Praise for Provision

The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. – (Exodus 15:2, NIV)

The Lord is my strength. He saves me, and I sing songs of praise to Him. He is my God, and I praise Him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I honor Him. – (Exodus 15:2, ERV)

The Eternal is my strength and my song, and He has come to save me; He is my God, and I will praise Him. He is the God of my father, and I will exalt Him. – (Exodus 15:2, VOICE)

When we know the Lord as our Savior, we become acutely aware of His strength and worthiness of all of our praise. He provides as we abide in Him, no matter what our situation or circumstances. This morning, I am reminded anew of my reasons to praise Him. Though we do not have air-conditioning in the midst of a heatwave, we have a basement that stays comfortably cool. Additionally, our current weather is not a common occurrence. In some parts of the world, this is typical, and air-conditioning is not an option. There is reason to be grateful for a normally temperate climate, and for spaces of reprieve to escape the heat. May we ever sing praise to God, for He is our strength and defense, our refuge and our salvation.

My strength and my song,

Evidence of the crazy temperatures…

Belong to the Lord;

It’s His salvation,

Through love He affords.

His mercy and grace,

Forgive and set free;

Raise head, hands and heart,

To rise up and be.

He provides the strength,

Gives place to belong;

Protects, empowers,

His love makes us strong.

Strong in conviction,

Equipped well to love;

Let’s sing unto Him,

The Lord up above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strength and our salvation, and the reason we can sing songs of praise. Forgive us for our lack of gratitude when things are out of sorts. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times, for You are always good. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your heart known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we sing songs of praise to You, our strength and our defense that saves. Amen.

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

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. – 1 Chronicles 16:9

Made Possible

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – (Mark 10:27, NIV)

Jesus looked at them and said, “That is something people cannot do, but God can. He can do anything.” – (Mark 10:27, ERV)

Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.” – (Mark 10:27, MSG)

 

I am so grateful to God, as there are many impossibilities that He makes possible, regularly. Today is no exception. For whatever reason, I struggled to sleep after our final regular season gymnastics meet last night. I tossed and turned and found myself with eyes open, seemingly as often as they were closed. That being said, I know that somehow, He will grant me all that I need to navigate this day. For one, it is an early release day, so I am granted a bit of reprieve as far as hours of formal instruction go today. It is somehow less daunting knowing that classes are 45 minutes each, rather than sixty. Additionally, the professional learning community that I am a part of is a fantastic group of colleagues, whom I call friends, and it is never a burden to spend time planning together, tired or not. Beyond that, practice this afternoon was cancelled to give the girls time to rest and catch up on homework, which will provide the same opportunity for me. A day that might have been a bit overwhelming, has been made manageable by His grace, already. He is good, and I know He will grant me what I need to navigate whatever comes my way, and I am giving Him praise for His faithful ways. May we look to the Lord in faith, trusting that He can do exceedingly more than we could ever hope or imagine, as we trust in Him.

 

The God of all grace,

Makes all things that seem;

So impossible,

A reachable dream.

He moves in His strength,

Grants us what we lack;

Floods us with His love,

He does not hold back.

Choose trust in the Lord,

No matter what’s seen;

For God can do more,

Each need He’s foreseen.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the One who makes all things possible in You. What seems impossible to us in our own strength, is achievable in You. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when we rely on only what we can see. Teach us to trust You, for You move far beyond what we can observe with our eyes. Show us how to love those around us in ways that strengthen and extend grace, granting hope for impossibilities to be made possible in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust in You and all that You provide to help us navigate all that we are called to do. Amen.

