Strength and Peace Supplied

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. – (Psalm 29:11, NIV)

May the Lord make His people strong. May the Lord bless His people with peace. – (Psalm 29:11, ERV)

We ask You, Eternal One, to give strength to Your people; Eternal One, bless them with the gift of peace. – (Psalm 29:11, VOICE)

Yesterday, after school and gymnastics practice, I made my way south to my sister’s home in Oregon. The sky was a brilliant blue, the sun was shining, and the air was warm. Traffic was only bad in two places, and the remainder of the drive moved freely. With music blaring and my voice raised in song, the miles passed by quickly and I arrived in a timely fashion. There was even still time to visit with my sister and catch a glimpse of my nephew before heading to bed. This morning, I woke at my usual hour so that I could spend time seeking the Lord to set my heart right for all that lies ahead today. My purpose for being here during the week is to be present for my mom as she undergoes a procedure that is a bit unnerving. My sister and I will take her, be with her, and will wait together until all is finished, and then will spend time with mom before I make the long drive home. The overwhelming feeling I have had since I began my drive is that of God’s perfect peace. Though I know the idea of what lies ahead today is a bit scary for mom, I have felt an incredible sense of His peace, knowing that God will be present and will guide the hands of the surgeons and care team. Mom has been through more than her fair share of medical things over the last few years, and every step of the journey, God has been faithful to provide strength and peace to press on. The hope and prayer for today’s outcome is that mom’s medical team will have a plan to protect and keep her well, despite the challenges she has endured. God is good, and He is faithful to His promises. May we ever seek Him and trust in Him, for He supplies His strength and peace to those who ask and depend on Him.

The Lord is faithful,

A favorite capture of Mom, my sis and me. ❤

to all who choose seek;

peace in the chaos,

and strength when we’re weak.

His goodness abounds,

despite what is not;

His love is greater,

each time He is sought.

O Lord, we seek You,

and trust in Your grace;

our strength and our peace,

throughout all our days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and that You supply the strength and peace we need to navigate each new day. Thank You that You go before us, walk beside us, and hold us in the hollow of Your mighty hands. Forgive us for our fearfulness when the unknown lies ahead. Teach us to trust You more, for Your love never fails. Lead us to love, encourage, and support those around us in ways that share Your strength and peace in tangible ways. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for who You are and how You love, for Your love provides the peace and strength we need in all things and at all times. Amen.

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

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. – Isaiah 26:3

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

Praise For His Goodness

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

Then I will sing to the Lord because He was so good to me. – (Psalm 13:6, ERV)

I will sing to the Eternal, for He is always generous with me. – (Psalm 13:6, VOICE)

Since school let out a few weeks ago, I have had a fairly unscheduled series of days. At first, I was a bit envious of all those off on fabulous vacations and little escapes away, however, as I began simply enjoying each day as it has come, I discovered that this has been a much needed season of learning how to rest. For me, the “rest” has included time to do the things that I seldom do. I have spent time drawing, baking, trying new recipes, reconnecting with a dear friend, long dog walks, and a bit of cleaning and purging. Each day has begun intentionally with my morning devotions flanked by our dogs, and our fur babies are loving all of the extra time we have together. As I glance over the calendar for the rest of this month and into next, I know God’s provision of rest was intentional to prepare me for all that lies ahead, and to have time to reset after such a busy school year. The busy that is coming is a blessing, and I am excited to embrace each day as it comes and give thanks for His care and love for me. May we ever give praise to the Lord for His goodness and kindness, for He is worthy of all our praise forever.

The Lord is so good,

in all of His ways;

our help and our hope,

the Ancient of Days.

He sees what we need,

and provides a way;

the strength, help, and hope,

to rest, work, and play.

To care well for those,

He’s placed in our lives;

He supplies plenty,

to help others thrive.

Lead us, Lord Jesus,

with Your tender care;

as we listen and praise You,

both here and out there.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being so very good to us. Thank You that You provide rest when we need it most, and You lead us in Your love as we are at home and when we are on the go. Forgive us for not praising You enough, for You are always good. Teach us to recognize and appreciate the countless ways that You love and provide for us. Show us how to love those around us well, so that they too, may recognize the abundance of Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You and thank You for being so very good to us. 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 33:29

Ever Growing Understanding

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude. – (Colossians 2:6-7, HCSB)

You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue to live following Him. You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from Him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God. – (Colossians 2:6-7, ERV)

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him. You’re deeply rooted in Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. – (Colossians 2:6-7, MSG)

When we give our lives to Christ and invite Him to live in us, we need to continue to pursue an ever growing understanding of who He is and how He loves. As we do, His Spirit in us, shows us what is good and true and how to love as He loves us. The more we grow in our understanding, the more our gratitude grows until we can no longer contain it. May we ever seek to follow and grow in the Lord, ever giving thanks to He who gives us life and love, hope and help.

