Faithful Love Follows

But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts. – (Psalm 103:17-18, HCSB)

But the Lord has always loved His followers, and He will continue to love them forever and ever! He will be good to all their descendants, to those who are faithful to His agreement and who remember to obey His commands. – (Psalm 103:17-18, ERV)

But the unfailing love of the Eternal is always and eternal for those who reverently run after Him. He extends His justice on and on to future generations, to those who will keep His bond of love and remember to walk in the guidance of His commands. – (Psalm 103:17-18, VOICE)

My maternal grandmother was the epitome of a person who was faithful to follow after God, and she loved and prayed for us all. Her kind and loving ways were an example to each of us, and I can see the fruit of her faithfulness to our family. Though not all of the grandchildren choose to follow after God, I can see His hand in all of our lives, for He has protected and provided for us all. My hope is that I might grow in grace and follow in her footsteps. Grandchildren are not on the radar anytime soon, yet I pray for and love our kids as I have been loved and prayed for. God is faithful, and I can see the fruit of my own mom’s faithful prayers in her grandchildren. Each has been protected and held, despite the challenges that life provides. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us to follow Him whole-heartedly, and to faithfully love and pray for our children and their children to follow. 

The Lord is faithful,

Gram and some of her great-grandkids. ❤

To those who seek Him;

His presence assured,

As He is asked in.

His love – unfailing,

For He remains near;

To those who ask Him,

His presence is clear.

The Lord’s faithfulness,

Carries on and on;

To those who seek Him,

His love is shown strong.

May we continue,

To love and lift up;

Our kids and their kids,

So faith is built up.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to those who seek You, and to their descendants that follow. Thank You that You show us what it looks like to faithfully follow You through our parents and grandparents. Forgive us for the times that we have not set the example that You intended. Teach us to pursue You whole-heartedly and to lift up and love well our children and their children to come. Show us how to love as You love, so that Your heart may be made tangible to those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we continue to seek You and pursue a life of loving those around us as You do. Amen.

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

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34

Within Us

God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. – (Psalm 46:5, NIV)

The True God never sleeps and always resides in the city of joy; He makes it unstoppable, unshakable. When it awakes at dawn, the True God has already been at work. – (Psalm 46:5, VOICE)

God is in the midst of His city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak His help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn. – (Psalm 46:5, TPT)

 

David’s declaration of God’s faithfulness in song, as found in Psalm 46, was a proclamation of how God remains faithful and keeps His people secure. It is a reminder that the Lord never stops moving on our behalf, and that we are made aware anew each morning, as the dawn of each day appears. Though the phrasing of the NIV is in reference to an entire people group, I appreciate how it makes it feel more personal. When I imagine the words are from God’s heart to mine, reminding me that He is within me (and mom) and that we will not fall; that He will help us at the break of day, I find renewed hope and strength, trust and resolve. This morning, this feels especially true, as I am rested and restored, after mom only woke once in the night, and it was after a five-hour stretch. Her appointment yesterday was encouraging, as we so appreciated meeting with a neurosurgeon who was clearly practicing for the intent and purpose of helping people. Though his specialty is surgical, his recommendation for mom was on that would be far less invasive, with little to no recovery time. Rather than take on something himself, he was quick to make a referral for something far less complicated; clearly holding mom’s healing and rehabilitation in mind. We left the appointment encouraged, with an ongoing appreciation for the care that is available in mom’s home town. Incredibly, mom had a fantastic physical therapy session prior to her appointment, despite here lack of sleep, and continues to make great gains as she works on walking with a walker up and down her hallway.

After the appointment, we had called in an order for fresh spring rolls from our favorite place in town. We made a quick stop to pick them up, and then headed home. Astonishingly, mom only took a 45-minute siesta after lunch, and was up and alert the remainder of the afternoon. Once we had finished dinner and settled in to watch a movie, mom began to fade quickly. Though she attempted to fend off the exhaustion, sleep overtook her, and she dozed in her comfy chair by 7:30. We called it a night at 8:00 pm, and she was snoozing away in her bed within thirty minutes. God truly has us; He won’t let us fall; He helps us anew every morning. May we trust in He who is faithful forever; for He is always good.

 

God is within us,

With Him, we won’t fall;

He’ll help us anew,

With each new day’s call.

The Lord never sleeps,

He’s ever aware;

He knows all our needs,

And answers with care.

Grants rest when weary,

Hope in our dismay;

Peace in our unrest,

Help for each new day.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love is unfailing and never ending. Thank You that You do not sleep and are ever watching over us. Forgive us for our frustration in our own weariness. Teach us to trust You more, as You are our Source and Supply. Thank You that with You in us, we will not fall, and that You will help us with the dawn of each new day. Show us how to love those around us in a way that offers help and hope to press on, even on the most discouraging of days. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we rise with You in us. Amen.