 

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

 

In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. – Psalm 25:1

It is for Peace

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – (Colossians 3:15, NIV)

Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. – (Colossians 3:15, ERV)

Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of His one body. And always be thankful. – (Colossians 3:15, TPT)

 

Yesterday was a strange day for me at school. My heart was heavy off and on, all day, yet my classes went fairly well, so His peace was present within me. Strangely, a few of my toughest students were absent too, so I had a bit of reprieve from random rogue rebellion. During my last class of the day, one student displayed concerning behaviors. He is not the same kiddo that began my class a few short weeks ago, and I am desperately attempting to figure out why. I spoke with him, but it felt fruitless. After school I sought another pair of his teachers to find out if the same behaviors were manifesting in their rooms. One was witnessing similar to me, whereas the other was not. The mystery of this student’s switch in behavior added to the heaviness I was already carrying. With little resolve, I trudged to the office to check my box before returning to my classroom to clear out for the day. On the way back, I had to pause and turn my face toward the sunshine. The warmth on the cool day, was a blessing that I could not pass by. Then, as I rounded the corner to enter the back door to my classroom, I was buzzed by a beautiful blue dragonfly. In that moment, I stopped and thanked God, as I was reminded of His care and presence, even in my heaviness. When I loaded into my car and was all set to go, Anchor, by Skillet, filled my vehicle. Again, I gave thanks for the kind reminder of God’s nearness, and for the peace that settled over me as I made my way home. As a result of God’s goodness and faithfulness to me, individually, I was equipped and able to go and serve as part of the body with our small group at an event at our local elementary school. His peace was with me, and it was a sweet evening watching families participate in a school’s family event. May we ever seek the Lord to be the peace that rules our hearts and minds, so that we may go forth with thanksgiving, in peace, as we operate as part His body.

Yesterday, I was able to visit with mom while she was eating breakfast. As always, it was great to hear her voice and her resolve, as she announced the day’s agenda to me. On the schedule, she had a physical therapy evaluation and speech therapy. Mom was determined to work hard, and I will be eager to hear how it all went. My prayer is that peace and gratitude continue to reign in her heart as she works tirelessly on this journey to recovery.

 

May the peace of Christ,

Rule both heart and mind;

As we seek the Lord,

Peace is what we’ll find.

When we have His peace,

Far better we give;

Unto the body,

Help to truly live.

And with thankful hearts,

May we give God praise;

For life, hope and peace,

Throughout all our days.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us and know us, individually. Thank You that You see our needs and You extend Your peace in ways that make Your presence known. Thank You that You call us to peace as part of the body. Forgive us for our lack of gratitude when things feel heavy. Teach us to recognize Your peace and Your presence, even when the weight of the world is resting upon our hearts. Show us how to love those around us in ways that passes along Your perfect peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You praise forever; for You are our perfect peace. Amen.

 

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

 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. – Psalm 62:1

Carry Me

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who bears our burdens. – (Psalm 68:19, NIV)

Praise the Lord! Every day He helps us with the loads we must carry. He is the God who saves us. – (Psalm 68:19, ERV)

Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. – (Psalm 68:19, NLT)

 

God is the God of all grace. His help is tangible, and most days, the very air that I am breathing. In this longest season, He provided a 24-hour reprieve with my family and friends. Though it was not what I had anticipated, it was what I needed. Due to a mix-up on drop-off times, it was discovered that my boys would not be leaving until evening, (for their nine-day long cruise with Sea Scouts) rather than the original morning time that I had anticipated. As it turned out, it was a wonderful blessing. In the morning, I was able to run some errands and spend time with Mark, go for a run with Ashley, and allow the boys a few extra hours of sleep. After having returned to shower and get ready, the boys and I had time to enjoy a nice lunch out together and run a quick last-minute errand, prior to my drive back to Wenatchee. A dear friend had volunteered to drop the boys off in the evening, so I knew that they would be delivered safely too. God’s grace lightened the load that I was bearing, even though it did not look the way that I had envisioned it would.

Yesterday, as I was blessed with bonus time with my husband and boys, mom had more wonderful visiting time with her dear friends. From great conversation at the breakfast table, to ongoing engaging exchange throughout the day, I returned to the trio happily communicating with each other in the living room. It took some adjusting to reestablish our routine, but by bedtime, we were back in sync. All of the time spent in conversation and connection was the best speech therapy that mom could have asked for. It was clear that she had utilized all of her energy throughout the day, as she was ready to sleep by bedtime. Unfortunately, sleep did not go as smoothly as it has been, with a few wake-ups during the night. I am hopeful that it was an isolated incident, brought on by transitions, and am praying that we get back to sweet sleep tonight.