We are reminded,

To trust in the Lord;

Never stop learning,

To walk in accord.

He’ll lead and guide us,

In how we should go;

He blesses, keeps us,

As in Him we grow.

Insight increases,

And so does our praise;

Love everlasting,

The Ancient of Days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, You increase our understanding of who You are and how You love. Thank You that as our insight grows, so too does our gratitude. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to seek, or have withheld the praise that rises up. Teach us to trust in You and give You all thanks and praise for the good all around us. Show us how to love those around us as You do. May it ever increase. Lord, lead many to a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to grow and praise You for Your goodness and love. Amen.

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

I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor Your Name forever. – Psalm 86:12

Love Each Other

“I give to you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” – (John 13:34, HCSB)

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you.” – (John 13:34, ERV)

“So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways.” – (John 13:34, VOICE)

In Finland, Valentine’s Day is Friends Day. I appreciate that, as people make the day too much about romantic love and not enough about simply loving one another well. Today, it is my hope to love everyone well. Of course my spouse is my true love, but there is much to celebrate about the love I have for my family and friends. God commands it and has shown us again and again how to love, so it ought to be a priority to work on loving well. May we ever seek the Lord to show us how to love each person we encounter as He loves them. 

Lord, help us love well,

Today and always;

Lead us and guide us,

Throughout all our days.

Show us the places,

That are lacking love;

Make our hearts tender,

To love as You love.

May this be a day,

That love is displayed;

Through kindness and grace,

And Your loving ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You command us to love one another. Thank You that this is not something that we are expected to do on our own, but rather You fill and equip us to love others as You love each of us. Forgive us for the times that we have not chosen to love. Show us how to love as You do in all situations and circumstances. Lead us 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 love You and love one another as You created us to do. Amen.

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

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. – Psalm 63:3

Joy in the Wait

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. – (Psalm 37:4, HCSB)

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. – (Psalm 37:4, NIV)

Take great joy in the Eternal! His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires! – (Psalm 37:4, VOICE)

As we delight in the Lord, we begin to recognize the blessings that He has poured out upon us. The desires that dwell deep in our heart are the dreams He planted within. In our ongoing pursuit of a life lived with Him, He makes our hopes and dreams a reality. Often, the wait feels long, yet even when we do not see it, He is moving on our behalf. When we are seeking after Him with all of our heart, our desires align with His. It is in that alignment that He brings change, resolve and new things. Currently, I am in a space of waiting. My charge in the wait is to take joy in Him. This is not an easy task when it feels as if the weight of the world is pressing down, yet the more I press into Him, the more I feel the weight lifting. Too often, we carry what is not ours to carry. One of the gifts that He gives is His strong hands that are willing and able to bear our burdens and hold the heaviness within us. Jesus is gentle and kind, and He never forces His way in nor takes what we do not freely give Him. May we ever take joy in the Lord, for His promises are good and He is the One who grants the desires of our heart.

Great joy in the Lord,

Is where hope is found;

For all that is good,

In Christ, does abound.

What our heart desires,

Manifests in Him;

He’s our Provider,

Who ushers good in.

Timing’s the challenge,

We all want it now;

Yet it’s in waiting,

That He works somehow.

He makes plain a path,

For us to choose take;

Each step requires faith,

Trust the way He makes.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can always find joy in You. Thank You that joy in You is not dependent on our circumstances, but rather is dependent on You. When we recognize Your goodness, kindness and grace, we cannot help but rejoice in who You are and how You love. Thank You that our dreams and desires that dwell deep within our hearts are gifts from You. Forgive us for losing sight of the joy we have in You, or for losing hope in the dreams not yet realized. Show us how to trust You in the waiting and to find joy in the hope we have in You. Lead us to love those around us in a way that offers joy, peace and hope. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we take joy in who You are and give thanks for the good things that You have planned for us all. Amen.