 

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

 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Known and Loved

I look at the heavens You made with Your hands. I see the moon and the stars You created. And I wonder, “Why are people so important to You? Why do You even think about them? Why do You care about them? Why do You care so much about humans? Why do You even notice them?” – (Psalm 8:3-4, ERV)

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? – (Psalm 8:3-4, NIV)

 

God, the Creator of the entire Universe, cares for us, individually. That is an astounding and overwhelming thought. Our mere mortal minds can hardly fathom such care and concern from One so great. Fortunately, there are examples throughout scripture that make this love a bit more conceivable. His great love rescues, is good, is merciful, is unfailing, works all things together for good, is gracious, surpasses all understanding, and endures forever. He is our Father and we are His children. Just as we love our own children fiercely, so too does the Father love each of us. We are flawed and sinful, and yet we still love our children with our whole heart. Imagine the depth and breadth of the Father’s love, as He is perfect, and who He is, is love. May we go forth this day seeking to soak in a bit more of the lavish love of the Lord. As we continue to gain greater glimpses of who He is and how He loves, may we go forth and love likewise.

 

Oh what love is this,

That considers me?

The very same God,

Who called all to be.

When I see the moon,

The stars in the sky;

I gaze up in awe,

He love me, but why?

God loves His children,

All created ones;

His heart is for us,

May Thy will be done.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You, the Creator of all things, love each of us, individually. Thank You that not one of us goes unnoticed nor unloved. Forgive us for not recognizing the depth and breadth of Your care for each of us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would hold fast to the truth of Your word, and trust You to lead us and guide us all of our days in Your love. Show us how to love those around us, so that they may come to know their significance to You and the world around them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we stand in awe of Your lavish love, and receive all that You give so that we may give likewise. 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

Reverence Reveals His Joy

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. – (Psalm 147:11, NIV)

The Lord enjoys people who worship Him and trust in His faithful love. – (Psalm 147:11, ERV)

But His joy is in those who reverence Him, those who expect Him to be loving and kind. – (Psalm 147:11, TLB)

 

God is far greater than we can begin to grasp. He is both our loving Father and Almighty God. The Lord is worthy of all of our worship and adoration, and we ought to have a reverent respect full of awe and wonder at all that He is, has done, and ever will be. We bring Him joy and delight as we trust Him, and allow our hearts to hope in His unfailing love. Let every heart trust in His unending love as we offer our worship in reverent awe of who He is and how He loves.

 

To be the delight,

Of our Holy God;

We must trust His love,

With hope, stand in awe.

We need choose revere,

His power and might;

Trust unfailing love,

To be His delight.

God is always good,

And His love is true;

Let every heart hope,

In Christ, be made new.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us without limits, and for delighting in us when we trust in You with the reverence that is due. Forgive us for not giving You proper praise, or for questioning the character or nature of who You are, as Your love never fails. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would not place human parameters on Your nature or character, but instead, in reverence and awe, would recognize the enormity of Your unfailing, faithful love for all who call on Your Name. Show us how to love those around us in a way that models our reverence for You and the hope that we hold in Your love that never fails. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we worship You and trust in Your unfailing love. Amen.

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

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

Faith and Hope in Action

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – (1 Corinthians 13:13)

 

Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action. – (NIV footnotes) When our faith is assured and our hope is secure, we are free to love as Christ loves us. The more we know God, the more we reflect Him in how we love one another. Love that comes from God is patient, kind, protective, trusting, hopeful, perseverant, and rejoices in the truth. His love never fails. Love from God is the life and breath of our faith and hope in action. May we place our every hope in Him, as He grows our faith in His unfailing love.

 

May we find our faith,

in the Corner Stone;

hold fast to the hope,

by Whom we are known.

For from faith and hope,

come love in action;

the fruit of His grace,

true satisfaction.

The more we know God,

the more that we show;

His love for others,

His heart in us glows.

Let faith, hope and love,

forever remain;

as His light is shown,

as we let love reign.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we place our faith in You, and allow You to be our hope, Your love is made evident in our actions. Thank You that Your love is complete and unfailing. Forgive us for thinking that Your love in any way, resembles humanity’s flawed and limited love. Help us to trust in Your all-encompassing love, so that we may go forth in the hope that we hold, and love others as You so lavishly love us. May many come to know the greatest love of all, as they find faith and hope in You. Be glorified, O God, as our love is poured out as the life and breath of our faith and hope in action. Amen.

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

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6

Give Thanks to the Lord

Give thanks to the Lord,

for He is so good;

His love will always

remain as it should.

A love unfailing,

great deeds for His own;

He satisfies thirst,

feeds hunger that’s known.

For those in darkness,

who call out to Him;

He breaks away chains,

brings light to what’s grim.

Give thanks to the Lord,

for His gracious deeds;

for the freedom brought

to captives in need.

Those in rebellion,

who’re suffering so;

cry out to the Lord,

afflictions will go.

Give thanks to the Lord,

for His healing hand;

with songs of great joy,

praise Him for His plans.

For those in the storm,

where peril surrounds;

cry out to the Lord,

so lost may be found.

Give thanks to the Lord,

for He calms the storms;

with a single word,

new hope shall be born.

The afflicted are healed,

the needy are saved;

the upright see God,

and give Him all praise.

(Responding to Psalm 107)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love for us is unfailing and unfathomable. While we were Your enemies in darkness, You chose to love us and send Your only Son to be our light, our hope, and our salvation. Thank You that though we deserve it not, You lavish us with Your love. Forgive us Father, for our rebellious hearts, and please help us to firmly fix our eyes on You. Let us live out our days in the light of Your love, and may many be led unto You as a result of our obedience. All praise and thanks to You, Lord. Amen.

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