateful that it happened, but we were overwhelmingly grateful that it took place in her current living situation where help was available immediately. Each step, from transfers, to the right surgeon, to space being available in her own community, we have countless reasons to be thankful. The staff and the skilled nursing center are amazing, and all of us are learning and working together to figure out how to best get mom on the road to healing and full recovery. Additionally, our quick turn-around visit to Wenatchee to pack a moving pod with more of mom’s things was reason to rejoice. Though the pod appeared smaller than anticipated, my Viking was able to “tetras” the loading so well that we were able to get everything needed into that small space. We are thankful that all was able to be packed up, and for the option of a pod being delivered instead of having to drive back to Albany (seven hours from Wenatchee) only to return home (another 4+ hours of driving). We arrived home late yesterday afternoon and were showered with affection from our pups, who though well cared for by our children, act as if we have been gone forever. We are thankfully rejoicing that we have all of today to go to church and prepare for the week ahead before Monday arrives. May we ever rejoice in the Lord for His goodness, give Him thanks in all things, and continue to pray to Him in all circumstances, for He is faithful forever.

Rejoice in the Lord,

For He’s always good;

Our Help and our Hope,

True grace understood.

He hears ev’ry prayer,

And knows all our needs;

He’s present to help,

Each time that we seek.

So, give the Lord thanks,

No matter what comes;

For He’s always good,

The Most Holy One.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can rejoice in You, always. Thank You that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but rather is because You are present to help and love us endlessly. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations that try to steal our joy in You. Teach us to continually seek You in prayer, for You are faithful forever as You hear our every cry. Lead us to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we rejoice in You, pray continually, and give You all our thanks and praise. Amen.

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

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You. – Psalm 5:11

Our Hope and Our Help

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. – (Psalm 33:20, NIV)

So we will wait for the Lord. He helps us and protects us. – (Psalm 33:20, ERV)

We live with hope in the Eternal. We wait for Him, for He is our Divine Help and Impenetrable Shield. – (Psalm 33:20, VOICE)

This morning, I woke in a surreal space as I am still trying to process reality. Last evening, my mom fell in her apartment and was injured. Thankfully, she was in a space where help was available right away, and after my sister arrived, mom was taken to the ER by ambulance. The good news is that she did not hit her head, but the challenge is that she broke her hip and will be having surgery either this afternoon or tomorrow. Another point of gratitude is that she was able to be transferred to a bigger hospital with a remarkable surgeon, and said surgeon is available and now in charge of mom’s care. Being 4.5 hours away makes for a heavy heart for me. I am one to hop in the car and get wherever I need to be, but unfortunately, such a trip would not be beneficial right now, as visitors are limited, and my sister is able to be present. This is the sort of space where I must wait in hope, and trust that God is mom’s Healer and Help in this painful place she is in. If you are one to pray, please include mom, as she needs extra strength to navigate surgery and the recovery process.

Lord, we are waiting,

With hope held in You;

Our faithful Healer,

And peace that is true.

With thanks, we trust You,

And all that You are;

Our hope and our help,

Wherever we are.

May Your protection,

Surround and bring peace;

Our great Comforter,

Through Whom love won’t cease.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help and our protection throughout all our days. Thank You that despite what we see or do not understand, You are present to strengthen, give help and hope. Forgive us for our frustrations and fears when bad things happen. Teach us to lean further into You, for You are our hope, our help, our strength, and our protection in all things. Show us how to love those around us through challenges in ways that further our faith. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to be our help and protection, and to be overwhelmingly present for mom. Amen.

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

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 124:8

He Is Risen

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” – (Matthew 28:5-6, NIV)

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, the One who was killed on the cross. But He is not here. He has risen from death, as He said He would. Come and see the place where His body was.” – (Matthew 28:5-6, ERV)

The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as He said. Come and look at the place where He was placed.” – (Matthew 28:5-6, MSG)

The empty tomb was not at all what the women expected when they reached the tomb, yet there it was, the stone rolled away and an awe-inspiring angelic host with news too good to be true, standing before them. I imagine in their grief and disbelief, they needed assurance that first, they had nothing to fear, for the angel was present to share the good news, and second, that the Savior had risen, just as He said He would do. His resurrection is our redemption, for it is because there is life after the death of sin and shame that we have hope in the promise of life everlasting with Him. Jesus defeated death, rose, and returned to life, and ultimately ascended to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. All this because He loves us all and made the way for us to know God and have access to Him personally. Though today is not a typical Easter for me, I am embracing His goodness and love that made the way for me to know Him and be in relationship with Him forever. He is our hope, our help, and our future as we trust in Him and all that He has done on our behalf. May we ever praise the Lord for conquering sin and shame as He took on our sins and defeated death for our sake.

