Endings and Beginnings

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:114, NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope. – (Psalm 119:114, NLT)

You are my hiding place and my shield of protection; I hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:114, VOICE)

 

Though David often had need for the Lord to be his literal hiding place, there were times too, that he needed his heart to be covered and “hidden” by God. For me, that is more often the space that I find myself in. When the cares of my circumstances become overwhelming or seem far too heavy to bear, it is in that space that I need seek Christ to cover my heart with His, as He is my place of refuge and a shield about me. He renews my hope with the truth of His word and reminds me anew of who He is. Today, I am being granted the gift of time with my boys as they prepare to leave for a ten-day cruise with the Sea Scouts. I had hoped and prayed for a way to get home to help them pack and prepare and send them off, and God has been faithful to provide faithful friends for such a time as this, so that I could do exactly that and know that mom is in great hands and comfortable in my brief absence.

Yesterday was an incredible day to end mom’s therapies in Washington. As she met with Nick, her physical therapist, he had me guide mom through the paces of navigating her front steps with her hemi-walker. Giving her verbal cues and only keeping a hand touching her low back to remind her that I was present if there was a need, she was able to go down the steps, walk some steps in the grass, turn around, and then return up the stairs. It was the very first time since her stroke that mom had set foot on grass, and after Nick left, she could not stop the tears from falling. For her, it was yet another mile-marker that reminded her that hope is tangible and that she is truly making progress. A few hours later, mom had her final session with Susan, her speech therapist. The beautiful thing about speech therapy is that there is much opportunity to visit, as word recall is largely called forth through conversation. Time flew by, and goodbyes were difficult. Lastly, a bit later in the afternoon, was Larissa, mom’s occupational therapist. Larissa went to great lengths to make certain that we had a solid plan in place for ongoing exercises and stretches for mom to be doing daily during the gap time between now and when therapies begin in Oregon. She has been innovative and kind, and has gone above and beyond to help research and facilitate mom’s needs. As she was leaving, she refused to call it goodbye, but rather a “see you later.” Each of mom’s therapists parted ways with mom with hugs and words of well-wishes, encouraging her and letting her know how much they had loved working with her and how much they would miss her. Mom has a way of winning folks over quickly, and once she has, she is not forgotten. My hope and prayer now, is that she will find the same to be true of her new therapists in Oregon, and that she will discover a new community with which to connect during her season in that space. God has always been her refuge, and I trust that He will continue to provide her hope and tangible evidence of His faithfulness.

 

My refuge and shield,

Where all hope is found;

The God of all grace,

Your word’s always sound.

You grant me safety,

And You cover me;

My heart is hidden,

In You, lovingly.

Hidden from the things,

That make me choose fear;

Blind to Your presence,

As You’re ever near.

Help us ever seek,

The light of Your grace;

For goodness is found,

Following Your ways.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our safety and our refuge, and that we can ever find hope in Your word. Thank You that You are present to help and protect and provide. Forgive us for our fearfulness in the unsteady or the unknown. Teach us to trust You more. Show us how to love those around us in a way that offers peace and grace and safety. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust and hope in You forever. Amen.

 

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

 

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:2

Love to Sea

It 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)

 

This morning I will be taking my boys to the harbor to drop them off for their long cruise with Sea Scouts. This adventure will take them all over the San Juan islands on their 128-foot vessel. The unique and exciting thing about this cruise is that the ship will be run by the scouts. I have one boy who works primarily in the engine room, and the other who tends to the duties on deck. They will venture to places that few people are blessed to see, as they are only reachable by boat or by seaplane. As I send them, it is my hope that they will feel loved in this way as they go, and at the same time, extend love accordingly. The group will be in close quarters, so choosing love will likely be required. Some of their best buddies will be with them, so it is my prayer that they feel safe, protected, trusted, hopeful and determined to persevere. May we each seek the Lord in His loving kindness, to grow in us such a love.

 

May God’s protection, 

And unending grace;

Be granted to each,

Who choose seek His face.

For His love persists,

It does not give up;

May we do likewise,

As He fills our cup.

Let us choose to trust,

Have hope in His Name;

He’s faithful always,

May peace be proclaimed.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are kind and loving and protective; always. Thank You that we can turn to You in trust and ask of You, all that is needed. Forgive us for not seeking You to lead us and guide us in all things. Teach us to trust You more each new day. Please protect and infuse Your love over my boys and their entire crew as they set off on this wonderful adventure. Show us all how to love in a way that protects, hopes, trusts and perseveres forever. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we place all in Your hands, knowing that we can trust You in all things and at all times. Amen.

 

 

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

 

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – 2 Samuel 22:33

A Place of Trust

It is a strange space of trust when you send your teens off with people you barely know, for an eight-day adventure at sea. Yesterday, I dropped my boys off at the Sea Scout Center, where they were prepared to drive north to Anacortes, and then set sail for an eight-day cruise through the San Juan Islands, some other northern islands, and up into Canada, before cruising back to Tacoma. This will be an incredible journey, as they will see locations that are only accessible by boat or seaplane, so few eyes have taken in the beauty theirs will behold. That being said, they are out of reach, out of touch, and in a space where I have to place them in the Lord’s hands and trust that He will watch over them and keep them safe.

 

I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in You.” – (Psalm 91:2, ERV)

This I declare, that He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I am trusting Him. – (Psalm 91:2, TLB)

 

Today, I choose to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God. He is my place of safety and protection, and I am trusting Him to be the same for my boys. May we each rise up and recognize the refuge present in our Provider, and run to Him in all things and at all times.

 

In spaces of new,

May we learn to trust;

In Your faithfulness,

As You are for us.

You are our safety,

To Whom we can run;

Trustworthy refuge,

O Glorious One.

You alone are God,

And I will trust You;

To be my refuge,

As Your word is truth.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our place of safety and our fortress. Thank You that we can trust in You, as You are our God. Thank You that You go with us and protect us, and that we can trust You to be present at all times. Forgive us for our fearfulness. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would know that You alone are our Source of safety in whom we can trust. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they sense a safety within us that soothes the soul and leads them to look for You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to place our trust in You and seek You as our Source of safety in all things. Amen.

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

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5