Despite the anticipation of the road ahead, I will praise Him, for He will carry the burdens that we are not meant to bear.

 

All praise to our God,

Who lightens the load;

Carries our burdens,

When we hit rough roads.

His goodness and grace,

Ever they are near;

As He soothes heartache,

And fends off our fears.

When things are too much,

And we can’t go on;

The Lord carries us,

By grace, makes us strong.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness, kindness and grace. Thank You that You carry us when the burdens are too heavy to bear. Thank You that You know what we need and You provide far better than what we would hope or imagine for ourselves. Forgive us for our frustrations and fears when things do not go according to plan. Teach us to trust You more, as You never leave us nor forsake us, and You make a way where there seems to be no way. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we might encourage, strengthen and build up the spaces that are lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your faithfulness to come alongside us and carry us when we can go no further. Amen.

 

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

 

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

Trust With All

In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. – (Psalm 25:1, NIV)

Lord, I put my life in Your hands. – (Psalm 25:1, ERV)

Forever I will lift up my soul into Your presence, Lord. – (Psalm 25:1, TPT)

 

Today is a long-awaited day, as it will be the start of the first time that I have spent seven consecutive nights in the same room as my spouse since the end of April. During the day, as there is much to do with and for mom, I am typically occupied enough that I am able to be fully invested here, and present where I am planted. However, during the time that mom rests or when all is silent and still, my heart aches for my family and my home. This upcoming time of reprieve and refreshment is what my heart has been longing for. Each day, I continue to learn to place my life in the Lord’s hands, and trust Him with all that I am. Some days are far easier than others, yet He remains faithful, even when my faith wavers. It is my hope that both as I go and when I return, He may use me as His instrument of peace and shine His light of love through my words and actions.

Yesterday was a bit of a tired day for mom, as she woke twice in the night, and then rose to eat breakfast extra early. She didn’t really get the rest her body required, so by noon, she was dragging. During her occupational therapy appointment in the morning, mom overcame a giant obstacle. The exercises Larissa wanted her to do to strengthen the right side of her body, required mom to kneel on the floor. She was terrified to be on the ground, as the last time she was on the floor was when she had a frightening fall in the middle of the night, on one of her first nights back home. Thankfully, she was not harmed in any way at that point, but it was traumatic for her, and the very idea of being on the ground became a space of terror, rather than something that might actually be beneficial. Mom fought past the fear, and knelt to the ground to participate in the exercises. Her courage and strength astound and inspire me daily, and yesterday was no exception. After OT, we had a quick bite of lunch, followed by speech therapy. Though mom was weary, she rallied well, and did a great job. Her speech and word recall are remarkable, and have recovered and been restored the fastest. Most people would be unaware that she had ever even had a stroke, based on speaking with her. Today, mom has physical therapy and occupational therapy back-to-back. Both are fairly early this morning, then we have down time to wait for Megan’s arrival. My sister is driving this time, so we do not have an exact time to expect her. We anticipate late afternoon, but much is dependent on traffic and road work as she travels. Join us in praying for a safe journey, as it is typically a seven-hour drive.

In all things, and at all times, may we ever place our trust in the Lord.

 

In all things and times,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

Choose trust in the Lord;

For He is faithful,

And true to His word.

His grace is enough,

And He does provide;

All that is needed,

In love, He supplies.

Be it time of rest,

Or strength to endure;

God is the giver,

Our hope held secure.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we place our lives in Your hands, You provide all that we need, as it is needed. Thank You that You love us best. Forgive us for our frustration and fears when we are at the end of our own strength and resolve. Teach us to trust You more, as it is in that very space of our own end, that Your strength and power are made most evident. Show us how to love, encourage and support those around us best, so that they may know Your love tangibly. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You will all. Amen.