The tomb was empty,

The stone rolled away;

Angelic presence,

To announce the way.

The news he proclaimed,

Was what was foretold;

The Christ had risen,

Presence to behold.

Such astonishment,

Flooded hearts and minds;

For an empty tomb,

Unexpected find.

Soon fear and concern,

Turned into great joy;

The Lord had risen,

His power employed.

Such celebration,

For Christ overcame;

Death could not hold Him,

This joy to proclaim.

O Lord, please help us,

To never forget;

What You did for us,

As You paid our debt.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us with a love so strong that it held You to a cross to take on our sin and shame. Thank You that Your power defeated death and rose again to show us that in You, there is hope everlasting. Forgive us for our flippant observance of this day. Teach us to recognize the holiness that is held in Your resurrection and the hope that we have in You because of the depth of Your love. Show us how to love those around us in ways that share hope in the promise of You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we celebrate Your goodness and gift that You gave all for us so that we might know You. Amen.

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

He is not here; He has risen! – Luke 24:6a

Unfailing Love

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. – (Psalm 33:22, NIV)

Lord, we worship you, so show your great love for us. – (Psalm 33:22, ERV)

O Eternal, drench us with Your endless love, even now as we wait for You. – (Psalm 33:22, VOICE)

This weekend has been an opportunity to feel this well. My hope and my praise are in God, as He has blessed me with tangible evidence of His endless and unfailing love. Nearly fifty years of friendship and family, our sister retreat has been an incredible blessing of laughter and love. To know and be known is one of the ways that God gives us glimpses of Him through those around us. Connection in the comfort of a slowed pace with no agenda have provided a retreat and refreshment that each of us needed most. Sharing meals together with easy-flowing conversation, with comfort in silence and in chatter, my heart is full as we prepare to part ways a little later this morning. God’s goodness and love have been tangibly evident, from the sweet little space that we have stayed in, nestled neatly in the woods with the sounds of a creek flowing nearby, the rain rhythmically falling on the roof, and through the opportunity to gather and share life together with lifelong loved ones. May we ever worship the Lord, who is our hope, for all blessings flow from His heart of love.

O Lord, unto You,

May our praises flow;

As You are with us,

Wherever we go.

Your presence made known,

Through tangible love;

Each blessing poured out,

From You, up above.

Ever we thank You,

For love that You give;

Hope through each heartache,

Joy and strength we live.

For times to gather,

And truly feel known;

The blessings outpoured,

As Your love is shown.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are so good. Thank You that as we hope in You, You show us Your overwhelming and unending love. Thank You for the blessing of loved ones near and far, as You place people in our lives with purpose. Thank You for the gift of family and lifelong friendships, for each are evidence of Your goodness and love. Forgive us for neglecting the relationships that You have established. Help us to prioritize time with You and time together. Show us how to love one another well, in the same way that You love us all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as Your heart is made evident through goodness, hope and love. 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

Jesus is Lord

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. – (Romans 10:9-10, NIV)

If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from death, you will be saved. Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in Him, so we are saved. – (Romans 10:9-10, ERV)

So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth that “Jesus is Lord,” then you will be saved! Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that’s right with God; confession departs from our lips and brings eternal salvation. – (Romans 10:9-10, VOICE)

Salvation is a gift from God for all who believe and profess that Jesus is Lord. This transpires when the head and the heart are aligned with Him. It is not merely believing that God exists, for even the devil believes. It is a trust in the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done, and then using our mouth to speak the truth that we know. The sacrifice that Jesus made provides the covering we need to be forgiven, and His forgiveness is granted freely as we ask. As we walk in His forgiveness and pursue a life with Him, we are promised both His presence in the here and now, and space with Him for all of eternity. May we ever invest our lives in leaning into Jesus so that we grow deep roots in Him and reflect more clearly the very heart of God in all that we say and do.

O Lord, You are good,

In all of Your ways;

Our help and our hope,

Throughout all our days.

Salvation belongs,

To all who seek You;

And trust in Your Name,

And all that You do.

May our mouths speak truth,

And our lives display;

The goodness in You,

Throughout each new day.