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

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures. – Psalm 16:11

Our Quiet Retreat

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

You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me. – (Psalm 119:114, MSG)

You’re my place of quiet retreat, and Your wraparound presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in Your Word! – (Psalm 119:114, TPT)

A place of quiet retreat is essential to start my day well. Any place that we intentionally choose to be in His presence can become a quiet retreat. At home, I am able to find a quiet retreat in the early morning on our couch in the living room. When I am away from home, the early morning hours still seem to be the best space for me to find quiet retreat and spend time in His Word. It is through time in His Word that hope is renewed and I again feel surrounded by His presence. In this crazy world, holding onto the promised hope and truth of His Word is everything. There are countless verses that remind us of His love, protection, peace, plans, and promises that grant us hope to hold. May we ever find a quiet retreat in God’s presence as we invest time in His Word, allowing the truth to settle into the spaces within us that need to be reminded again of the goodness of God.

In a quiet space,

My heart finds retreat;

Reminders of truth,

With each new heartbeat.

My refuge and shield,

Where true hope is found;

Place in Your presence,

As all grace abounds.

Your Word is the lamp,

That shows us the way;

Through our time with You,

Peace and presence stay.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our quiet space of retreat and Your Word reminds us of who You are and how You love. Thank You that You surround us with Your presence and fill us with Your peace. Forgive us for allowing life to wear us down, rather than pursue spaces of Your refreshing presence. Show us how to find spaces of peace in Your presence where we can be reminded of the truth of Your Word that grants us all hope. Lead us to love those around us in ways that provide safety and peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we are intentional to seek spaces of quiet retreat to spend time in Your Word as You surround us with Your peace. Amen.

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

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

Always Love

It (love) 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)

 

God is love. This perfect sort of love comes from Him alone. We are flawed and frail and fallen; He is good, gracious and merciful. When we seek the Lord first, He deposits these things within us, and grants us the capacity to protect, trust, hope, and persevere in love. In our broken humanity, we will never be flawless in our delivery. However, God is. When we choose to love God and love people as we are called and designed to do, we become better equipped to protect, trust, hope and persevere, as His love leads us in every area of our life that we grant Him access. The more we give God room, the more we become aware of the hope, security, and overcoming, lasting love that is found in Christ. May we ever seek the Lord with our whole heart, so that we too, may love in a way that creates a safe place of shelter, that never stops believing the best for others, never takes failure as defeat, and never gives up.

 

Our space of shelter,

When weary and worn;

He grants strength to move,

In Christ, hope’s reborn.

The One we can trust,

Protection in love;

He never gives up,

Our Help from above.

Even through the times,

When we can’t shake fear;

His presence surrounds,

To rise, persevere.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, we begin to understand the power of love. Thank You that Your love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Thank You that the more we walk with You, the better we are able to love as You love us. Forgive us for the times that we have been lacking in our love. Continue to teach us how to love like You. Show us practical and tangible ways to love those around us well. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we always trust and hope in You, as You protect us and provide for us, all that we need through Your overwhelming and unending love. Amen.

 

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

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34

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

Falling Into Grace

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – (Psalm 73:26, NIV)

I admit how broken I am in body and spirit, but God is my strength, and He will be mine forever. – (Psalm 73:26, VOICE)

Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in You, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever You’re all I need! – (Psalm 73:26, TPT)

 

Our humanity is fragile and susceptible to failure. We get sick and we struggle, yet when we trust in God, He is our strength and our hope forever. For whatever He has called us, He will equip us so that we may continue and carry out all that we are meant to do. Be it our best day or our worst, God still claims us as His beloved children. We are His and He is ours, always. May we be encouraged in knowing God is for us, and seek Him forever to be our hope and our strength.

 

No matter the state,

We’re in as we come;

God will be our strength,

The Most Holy One.

Always, He is ours,

Likewise, we are His;

His love, eternal,

The place where hope lives.

May we be strengthened,

As His love’s made known;

Powerful presence,

His grace, we are shown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we grow weary and fall short, You love us to life and grant the strength we need to keep moving in the direction to which we are called. Forgive us for losing hope in spaces that we cannot see how You are moving on our behalf. Teach us to trust You more, as You are our strength and hope forever, and we can always count on You. Show us how to love those around us in a way that offers hope and strength and security. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, for we will trust in You forever, as You are our eternal hope. Amen.

 

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

 

Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. – John 1:16