 

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

 

But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. – Psalm 13:5

Help in Time

I will give rest and strength to those who are weak and tired. – (Jeremiah 31:25, ERV)

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing. – (Jeremiah 31:25, TLB)

I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls. – (Jeremiah 31:25, MSG)

 

Each of the translations of this verse have proven true for me over the past week, and throughout this entire season since mom suffered her stroke. To go from twelve hours each day at a hospital, where we did not know or understand the prognosis; to twelve hours per day at an acute care rehabilitation facility, in which we gained insight and understanding, yet had to return home to mom’s empty house; and on to the present, in which life is on the clock, twenty-four hours per day. The joy has been granted in the witnessing of each new gain of strength and restoration, and seemingly, right at the times when I find myself the most exhausted, sleep is graced and I am gifted reprieve through a visit from my husband and children or a change of the guard with my sister. This is not to say that every moment of each day is exhausting nor draining, as it is not. There are many laughs, and there is much joy in the blessing of so much time spent with mom. We have always been close, and this season together has only proven to strengthen our bond further. The times that bring the sorrow and the weariness are the long nights and the down time when mom is resting. Lack of sleep and a longing for my husband, children, and dear ones back home, bring sorrow as I miss the regular routine that I am accustomed to during this time of year. God is full of grace, and I am amazed at how He has shown me the key to help mom sleep better at night. Additionally, as my body is more rested, my soul is better equipped to accept the restoration He offers each morning as I seek Him.

Yesterday was a wonderful day full of family. Mom and I had a quiet morning as we prepared for my husband and boys’ arrival, enjoying a leisurely morning with time for an early breakfast, showers, trimmed her hair a bit, relaxed, worked on some stretching for mom, and did a little wandering around outside in the sunshine on the paved parts of mom’s property. Once the fellas arrived, my Viking set to work, making certain that all was working as it should with mom’s sprinkler system. The boys, mom and I set straight to it, playing a family favorite game. Mark joined us about halfway through, and was tribute dealer for mom, as we finished our first game, then partook in a second game with all of us together. Late afternoon, mom advocated for herself and decided that she ought to take a rest. The boys did their thing, and I was able to spend some much needed and appreciated time with my spouse. My grill master kept up tradition, and prepared the protein, while I took care of the side dishes inside. We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner together on the deck. There was a short escape to pick cherries at a neighbor’s small orchard (who offers anyone pick whatever they’d like) while the boys hung with grandma. Two gallon-sized Ziplocks later, and the Viking and I returned with our loot. There was time for mom’s exercises and a great game of Dominoes before we all were ready to call it a day. For each of us, I think the was refreshment and joy in the company of one another.

May we ever seek the Lord who is faithful to provide rest and restoration when it is needed most.

 

When weary and worn,

He’s faithful and true;

God grants us real rest,

Refreshes, renews.

Where there is sorrow,

The Lord will bring joy;

Tender His blessings,

Reason to rejoice.

Let not life’s burdens,

Crush you with the weight;

Instead seek the Lord,

Whose help’s never late.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You give rest when we are weary and strength when we are depleted. Thank You that You meet us in our spaces of sorrow and bring joy. Forgive us for allowing the weight of life to overwhelm us. Teach us to place life’s heaviness in Your capable hands. Show us how to love those around us in a way that offers help and hope, strength and joy in spaces where they are lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank You and praise You for holding us in Your hands and providing all that we need – body, heart, mind and soul. Amen.

 

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

 

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. – 1 Chronicles 16:11

Ready for Rest

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – (Matthew 11:28, NIV)

Come to Me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. – (Matthew 11:28, ERV)

Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. – (Matthew 11:28, TPT)

 

Weariness is worn on the faces of myself and my colleagues, as we press in and power through this final week prior to spring break. Though there were a few snow days sprinkled in, the stretch between winter break and this well-timed rest in the spring, feels like a marathon. Between escalating behaviors, time commitments that extend the already busy hours of each day, and the plague of viruses that have made their way around, finally arriving at today, the last day prior to break, feels miraculous. God knows what we need. Next week is a provided opportunity to lay down burdens and be refreshed. I love The Passions Translation, as the imagery of God being our oasis is outstanding. An oasis in the desert of exhaustion is exactly where I am ready to go. May we all run to our Redeemer, who is ready to receive our burdens and exchange them for real rest and refreshment.

 

When heavy burdens,

Overwhelm our hearts;

We need seek the Lord,

In Whom rest shall start.