Show us, Lord Jesus,

How to live lives true;

So our words and deeds,

Point others to You.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are so good. Thank You that You sent Your Son to live, die, conquer death, and rise to be seated at Your righteous right hand. Thank You that it is through believing that Jesus is Lord and through confessing our need for You that we are saved and granted hope for both now and all of eternity. Forgive us for the times that our words and deeds have not reflected the truth we know in You. Teach us to walk out each day in awe and reverence of You, so that we may more clearly reflect Your heart to those around us. Show us how to love one another in ways that make Your heart known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the grace that You give, believe that Your word is true, and profess our faith through our words and actions as we go about each new day. Amen.

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

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11

A New Thing

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)

“So don’t remember what happened in earlier times. Don’t think about what happened a long time ago, because I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true. I will even make a road in the desert, and rivers will flow through that dry land.” – (Isaiah 43:18-19, ERV)

Eternal One: Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by. Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert; waters will flow where there has been none. – (Isaiah 43:18-19, VOICE)

Of course, it is important to look back, reflect, and remember God’s goodness in the days gone by, yet we do not want to dwell in it and not look forward with anticipation for all that lies ahead. God is ever making things new, as He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. Our purpose is not used up or merely a thing of the past. Each day we draw breath, God has purpose for our lives. He opens doors, levels paths, and helps us navigate obstacles to continue to walk in His ways. I know for many of us, 2022 was not a year that we have any desire to repeat. However, even so, we can look back at His faithfulness and carry that with us as we look forward to the coming year. No matter what comes, God is good, and He is for us. We need not worry about the future, but rather ought to view what is yet to come as opportunity for God to show up and demonstrate His goodness and love. It is fascinating, as the older I get, the more I recognize that I am present in the moments, rather than worrying about taking photos. I put together a year in review collage of some highlights, only to discover there were many moments missed in pictures that left a lasting imprint on my heart. God is so good, and I can look forward with eager anticipation for all the new that He will do. May we ever seek the Lord and wait on Him, for He prepares the way, walks beside us, and never leaves us as we journey this life with Him.

Look ahead in faith,

Choose trust in the Lord;

He’s paving the way,

As we walk forward.

As we look to Him,

No matter what comes;

Trust is made certain,

May His will be done.

Always God is good,

And He remains near;

Our help and our hope,

Remover of fear.

Look back with all thanks,

For His faithfulness;

With eyes fixed forward,

On coming newness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can look back and see how You walked beside us to help us know that You will always be present in all that lies ahead. Thank You that in You, we have a hope and a future. Forgive us for the times that we have fixated on the past rather than looked forward to what You will do in and through us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would gaze into the coming year with gladness, knowing that You will make a way and do new things. Lead us to love those around us in ways that demonstrate Your love and faithfulness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we look forward to all that You will do in the coming year. Amen.

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

To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:23-24

He Sustains Me

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. – (Psalm 54:4, NIV)

Look, my God will help me. My Lord will support me. – (Psalm 54:4, ERV)

But see now! God comes to rescue me; the Lord is my valiant supporter. – (Psalm 54:4, VOICE)

This has been one of those weeks where the days are extraordinarily long, yet in hindsight, I am not sure how it is now Wednesday. Monday began with a sore throat and the school day closed with a fight in my 6th period class. Yesterday, my throat didn’t hurt but my voice was fading. Thankfully, no fights, just some high energy kids who are as ready for break and I am. Today is an early release day for the students, so a change in the routine might be good. What I do know is that God has sustained and helped me for the last few days, and I know he will be present still. Tomorrow will be a marathon, as it is our first gymnastics meet of the season, and we are hosting. Knowing that God is with me is a comfort and encouragement to keep pressing forward. My sister and brother-in-love are moving mom to Albany today as well. They have packed and cleaned and sorted and prepared to help mom have a smooth move to be closer to family. It is clear that God has been present, as mom is excited to be so much closer to family and to be moving to a space with built-in community. All this to say that there is much going on and I am a bit overloaded, however, I know God is with me and that He is upholding me as I go – one day, one hour, and at times, one minute at a time. May we ever seek the Lord, our Sustainer and Savior, for He is faithful to help us navigate all things that come our way.

O Lord, You are good,

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In everything;

Our help and our hope,

Loving offering.

Your grace is our help,

Your love holds us up;

Your strength sustains us,

In You there’s enough.