God is our sweet space,

Where true rest is found;

Strength when we’re weary,

And grace to slow down.

Slow in His presence,

Renewal shall come;

Our Great Provider,

Where true peace is from.

Rest for the body,

And peace for our minds;

The love of Jesus,

Is gracious and kind.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You invite us to bring You our heavy burdens. Thank You that as we give all to You, You grant us rest in Your love. Thank You that You are our oasis in the desert of weariness. Forgive us for allowing the weight of the world to remain on our shoulders when You did not design us to carry so much. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would bring our burdens before You, allowing You room to grant us reprieve and true rest. Show us how to lay all things down and find rest in You. Help us to love those around us in such a way, that they too, may know real rest in Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we run to You for rest and lay our burdens before You. Amen.

 

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

 

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. – Deuteronomy 4:29

Restoration in His Rest

Yes, my soul find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. – (Psalm 62:5, NIV)

I must calm down and turn to God; He is my only hope. – (Psalm 62:5, ERV)

My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him. – (Psalm 62:5, VOICE)

 

As I sit here in the still silence of early morning, I am so thankful for He who gives me rest. It is not the sort of rest where I sit down and snooze, but rather a provision of places of reprieve. In this quiet space, though a bit tired, my soul is at rest. My heart is content, and my resolve renewed, simple from spending time with Him. God is faithful to meet us in the moments we seek Him. He hears our heart and knows our need. May we ever seek the Lord to settle our souls, for He is our Provider of hope and of real rest.

 

In unsettled space,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

My soul shall find rest;

When I seek the Lord,

For His grace is best.

A love that brings hope,

When all seems but lost;

A heart that will give,

No matter the cost.

What great love is this,

That knows and meets need?

God, our Provider,

As we seek, He’ll lead.

Lead us to places,

Where rest shall be found;

Fresh hope discovered,

For His love is sound.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we come to You, You grant us rest and renew our hope. Thank You that rest is a state of our soul, not just a space of inactivity in our day. Thank You that You refresh and restore our hope as we run to You for rest. Forgive us for continuing in our exhausted state, without pursuing peace and restoration in You. Teach us to trust You more, as You alone are our hope and the Healer where we are weary. Show us how to love those around us in a way that extends hope and provides spaces of reprieve. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, our Redeemer and Grantor of rest. Be glorified O God, as we seek You for rest, as our hope is held in You alone. Amen.

 

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

 

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14

Those Who Trust

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a river bank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NLT)

But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what He says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that sends out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit. – (Jeremiah 17:7-8, ERV)

 

The Lord blesses those who trust in Him. His blessings come in the form of hope and confidence, even when it seems as if there is no reprieve from our circumstances. When we trust in the Lord, His word becomes deeply rooted and established within us, and provides refreshment as we are reminded of the promises that He has made, even when we are not yet seeing them come to pass. In that space of hope, we are able to do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine to touch hearts and lives for His glory, simply through our faithful trust and devotion to the Lord, in spite of how things appear. May we choose to trust in the Lord with all that we are, knowing that He will do what He says. Let our unwavering faith, even through difficulties, demonstrate the goodness of God and produce fruit for all to see.

 

The blessings of God,

are granted to those;

who place all their trust,

in the Lord who knows.

Confidence and hope,

are gifts that He plants;

in those who trust Him,

in each circumstance.

Like trees with deep roots,

on a river’s edge;

no heat nor a drought,

will waiver heart’s pledge.

For the heart that trusts,

shall always bear fruit;

despite circumstance,

great faithful pursuit.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we place our trust in You, we are blessed with hope and confidence in You. Thank You that You grow our roots deep, establishing Your truth within us, so that when trials come, we can trust in the truth that we already know. Thank You that You use our faithfulness, even in times of trial, to touch the lives of those around us for Your glory. Forgive us for hiding our hurt, or becoming fearful in the fight, as we forget how often You use our trials to touch the lives of those around us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would be willing to walk in transparency in the places where You call us to allow our story to be seen. Show us how to love and care well for those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You.
Be glorified O God, as we trust in You. Amen.

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

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. – Psalm 34:8