O Lord, keep holding,

My life in Your hands;

Remind me anew,

That in You I stand.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help and the One who sustains us when we are feeling depleted. Thank You that You are ever-present to help and You hold us up with Your loving hands. Forgive us for our desire to quit when things are overwhelming. Teach us to lean into You and remember Who gives us the strength and support that we need to overcome all that comes our way. Show us how to love, support and encourage those around us in ways that make Your heart tangible to all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your help that sustains us. Amen.

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

Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. – Psalm 5:2

In All Things Praise

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – (Colossians 3:17, NIV)

Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. – (Colossians 3:17, ERV)

Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father. – (Colossians 3:17, VOICE)

This verse, paired with what I know and love about the Psalms, remind me that it is okay to struggle with and lament what is going on, yet we must ultimately fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. David was a man after God’s own heart, and he questioned, lamented and cried out to God, yet ever kept perspective on who God is and gave Him the thanks that belongs to God alone. Right now, I am still reeling a bit from the prognosis I received from the specialist on Wednesday. I am still grateful that the carcinoma was discovered sooner than later, yet I am very much dreading the process of the prescribed procedure. It is not the pain I fear, but rather my body’s reaction to the process. God is good, and He will supply all that I need, however, my humanity is not looking forward to any of it, and the specialist’s insistence that I be fast-tracked to have the surgery sooner than later, adds a bit of angst as well. This is the space that I can pause and remember God’s incredible faithfulness in my life thus far, and His kindness to provide a long weekend to process and prepare my heart before heading back into the work week. Additionally, there is just enough activity sprinkled in, that I will not have too much time to dwell on what lies ahead. There is time to rest, to spend time with my loved ones, to cuddle my dogs extra often, to coach my gymnasts as they are working on building routines, and to celebrate the retirement of one of our dearest friends. I am missing my mom and sister terribly this holiday weekend, but know that I can joyfully anticipate time together at Christmas. May we ever fix our eyes on Jesus, our Help and our Hope in all things, and give Him all of our praise for His faithfulness throughout all of our days.

O Lord, in all things,

Will You help me praise;

Your great faithfulness,

Throughout all my days.

Each day You are good,

Even when life’s not;

You share our burdens,

Each time that You’re sought.

Thank You for kindness,

For goodness and grace;

For hope and Your help,

On difficult days.

Thank You, Lord Jesus,

That You’re good always;

And Your faithfulness,

Is reason to praise.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good, faithful, loving and kind, and the Provider of all that we need each day. Thank You that no matter what lies ahead, we have You to walk beside us and to carry us when we can walk no further. Forgive us for our fears of the unknown, for You are known in all, even when what lies ahead is not. Teach us to trust You more each day, and lead us to live out each day trusting in Your unfailing love that never leaves us. Show us how to love, encourage and support those around us in ways that make Your love tangible and Your goodness evident. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to praise You throughout all of our days. Amen.

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

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me. – Psalm 13:6

Thankful For The Unshakable

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. – (Hebrews 12:28, NIV)

So we should be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And because we are thankful, we should worship God in a way that will please Him. We should do this with respect and fear. – (Hebrews 12:28, ERV)

Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him. – (Hebrews 12:28, VOICE)

Gratitude ought to be our mode of operation throughout each new day. A thankful heart is not dependent on merely that which we are walking into, but rather gratitude can look back and see the incredible ways that God has moved on our behalf, and look ahead to the faithfulness of God and the hope that is yet to come through eternity spent in His presence. Even in the here and now of difficulty, there are always things to be thankful for. For me, that includes the people whom God has placed around me, and those He has blessed me with as family. To worship God in a way that will please Him is all about the state of our heart. When our heart is full of awe and reverence for who God is and how He loves, our every act of worship is a reflection of such, and is pleasing to Him who we worship. May we ever let our hearts overflow with gratitude for He who deserves all of our worship forever. 

All thanks be to God,

Who sits on the throne;

Our help and our hope,

Through Whom love is shown.

He’s faithful always,

No matter what comes;

So let us give thanks,

For all He has done.

Even through heartache,

And difficulty;

His presence is clear,

Magnificently.

God’s presence gives hope,

Strength, life and His love;

Our anchor secure,

We are His beloved.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are receiving Your kingdom both now and forevermore. Thank You that this means that we have help and hope in You, no matter what lies ahead. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations that block our view of who You are and how You love. Teach us to trust in You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us in ways that grant hope and demonstrate gratitude. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank You and praise You for who You are and how You love. Amen.

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

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. – Psalm 125:1